USB offers many benefits over (cheaper) analog audio solutions. Firstly, USB is digital and therefore does not lose sound quality as the signal travels along the cable. USB also provides its own power source, thereby eliminating batteries etc. Additionally, USB by nature, means the sound device is actually a complete sound card in its own right. Hence users have the ability to route different sounds to different sound cards (eg in Flight Simulator X, one can route the voice to the Intercom (Solo or Dual or DualPro) device; and route the engine noises etc to external speakers).