Review on VAlinks USB 2.0 External Sound Card: 6 Channel 5.1 Surround & Optical S/PDIF Adapter for PC, Windows 10/8/7/XP Compatible by Ryan Noble

I was able to use it plug and play with Windows 10, Android 4.4 and 5.1 without downloading additional drivers. The output gain is low, so I had to turn the speaker amplifier almost to maximum. According to Windows, it is defined as a CM106-compatible sound card. Android 7.1 (smartphone) seemed to recognize the device, but the output gain was so low I couldn't get an audible sound. Maybe I'll get it working with Android Software Booster. Haven't tested true 5.1 surround sound yet, but 2.0 quality is pretty good for PCM stereo channels. The SPDIF output had a noticeable click, so the sound quality wasn't exactly acceptable for a music lover or even a regular home theater builder. In an emergency, this can be enough for a business presentation. I also encountered some driver issues; On Android 5 in particular, the OS doesn't seem to link any of its volume controls to the USB device's output volume. Since the device also doesn't have a volume control and some speakers don't have a volume control, this can put you in a situation where you don't have a volume control at all! This issue can certainly be OS, driver or software related, but if the guys at Valinks can fit a gain control on the unit for future products, it could save the day for certain hardware configurations. Overall I think it's 3 stars. a product, but it's also a deal that deserves a bonus star considering you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a home theater receiver.