I was looking for a way to use my laptop connected to my home audio amp which can input for 7.1 sound but outputs on a laptop were limited to a single left and a right. Even when I tried the DVI audio same setup. I finally ran across a gadget on Amazon that seemed to get pretty high ratings and was priced so low I figured it had to be worthless but I bought it anyway. $36 I think. Model NBA200U although I think that several similar units may all be made from the same design by a single company in Taiwan and sold under different names.
While sound is always a very subjective thing, I have to say that it installed with Zero problems, I like the software Interface for PC/Windows environments, and the outputs were exactly what I needed for the 7.1 audio inputs on my amp.
The end result audio even coming from Pandora was better than what I had been hearing from a desktop PC with a Turtle Beach Sound Card in it. Plus it took up a fraction of the space. The laptop was almost a freebie since the screen was broken but it works fine on the 36" LCD that the desktop was using.
I was hoping that the USB would be used in some way to provide additional audio info to the processor chip in the unit but I think it is there for Power Only. Still, I have to say I am satisfied with the results.
If any one else has had any experience with these external soundcards I would love to be able to do more if it could be done. But even this Inexpensive Convertor gave my Subwoofer vibes that can shake the walls with clear bass output from my Asus laptop and the surround-sound sure seems to be real.
