# USB to 3.5mm 6-Channel Audio **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [April 30, 2025, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685 "2025-04-30T04:19:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/1 "2025-04-30T04:19:57Z")
The motherboard of my new computer is an ASUS 870E-E Gaming, which does not have the 6-Channel 3.5mm ports (Green, Pink, Black) for 5.1 Surround Sound. My speakers are Logitech Z906. I don’t want to use the optical port because it lacks the bandwidth for normal 5.1. It’s 5.1 ability is very limited. The Z906 does not have HDMI or USB input for audio. My previous motherboard had the three 3.5 mm jacks built in, so this was not a problem. I think my best option might be just a USB to 3.5mm 6-Channel _adapter_. My concern is that all the ones I find online call themselves “External Sound Card”. I thought an external sound card was something different. Is this adapter actually processing the audio the way a sound card does? Would my onboard sound card no longer be doing the work? If that’s the case, I’m concerned this dongle will actually do a worse job than my onboard sound card. In that case, I’d at least want to get one that is better than my integrated sound card. My other options are just to get a PCI sound card like I’m back in the 1990s, or I could upgrade my speakers. The problem with getting new speakers is that I’d want something with HDMI audio input that didn’t combine three front channels into a single sound bar. I want three separate speakers in the front. > **[Robot or human?](https://www.walmart.com/ip/USB-Sound-Card-7-1-5-1-Channel-External-Audio-Card-SPDIF-Optical-for-PC-Computer-F0D5/5782744949?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=102517609&selectedOfferId=C96E479B472D3A56AD25D37F8625697C&conditionGroupCode=1&sourceid=dsn_ad_82a1172e-9aef-4deb-a6c1-b1278a1d5253&veh=dsn&wmlspartner=dsn_ad_82a1172e-9aef-4deb-a6c1-b1278a1d5253&cn=FY25-MP-PMAX2_cnv_dps_dsn_dis_ad_mp_s_n&gclsrc=aw.ds&wl9=pla&wl11=online&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIoSLBDgRKu6LUmhtNQjWmxeE&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8cHABhC-ARIsAJnY12yXk7z64OHfRAvIgX8kU_VrAKxbSwj1fYZHPns6PZAQSQOeZpuk7jkaAldgEALw_wcB)** This is not a sound card. Right? It’s just an adapter and my onboard sound card does all the work? > **[Robot or human?](https://www.walmart.com/ip/StarTech-7-1-USB-Audio-Adapter-Sound-Card-with-SPDIF-Digital-Audio-Sound-card-48-kHz-7-1-USB-2-0/14291558?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&selectedOfferId=A85DC66456B64E829372D96425ECBD4D&conditionGroupCode=1&wmlspartner=wlpa&cn=FY25-ENTP-PMAX_cnv_dps_dsn_dis_ad_entp_e_n&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222229714291558_0000000000_21407473164&wl0=&wl1=x&wl2=c&wl3=&wl4=&wl5=9011443&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=14291558&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIqLGf2XnJNLqGJdlHZ18Eoxo&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8cHABhC-ARIsAJnY12wrUylP09uQ3ofeM-6nqzLtZJ72mhrVnjZ04hag-CMg-axIsugu1j0aAnfUEALw_wcB)** What about this one? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/2 "2025-04-30T04:24:41Z")
No, both of those are sound cards. They’ll either one of them do what you want. I’m not an audio geek, so I couldn’t speak to perceived sound quality, but in terms of specs, they are pretty much the same thing as your internal sound card. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/3 "2025-04-30T04:29:10Z")
If your motherboard does not have the 6.1 ports, it almost certainly does not have the hardware to handle 6.1 audio at all. You’ll need to get a sound card that supports it, either USB or PCI. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/4 "2025-04-30T04:39:57Z")
The manual for your motherboard says it has 2 rear ports as well as an internal header for the front ports. And it has a table saying that the “mic in” front port is used for the rear speakers in 5.1 mode: > **[E25504\_ROG\_STRIX\_X870E-E\_GAMING\_WIFI\_EM\_V2\_WEB.pdf](https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/SocketAM5/ROG_STRIX_X870E-E_GAMING_WIFI/E25504_ROG_STRIX_X870E-E_GAMING_WIFI_EM_V2_WEB.pdf?model=ROG%20STRIX%20X870E-E%20GAMING%20WIFI)** [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/dZpQCKg.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/dZpQCKg) So it seems you just need a breakout for the front panel ports. Ideally going out the rear. There are units like this that have the ports you need, but not in a nice bracket form: > **[Amazon.com: sara-u Front Case Panel USB3.0+USB3.0+H D Audio Jack Ports I/O...](https://www.amazon.com/Sara-u-Front-Panel-USB3-0-Internal/dp/B08Z3D3P7M)** > > Specifications:Cable Length: 70cmBoard Size: 75 x 21cmPackage include:1 x USB3.0+USB3.0+HD Audio Cable ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/5 "2025-04-30T04:49:22Z")
That motherboard also has an S/PDIF optical out on the back which can be used if your sound hardware has inputs for that. The line out is only stereo though. Weird for such a nice mobo. [![](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/24d80c94-827a-42ae-96c8-2a456284565a.png) ](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/24d80c94-827a-42ae-96c8-2a456284565a.png) ETA: You can buy a 5.1 converter for s/pdif to analog for around $50. > **[Audio Decoder 5.1CH DTS Converter Digital Audio Converter Digital Optical Coax...](https://www.amazon.com/Decoder-Converter-Digital-Optical-Concert/dp/B09CDY7862)** > > Audio Decoder 5.1CH DTS Converter Digital Audio Converter Digital Optical Coax to Analog Audio Converter for Home / Concert Hall / Cinema How to Use: 1.SW: Subwoofer channel RCA output interface 2.CE: Intermediate channel RCA output interface 3.SR:... ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/6 "2025-04-30T04:51:14Z")
It has the hardware to handle 7.1 Surround but just not the connectors I need. People online are using HDMI as their audio output due to the higher bandwidth. I would need new speakers for that. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/7 "2025-04-30T04:54:54Z")
This helps a lot. I saw that page in the manual, but I only have a headphone jack in the front of my case, not the front mic jack. I think I might give that header a try. I thought it might be something like that, but wasn’t sure how complicated it would get. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/8 "2025-04-30T05:00:37Z")
I’m using the optical now, due to limited options. But optical from the mobo only really does 2.1. It can do 5.1 compressed in some games, some of the times. But mostly it is limited to 2.1 audio. HDMI for digital or 3.5 for analog are really the best two choices I think. My speakers can only do one of those, so I’m focused on that. I do have an unused 5.1 Blueray speaker systems around here. I could just use that, I suppose. I’d rather not due to the large receiver/player unit. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/9 "2025-04-30T05:17:07Z")
I looked at the instructions and while it says your board supports up to 7.1 it seems weirdly kludgy to use. Kinda shocked. I’d expect better from them. The thing below might be your best bet. The Asus instructions advises using USB to do surround sound. This is just one example: > **[Amazon.com: StarTech.com 7.1 USB Sound Card - External Sound Card for Laptop...](https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-7-1-USB-Sound-Card/dp/B002LM0U2S)** > > This 7.1 USB sound cards offers a high quality solution for upgrading desktop or laptop sound. Home Theater-Ready Audio Solution Providing a robust USB audio experience, the external sound card for your laptop or PC connects to a host computer... Or, buy a soundcard (I’d prefer this option personally if you’ve got the slot to spare). > **[Amazon.com: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1 Sound Card with High...](https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X7PG)** > > The Optimal Recording Solution for PCIe Sound Card Platforms The perfect upgrade from basic motherboard audio to immersive cinematic surround sound.View larger Experience the wonders of multi-channel surround sound and create high-quality podcasts!... ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/10 "2025-04-30T05:40:46Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I think I might give that header a try. I thought it might be something like that, but wasn’t sure how complicated it would get. You might look around a bit more… I searched for a few things like “HD audio rear bracket” and didn’t find much except for some Reddit threads of people asking about the same thing, but maybe you’ll have better luck. It is kinda kludgy, in any case. You’ll want something that goes from the 10-pin (actually 9-pin) HD audio pin header to the 2x 3.5mm jacks. The thing I linked to has some extra USB ports that you don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/11 "2025-04-30T06:30:49Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Is this adapter actually processing the audio the way a sound card does? Yes, pretty much any USB audio connector has a DAC, so it’s doing the job of the sound card. For example, my “sound card” is a very capable 12 channel in 12 channel out mixer connected via USB. There’s no reason to fear them, but it is an external sound card. Make sure you get one that fulfills your needs. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/12 "2025-04-30T12:02:29Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I looked at the instructions and while it says your board supports up to 7.1 it seems weirdly kludgy to use. Kinda shocked. I’d expect better from them. A lot of mainboards from multiple vendors have ended up in this situation. They kept multi channel support, since its a spec that adds value, but reduced the number of audio connectors to actually support it out of the box. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/13 "2025-04-30T17:33:26Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > buy a soundcard (I’d prefer this option personally if you’ve got the slot to spare). I don’t mind spending the money on an internal sound card. My biggest concern is ensuring that I get something better than the mainboard audio. Id hate to spend money only to realize later that I sacrificed signal to noise ratio, dynamic range or something else that actually matters beyond just the available connectors. The internal sound cards Ive found dont even mention Windows 11, and I see mixed reviews about compatibility. Is the card you linked to better than ehat is on the mainboard? Is it $58 better? As long as it marginally (but certainly) better, and it has the right connectors, I will be happy to get it. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/14 "2025-04-30T19:56:41Z")
As I understand it, for a consumer playback DAC, the silicone is pretty much irrelevant and the supporting components like connectors, analog frontend components, and software are the difference makers. In other words, they all faithfully generate their waveforms equally to spec. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/15 "2025-05-01T01:53:33Z")
It’s hard to tell. The $60 Audigy advertises a 106dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Your motherboard advertises a 110dB SNR which is a little better than the Audigy sound card. But, Creative sells more expensive sound cards (much more expensive) which are definitely better than the on-board audio on the motherboard. And, they all support Windows 10 & 11. > **[Sound Blaster - Creative Labs (United States)](https://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster)** > > Sound Blaster internal & external DAC and amp sound cards for PC, laptop, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and mobile phones. Ideal for gaming & home entertainment. Free shipping on orders over US$35. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/16 "2025-05-01T02:04:22Z")
I think there’s pretty much zero chance that the onboard audio actually achieves 110dB SNR. There might be some component in there that’s theoretically capable of it, but with all the noise sources around it seems unlikely. Even 106dB for the Audigy is unlikely. We’re talking 1 part in 100 billion here. There’s way too much electrical noise in a computer to get that. It might be just possible for an external box. Also… 110dB is 37 bits. If it’s meaningful at all, it means the DAC is taking in float values. But really, anything more than 16-bit is overkill as far as human hearing is concerned. That’s only 48dB. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/17 "2025-05-01T02:06:50Z")
96dB actually. SNR is a power ratio, so multiply by 2 because of the V squared term. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/18 "2025-05-01T02:22:47Z")
Derp. Yeah. Still, I don’t think you’re getting 110dB out of mainboard audio, with the traces running alongside numerous other sources of electrical noise, through a pin header, then through some unshielded wire, a cheap 3.5mm jack, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/19 "2025-05-01T06:04:15Z")
You’re not getting better than 96dB SNR with 16 bit audio no matter what you do. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685/20 "2025-05-01T06:08:16Z")
The motherboard actually advertises “High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 110 dB SNR recording input, Supports up to 32-Bit/384 kHz playback on front panel”. I’m a teeny bit skeptical of those specs, even supposing you had the sound files to drive it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-to-3-5mm-6-channel-audio/1017685.md?page=2)