StarTech.com USB Stereo Audio Adapter External Sound Card w/ SPDIF Digital
$42.99
$34.99
Mfg # ICUSBAUDIO2D
CDW # 3134644
| UNSPSC 43201502
Quick tech specs
- Add an SPDIF digital audio output and standard 3.5mm audio/microphone connections to your system through USB
- External Sound Card w/ SPDIF Out
- USB to Audio Converter
- USB DAC
- 4 position TRRS headset with Mic supported
- USB Stereo Audio Adapter
- USB Sound Card Adapter
- USB SPDIF Sound Card
- USB Audio Adapter
- 16in Attached USB Cable
Know your gear
Add an SPDIF digital audio output and standard 3.5mm audio/microphone connections to your system through USB. The ICUSBAUDIO2D External USB Sound Card lets you add an S/PDIF digital audio output and standard 3.5mm analog audio/microphone connections to your system through USB - a convenient way to bypass or replace an internal sound card without having to open the computer case.
For home-theater quality sound, the USB DAC (digital-to-analog converter) offers 96KHz / 24-bit sampling rates for both playback and recording, and a 3.5mm S/PDIF port with support for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound (AC3) and DTS pass-through (5.1 surround sound is supported in Windows only).
This versatile USB audio adapter features an integrated 3.5mm 4-position TRRS connection for your headphones or combination headset/microphone. Also a convenient external volume control for quick adjustments, a hardware EQ switch for Bass or Treble boosting, and an LED status bar to display the current sampling rate.
For home-theater quality sound, the USB DAC (digital-to-analog converter) offers 96KHz / 24-bit sampling rates for both playback and recording, and a 3.5mm S/PDIF port with support for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound (AC3) and DTS pass-through (5.1 surround sound is supported in Windows only).
This versatile USB audio adapter features an integrated 3.5mm 4-position TRRS connection for your headphones or combination headset/microphone. Also a convenient external volume control for quick adjustments, a hardware EQ switch for Bass or Treble boosting, and an LED status bar to display the current sampling rate.
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StarTech.com USB Stereo Audio Adapter External Sound Card w/ SPDIF Digital is rated
4.80 out of
5 by
11.
Rated 5 out of
5 by
jasjr from
Easy to install, works very well
My internal sound card died, and I decided to give this a try. The first thing I noticed was the headphones that seemed to have no bass were great. Plenty of volume. Software for customizing more would be nice, but for the quality it produces is not really needed.
Date published: 2018-11-02T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
jayengee from
Great Sound Again
I had bought two new laptops running Windows 10 both, however, only had a single audio socket for a headset and not proper stereo line inputs. As a result when trying to record my old LP records I would get prominent tick, tick, tick sounds with the music quietly underneath it. I eventually found and ordered a StarTech Stereo Audio USB External Sound Card with SPDIF Digital Audio. After a bit of changing inputs and setting the input as a USB microphone and output as the laptop's normal speakers the sound is perfect again. The search was not easy as I didn't really know what to look for - many USB adapters are not stereo, and this is. I got mine from Span.com as I'm in the UK.
Date published: 2016-01-18T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
exrutruop from
Works as you would expect
I purchased this adapter a month or so ago with the primary goal of getting an optical output out of my Windows 10 PC. It works like a charm. Obviously, I was looking to get high quality output. This too was delivered.
Date published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Bumpin it from
Best sub-$100 home theater/stereo investment ever
I run a tri-amp system that predominantly plays all channel stereo from my .flac library. I am most definitely an audiophile and there is certainly a SQ improvement using this device. I have a 3.5mm spdif to optical audio hooked straight to amp 1 as opposed to laptop media port (? Is that what it's called) to HDMI to TV then optical out to amp 1. I recommend setting the main volume to 85% player at 100% then adjust amps from there.
Last night I set up Dolby Atmos for headphones free trial plugin, enabled 7.1 virtual surround and hooked my velodyne cans to this device. I was blown away with the AC3-encoded Valerian and the city of 1000 planets swarming around the headphones. Top notch product, startech. Hurry up and make an android app/plugin so I can enjoy my .flacs on my LG g5 with neutron! Also, send me some devices to review on my blog. You guys rock!
Date published: 2017-11-06T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Christen314 from
Beware Windows 10 users
This seems like a great product but I get an error when I try to install on my windows 10 laptop. Because I cannot install the driver, I have to plug in the device then plug headphones into it in order to hear any sound. Wish they would update for windows 10.
Date published: 2016-09-05T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
netrex from
Small with Big Features!
This is a very small (it surprised me, I thought it would be a lot bigger) external USB sound card with lets you have great sound for both headphones and for normal cheap microphones (more so than if you connect them to your microphone in on your motherboard sound card (or any internal sound cards I've ever tried). If you need great sound for your PC or laptop and you're on a budget (and even if you're not on a budget), this is the one for you.
Date published: 2018-03-21T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Roman Court from
Works on MacOS 10.14 Mojave!
Connect and choose "USB Advanced Audio Device," then "Encoded Digital Audio" for AC3 output from iTunes. No apparent Safari (Plex, etc.) support, YET.
Date published: 2019-06-08T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Webmaster from
This product is excellent
This mini soundcard replaces the embedded Realtek sound chip on my computer motherboard offering 100% improvement. I bought a second one for my Dell Inspiron 24 5000 All-in-One. Great job StarTech.
Date published: 2019-05-15T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
null from
I finally have sound again.
It works! My desktop computer has been without sound for years due to Windows 10 updates. All I had to do was plug in the USB port, attach my speakers to the new external sound card, and finally, I have sound.
Date published: 2021-01-13T15:58:58-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Impressed from
Works great with Win 10
Have 2 of these, Microsoft for same reason made installation is tad fiddly - its pnp & then reboot to install correct drivers. USB Advanced Audio Device and USB PnP Sound device If you use portable Kodi you also need to select correct device after reboot.
Date published: 2019-11-28T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
GLep from
No need to replace your sound card
It has become a hassle to replace any type of card inside my computers. I used to do it all the time, back in the day when computers were simple. But now, what kind of buss to I have, what type of memory - I no longer have the knowledge to confidently upgrade or change out components. I'll bet there are a lot of folks in the same situation. The sound on my favorite old computer got so bad I almost got rid of it. I couldn't even understand the spoken word. But I decide to try the Startech External Sound Card first and it worked flawlessly. Simply plugged it in and ran the software - Wa La I was listening to great music once again. I have bought other Startech products and they too proved to be good products, so I doubt I will have any trouble with this one.
Date published: 2017-05-27T00:00:00-04:00