| Vantec NBA-100U 5.1 Channel USB Audio Adapter
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Installation and Operation (continued):
The audio from the Vantec NBA-100U 5.1 Channel USB Audio Adapter was tested on two systems. A Windows XP Professional desktop with integrated 5.1 channel audio and USB 2.0 connections, and a Windows XP Home laptop with integrated 2 channel audio and USB 1.1 connections.
Setup was extremely simple in either case, and both systems were up and running quickly, without a reboot. A Logitech Z-640 5.1 channel stereo speaker system was used with both systems, but with the laptop in the stock setting it was obviously only using two speakers. I found that adding this to the laptop provided the most rewarding upgrade. Not only did it allow me to expand to 5.1 channel surround, it also improved the sound quality over the onboard solution. With the 5.1 channel surround capable desktop system I would switch back and forth between sources while listening to the same movie or music, and it was clear that the onboard solution sounded better.
While adjusting the equalizer and other settings on the NBA-100U helped greatly, I found the highs and lows to be less dynamic, and overall there was a kind of hollow sound that I could not completely eliminate. If I didn't have anything else to compare it to, or if this was only used with the laptop, I would have been extremely impressed. But, putting it head to head with a capable 5.1 solution revealed the limitations of the Vantec device.
Conclusion:
The key selling point of the Vantec NBA-100U is that you can add 5.1 channel stereo surround sound to just about any computer with a USB connection. While it might not be a good solution for a desktop computer, especially since most have integrated 5.1 channel audio these days, it is a great investment for any laptop user looking for an audio upgrade. The audio on many laptops is nothing to get excited about, but this device allows you to change that quickly, easily, and without breaking the bank.
A search of PriceGrabber turns up one result for the Vantec NBA-100U 5.1 Channel USB Audio Adapter, but digging deeper on the web finds a few stores with stock. The going rate is around $30 (US), which seems like a fair price to pay in order to quickly and easily add 5.1 channel surround sound to your laptop (or desktop) computer.
The main issues with the NBA-100U revolve around the software. The About page indicated that it was from 2003, which tells me there should be plenty of room for refinement in terms of performance and appearance. Along those same lines, there is no official support for Linux or Windows Vista, but end users might get lucky with either operating system.
Given the price and simplicity in which a user can upgrade their computer to 5.1 channel surround, the Vantec NBA-100U 5.1 Channel USB Audio Adapter earns the rating of "Recommended" for any laptop user tired of their weak onboard audio solution.
Pros:
» Simple installation
» Add 5.1 channel stereo surround to just about any computer with a USB port
» No external power required
» Fairly priced
» Sounded better than a laptop's integrated audio
Cons:
» Software seems outdated
» Didn't sound as good as a desktop's integrated audio
» No (official) support for Windows Vista or Linux
Special thanks to Vantec USA for providing the Vantec NBA-100U 5.1 Channel USB Audio Adapter to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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