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Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro
Manufacturer: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. Part number: TBS-1120-01
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Plugged into a USB port, the ultracompact Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro affordably adds a shared headphone jack/optical digital-audio output to your PC or laptop.
Read more
Where to buy
- Your zip code is 71101 (change zip code)
| store | customer rating | inventory | price | total price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock Order Now-Ships Today | Price: $34.99 Tax: $0.00 Shipping: $6.99 | as of 12/10/2009 |
 | | In stock Order Now-Ships Today | Price: $34.99 Tax: $0.00 Shipping: $6.99 | as of 12/10/2009 |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | | In stock | Price: $25.50 Tax: $0.00 Shipping: Free | Your best price as of 12/10/2009 |
| Directron.com | Not yet rated | In stock | Price: $29.99 Tax: $0.00 Shipping: See site | as of 12/10/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro price range: $25.50 - $34.99
- Reviewed by: Nathaniel Wilkins
- Edited by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 12/21/2004
- Released on: 07/13/2004
The good: Compact; includes analog 1/8-inch stereo headphone jack and optical digital-audio jack adapter; Dolby Digital 5.1 pass-through; simulates surround sound through headphones; impressive audio quality; doesn't require power cord.
The bad: Shared analog and digital output jack; lacks hardware volume control; short, 22-inch USB extension cable; limited Mac compatibility.
The bottom line: Plugged into a USB port, the ultracompact Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro affordably adds a shared headphone jack/optical digital-audio output to your PC or laptop.
Similar in appearance to a USB flash drive, the diminutive Audio Advantage Micro, which measures 2.5 by 0.75 by 0.5 inches (HWD), comes with a USB jack cover, a USB extension cable, a software CD-ROM and the aforementioned optical digital-audio plug adapter. We were a bit frustrated by the 22-inch USB extension cord; it's not quite long enough to facilitate easy connection with a desktop PC's rear-panel USB port, especially if your computer sits on the floor. The Audio Advantage Micro is also totally devoid of hardware-based controls; the absence of a volume knob, for instance, means you'll have to dive into the software to make adjustments. That can be a real pain when you're in the middle of playing a video game or watching a movie, but it's not a deal killer.
Installing the Audio Advantage Micro was straightforward: we simply installed the software from the CD-ROM, then plugged in the device as prompted. The software serves as a preamplifier and configuration tool, including a 10-band equalizer with programmable presets; more than two dozen DSP environments, ranging from Shower to Psychotic; and a virtual-speaker shifter that lets you tweak the speaker positions of a virtual 5.1-channel system.
The Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro can transmit DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1-channel audio signals through its optical digital-audio output to a decoder, such as your A/V receiver, but your PC-based DVD player software must support 5.1-channel output. We used CyberLink PowerDVD ($49.95 or $62.95, depending on the version) without a problem.
With home DVD players so inexpensive these days, it's hard to imagine anyone buying the Audio Advantage Micro solely for the purpose of using a laptop to play DVDs through a 5.1-channel home-theater system. That said, when we connected the Audio Advantage Micro's optical digital-audio jack to our A/V receiver, the Audio Advantage Micro flawlessly passed both 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and DTS sound as well as stereo tracks from our laptop to the receiver. You could also use the Audio Advantage Micro to connect a PC to a self-powered, digital, 5.1-channel multimedia speaker set, such as Logitech's Z-5500 Digital, letting you watch DVD movies from your desk in full digital 5.1 glory.
The Audio Advantage Micro really shines when it's used with headphones. For starters, the unit adds extra gain to the signal, which is useful if your laptop's built-in headphone jack won't play loud enough to drive a favorite set of headphones. When we put on a pair of AKG's K 55 headphones and fired up Unreal Tournament 2004, the sound was surprisingly crisp and clear. Although we're not usually impressed by surround simulations, the Audio Advantage Micro's algorithms really did make the game sound considerably vaster and more enveloping without making the sound too diffuse. Its audio quality can't, however, compete with a full-fledged audio adapter such as the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook.
User reviews
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Value Alternative to Creative Notebook ZS
by digital_buffalo on June 10, 2005
Pros: Inexpensive, small, adds toslink optical
Cons: Not audiophile quality (not paying for that though)
Summary: We all know that laptop audio is generally poor. The best consumer level add on would be the creative audigy notebook zs - a pcmcia card that costs about $90. ...
Summary: We all know that laptop audio is generally poor. The best consumer level add on would be the creative audigy notebook zs - a pcmcia card that costs about $90. At $25 or so for the turtle beach micro, it's a great value alternative to the Creative card. For me, improved headphone output is great, but the real value is the digital out. My Dell 6000 doesn't have digital out for audio and this was by far the cheapest way to acquire it. I route the digital out to my stereo receiver and have great sound through my home theater set up. A nice little product!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Outstanding Product!
by blyons4 on December 17, 2005
Pros: Crystal clear dynamic sound
Cons: No volume control on device
Summary: I use my laptop for DJ gigs. I connect the laptop out of the standard headphone jack into the back of my mixer. The music was not clear and the ...
Summary: I use my laptop for DJ gigs. I connect the laptop out of the standard headphone jack into the back of my mixer. The music was not clear and the bass was too heavy, muffling the sound. Then I installed the Turtle Beach USB Audio Adapter. Oh My Gosh!!! What a difference!! The USB Audio Adapter is the absolute best add-on anyone can get for a laptop, bar none! The music is crystal clear and the effects tab make events fun. It makes games sound soooooo realistic. I recommend this to anyone with a laptop!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect laptop audio upgrade
Pros: My laoptop sound card was broken. this was a perfect fix. Works in XP just fine. Not sure what the above reader was doing wrong.
Cons:
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy to use 5.1 surround
Pros: Install was pretty easy, and outputing to a 5.1 reciever was simple to setup. Did not use the headphone capabilities.
Cons:
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent and compact sound adapter
by usuallydead on June 27, 2008
Pros: Very small. Top-grade audio quality with no adjustments needed.
Cons: Mine came with some silly software for the surround sound, but I didn't need it, so I didn't use it.
Summary: I've owned mine for three years and it still works perfectly. It provides HIGH END audio quality just by plugging into any USB port, laptop or desktop. I actually ...
Summary: I've owned mine for three years and it still works perfectly. It provides HIGH END audio quality just by plugging into any USB port, laptop or desktop. I actually find myself using mine more on my desktop than laptop, especially late at night when I want to blast some music but don't want to wake people up. Also, this device requires zero drivers to operate properly - Windows automatically configures a generic USB audio driver that works well. This little device is VERY good. More than worth the price.
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Worth the money
by JerryHughes on January 3, 2008
Pros: Great sound and inexpensive
Cons: If this were an expensive card, maybe I could think of some but at that price, no cons!
Summary: Great little sound card. You can pick the environment (concert hall, auditorium, etc.) from many choices and unlike what you would think, these choices do make a big difference. You ...
Summary: Great little sound card. You can pick the environment (concert hall, auditorium, etc.) from many choices and unlike what you would think, these choices do make a big difference. You can also adjust the direction of sound and the sound is much louder than the original, on board card. I bought this to use on a Dell Inspiron laptop, strictly for concert DVD's and headphones. I went directly to the website to download the Vista software and installation was simple. My original sound card wasn't that bad and I was afraid that this sound card wouldn't make much of a difference but it did. Pleasantly surprised. Good deal for the money.
JerryUpdated
This website posted my 10 star rating incorrectly, giving the product only 6 stars. After filling out the form, for some reason, it said that I had not filled out the "Con" section. After being returned to refill that section, I did not notice that the only thing on that page that changed was my 10 star rating, again, which changed to a 6 star. This product, especially for the price, deserves 10 stars.
Jerry -
Not for Server 2003
by Reston on May 18, 2007
Pros: Compact, Cheap
Cons: No controls
Summary: I purchased this for troubleshooting my servers as they don't have sound and some of my diagnostics do.
This Item does not Suport Windows Server 2003, even though it ...Summary: I purchased this for troubleshooting my servers as they don't have sound and some of my diagnostics do.
This Item does not Suport Windows Server 2003, even though it will turn up in a CNet search, buyer beware. -
I Love it!
by mlindle on July 21, 2006
Pros: Convenient, sounds great
Cons: Too loud - causes some distortion on crappy speakers
Summary: It is so freakin' convenient! I'd buy one of these if you sound card goes out! I use so many different computers and this gives me the option of ...
Summary: It is so freakin' convenient! I'd buy one of these if you sound card goes out! I use so many different computers and this gives me the option of moving the sound cards quickly and easily. Sounds much better too!
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Could be the best notebook device, period.
by albonya on June 15, 2006
Pros: EXCELLENT Sound. Compact. EZ install.
Cons: USB attachment can be flimsy with full sized headphones.
Summary: For the price, you cannot beat the bang for your buck.
Excellent solution to get BIG sound for your laptop.Summary: For the price, you cannot beat the bang for your buck.
Excellent solution to get BIG sound for your laptop. -
Quick easy fix for broken audio port
by aaronabend on February 13, 2006
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
Summary: My notebook computer (Dell Inspiron - maybe it should be called a "perspiron") has a dead audio jack. This actually happened in the first month of my ownership, and they ...
Summary: My notebook computer (Dell Inspiron - maybe it should be called a "perspiron") has a dead audio jack. This actually happened in the first month of my ownership, and they fixed it for free, but the second time it happened my support contract had expired. This is a 29 buck fix that works as advertised. I was worried I would not be able to fit other USB jacks in at the same time, but it fits with my mouse, so that's all I care about. The addon cable would have fixed that problem anyway. Good product. Maybe I will hook it up to my stereo system at home.
Updated
One more thing - I went to buy it at Circuit city. They did not have it in stock and sent me to CompUSA which had it - and better service. If only CompUSA were closer than Circuit City!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
- Part number: TBS-1120-01
- Description: The Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro is a portable USB Audio Adapter with both digital and analog outputs that incorporates a surround-sound simulator for creating an immersive listening experience on standard headphones or stereo speakers.
General
- Device Type Sound card
- Enclosure Type External
- Interface Type USB
Audio Input
- Type None
Audio Output
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Controls Via software
- Features Built-in amplifier
- Compliant Standards 3D sound
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces 1 x Audio - Line-out/headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - SPDIF output - TOSLINK
- Connections 1 x Serial - USB
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Audio adapter, 1 x USB extension cable
- Compliant Standards Plug and Play
Software / System Requirements
- Software Drivers & Utilities
- OS Required Apple MacOS X or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition / Windows ME
- Min Processor Type 450 MHz
- Peripheral / Interface Devices CD-ROM
- System Requirements Details Pentium - RAM 128 MB - HD 50 MB
Manufacturer info
- Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.voyetra-turtle-beach.com/site/default.asp
- Address:
5 Odell Plaza
Yonkers NY 10701-1406 - Phone: 800/233-9377
- Email: sales@voyetra.com
- Fax: 914/966-0600
