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Small rectangular USB 2.0 sound card with 5.1 channel optical S/PDIF audio adapter for PC laptop recording

Optimal Shop 8541610153 5.1 USB 2.0 Sound Card

SKU CH-QBDX-VA7BA

External USB 2.0 sound card adds 5.1-channel audio with 120 dB SNR and 48 KHz sampling to PCs and laptops

  • Interface typeUSB
  • Part type or number4336297530
  • Audio channels5.1
  • Sample rate48 kHz
  • SNR120 decibels
  • Product dimensions3.46 in × 2.36 in × 0.79 in
  • 1 surround sound for immersive audio with six discrete channels
  • Optical S/PDIF output passes digital audio to external decoders
  • USB 2.0 interface connects directly to PC or laptop
  • 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio delivers clear playback
  • Compact 3.46 × 2.36 × 0.79 in design fits any workspace

External 5.1 USB 2.0 Sound Card

This USB 2.0 external sound card adds 5.1 channel audio to a PC or laptop. It provides six analogue output channels plus an optical S/PDIF digital output. The adapter suits users whose built-in audio has failed or who need surround sound for speakers and recording. It draws power from the USB bus and requires no internal installation.

Driver install and common issues

Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, 2000, Vista and 98 are supported; the device appears as a USB audio controller. Install the supplied driver before connecting the hardware. A frequent issue is expecting 5.1 from stereo sources; the optical output only passes 5.1 when the source material is encoded as DTS or AC3. Analogue playback always uses six channels, but digital playback is limited to two-channel PCM unless the content is pre-encoded.

Channels, sample rates and headroom

The card handles 48 KHz sampling for both digital recording and analogue playback, with 44.1 KHz and 32 KHz available in digital modes when the application supports them. Signal-to-noise ratio is rated at 120 decibels. It comfortably drives 5.1 analogue speaker sets and feeds an external decoder via optical. It runs out of digital bandwidth for uncompressed 5.1 PCM, so multichannel digital output requires pre-encoded bitstreams.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Internal & USB Sound Cards, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $29.99
Typical for this category: the median of 185 items is $29.99.

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameOptimal Shop
Model name8541610153
Part number4336297530
Part type or number4336297530
Audio & video
Audio channels5.1
Ports & slots
Interface typeUSB
Size & build
Product dimensions3.46 in × 2.36 in × 0.79 in
Product weight0.111 kg
More details
Sample rate48 kHz
SNR120 decibels

Questions about this item

How can I confirm the Optimal Shop 8541610153 is delivering 5.1 surround sound after I connect it?

Play a DTS 5.1 source such as a 3D game or HD movie and verify all six speaker channels produce sound; the optical S/PDIF output only passes 5.1 when the source itself is encoded in DTS 5.1.

What cables come with the Optimal Shop 8541610153 and what must I buy separately to hook up 5.1 analogue speakers?

The adapter includes the USB 2.0 connection; you will need to purchase three 3.5 mm stereo audio cables (or three 3.5 mm to RCA cables) to link the card’s six analogue outputs to a 5.1 speaker system.

Which sampling-rate mode should I select on the Optimal Shop 8541610153 for 5.1 digital playback over optical?

Choose 48 KHz digital playback; the optical S/PDIF output conveys only the front left and right PCM channels in 5.1 mode, so full 5.1 requires a DTS-encoded source and an external AC3/DTS decoder.

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