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Small black external USB sound card with 3.5mm jacks and optical output

STARTECH

STARTECH ICUSBAUDIO2D USB 2.0 5.1 sound card 96KHz 91dB

SKU CH-AX1Z-5SANJ MPN ICUSBAUDIO2D

Adds 5.1-channel audio with 96KHz sampling and 91dB SNR via USB 2.0, providing optical SPDIF and 3.5mm connections for Windows, Mac and Linux systems

  • PartICUSBAUDIO2D
  • Audio ChipsetVIA VT1630A
  • Channels5.1
  • Sample Rate96KHz
  • SNR91dB
  • InterfaceUSB 2.0

Style 4 Pos TRRS + Mic

  • Add SPDIF digital output and 3.5 mm audio/mic via USB 2.0
  • 1 surround sound at 96 kHz sample rate
  • 91 dB signal-to-noise ratio for clear audio
  • External adapter with optical Toslink and dual 3.5 mm jacks
  • Broad OS support from Windows XP to 10 and Mac OS X 10.6 to 10.8

USB 2.0 5.1 sound card

The STARTECH ICUSBAUDIO2D is an external USB 2.0 audio adapter that adds 5.1 channel output and a digital SPDIF port to a computer. It uses the VIA VT1630A chipset and provides 96KHz sample rate with 91dB signal-to-noise ratio. The device is aimed at users who need surround sound or optical output on systems lacking built-in audio connections.

USB 2.0 bandwidth and OS limits

The USB 2.0 interface caps throughput at the legacy high-speed rate which restricts maximum channel count and sample depth compared to modern USB audio standards. Driver support ends at Windows 10 and Mac OS X 10.8 so newer operating systems may not recognise the device without community workarounds. No hardware controls or on-board DSP are present so all processing falls to the host CPU.

5.1 channels and 96KHz headroom

The adapter comfortably handles stereo and 5.1 playback at 96KHz for movies music and gaming headsets using the 3.5mm analogue or Toslink digital outputs. It runs out of headroom for higher sample rates multi-channel uncompressed formats beyond 5.1 or professional recording workflows that demand lower latency and higher dynamic range than the 91dB SNR provides.

Highlights

  • Add SPDIF digital output and 3.5 mm audio/mic via USB 2.0
  • 1 surround sound at 96 kHz sample rate
  • 91 dB signal-to-noise ratio for clear audio
  • External adapter with optical Toslink and dual 3.5 mm jacks
  • Broad OS support from Windows XP to 10 and Mac OS X 10.6 to 10.8

Specifications

BrandStarTech.com
ModelICUSBAUDIO2D
PartICUSBAUDIO2D
Audio ChipsetVIA VT1630A
Channels5.1
Sample Rate96KHz
SNR91dB
InterfaceUSB 2.0
External BoxYes
Operating Systems SupportedWindows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10
Windows Server 2003, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016
Mac OS X 10.6 to 10.8
FeaturesForm Factor: External
Interfaces / Ports:
1 x 3.5mm - Toslink (SPDIF; Optical) Female
1 x 3.5mm Mini Jack - (3 Position) Female
1 x 3.5mm Mini Jack - (4 Position) Female
Weight1.30 oz
Package ContentsUSB Stereo Audio Adapter External Sound Card with SPDIF Digital Audio
1 x Software CD
1 x Instruction Manual
Shipping weight0.11 kg
Package size170 × 140 × 33 mm

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Questions about this item

Should I pick the 5.1-channel version or a stereo-only model for surround sound?

This model delivers 5.1 channels through its VIA VT1630A chipset, so you get full surround output from a single USB 2.0 connection.

What does the 96 kHz sample rate mean for my music and movies?

It supports playback up to 96 kHz, so high-resolution audio files play at their native rate without down-sampling.

Does the USB 2.0 interface limit the 91 dB signal-to-noise ratio in practice?

USB 2.0 provides enough bandwidth for the 96 kHz stream, so the 91 dB SNR is achievable in real use.

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