What’s a cool-running budget USB DAC for motherboard audio hiss?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
My headset produces a constant high-pitched hiss or whine when connected to the motherboard's 3.5 mm audio jack. Lowering the headset's inline volume control all the way does not remove it, so I suspect electrical or ground noise from the motherboard rather than a faulty headset. I noticed the same issue with a newer Sennheiser HD 560S, so I'm looking for an inexpensive USB DAC or USB audio dongle that can bypass the motherboard's analog audio circuit. I'm not looking for an audiophile upgrade—just clean, noise-free sound that is at least as good as typical onboard audio. It should stay cool or only mildly warm, and my budget is around €50 in Europe. Are there any good options, or should I try another solution first?
Answers
I’d also recommend the Apple dongle. It offers unusually good performance for such a low-cost adapter and is usually all you need for a problem like this. Just keep the USB connection and cable away from sources of electrical interference if the noise persists.
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The Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone adapter is an excellent cheap option. It’s tiny, generally runs cool, and has surprisingly clean audio for the price. It should be well within your budget in Europe and can bypass the noisy analog output on the motherboard.
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A basic USB sound card under €10 could solve the issue too. You don’t need an expensive DAC for this; the main benefit is moving the digital-to-analog conversion away from the motherboard’s noisy audio circuitry. Look for a reputable, compact USB audio adapter with a headphone output.
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MellowCedar42: Would you say the sound quality is about the same as, or better than, the motherboard output? I mainly want to eliminate the noise rather than make a major upgrade.