Hello,

I'd like to listen to music on my laptop. After browsing the forum, I had narrowed the choice to three items (criiteria are portability, good sounding device, only analog output needed, headphones ready)

1) Echo indigo
2) M-audio Sonica USB
3) Audiotrak optoplay

1) seems to be the cream-of-the-cream choice, but it is more expensive than the 2 other ones and it will be limited to the laptop (PCMCIA device). But if the gain is *real*, why not? Is it clear that 1) is superior to 2) and 3) ? (also, it seems that some of you encountered hisses and crakling sound issues with this device.... )

2) and 3) seem to be comparable devices. Does anyone of you had a chance to compare? If I understand correctly, the Sonica does not have a headphone amp integrated, while the Optoplay has one. Is there a real difference for low impedence device (I think my Philips HP890 is rated something like 32 ohm)

Thanks a lot.

PS I have searched the forum (hence my pre-final choices), but I'd like to get your input for the final step (in other words, I won't afford the three devices to make the comparison myself). Pleas, do not flame me if the answer is already in the forum.... it is not due to laziness!

I can't really help with the comparison, as I have only used one of the three products, but I can tell you why you should get the echo indigo

For me it's been great. It fits very nicely into the pcmcia slot. The volume control dial is surprisingly handy on a laptop, unless you have built in volume control above the keyboard. Dual headphone outputs is nice if you have your laptop hooked up to both a set of speakers and headphones... less switching plugs, eases the wear on them as well.

- Matt

The Indigo is sweet indeed, but it won't fit in my laptop because of my Linksys WLAN card. Bollocks .

Or that is... I can only fit one of them at a time, because they both have parts sticking out and up. So it's WLAN or audio.

OK for Indigo (need to check for WLAN card). Besides, any input regarding Sonicq Vs Optoplay?

-ec

Well... It seems that only Indigo has supporters. But due to the price - and the fact that I would buy it to use on my profesional Laptop - I'd like to be able to use it on another PC. Do you know if it exists a way to convert PCMCIA into USB? (I know that PCI PCMCI slots exist, but I think USB would be more convenient).

Thanks!

-ec

A mate of mine has the M-Audio Sonica USB. I think it sound pretty good and is reasonably priced too. I listened to it with decent headphones (Beyerdynamic DT231, IIRC) so I think I would have noticed any major problems. If I was looking for a USB sound solution I would definately go for this one.

I have also heard good things about the Griffin Powerwave. The bonus is that it can also drive decent size speakers. I haven't heard it myself, but you might want to listen to an example and consider it.

Yet another candidate. Thanks!

And the lake of amplifier on the Sonica seems not to be a problem.

-ec

If price isn't a concern, but quality is, take a look at Headroom's Total BitHead. It's a USB device that provides DAC + headphone amp.

I currently use Xitel's Pro HiFi Link + Headroom's Total AirHead and love it. The combination isn't exactly "small", but fits in my laptop case just fine. The XiTel is an external USB DAC, with RCA and digital jacks. So I can plug my headphone amp into it, or my home stereo.

I have the Indigo.

There is nothing about it to criticise! (Apart from its' availability outside the US)

Actually, I now have two Indigos - I've just bought the one that also has an analogue input. This is also beyond criticism! I've tested it fairly extensively and the performance really is all you could ask from it.

Unfortunately on my laptop the PCMCIA slot, USB port and socket for the external CD etc are close together, meaning that I can't use the CD and Indigo headphone out (on the in/out card) at the same time (though I've never actually wanted to do that in the past...), and a non-right-angle jack gets a bit jammed up against the USB wireless mouse receiver.

However, fortunately for you (!), this means my Indigo output only card is now for sale if you're interested. Even if you're not interested in mine, go for the Indigo - it really is the best, and I actually feel us laptop owners ought to be grateful to Echo for allowing us to avoid the truly awful audio out of some/many laptops.

@mtillman

I have just sent you a private e-mail (I think on the board e-mail space); I don't know if you are automatically notified. We will continue the discussion regarding your card by e-mail, since this forum is not for this.

Thanks,

-ec