Amazon.com: StarTech.com USB Sound Card w/ SPDIF Digital Audio & Stereo Mic – External Sound Card for Laptop or PC – SPDIF Output (ICUSBAUDIO2D),Black 0.6" x 1.8" : Electronics

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Customers find the sound card works well as a high-quality headphone jack output and appreciate its small size and ease of installation. The hardware volume control and stereo mic input are positive features, and customers consider it excellent value. Sound quality receives mixed feedback, with some customers reporting loud buzzing noise in the background. The product's reliability is concerning, with multiple customers reporting that it keeps failing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

50 customers mention "Functionality" 43 positive 7 negative

Customers find that the sound card works well, particularly as a high-quality headphone jack output, with one customer noting it functions flawlessly with Windows 8.

"...The M2 headphones are very efficient, which means that I can hear even a little bit of noise...." Read more

"...The switch works and indeed you get a nice Bass boost (or Treble Boost). The sound amplification is "just okay" though. The sound is kinda flat...." Read more

"...I have this hooked to a Teffler Thunderbolt/ USBC hub and it works great. Here's how: • System Preferences -> Sound..." Read more

16 customers mention "Microphone support" 12 positive 4 negative

Customers appreciate the sound card's microphone support, which includes stereo input, and one customer notes that it works well with transceivers and radios, while another mentions that the analogue volume control works great.

"...the "4 Pos TRRS + Mic" version and surprisingly it has a stereo mic input as advertised...." Read more

"...Extremely satisfied. It has a Mic input and volume control as well. Amazing for the price." Read more

"This is an amazing product. It works with a stereo input and the quality is superb. I recommend this external soundcard to everyone with a laptop." Read more

"It does work as a new audio port, but for all the flashing lights and bells and whistles it does not amplify the sound any higher than the pc sound..." Read more

14 customers mention "Value for money" 14 positive 0 negative

Customers find the sound card to be an excellent value, with one mentioning it sounds amazing for the price.

"...These do a great job for the price." Read more

"...that with much room to spare, that product while I still feel is reasonably priced, is nearly 3x in cost to this one...." Read more

"First off I considered giving it 4 stars because it feels light and cheap...." Read more

"...Wow, Amazon had it for the best price that I could get for it! Very satisfied customer here..." Read more

12 customers mention "Ease of installation" 12 positive 0 negative

Customers find the sound card easy to install and use, with one customer noting that it automatically installs the right driver.

"...And Cubase had no problem recognizing and connecting with the StarTech's inputs and outputs. My pre-sales contact with StarTech was impressive...." Read more

"...external card in every department: sound quality, output volume, wiring convenience, and drivers...." Read more

"...But the lights came on and it had, indeed, installed successfully. #2, I couldn't get any sound out of it into my earphones...." Read more

"...Was hoping to. As for the unit it'seasy to manually install and does it's software install on its own...." Read more

12 customers mention "Volume control" 10 positive 2 negative

Customers appreciate the sound card's hardware volume control, with one mentioning that the control works well on the adapter itself.

"...The hardware volume control on the StarTech is a nice bonus, and very convenient...." Read more

"...do anything when connected to this, but the hardware volume control on the adapter itself works well, and overall construction seems solid." Read more

"...Extremely satisfied. It has a Mic input and volume control as well. Amazing for the price." Read more

"...Hardware volume control, no static and a huge improvement over the onboard audio on my raspberry pi and it's got spdif optical output!..." Read more

5 customers mention "Size" 5 positive 0 negative

Customers appreciate the sound card's small size, with one mentioning it takes up virtually no room on a messy desk.

"...combined with this soundcard and a laptop, make for a really light, compact and portable kit for quick, great-sounding recordings...." Read more

"...It sounds fine in "Direct" mode. Given how small and light this is, and given that my M2 headphones just plug right in and work..." Read more

"...And it is quite small - will take up virtually no room on your messy, crowded computer table...." Read more

"...amplify it a bit but very quality sound - also this device is quite small in size " Read more

49 customers mention "Sound quality" 30 positive 19 negative

Customers have mixed experiences with the sound card's performance, with some reporting very good sound and considering it worth the price, while others mention issues with loud buzzing noise in the background and complete lack of audio output.

"...But in preliminary testing with spoken word, the noise level seemed surprisingly good for a consumer-level device, and would likely be more than..." Read more

"...It (seems to) provide direct output without reprocessing, clean digital sound...." Read more

"...When I plugged them into my business laptop, I heard an annoying hiss. I tried a Creative E1 device and also heard an annoying hiss...." Read more

"...The switch works and indeed you get a nice Bass boost (or Treble Boost). The sound amplification is "just okay" though. The sound is kinda flat...." Read more

6 customers mention "Reliability" 0 positive 6 negative

Customers report issues with the sound card's reliability, noting that it keeps failing and has poor design.

"When it works, it does SPDIF output well. However, it is not reliable. It will work for a few days and the, suddenly no sound...." Read more

"...Don't buy this, guys. Bad design, keeps failing. There is no ESD protection, so the op-amp for your headphones will keep getting fried on dry days." Read more

"The product is truly junk. It's driver is unsigned. It will not install on Windows 10. There is no updated driver on the website...." Read more

" Device was defective - plugged in USB and the LED lights would flash briefly before turning off...." Read more

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5.0 out of 5 stars