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If you want a simple, durable USB-to-3.5mm adapter to add a headphone jack to a Windows PC or laptop with a beefy DAC spec, choose MOSWAG USB; if you need a 2-pack of adapters that also handle a microphone for Discord, Zoom or in-game voice chat, choose STSAUX USB.
• MOSWAG USB — biggest strength: a nylon-braided USB-A to 3.5mm TRS adapter built around an industrial-grade DAC chip, rated for full 24-bit/384kHz decoding and at least 10,000 plug/unplug cycles. Its trade-off: output only — no microphone, no in-line controls, no car/TV use.
• STSAUX USB — biggest strength: a 4-pole TRRS adapter that supports listening and a mic at the same time, sold as a 2-pack with an 18-month warranty and lifetime tech support. Its trade-off: a lower 24-bit/96kHz sample rate and a narrower compatibility list (no TV, no car, no iOS mic).
• Who MOSWAG USB is for: Windows PC and laptop owners who just want a clean stereo output jack for wired headphones or speakers, and want the cable to survive years of daily plugging.
• Who STSAUX USB is for: anyone who talks on their PC — gamers, remote workers, students on Zoom — and wants a spare adapter in the drawer.
The MOSWAG USB adapter is a one-job tool, and it does that job with a spec sheet that reads more serious than its size suggests. It's a USB male connector on one end and a 3.5mm TRS stereo jack on the other, with an aluminium alloy housing and double internal shielding meant to guard against overheating, overcurrent, overvoltage and shorts. The nylon braid is described as flame-retardant and water- and corrosion-resistant, and MOSWAG rates the connector for at least 10,000 insertions. If you're the kind of person who yanks a cable out of a laptop by the cord, that matters more than any spec on this page.
The audio side is where I'd pay attention if you're plugging in wired headphones. MOSWAG builds in what it calls an industrial-grade DAC chip decoding up to 24-bit/384kHz, with the stated goal of cleaner decoding and better analog amplification. It's plug and play — no drivers to hunt down — and it works as a replacement for a dead or noisy 3.5mm port on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine, or as a way to add a headphone jack to a laptop that never had one. Compatibility runs across Windows XP through 11, Mac OS X 10.2 and up, Linux, Chromebook and even PS4/PS5.
STSAUX USB: Who It's For
The STSAUX adapter is the more social of the two. It's a USB-A to 3.5mm TRRS 4-pole adapter, which is the key difference: that fourth pole carries a microphone signal, so a single headset can both play audio and pick up your voice. STSAUX explicitly calls out Discord, Zoom and in-game voice chat as the reason it exists, and it supports CTIA/OMTP standards along with Android headsets, gaming headsets and PC speakers. For anyone whose "headphones for Windows PC" actually means a headset with a boom mic, this is the functionally complete option.
The DAC here is a high-performance chip rated at 24-bit/96kHz with enhanced noise reduction, and the output mode is listed as surround with a 4-channel configuration. That's a lower sample rate ceiling than the MOSWAG, but for gaming, voice calls and streaming it's a perfectly reasonable figure — most people will never feed it anything close to 96kHz anyway. Setup is genuinely plug and play: STSAUX says it recognizes devices within seconds, no drivers, across Windows 10/11, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS and Surface Pro.
Two practical details I like. First, it ships as a 2-pack, so you can leave one on a desktop and keep one in a bag or toolkit — STSAUX frames them as backup adapters for home offices and gaming stations, which is exactly how I'd use them. Second, it carries an 18-month warranty with lifetime technical support and 24/7 service. The trade-offs to know: it won't work with TVs, cars, or iOS microphone functions (audio output only there), and it's a small 5.9" x 0.58" x 0.3" adapter rather than a long cable. If you need reach, that's a limitation; if you need a compact dongle, it's a plus.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for microphone and voice chat → STSAUX USB. The 4-pole TRRS design is the whole point; MOSWAG USB cannot do mic input at all.
• Best for pure headphone listening on a PC → MOSWAG USB. A single-purpose output adapter with the higher 24-bit/384kHz decode rating.
• Best for cable durability → MOSWAG USB. Nylon braid, aluminium housing, double shielding, rated for 10,000+ plug cycles.
• Best for gaming headsets with a mic → STSAUX USB. It supports CTIA/OMTP headsets and surround output mode.
• Best for a long, tangle-resistant run to speakers or an amp → MOSWAG USB. It's a cable, not a stub dongle, and it's built to bend without twisting.
• Best for a desktop with a dead audio port → either. Both are plug-and-play replacements; pick based on whether you talk or just listen.
• Do not buy either for a car, TV, Xbox One/PS3, or charging. Both sheets rule those out.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison on a Windows PC should buy the STSAUX USB. The reason is simple: a PC headset almost always has a mic, and the STSAUX is the only one of the two that lets you listen and speak through one jack — plus you get two of them and an 18-month warranty. I'd pick the MOSWAG USB instead if you're strictly a listener: wired headphones, speakers, or an amp, no talking, and you want the tougher braided cable and the higher sample-rate spec. Decide whether you talk on your PC. That one question settles it.
how to connect headphones to windows pc
Plug the adapter's USB-A end into a free USB port, then plug your headphones into the 3.5mm jack. Both adapters are plug and play with no drivers needed on Windows 10 or 11, and Windows should switch audio output within seconds. If sound still comes from your speakers, select the USB audio device as the output in your sound settings.
how to connect headphones to pc windows 10
It's the same process on Windows 10: USB in, headphones in, done. The MOSWAG USB covers Windows XP through 11, Mac OS X, Linux and Chromebook, while the STSAUX covers Windows 10/11, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS and Surface Pro. Neither needs software, and neither supports charging, so don't try to power anything through them.
how can i connect my headphones to my pc
If your headphones have a single 4-pole plug and a mic, use the STSAUX USB — its TRRS jack carries both audio and microphone signals, which is what you need for Discord, Zoom or in-game chat. If your headphones are plain stereo with no mic, the MOSWAG USB is the simpler match. Both add a 3.5mm port to a laptop or desktop that's missing one.
how to use headphones on pc
Connect the adapter, plug in the headphones, and set the USB device as your default playback device in Windows. The MOSWAG USB handles stereo output only — no mic, no in-line volume or pause controls — while the STSAUX USB adds microphone input on top of audio output. Keep in mind neither works through a car or TV USB port.
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