USB sound cards

["Henrik Møller (private)" <henrikmoeller2@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear list,

Along with the present discussion of Bob Carlyon's question about sound 
cards driving headphones with high voltage, I have another question 
about sound cards.

I want to calibrate the low-frequency response of a microphone in a 
small closed coupler driven by a small loudspeaker. Although I can do 
this in a laboratory setup, I would like to make a desktop routine check 
- i.e. with the smallest setup as possible.

A USB sound card that can drive an 8 ohm loudspeaker directly would be 
perfect. Some old Sound Blaster PCI cards could, but I wonder if there 
are newer cards that can? To be more precise, the output impedance 
should be much lower than 8 ohm, e.g. 1 ohm or less.

I need a decent low-frequency response, too. Preferably to DC, but at 
least to a few Hz.

Latency and high voltage are not issues. Low noise and low price would 
be nice but not necessary.

I wonder if someone has any experience and proposals?

Best regards,

Henrik

--
Henrik Møller
Professor Emeritus
Aalborg University

Phone: +45 9940 8711
Private mobile phone: +45 4280 3950