How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• zdyCGTime External 5.1 — biggest strength: a plug-and-play USB sound card that instantly creates 3.5mm headphone-out and mic-in jacks, with virtual 5.1 surround and no external power needed.
• zdyCGTime External 5.1 — biggest trade-off: it's a tiny dongle, so it's easy to misplace, and it works best paired with a USB hub or extension cable for flexible placement. It also ships as a 2-pack.
• Vaguelly Headphone Hook Bracket — biggest strength: a compact self-adhesive hanger that holds small-to-large headsets on a monitor or smooth surface, keeping them off the desk and protected from bending.
• Vaguelly Headphone Hook Bracket — biggest trade-off: it's purely storage — it adds no audio function at all, and it relies on a sticky pad, so the mounting surface has to be smooth and clean.
• Who each pick is for: the zdyCGTime is for anyone who needs actual sound and mic connectivity on a PC; the Vaguelly is for anyone who already has working headphones and just wants them organized.
This is a small black USB sound adapter — roughly 5 x 2.2 x 1.2 cm and about 21 grams — that turns any free USB port into a headphone jack and a microphone jack. That's the whole point of it. If your desktop or laptop has a broken audio chip, no dedicated audio ports, or only a single combo jack that doesn't play nicely with a standard headset, this little card gives you a proper 3.5mm out and a 3.5mm mic in. It works independently, so you don't need an existing sound card to be present or functional.
It runs entirely off USB power — no wall adapter, no batteries. Plug it in and it's ready: USB 2.0 full speed, plug and play, and no external drivers required. It supports virtual 5.1 and 3-dimensional sound, and it handles common formats like WAV, MP3, WMA, MPEG1/MPEG2, AVI, DVD audio and AC3/DTS files. OS coverage is broad for its era: Windows (including 98/2000/Me/XP) and Mac OS 8.6 and above. It also pairs with gaming consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360, and it can give any desktop speakers with a 3.5mm cable a working source.
In my opinion, this is a great fit for someone building or reviving a basic Windows PC setup — a budget desktop, an older tower, a machine whose rear audio jacks are noisy or dead. The included 2-pack means you can leave one in a laptop bag and one plugged into the desktop. Who should skip it? Anyone with headphones that connect over USB directly, anyone who needs a modern high-fidelity DAC, and anyone who wants true multi-channel analog output rather than a virtual surround effect. This is a practical connectivity fix, not a premium audio upgrade.
The Vaguelly Headphone Hook Bracket is a plastic, black, on-ear-style hanger that sticks to your gear. It measures about 3.26 x 2.95 x 0.90 inches and weighs just 1.76 ounces, so it sits discreetly on a monitor or a smooth wall without eating desk space. The core idea is simple: clamp your headset somewhere safe instead of dropping it on the desk, on a chair arm, or dangling off a monitor edge where the band can get bent.
Two things stand out in the specs. First, the adhesive: it uses a high-strength sticky pad that's meant to hold firmly on PC monitors and smooth walls without slipping or falling. Second, the material: it's built to avoid scratching or pressing the headset, which helps protect the band and ear cups over time. It's rated to hold a wide range of headset sizes, from small to large, and the mount works on a tabletop or a wall. It's positioned for gaming setups, workstations, study areas, homes, offices, schools and cafes.
I recommend it for someone whose audio is already sorted — you have working headphones, you just want them off the desk and within arm's reach. It's genuinely handy in a small home office or a dorm setup where a full headphone stand would take up room. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs the headphones to actually produce sound. This bracket stores a headset; it does not connect one. And if your monitor has a textured, curved or oily surface, expect the adhesive to be fussy — smooth and clean is the requirement here.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for fixing missing or broken PC audio → zdyCGTime External 5.1. It creates the headphone and mic jacks your machine is lacking.
• Best for Windows PC setups specifically → zdyCGTime External 5.1. It's built around Windows and Mac USB audio, with plug-and-play and no drivers.
• Best for gaming console audio → zdyCGTime External 5.1. The specs list PS3 and Xbox 360 compatibility alongside PC.
• Best for a clutter-free desk → Vaguelly Headphone Hook Bracket. At 1.76 ounces on a monitor, it adds organization without taking up workspace.
• Best for a two-computer household → zdyCGTime External 5.1. It ships as a 2-pack, so one card can live with each machine.
• Best if your only problem is a messy desk, not sound → Vaguelly Headphone Hook Bracket. No audio hardware needed.
• Best if you need both sound and storage → buy both. They solve two completely different problems and don't overlap.
If I could only pick one, I'd take the zdyCGTime External 5.1. Here's my reasoning: the two products aren't really competitors — one makes audio work, the other tidies up after it. If your PC has no working headphone jack, the Vaguelly hook is useless to you, because you can't connect a headset through a storage bracket. In my opinion, the sound card solves the bigger, more fundamental problem, and its broad Windows and Mac compatibility makes it the more useful buy for a Windows PC setup. Buy the Vaguelly hook afterwards, once your audio actually works.
FAQ
how to connect headphones to windows pc
how to connect headphones to pc windows 10
Plug the adapter into a free USB port, then plug your headset into the 3.5mm jack. The zdyCGTime supports Windows broadly (from 98/2000/Me/XP onward) and runs plug-and-play off USB power, so no separate power supply is needed.
how can i connect my headphones to my pc
Two routes: use your existing 3.5mm audio port, or add one via USB. The zdyCGTime turns any USB port into headphone and microphone jacks, and it works even if your machine's original sound card has failed, since it operates independently.
how to use headphones on pc
Connect the headset, set it as the default output in Windows sound settings, and test the mic. If your ports are missing or broken, the zdyCGTime External 5.1 provides both jacks over USB. If you just need somewhere to hang the headset between sessions, the Vaguelly bracket keeps it on your monitor instead.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Mehomeli Kids Headphones vs LazyGoose Open Ear Bone, erjigo KZ ZST X vs BZINK KZ EDX PRO: Noise Isolating Gaming, YUSONIC Kids vs rockpapa C24, Amazon Renewed Beats Studio 2.0 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x