Can USB transfer 5.1 audio?
5.1 surround sound refers to a multichannel audio setup consisting of 5 full bandwidth channels and 1 low frequency effects (LFE) channel for the subwoofer. The 5 main audio channels consist of front left and right, center, and surround left and right speakers. The “.1” refers to the single LFE subwoofer channel for deep bass effects (Wikipedia, 2023).
5.1 surround sound creates a more immersive audio experience by enveloping the listener in sound from multiple directions. This provides greater depth, realism, and spatial imaging compared to stereo audio from just two channels. 5.1 is commonly used for home theater systems, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, video games, and streaming services to give a cinematic audio experience. Consumers want 5.1 surround sound to fully enjoy their home theater setups and multimedia content with a lifelike, multidimensional soundstage.
USB Audio Standards
The original USB 1.0 standard released in 1996 supported basic stereo audio with a maximum bandwidth of 12 Mbit/s. This was sufficient for simple audio playback and recording but did not support multi-channel surround sound.
USB 2.0, introduced in 2000, increased the maximum bandwidth to 480 Mbit/s which enabled support for up to 8 audio channels with high bitrate lossless audio (source). This allowed USB to carry multi-channel audio like 5.1 surround sound.
Later revisions like USB 3.0 focused more on improving data transfer speeds rather than audio capabilities. However, the 480 Mbit/s bandwidth of USB 2.0 remains sufficient for most high-resolution multi-channel audio applications.
Overall, USB audio support has improved steadily over time. While the earliest USB 1.0 struggled with even stereo audio, current standards like USB 2.0 and 3.0 can easily transmit full quality 5.1 surround sound and beyond.
Bandwidth Requirements
To transfer 5.1 surround sound audio via USB requires significant bandwidth. The six channels (five speakers plus a subwoofer) of uncompressed audio found in 5.1 surround sound require high data rates.
According to USB In Audio: Explained, uncompressed 5.1 audio with a 96kHz sample rate and 24-bit depth requires a data rate of about 6.3 Mbps. This exceeds the bandwidth of older USB 1.0 and USB 1.1 interfaces. However, it is within the capabilities of USB 2.0, which has a maximum bandwidth of 480 Mbps.
Newer USB standards like USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 have bandwidths measured in Gbps, more than enough for multi-channel high definition audio. As HDMI and DisplayPort Over USB explains, USB 3.0 has a 5 Gbps bandwidth while USB 3.1 reaches 10 Gbps.
Therefore, while early USB ports lacked the bandwidth for 5.1 surround sound, modern USB 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 interfaces can support transfer of multi-channel high definition audio.
USB Ports on Computers
Modern computers, both desktops and laptops, are commonly equipped with USB 3.0 ports which provide the necessary bandwidth for 5.1 audio output via USB. USB 3.0 ports have a maximum bandwidth of 5 Gbps which is more than enough for transferring 5.1 surround sound audio. According to Wikipedia, USB 3.0 was released in late 2008 and started becoming a standard feature in computers around 2010 (1).
Most new desktop computers have several USB 3.0 ports, usually a mix of Type-A and Type-C connectors on both the front and back. Laptops also have multiple USB 3.0 ports, often 2-4 ports depending on the model. With sufficient USB 3.0 ports, it is easy to connect 5.1 audio devices like speakers or headsets that can take advantage of the high bandwidth.
Some older computers may still have the original USB 2.0 ports which max out at 480 Mbps. This bandwidth could potentially bottleneck 5.1 audio output resulting in compressed audio quality. However, USB 2.0 ports are becoming much less common on newer computers. As long as a computer has USB 3.0, it should provide enough bandwidth to fully support 5.1 surround sound.
Cables and Adapters
To get 5.1 surround sound over USB, you’ll need cables and adapters that can carry six channels of audio data. There are a few options:
USB to 3.5mm 5.1 surround sound adapters: These adapters have multiple 3.5mm jacks to connect 5.1 speakers. They convert the USB digital audio signal to analog for the 6 speaker channels. Popular options include the StarTech ICUSBAUDIO7D and Sabrent AU-MMSA.
Optical to USB adapters: If you already have an external 5.1 decoder, you can get audio over USB by using a USB to optical audio adapter like the Douk Audio U2A. This converts USB to optical digital output to connect to surround sound decoders.
USB to RCA cables: Some sound cards and speakers accept analog 5.1 input from RCA connectors. In this case, a USB to 6 channel RCA cable like the Cable Matters 207005 can be used.
Playback Devices
To get 5.1 surround sound audio over USB, you need a playback device like a USB sound card that supports multi-channel audio output. Many USB sound cards are designed specifically for 5.1 surround sound and will have multiple audio jacks for connecting 5.1 speakers.
For example, Creative Labs makes several USB sound cards capable of 5.1 output such as the Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1. This device has six 3.5mm audio jacks for connecting 5.1 speakers. There are also optical and coaxial S/PDIF outputs for connecting to A/V receivers.
Another option is the Sound BlasterX G6 which supports 7.1 surround sound over USB. This is aimed more at gamers but will work for any 5.1 audio source.
The key is finding a USB sound card that specifically advertises 5.1 output support. The sound card will handle decoding 5.1 surround sound from the USB audio stream and outputting it to each speaker channel.
Media Players
When it comes to software media players on a Windows PC, there are several good options that support 5.1 surround sound over USB such as PowerDVD, Leawo Blu-ray Player, and KMPlayer. These players are designed to handle multi-channel audio and can send a 5.1 surround sound signal over USB to an external device like speakers or a headphone amp.
PowerDVD in particular has very robust audio settings that allow you to configure 5.1 output over USB. The player supports DTS and Dolby Digital decoding. Leawo and KMPlayer also have surround sound support but may require more configuration to get 5.1 audio working properly over USB.
When using one of these players, you need compatible playback equipment like a 5.1 speaker system or headphone amplifier that takes the multi-channel USB input and decodes it. The audio device needs to specifically support 5.1 over USB, since not all devices do. Provided the media player software and the playback hardware both have 5.1 capability, you can achieve surround sound over a USB connection on a Windows PC.
Gaming Consoles
Many modern gaming consoles support 5.1 surround sound audio output over USB. For example, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One both have built-in 5.1 audio capabilities and can output 5.1 surround sound over HDMI. However, to get 5.1 audio from these consoles over USB requires an adapter.
There are USB adapters like the Turtle Beach Ear Force DSS2 that can take an optical input from a console and convert it to 5.1 surround sound over USB. This allows you to connect a USB gaming headset or speakers and still get full 5.1 audio from your console. Some higher-end gaming headsets like the SteelSeries Arena 9 even have integrated surround sound decoders to take a USB input from a console and produce virtual 5.1 surround sound.
So while most modern consoles support 5.1 audio output, getting that surround sound over USB requires an adapter or headset that can decode the optical or HDMI signal into 5.1 channels over USB. The adapters make it possible to get full 5.1 audio from a console through a USB connection.
Limitations
While USB can technically transfer high-quality multi-channel audio like 5.1 surround sound, there are some limitations to be aware of:
First, the USB protocol itself can limit audio quality and surround sound capabilities. USB 1.0 and 2.0 have much lower maximum bandwidth than USB 3.0 and later, which can restrict multi-channel audio performance. Even USB 3 may not have enough bandwidth for full quality lossless 5.1 audio (reference 1).
Second, operating systems and hardware need specific driver support for transferring 5.1 surround sound over USB. Older versions of Windows, Mac OS, Android, and Linux may lack full support in their USB audio stack (reference 2). Hardware like USB ports, cables, and DACs also require 5.1 capabilities.
Third, many consumer playback devices like laptops, phones, tablets, and game consoles may not have the capability to receive and decode 5.1 audio from USB, even if the USB protocol supports it. Their onboard audio systems are often limited to stereo or basic surround like 2.1.
Overall, while USB can technically handle 5.1 surround sound, you need modern hardware, software/OS support, high bandwidth USB, and the correct cables/adapters to achieve the full 5.1 experience. There are limitations if any part of the chain lacks proper 5.1 capabilities.
Conclusion
To summarize, USB can successfully transfer 5.1 surround sound given the right conditions. The USB standard must support high enough bandwidth, usually USB 3.0 or later, and the computer, cables, and playback devices must also support surround sound over USB. With compatible hardware and software in place, USB has sufficient bandwidth to transfer six channels of uncompressed audio for an immersive surround sound experience. USB audio has come a long way, allowing convenient 5.1 surround sound playback which was once only possible through dedicated sound cards and connections. However, there are still potential limitations to be aware of, like driver support. When the appropriate components are in place, USB is fully capable of handling multi-channel audio.