[Ham-Mac] USB Sound interface with macbook and 10.5?

[Chuck Counselman]

Am 2012 Jan 01 schrieb Ross Primrose N4RP:

> Just curious which USB sound interfaces people have had luck with under 
> OSX? I want to use something other than the built-in sound on my macbook 
> for running digital modes with my K2...

...und am 2012 Jan 06 schreib Jan-Henrik Preine DK1OM:

> Several USB sound sticks. As long as they appear as a "C-Media" device in the Sound control panel, they all work. The Griffin iMic works for me as well. Check the position of the switch at the side of the iMic for high or low sensitivity.


This thread has been interesting but I don't understand why the built-in sound of a MacBook running OS X v5 or greater is not adequate.  Why is an external device necessary or desirable?  Would someone please explain?

Thank you.

Chuck W1HIS