Features:

  • USB 6 Channel 5.1 External Sound Audio Card for PC Laptop OS support: win98 / XP / 2000 / Vista / Win7/8.External sound card USB 6 channel 5.1 audio. Record & play back digital and analog audio without sound card in your computer.
  • USB sound is and USB audio controller. It supports 32KBz, 44.1khz. (which two need driver or application software support) and 48Khz sampling rate in digital recording, 48KHz sampling in digital\analog audio playback.In digital playback mode, itreceives audio stream form PC via USB interface and transmits audio data according to the AES\EBU, IEC60958, S\PDIF cnsumer interface standards. Only R L channel PCM audio in 5.1 channel can be conveyed in digital playback mode.
  • In analog playback mode, it supports 6 channels codec for analog playback In digital recording mode, it receives S\PDIF digital audio input and sends back to PC through USB. Three sampling rates, includes 32KHz,44.1KHz are automatically locked internally. In analog recording mode, fixed 48KHz sampling rate issupportedby analog audio recording.
  • If you want the fiber output to support 5.1-channel output, you must have the following conditions:1.The sound source must be DTS 5.1 channels, such as 3D games, HD movies. If it is a general MP3 or general 2-channel video, you can only have 2-channel effect.
  • 2.The player settings are important: if it is set up with PowerDVD software from the fiber output "Passthrough" through. Meaning that the sound card is only responsible for the fiber signal output, not decoding. Dispensers strongly recommend KMP this player, the function is very powerful。3. After the fiber output must be AC3 / DTS decoder, or built-in AC3 / DTS decoder amplifier and the like。
adds crystal clear DD-5.1 surround sound to Windows-10

while the instructions are not helpful, I got it to work after an hour+ with a Windows-10-Home-Premium laptop that only had stereo sound out. The target configuration does not use this laptop. The target is my office desk: - video-nas (12 TB, 1000+ MPG files with DD-5.1 audio streams) - an Intel z8350 based system with WIndows-10-hme-premium (~$105) - VideoLan's VLC (not the stripped down M$ version, but the original, with force DD-5.1 and force S/P-DIF enabled) - HDMI (video) + S/P-DIF assigned audio to a Sony A/V receiver - TCL 40" HDMI monitor and a Cambridge Labs, Soundworks 5.1 speaker system I will also test this with a home theater using a Marantz A/V receiver (7.1 upmix to an Altec-Lansing A10 VoTT, 17 channel commercial speaker system) and 96" screen, later this month. I would not do this if the sound quality wasn't up to it.

Works with Ubuntu Studio 16.04!

I am using this with a PC running Ubuntu Studio 16.04 Xenial Xerus LTS. It was as simple as hook it up and plug up the speakers and the USB cable (The USB cable was provided with the unit). All I had to do within the OS was select the desired output; Device is listed as "CM106 Like Sound Device" and the profile I am using is: "Analog Surround 5.1 Output". That was it! All six speakers are working! No need to do any terminal Configurations. I am not using the fiber optic (Toslink) connections, but I did verify that the output port has the red light. The unit is very small and easy to conceal on my desk.

Inexpensive way to get Surround Sound on Laptop - Optimal Shop usb external sound card

The Optimal Shop USB Sound Card is part of the solution that has inexpensively got me surround sound and has greatly improved my movie watching and gaming experience. I use it with Logitech Z506 5.1 speakers and a laptop. I was looking to get surround sound to watch movies and play games on my laptop which I connect to my TV. The typical way would be to spend $300 to $500 plus on a surround sound amp and speaker system. I spent under $75 on this usb sound card and speakers and I am extremely satisfied with the outcome. I am not an audiophile, but the sound is crisp and clear, no distortion, no problems with volume and the surround sound effects are excellent. Many similar devices are being sold and some cheaper but I chose Optimal Shop because it was being shipped by Amazon and I did not want to wait for it to be shipped from China. It came packaged in a bubble wrap bag with 1.5ft usb cable and mini CD and no branding. The usb card was recognized immediately by Win8.1. I did not have to use the driver cd that came with it. Just a little configuration in Windows and good to go: Control Panel, Select Speakers, USB Sound Device and then 1) Configure and then choose your configuration in the wizard and then 2) properties, change to DVD quality. In Netflix I searched for 'test patterns' to test the 5.1 surround sound channel separations and it sounded perfect. You can also use this test to check screen resolution, frames, and bandwidth. I did not test any of the optical features.

A must have if you have a turntable connected to your Mac!

I have seriously waited too long to update my 2014 Mac Mini because of all the new Macs abandoning line in for who knows why...I bought this along with a USB C to USB hub and am now using this with Garageband to play all my records. A must have and I wish I knew about this sooner. Running on a 2018 Mac Mini

Works great once you find the driver

Works great once you find the driver. http://imgur.com/RKCopw2 Image shows CM6206-LX as the audio chip driving this external audio device. For those without a CD drive: http://www.cmedia.com.tw/EN/DownloadCenter_Detail2.html My setup? TV -> optical -> Optimal Shop-> usb -> PC -> Realtek -> optical -> Logitech z5500 Nice use as a pass through.

Cheap price that delivers.

I bought this External Sound card after purchasing a 5.1 Logitech sound system for a computer and realizing that I didn't have the required outputs. The Card was extremely simple to set up and has been very reliable regardless of volume and playback duration. I have used the system with both Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 and it works great.

Yes it works on Mac and set-up is easy.

I purchased this for a MacBook Pro Late 2011 model to monitor 5.1 audio that I am mixing in Final Cut Pro X. After going into Applications -> Utilities -> Audio Midi Setup and changing the audio source setting on the usb device from 2 channel to 6 channel it worked like a charm, simple as that. Final Cut plays back in 5.1 and I can monitor my surround panning. The sound is also much cleaner than what comes from the built in headphone jack on my Mac.

Works great on my Dell XPS 13 with Ubuntu 16

Works great on my Dell XPS 13 with Ubuntu 16.04!! I can get all 6 channels individually when testing the sound. Just make sure you go to your sounds settings and select the correct output device. For some reason, the adapter appears as two devices. If you select the Digital Output (S/PDIF) as shown on the image I attached, you only get stereo sound. You need to select the "Speakers CM 106 Like Sound Device" to have all 6 channels. Then you can test your speaker setup by clicking on "Test Sound" to make sure you put the speakers in the right place and hooked up the cables correctly.

Solved my problem using surround sound speakers with my notebook computer

I use this to connect my 6 channel surround sound speakers to my notebook computer. Previously, I could only plug one pair into my 1/8" stereo headset jack, and 4 of my speakers sat idle. The software that comes with the unit is necessary, and it installs a specific version of a Direct X driver. My driver software upgraded the Direct X driver and the speakers stopped working. I reinstalled from the CD and it resumed working correctly. It is a very small box that easily sits on top of my docking station. I highly recommend this if you have a surround sound speaker system with three jacks but only one headphone jack on your computer.

Great Substitute for new MacBook Pro's lack of line input!

My new MacBook does not have the ability to convert the headphones jack into a line/mic input as my older MacBook did. (Thanks, Apple, for once again taking something so elegant and simple, eliminating it, and creating a problem.) I like to use my MacBook to convert all my old vinyl into mp3 for my iPhone and iPod. I asked around and no one had a simple, inexpensive solution. All of the suggestions included paying hundreds of dollars for items that are far beyond my needs. Then I found this item, and it works perfectly. Of course, I also had to buy a small USB to USB-C adapter, but that was a minor issue. ATTENTION NEW MACBOOK OWNERS!

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