Xonar Essence One

D

droid

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Launching in SA soon.
Watcha think?

Xonar Essence One
World's first USB digital-to-analog converter with 8x symmetrical upsampling and 120dB SNR

Hi-Fi audio through the world's first 8x symmetrical upsampling
Extreme audio clarity with 120dB SNR
Built-in headphone amp powers up even 600 ohms impedance headphones
11 swappable OP-amps for customizable tonal characters
Cleanest sound thanks to a dedicated internal power supply

http://www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_One/
 
Already available at some online shops. Considered it, saw the price, then got the Xense instead.
 
TJ99 said:
Already available at some online shops. Considered it, saw the price, then got the Xense instead.
Click to expand...

Usually headphone amps make a big deal about whether the amp is class A or A/B, or D
This conversion and DAC is one thing but what pre-amp are they using?
 
I would look at something like the Auzentech cards where you can change the op amps to suite you're musical preferences.
 
ponder said:
I would look at something like the Auzentech cards where you can change the op amps to suite you're musical preferences.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I looked at the Xonar Sense One webpage again and saw this.

"11 swappable OP-amps for customizable tonal characters

This is the unprecedented attempt for any hi-end USB DAC. Op-amp is the key part that amplifies the analog signal in your DAC and affects tone characters(darker, brighter, sound image, etc.) Xonar Essence One allows user to swap almost every OP-amps for a fully customized sound. "
 
I'd love to see the reviews for this, and then I might even consider getting one for the church, since our laptop's sound sux.
 
PostmanPot said:
This post needs editing. :(

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...rs-out-there?p=8100782&viewfull=1#post8100782

Haven't seen any proper reviews, only Linus Tech Tips etc. who get sponsored the units. Would like to hear what Headfi etc. have to say about the One, perhaps more technical and unbiased.
Click to expand...

Head-fi, unbiased? LOL. It's a community discussing one of the most subjective things out there and everyone tries to be more elitist than the last guy. Only unbiased guy there is Jude, and he does very few actual reviews.

But basically they say some cheaper amps like the Schiit Asgard offer better quality for much cheaper. That I can believe. Pity about the name.
 
TJ99 said:
Head-fi, unbiased? LOL. It's a community discussing one of the most subjective things out there and everyone tries to be more elitist than the last guy. Only unbiased guy there is Jude, and he does very few actual reviews.

But basically they say some cheaper amps like the Schiit Asgard offer better quality for much cheaper. That I can believe. Pity about the name.
Click to expand...

Did I make a statement saying Headfi is unbiased? Wow, chill out and LTR! :p
 
PostmanPot said:
This post needs editing. :(

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...rs-out-there?p=8100782&viewfull=1#post8100782

Haven't seen any proper reviews, only Linus Tech Tips etc. who get sponsored the units. Would like to hear what Headfi etc. have to say about the One, perhaps more technical and unbiased.
Click to expand...

PostmanPot said:
Did I make a statement saying Headfi is unbiased? Wow, chill out and LTR! :p
Click to expand...

Yeah, stupid me for reading unbiased when you actually said unbiased. Oh wait you did say "perhaps". Totally my bad :p.

Still, they have a thread or 2 discussing it, basically saying it's not worth the crazy price. Other sites have similar opinions it seems. If it cost like R2000 it might be worth a look. Especially since with 11 replacable opamps, you might be spending a lot more on it. They cost about 150-200 bux each. The ones I checked anyways, there are probably more exotic things out there.
 
That's what I was thinking. Beautiful looking device though. Still happy with my STX. Reckon I'll stick to it since I mostly listen to music via PC.
 
After buying the Xense, I tend to agree. These things have amazing sound, and while high-end stuff might be better, it would cost you several times as much for not that big of an improvement.

Edit: Also, none of the external amps/DACs have Dolby Headphone support, if the Essence one does, it would be the first. That's one major advantage of the sound cards.
 
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