should i buy a soundcard for my laptop?

[mattm99]

I am looking to really upgrade my audio experience for my laptop, just bought some klipsch speakers and my friend recommended i buy a sound card to make my overall audio from my computer better. I have a 2010 15" macbook pro i5. I would use it for some DJ software as well but mostly just listening to music.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

How do you plan on connecting the MB Pro to the speakers? If it's a digital audio connection (either the optical output or through the mini displayport), then I don't think that an external soundcard is going to be any better. I can't speak to the analog output, though, as I've never used that on either of my MacBooks.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Adam is 100% right, just get mini 3.5mm jack to toslink plug cable like this one and connect it to any receiver and you'd be fine
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1558&seq=1&format=2

 

[bikemig]

The analog output on a macbook works reasonably well; I'm listening to the analog ouput now via my headphones. But BSA and Adam are right, you're better off using the digital out to an AV receiver assuming that is how you have your Klipsch speakers set up. You might get better advice if you told us what your audio set-up is.

 

[33Gerry45]

I would suggest going to an AV store that has your amp at around the price you want to pay.

Try it with the internal amp and then with the AV receiver or external amp. Try to get the sales staff to do this blind for you to eliminate placebo effect and use a meter if they have one to check SPL to adjust to the same level.

Speakers have the greatest affect on sound quality. Some cheap amps are surprisingly good when these other factors are leveled off. In any event there might just might be little difference.