Computer audio jack / plug question

Me | 12/23/2022 | Paul R.

[Paul R.]

Ok, so I'm behind on computer tech: So far as I can tell, most current desktop and laptop computers have gone to* a single (TRRS) Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve audio jack (plug) for audio in and out, configured as: Tip = Out/Left, Outer Ring = Out/Right, Inner Ring = Ground, Sleeve = Mic/In. Well, hooey bluey, this means there's no stereo line input... Is the best option to use a stereo-line-to-USB adaptor?**

[Paul R.]

https://www.rtings.com/speaker/reviews/anker/soundcore-flare-2

I concur with the review. But I can boil it down to one word: Mid-fi. Which is fine if that’s all you want / need. I’m fine myself with decent midfi for background listening, but, not for critical listening OR when I want to get over, oh, I dunno, over 80% out of a well recorded tune.

[Paul R.]

Yeah, those are a possibility too. I just like using something like “Wavosaur”, which also gives me very modest editing, and effects. (If I was REALLY “in” to it I’d use Audacity.)

[Paul R.]

Yes, good point - I’d buy refurbed high end business laptops to get a decent audio converter in the thing. Now that laptops just have “Mic in”, no wonder none have converters of any quality at all.

That Behringer UCA202 looks pretty good...

[rarestia]

If audio fidelity is your driver, buy a USB DAC like a Schiit Modi. If you want decent quality with portability, go Bluetooth.

[Pollard]

Never knew about the four circuit/signal version. I recently had to do a zoom type meeting and the webcam built into the laptop is junk so I bought one. It came with a headset with microphone but it had two 1/8" plugs and my laptop only has a headphone jack so I bought a USB headset with mic.

OR SO I THOUGHT. Just took a closer look at the laptop and the little symbol shows a headset with mic so it must be the TRRS with ground, left, right, mic. That means I could have gotten an adapter with two TRS in and one TRSS out to make the headset that came with the webcam work. No biggie because the $20 USB headset is nicer than the one included with the webcam.

[No.6]

Build your own? Nearly all component motherboards I see have the 5-jack outputs (and HDMI &/or SPDIF)

[No.6]

That said if the machine you have only has the one, something like this might do the trick.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=7128

[GingisK]

The USB input is about the only option at this time.

[fireman15]

That Behringer UCA202 looks pretty good...

I have several Behringer products. They are not really high-quality items, but they do a better job than what comes in a laptop. I have been happy with them.

[musicman]

BTTT!!!

[Paul R.]

Is that from the back panel of an ASUS gaming desktop?*

I, uh, MIGHT take a crack at building my own desktop someday, but a laptop would be well nigh impossible...

*Maybe I could find a refurb of the ASUS.

[Paul R.]

Is there any difference besides color between the UCA202 and the UCA222?

[Paul R.]

Or, for that matter, is there any disadvantage to the Behringer UFO202 vs. the UCA202 or the UCA222?

[Paul R.]

Thanks and Merry Christmas, All!

[No.6]

That’s (a picture from a retailer) of the ASUS B500M-A motherboard I elected to host my machine. Most motherboards are similar; consider that just a representative sample.

Definitely the inexpensive way to compute; you choose exactly what you want (whether barebones computing or monster gaming machine) and cost much less than storebought. There are a bunch of helper sites that assist in making sure the board/CPU/memory/power/case/video all fit together. (e.g., https://pcpartpicker.com/)

In my house there’s a sort of hand-me-down process going so every part gets a lifespan of at least two and probably three people. Kid’s right now running a 3.5Ghz 4-core CPU I bought in 2012 that’s kicking along very nicely. The prior 2008 chip finally gave out last year :)

These days everything’s labeled and unidirectional and easy to assemble. Someone with nimble fingers could probably do it all in 15 minutes, but taking time and tying cables neatly is part of the enjoyment of the result.

[Paul R.]

Well, that's the back panel and ports, not the mb itself... (I can't find a B500M, but that's the B550M)

[Paul R.]

https://www.newegg.com/asus-prime-b550m-a-wifi-ii/p/N82E16813119580?Description=B550M-A&cm_re=B550M-A-_-13-119-580-_-Product&quicklink=true

[Tunehead54]

Hopefully Info for endless snap, crackle and pop problems ...

Bump!

[fireman15]

Or, for that matter, is there any disadvantage to the Behringer UFO202 vs. the UCA202 or the UCA222?

I am glad you looked into this a little more closely. The UFO202 that I linked to doesn't have optical output the other two do. The red color of the UCA222 is the same color as the Behringer products that I have around, and the 4348 feedbacks indicates to me that it is likely an older model. They all are likely to perform similarly. Since the UCA222 is currently just $9.99 with free shipping I would try it out and see if it works well enough for your purposes. Chances are they are closing these out and once they are gone there will be no more of them.

[fireman15]

I checked my Amazon order history; I knew I had one of the little Behringer Audio Interfaces around. I have one of the UFO202s that I used for digitizing LPs to one of my old laptops. Unlike some of my other Behringer gizmos it actually is gray. I bought it in 2011. It did a good job. I went ahead and purchased UCA222 this morning to get the optical output, if you would like I will let you know how the two compare.