I've been looking around for a good audio solution for my notebook (Averatec 3150HW) and have run into a couple of walls. Basically I'm only interested in playback.

The Echo Indigo obviously is the best option for me in terms of both portability and probably quality and compatibility. But then it costs at least double of the comparable USB solutions.

The real tale of woe begins when I got a Hercules Muse Pocket. First I should explain about my notebook though, since firstly it's a cheap ass notebook (but otherwise ideal) and the USB ports aren't doing so well - sometimes when I plug or unplug usb devices (my mouse or the Muse) the thing will just shut down - not to mention I think the southbridge is a via chipset.

So basically the Muse Pocket works fine - but not on the notebook (I tested it on something else). There's horrible crackling, but only when I play music - MP3's or CD's. Video and DVD's are fine.

So the question would be, should I just take the hint and realise that my USB ports are pretty much useless for things more complicated than a mouse, or should I just assume that Creative (I'm eyeing the MP3+) does a better (or more tolerant) job?

All this is complicated of course by the fact that I'm not in US right now nor will be for a bit, so I can neither buy an Echo Indigo even if I wanted to, nor can I RMA my notebook to have the USB ports looked at.

P.S: Note to all those considering the Muse Pocket: Don't. It's actually huge. And aside from my own problems with it (even when not on the notebook it had some distortion at higher volumes), the volume control is horrible - it's basically a HID controlling the master volume control of your OS rather than a hardware control - and the volume changes it make can be wildly erratic, turning a bit can increase the volume a lot and vice versa. Waste of time and money.

So yes, Help.

The good news would be that people have actually used the Echo Indigo with this notebook, as suggested here: http://howstuffworks.pricegrabber.com/rati...02080442d6059d4
(search for indigo)

I use the Xitel Pro HiFi-Link on my laptop. Additionally, I plug a Headroom Total AirHead into that. I'm pleased with the results and havn't had a single problem with the Xitel box.

When I purchased my AirHead, Headroom was about to release the same combo in a single unit called the BitHead.

I chose the Xitel/AirHead combo because I can plug the Xitel into my home stereo, or my headphones (vai the AirHead) when at work.

But if size and cost are a concern, this may not be the best route for you. It's two units, each about the size of a cigarette pack, with the cost coming in at $300.

Sounds like unclean power. Does the Muse use a separate power supply or is it fully usb powered?
Anyway, since there are problems with other usb devices too, the laptop is probably the problem.
It is likely that power on the cardbus will be unclean as well, so that it might not help at all to get an Indigo.

Is there anything more you can say about unclean power? It sounds rather plausible, not least because I'm now in the UK using a US power supply - I know it's supposed to be autosensing etc but that could conceivably be the problem?

I know with usb webcams that there's an issue between european and us modes of operation, there being picture noise etc. if used in the wrong way, I'm wondering if it's the same thing here.

But you're right, if it is that, the PCMCIA bus is on the same IRQ as the USB ports, so it would probably be afflicted in the same way.

I suspected it might be a dodgy power cable I bought locally in the UK since it was easier to buy the 3 pin cable than to use 2 adaptors to convert the power cable that came with the power supply. However I've tried swapping back and there's no difference.

What really gets me is that it's only the music that seems to be the problem - I can play (after rebooting from playing music) videos and DVD's fine, but once I play music files, within 10 seconds the crackling comes back in.

Part of me suspects it's a similar issue to the other Echo Indigo thread, where he has crackling when his audio isn't locked at 44,100. Unfortunately Hercules drivers aren't that sophisticated.

I'll probably be stubborn though, and try out some more usb devices, and at least the Creative MP3+, since I think I can find a place that won't give me grief about returns.