Xonar Essence STX: Sneak Peak!

[ROBSCIX]

I figures many of you headphone nuts may be interested in this upcoming card based on the specifications and built in headphone amplifier.
HWC has a exclusive engineering sample of this card and will be running it through it paces and outlining exactly what it has to offer everybody.
You can find the Sneak Peak: HERE (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/11709-exclusive-asus-xonar-essence-stx-sneak-peak.html)

To note, This is still a engineering sample so the final design may vary from what is currently previewed. So to the headphone maniacs in the forums, what do you think of this card up until this point?

[Miwo]

I'm not a headphone user, this card would definitely appeal to me because it would give you excellent 2CH (for most music), then the SPDIF Coax for multichannel use. The card looks seriously badass and uses some very nice components. The Sanyo Oscons are regarded as some of the best caps you can use for audio applications without going insane and spending more on Blackgates than the actual card itself. Very nice DAC, switchable opamps, shielding, what more could I ask for? Actually, the only thing its missing is a MIC jack, but maybe its just on the Engineering sample. I know a nice DAC and opamp does not make a good sound card, but I have faith in Asus that its 3rd or 4th generation Xonar product has an equally good circuit design to match well with the parts they selected.

[motopen1s]

This looks very promising. If it will show good results in reviews (especially speaking about headphone amp), it might be a replacement for my X-Fi Prelude. Looking good. :)

[ROBSCIX]

@Miwo, The card has front panel audio header with mic input and there is also a mic input at the back IIRC.

[One_Hertz]

no headphone nut will buy this because of the amp... Dedicated headphone amps will be better than that integrated amp and not tooo expensive.

[Stumbo]

Looks awesome, like miwo was saying good quality nichcon caps (I would probably swap mine with Rubycon zl, or panny FMs) and a over build looks good. I was about to pull the trigger on a claro halo, but I decided to wait and see what the reviews say about this. However, I'm tempted to keep my opamed/capped X-FI and just build a tube amp for my k701s... We shall see

I've read rumors its suppose to release at about $279us

[Miwo]

Its a nice card, but its just as good to use your computer as a transport and use an External DAC. If you get any C-Media based card with dual digital outs, you can use one for External DAC duty, and the other for multichannel use to a receiver or speaker system. Thats what I'm doing right now. The HTOmega stryker seems like the best card bang/buck wise if you go with this type of alternate setup.

$279 would not surprise me, since its a niche product for PC Audio enthusiasts

[ROBSCIX]

This card has some serious analog sound quality. Stock opamps can be replaced providing further improvments.

[lowfat]

This card has some serious analog sound quality. Stock opamps can be replaced providing further improvments.

how are the center and rears sound quality? They are just as important to me as the fronts.

[ROBSCIX]

how are the center and rears sound quality? They are just as important to me as the fronts.

Read over the linked information it give more details on this upcoming card. The Essence is a Headphone/stereo card. This card does have Dolby Digital Live for surround but this cards muscle is in the analog department. ;)

The HDAV 1.3 is a new surround sound card maybe your mixing these two cards up. Hope this helps.

[Gogeta]

If you get any C-Media based card with dual digital outs, you can use one for External DAC duty, and the other for multichannel use to a receiver or speaker system.

Would you mind further explaining the way these components are connected? With one signal being sent over two outputs, how does the multichannel receiver take advantage of the external DAC? I know I'm missing something...

Thanks.