Audacity Forum

Hi,
I am looking for a relatively low cost "sound card" (internal or external) that is guaranteed to BOTH record and play back high frequency signals to at least 160KHz.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

Rick_123 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:08 pm

I am looking for a relatively low cost "sound card" (internal or external) that is guaranteed to BOTH record and play back high frequency signals to at least 160KHz.

I doubt that such a thing exists. To support up to 160 kHz signal frequency requires a sample rate over 320 kHz.

There is some reasonably priced equipment used by bat recording enthusiasts, but that usually "only" goes up to 192 kHz sample rate, which means a maximum theoretical signal frequency below 96 kHz. (Example: http://pibat.afraidofsunlight.co.uk/)

There might be a "data acquisition" card/interface that can do that but probably not at a low price.

You might just get lucky or there are some high sample rate "audiophile" DACs and you can probably find one that goes up to 384kHz (sample rate) but they are meant for audio so the audio might be filtered to the audio range. High sample rate audio ADCs don't seem to be as common, probably because audio pros (recording) aren't quite as crazy as audiophiles (playback). And of course, audiophile stuff is expensive... Audiophiles are highly-attracted to expensive stuff!

Note that sometimes the specs can be misleading... Any cheap soundcard can play a 384kHz (sample rate) WAV file because the drivers will down-sample if the hardware doesn't actually support it.

I am looking for a relatively low cost "sound card" (internal or external) that is guaranteed to BOTH record and play back high frequency signals to at least 160KHz.

Why?

It's not unusual for forum posters to misjudge a job. Sometimes there's a pre-baked solution or easy way out once we know what the actual task is.

You are not describing a cheap soundcard.

Koz

Rick_123 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:08 pm

Hi,
I am looking for a relatively low cost "sound card" (internal or external) that is guaranteed to BOTH record and play back high frequency signals to at least 160KHz.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

Is this what you are looking for: https://www.amazon.com/32Bit-384KHz-Dig ... B00VAC26JA

Well, perhaps it's not so low. But if it is, then all you will need are transducers.

I hope this helps.

And here is something a little bit cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Interna ... ooghydr-20

jademan wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 10:55 pm

And here is something a little bit cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Interna ... ooghydr-20

"Only" 96 kHz maximum recording sample rate.
Also, SoundBlaster avoid saying what the audio bandwidth is. It's quite likely that the analog bandwidth is not much more than 20 kHz.

I'm betting we can do a much better job at this when we find out what the job is.

Throwing out impossible specifications blind is only going to take you just so far.

Koz

kozikowski wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 31, 2021 12:58 am

I'm betting we can do a much better job at this when we find out what the job is.

Throwing out impossible specifications blind is only going to take you just so far.

Koz

Yes, and don't forget the transducers (mic and speakers).

steve, what do you know about this animal? USB C to 3.5mm Headphone Adapter, CLIPTHAT HiFi Type C to Aux Audio Jack, 32Bit/384Khz Hi-Res Portable USBC DAC dongle, TRRS Mic Support

I am looking for a relatively low cost "sound card" (internal or external) that is guaranteed to BOTH record and play back high frequency signals to at least 160KHz.

Nowhere does it say these are going to be sound signals. That was a guess on the part of the poster. So here we are in the woods.

Koz