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Asus Xonar Essence STX

Posted 07/23/09 at 10:36:15 PM  by Gordon Mah Ung

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Headphone audiophiles rejoice

There are a few dirty secrets in the tech industry, and one of the best-guarded among them regards multichannel audio—everybody wants multichannel audio but almost no one actually runs the speakers to use it.

Sure, we all cheered when PC audio went from 4.1 to 5.1, and then from 6.1 to 7.1, but who actually runs that many satellites around his or her PC? That’s why Asus’s Xonar Essence STX is a soundcard that’s long overdue. Instead of pushing pointless multi-satellite specs, the Essence STX is aimed at folks who spend more money on a set of headphones than some people put out for an entire surround sound set.

Three out of five editors picked the Essence STX over other soundcards.

The card shares the same audio processor and PCI-E bridge chip as the budget Xonar DX card, but the similarities stop there. Asus polished the PCB and components for the stereo and headphone crowd. Headphoneophiles will be especially pleased with the isolated power sources for the headphone and line out. Also catering to the audiophile crowd are replaceable opamps to let you tune the “color” of the audio. It’s not the first time this has been done, but it’s a nice touch. The card features Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converters and is rated at 124dB signal-to-noise ratio out the headphone jack. In addition to the 1/4-inch headphone jack, a pair of RCA outputs, a 1/4-inch line out, and a combo optical/coax SPDIF round out the card’s options (Dolby Digital Live is supported in digital).

We performed close listening tests using Dolby lossless TrueHD and a set of Etymotic ER4 earphones and found the audio to be clean and crisp. We also did an A/B Pepsi Challenge between the Essence STX, an X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty, and a laptop, using 24-bit/96KHz PCM audio, and the Essence STX was preferred by three of the five test subjects.

Though the Essence STX is not pushed as a gaming card, we did play a handful of games with the card and found the sound to be quite good. Although EAX5 is not supported, Microsoft Vista and sparse title support has mostly nullified the X-Fi API advantage today.

The upshot is that the Essence STX is a hell of a good card. Hardcore gamers will still want a real X-Fi, but for folks who are interested in getting the most from their earphones, the Essence STX is your choice.

Asus Essence STX
Pink Floyd

Clean and pure sound output and control over headphone impedance.

Pink

Pricey and lacks full EAX support.

score:9ka
Asus
COMMENTS:
TAGS: soundcard, asus, hardware, reviews, build a pc, Xonar Essence STX
COMMENTS
avatarThis is truly a piece of audiophile equipment.

Submitted by burning panda on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 5:29am

I bought this expecting a modest improvement in sound quality from my HTPC. FYI audiophiles have been using PC's to play hi quality DVDA, SACD material for a while and whilst i use the Essence to drive AKG 702 headphones, it has effectively replaced the $2000 SACD player - it's just that good. It's subtle and transparent and capable of being the heart of a very good sound set up. Cheapest and best piece of hi fi equipment i've ever owned. If you're looking for better noise in games i'm sure it will do that - likewise i wouldn't waste the money using it to power Logitech speakers. Unless you have actually USED this - in a TOP END system (stereo or surround) or intend to use it for such a purpose then you don't have a clue what it's capable of. Forget all the preconceptions about what a computer sound card is and as this reviewer does just listen to it.

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avatarthis sound card designed for

Submitted by Sina on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 11:42pm

this sound card designed for Music Enthusiastic, what do you expect mpc?

it's the highet quality sound card availabe in the market. (Built-in headphone amp)

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avatarActually it's not, and it's

Submitted by kevaskous on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 3:11am

Actually it's not, and it's hardly the only one, nor the first to put a headphone amp in their soundcard, frankly, they are the last.

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avatarI'm sorry but no

Submitted by kevaskous on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 9:16pm

Asus is hardly a leader is audio, if you are going to review audiophile level equipment, which I hardly think is REALLY part of PC's, then atleast review cards in remotely it's class. The Essence is VERy exspensive but doesn't really make up for it. Please compare this with true competitiors, Auzentech and HT Omega are two brands right off the bat, that offer not only better cards, but better prices for what you get. I personally have a Auzentech X-Fi Forte, and there has been nothing like it for me, also had their X-Meridian another great card and a HT Omega Striker, also a good card, not in the class the later two but reguardless, please make a solid review with other class speced parts not just "Oh I wonder how this RCA speaker will sounds against this Klipsch one!" No duh sherlock, of course it's better, not even same class!

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avatarDo you people even read the

Submitted by Muerte on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 11:53am

Do you people even read the articles?  Or do you just like to bitch to bitch.

This is a card for people who don't necessarily want to put all the money into speakers because they use their headphones more or are comfortable with stereo speakers.

Of course your going to put more into a card if your looking to have surround sound or increase framerate for gaming.  he said that in the article.

Next time read before you comment.

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