Determining the quality of a sound card

[technossomy]

How can one determine the quality of a sound card by looking at it? By 'quality' I mean not its economic/technical life left (undented and cleaned cards), but purely specification wise.

Thanks in advance

technossomy

[ski]

The best way to determine a sound card's sound quality is the install it, determine which make and model it is with a utility like Everest, Belarc Advisor, Sisoft Sandra, etc., and then research it on the Internet.

[technossomy]

Thanks ski

Is there such a thing as sound card quality in practice? I liken to compare it to a mouse: it works or it doesn't (for instance, the circuitry is faulty and its inside cannot be cleaned). Does the same type of diagnosis hold for sound cards?

Thanks again


Tech

[ski]

You're welcome.

Is there such a thing as sound card quality in practice? Yes.

I liken to compare it to a mouse: it works or it doesn't (for instance, the circuitry is faulty and its inside cannot be cleaned). Does the same type of diagnosis hold for sound cards?No.

[mjc]

Short of something glaringly obvious...like an exploded capacitor, no, not really.

Most of what makes up a sound, or any other card, for that matter, are ICs which are not readily inspected visually. So the install route is most often taken.

Yes there exist rather elaborate bench setups to test cards, but they are beyond the budget of most computer shops.