Review on DROK 180047 High Conversion Efficiency Power Converter Step-down Female USB Adapter 12V to 5V - Max 3A/15W Output for iPhone/HTC/Nokia by Kyle Mack

I have a Griffin Power Mate. Unfortunately, this is essentially a Mac-only product. Connected to my Mac it works great and is feature rich. Although I only use it for volume control and mute, the software offers a variety of features. There is software for Windows, and it technically works with Windows, but Griffin stopped updating until around Windows Vista. As a result, the software is buggy on my Windows 7, 8 and now 10 installations. The biggest problem was that it didn't reliably boot into Windows. This required many disconnects and reconnects after Windows started. I've tried running in compatibility mode, adjusting the start time with the delay and other things. Vain. It's a beautiful piece of hardware, however. Look and feel outweigh the price. Once started, it works well as a volume control and mute device for Windows, among other things. I'd love to see Griffin *finally* throw Windows users a bone and update the software. Which led me to this controller. What's good: It works right out of the box. No software required. The cable is long enough to offer many placement options. The cable has a nice fabric wrapping. Most importantly, it doesn't interfere with the audio path. It can be plugged into any USB port, even a hub. It's just a volume control, a muting device independent of the audio path. Simple premise, works as advertised. The Bad: Budget feeling, to say the least. Hollow, "plastic" and too light. He won't stay. It doesn't even have an anti-slip coating on the bottom which I had to add myself. The top moves in some places on the bottom of the device when you rotate the controller. A dull, plastic grinding noise. The top is loose and feels wobbly with light pressure. When I opened it up (three screws on the bottom panel under the felt), I saw that the controller was installed at a slight angle. The part of the controller that comes out of the top of the unit and where the controller press goes in causes the controller to spin unevenly. A quality control issue that is easy to prevent. The speed adjustment of the volume control is not provided. It's slow and requires more twists and turns than I'd like to adjust. Making adjustments is inconvenient. The top of the controller is too wide and thin. It's a bit awkward to hold to make adjustments. Adjusting with one finger is difficult. Glossy surface, premium magnet for fingerprint and dust. However, if you want to make a few changes, these problems are easily solved. With a broken bell I replaced the top with a wooden windscreen. You can use anything. Using a non-slip dashboard, I cut a piece for a new knob (windcatcher) that allows for one-finger adjustment. I did the same for the bottom of the unit to keep it from sliding on the countertop. I didn't want to remove and reinstall the controller for fear I would damage it. As a result, I still have a little wobbling in the new grip, but since it's smaller and set a little higher, at least it doesn't pull on the ground. At first I thought the price was good compared to the Griffin Powermate, but it's easy to see why the Griffin is more expensive. Griffin is high quality hardware supported by good Mac software and not so good Windows software. Nevertheless, I think that the supplier is on the right track. I think there is a market for an inexpensive PC volume and mute controller. If they solved the quality control and design issues, this would be a five star product. I particularly like that it doesn't require any software and stays out of the audio path. If you're using a DAC connected via USB, coax, or Toslink, don't worry. In addition to the software support, the Griffin device is far superior in terms of design and quality control. Logitech's NuLOOQ is also a good device, but like the Griffin, it's being discontinued and doesn't support Windows 7-10 software. The downside of Griffin and NuLOOQ is that they require software. Considering that Griffin's Powermate is available for only $25. As for the wired version, choosing between this and the Griffin is a breeze if you're using a Mac. Griffin has a much nicer hardware design and versatility. For Windows users and if you want to make some simple mods, I prefer DROK for volume and mute.