SABRENT USB-SBCV USB 2.0 External 2.1 Surround Sound Adapter

Pros: Small, no driver disk

Cons: Extremely cheaply made. Broke within 2 weeks. The inside of the headphone/speaker jack disintegrated so the plug would only make contact if held in just the right position.

Other Thoughts: Worth spending $25 not to have to hassle with it breaking and you returning it.

Pros: Good ROI and space saving. Requires no PCI slots expended on a simple audio solution. If all you require is basic sound in/out and can secure the device so that it resists mechanical forces (like bumps or shock); this can be a good solution.

NO DRIVER DISK REQUIRED!!!

Installs as USB Audio Device and produces audio as a plug-n-play device.

Cons: USB I/O and light plastic construction does not lend itself as a robust solution able to withstand heavy road abuse or exposed use on the go. If that is the environment you will put your solution to work in -- this is not the device for you.

Constant insertion and removal of USB device or bending, compression force while in socket would not go well for this device. It is not meant as a "ride hard, put away wet" tool.

If you need a simple, low-cost, works out-of-the-box sound solution that will be internally mounted in a chassis (for lack of PCI slots) and cabled to an audio I/O panel; this is a great alternative!

Other Thoughts: No driver disk neccessary with this solution. Native support as USB Audio Device for Windows XP - 7. Listed support for OS/X but not tested for my application.

It is built of light plastic and could do without the buttons and should be used in applications where it will be protected from force or impact. Best for on-the-go audio or a USB based solution attached inside of a chassis where PCI-X/PCI-e slots are not available.

The control buttons do function as intended but can be set and left in lieu of control via OS. Overall I do highly recommend this device provided you do not intend to abuse your equipment. But for the right job...this is the right tool.

Pros: It works - plug and play with windows 7 64bit.
It has lots of amplification.
Cheap in price.

Cons: Too much amplification - with in ear headphones I had to set the volume to 1% in Windows. Higher hurt my ears it was so loud.
This thing is fragile, the tiniest bump or pull on headphone cord when using with a laptop caused it to break its shell and bend at the USB port. After a few weeks of use with it wobbly and broken, it finally broke beyond repair and met my trash can.
Cheap in construction, goes with price.

Other Thoughts: The buttons aren't necessary, I never used them. If they made it more sturdy and without buttons I'd buy again.

Pros: installed instantly on Vista
connects flawlessly with 2.1 speaker system

Cons: green power light blinks when in use

Other Thoughts: audio jack had broken from overuse - this device brought my sound back! thanks for resurrecting my poor laptop!

Pros: They made this one idiot-proof:

- Plug it into any USB slot.
- Wait 10 seconds while Windows detects it and automatically installs the appropriate drivers for and also automatically makes it the default sound output device.
- You plug your computers speakers' line-in into the device's line-out output.
- You enjoy decent sound.

Cons: - This isn't a device to show off at a LAN party, as the sound is respectable but not impressive.
- The package didn't have any instructions to speak of, so common sense was a must.
- The device had a different colour ring around the line out output compared against the picture on the package, but again, common sense people...
The "volume up" button causes the volume to increase in the specific application's volume (not Windows volume), but the "volume down" button on the device doesn't have a discernible effect.

Other Thoughts: I hooked this up to a Belkin 4-port powered USB hub so that all devices on my sisters' laptops can function based on just one USB cable being plugged into the machine. So far no lag and no problems to speak of.

Like the title says, it does the job. If you want hardcore quality 18.3 surround, pull out your wallet.

Just a random tidbit of advice - if you're buying this in hopes of having more than one sound card output the same audio signal simultaneously, you're going to need a little program called "Audio Repeater" (part of the "Virtual Audio Cable" package - google it).

Pros: UNIT COMES IN A SMALL PACKAGE.

Cons: DOES NOT HAVE A DRIVER FOR WINDOWS 7. NO CD DRIVERS IN THE PACKAGE. PRINTED IN THE PACKAGE NO DRIVER NEEDED FOR ALL WINDOWS O/S, PLUG AND PLAY.

Other Thoughts: THE BOX SAID THE UNIT COMPATIBLE WITH WINDOWS 7 BUT I TRIED IN TWO COMPUTERS, NO DRIVER FOUND. SUPPOSED TO BE PLUG AND PLAY BUT MAYBE FOR THE PRICE THEY FORGET TO INCLUDE THE DRIVERS.