StarTech's 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 (Note: 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.

Please note that the microphone input is stereo only.

Applications:

• Connect your computer to a home theater audio receiver through S/PDIF, without opening the case
• Add digital audio support to an Ultrabook™ or small form factor system with no internal expansion options
• Replace or upgrade the integrated audio on a laptop or portable computer