USB Adapter
USB Audio Adapters
USB audio adapters add headphone, microphone, line, or other audio connections through USB.
USB audio adapter characteristics
Compare connection types, driver support, and common uses.
| Typical USB input | USB-A or USB-C |
|---|---|
| Typical audio connections | 3.5mm headphone/headset jacks, microphone inputs, line outputs, or digital audio connections |
| Adapter type | Usually an active USB audio device |
| Driver requirements | Class-compliant devices may use built-in operating-system support; specialized devices can require vendor software |
| Audio quality | Depends on the adapter's converters, analog circuitry, amplification, and implementation |
| Common uses | Headphones, headsets, microphones, speakers, recording, and replacing missing audio jacks |
Sources: USB-IF USB Audio Devices Release 4.0, USB-IF Device Class Specifications, USB-IF Defined Class Codes, and USB-IF USB 2.0 Specification.