Creative Soundblaster E1

The Soundblaster E1 is the solution for anyone who desperately needs to upgrade the motherboard's audio components. The E1 will get rid of nasty hissing and too little microphone volume. The pretty small external soundcard is equipped with a little clip that makes it also a viable "emergency" solution as portable DAC/Amp for your laptop or as amp for your phone. The required drivers are a mess...but that's a given for Creative hardware; expect to spend 3 minutes unboxing, but 45 minutes setting up the software until everything works. At least the software comes with a semi-usable equalizer and Creative's SBX virtual surround sound.

When should you get this?

Circumvent a really bad motherboard and improve sound quality and mic input without spending a lot.

Technical Information:

Input: Micro USB (data) / 3.5mm TRRS (microphone)

Output: 1 x 3.5mm TRS and 1 x 3.5mm TRRS

Power Supply: Mini USB DC5V 500mA

Note:

Unfortunately Creative does neither disclose output power nor output impedance on the official product page. Driving IEMs or anything up to the 250 Ohm Beyderdynamic DT-Series (96dB/mW) apparently works just fine.