Asus
Asus XONAR ESSENCE STX PCI-e Gaming Sound Card
★★★★★
Immerse Yourself in High-Fidelity AudioIntroducing the ASUS Xonar Essence STX Sound Card. Elevate your audio experience with this PCI-Express sound card, designed for audiophiles seeking pristine sound quality and immersive listening sessions. Interface: PCI-Express x1 Headphone Amplifie...
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Overview
Immerse Yourself in High-Fidelity Audio
Introducing the ASUS Xonar Essence STX Sound Card. Elevate your audio experience with this PCI-Express sound card, designed for audiophiles seeking pristine sound quality and immersive listening sessions.
- Interface: PCI-Express x1
- Headphone Amplifier: Hi-Fi
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 124 dB
- EAX: GX 2.5 (EAX 5.0)
Key Features
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 124dB for Front-out,117dB for Headphone-out (600ohms) dB; Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 118 dB; Output THD+N at 1kHz: 0.0003% (-110dB) for Front-out, 0.001% (-100dB) for Headphone-out
Input THD+N at 1kHz: 0.0002% (-113dB) for Line-in; Frequency Response (-3dB, 24-bit/192kHz input): <10Hz to 90KHz; Output/Input Full-Scale Voltage: 2 Vrms (5.65 Vp-p); Bus Compatibility PCI Express:; PCI Express Rev. specification compatible
Audio Processor: ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor (Max. 192KHz/24bit); 24-bit D-A Converter of Digital Sources: 1x Texas Instruments PCM1792A for Front-Out (127dB SNR, Max. 192kHz/24bit)
High Fidelity Headphone Amplifier: 1x Texas Instruments 6120A2 (120dB SNR, 100dB THD+N @ Vcc±12V, RL=600Ù, f=1kHz)
Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution: 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16/24bit; Analog Recording Sample Rate and Resolution: 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16/24bit; S/PDIF Digital Output: 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16/24bit, Dolby Digital
ASIO 2.0 Driver Support: Supports 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @16/24bit with very low latency; I/O Ports: Analog Output Jack: 2x RCA jack (Front R / Front L), 1x 6.30mm jack (Headphone out); Analog Input Jack: 1x 6.30mm mini jack (Shared by Line-In/Mic-In)
Other line-level analog input (for CD-IN/TV Tuner): Aux-In (4-pin header on the card); Digital S/PDIF Output: High-bandwidth Coaxial/TOS-Link combo port supports 192KHz/24bit; Front-Panel Header: Shared by Headphone out / 2 channels out / Microphone in
S/PDIF Header: Connects to compatible graphic cards for HDMI output; Minimum System Requirements: One PCI Express 1.0 (or higher) compatible slot for the audio card; Microsoft Windows Vista; Intel Pentium 4 1.4GHz or AMD Athlon 1400 CPU or faster CPU
Specifications
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Front-out)
124dB
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Headphone-out)
117dB (600ohms)
Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio
118 dB
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Front-out)
0.0003% (-110dB)
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Headphone-out)
0.001% (-100dB)
Input THD+N at 1kHz (Line-in)
0.0002% (-113dB)
Frequency Response
<10Hz to 90KHz (-3dB, 24-bit/192kHz input)
Audio Processor
ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor (Max. 192KHz/24bit)
D-A Converter
1x Texas Instruments PCM1792A (127dB SNR, Max. 192kHz/24bit)
Headphone Amplifier
1x Texas Instruments 6120A2 (120dB SNR, 100dB THD+N)
Analog Playback Sample Rate/Resolution
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16/24bit
Analog Recording Sample Rate/Resolution
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16/24bit
Digital S/PDIF Output
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16/24bit, Dolby Digital
ASIO Driver Support
ASIO 2.0 (44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @16/24bit)
Analog Output Jacks
2x RCA jack (Front R / Front L), 1x 6.30mm jack (Headphone out)
Analog Input Jack
1x 6.30mm mini jack (Shared by Line-In/Mic-In)
Digital S/PDIF Output Port
High-bandwidth Coaxial/TOS-Link combo port
Bus Compatibility
PCI Express Rev. specification compatible
Minimum OS
Microsoft Windows Vista
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Boasts an exceptional Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) of 124dB for front-out and 117dB for headphone-out, ensuring very clean audio.
- Features a high-fidelity Texas Instruments 6120A2 headphone amplifier, supporting up to 600ohms impedance for premium headphone performance.
- Achieves extremely low Output THD+N at 1kHz of 0.0003% for front-out, indicating minimal distortion in audio playback.
- Supports high-resolution audio playback and recording up to 192KHz/24bit, delivering studio-quality sound.
- Equipped with a Texas Instruments PCM1792A 24-bit D-A Converter for digital sources, enhancing audio clarity.
- Offers ASIO 2.0 Driver Support, providing very low latency for professional audio applications.
- Includes both RCA jacks for front-out and a 6.30mm jack for headphone output, along with coaxial/TOS-Link S/PDIF digital output for versatile connectivity.
👎 Cons
- Requires a PCI Express 1.0 (or higher) compatible slot, limiting compatibility with older motherboard designs.
- The analog input jack is a single 6.30mm mini jack, shared by Line-In/Mic-In, which might require an adapter for standard 3.5mm devices.
- Minimum system requirements include Microsoft Windows Vista and an Intel Pentium 4 1.4GHz or AMD Athlon 1400 CPU, which are relatively outdated by modern standards.
- No explicit mention of surround sound processing capabilities for gaming, beyond Dolby Digital S/PDIF output.
- The inclusion of an Aux-In (4-pin header) requires internal case wiring, which may not be straightforward for all users.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum audio resolution supported by this sound card?
This Asus XONAR ESSENCE STX sound card supports analog playback and recording, as well as S/PDIF digital output, up to 192KHz/24bit, providing high-fidelity audio.
Does this sound card include a dedicated headphone amplifier?
Yes, it features a high-fidelity Texas Instruments 6120A2 headphone amplifier, capable of driving headphones with impedances up to 600ohms for excellent audio quality.
What type of PCI slot is required for this sound card?
This sound card requires one PCI Express 1.0 (or higher) compatible slot for installation into your computer system.
What kind of digital-to-analog converter is used in this card?
It incorporates a Texas Instruments PCM1792A 24-bit D-A Converter for digital sources, which contributes to its high 127dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio.
Are there any specific drivers for professional audio use?
Yes, it offers ASIO 2.0 Driver Support, enabling very low latency for professional audio applications and real-time audio processing.
How many analog output jacks does this sound card have?
The sound card provides two RCA jacks for front-out (Front R / Front L) and one 6.30mm jack specifically for headphone output.
What are the minimum system requirements for this sound card?
It requires a Microsoft Windows Vista operating system and an Intel Pentium 4 1.4GHz or AMD Athlon 1400 CPU or faster.
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