Asus Xonar Essence One USB External Soundcard (XONAR

Quicklinx:	7TPGWS00
Mfr#:	XONAR_ESSENCE ONE

Description

Asus Xonar Essence ONE, World's first USB External Soundcard and digital-to-Analogue converter with 8x symmetrical up-sampling and 120dB SNR.

The Xonar Essence One is a high-end USB DAC with the world's first 8x symmetrical upsampling, an extremely high 120 dB SNR, audiophile class headphone AMP with a full op-amps swappable function.

With most modern audio signals stored in digital format, the ASUS Xonar team has catered to user needs and launched its first hi-fidelity USB digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), the Xonar Essence One. It is an industry-leading high-end USB DAC with the world's first 8x symmetrical up-sampling technology. The Xonar Essence One also features a 120dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), audiophile-class headphone AMP and an eleven operational amplifier (op-amp) design for distinct tonal customisation.

Whilst the majority of common up-sampling USB DACs indistinguishably transfer various audio sources to 192kHz, the Xonar Essence One up-samples 44.1/88.2/176.4kHz input to 352.8kHz and 48/96/192kHz input to 384kHz symmetrically (Note: 44.18=352.8kHz; 488=384kHz). As a result, data volume is also increased by up-sampling the bit-rate to 32bit, corresponding to the original content and faithfully preserving the details of the user's music collection.

The average SNR of other USB DACs is about 110dB, but with at an extremely high 120dB SNR, the Xonar Essence One provides audio fanatics with clearer sounds, enabling minute sound details to be heard while significantly reducing noise levels. A dedicated power supply ensures that clean power is delivered so the sharpest sound is heard, with excellent immunity to noise from the AC line.

The Xonar Essence One features a fully swappable op-amp design, unprecedented for a high-end USB DAC. An op-amp is a vital part of a DAC that amplifies the analogue signal and affects tonal characteristics of the overall sound image. The Xonar Essence One allows the user to swap every op-amp that is on board, for a truly customisable sound.

The Xonar Essence One combines three different functions, providing a complete Hi-Fi solution

1. USB DAC (Digital-to-Analog Convertor) It upgrades digital music stored on your computer into clear and detailed, life-like sounds. It also features XLR and RCA connections for plugging end audio devices.
1. Stand-alone DAC With an S/PDIF input and input selection, the Xonar Essence One also serves as an independent DAC which can connect to standard CD/DVD players and provide high quality music without the need for a computer.
1. Headphone amplifier. The Xonar Essence One integrates an audiophile-class headphone AMP circuit which powers up all Hi-Fi headphones, enabling 100% performance even with impedance of sets up to 600ohms. It offers extra dynamics, sound detail and low distortion for the absolute best sound quality possible.

ASUS Unique Selling Points

Hi-Fi Class audio: up-samples 44.1/88.2 /176.4kHz input to 352.8kHz and 48/96/192kHz input to 384kHz in a symmetrical manner.
Extreme audio clarity: extremely high SNR (120dB), the Xonar Essence One provides audiophiles clearer sounds with every detail while significantly reducing noise level.
Built-in headphone amp: integrated audiophile-class headphone AMP circuit which powers up ALL Hi-Fi headphones and grants 100% performance, even with impedance up to 600ohms.
11 swappable OP-amps: allows user to swap almost every OP-amps for a fully customized sound.
Dedicated internal power supply: provides the cleanest power for the cleanest sound with excellent immunity to noise on the AC line.
Balanced XLR output: This is a higher quality output that is useful for eliminating unwanted noises and interference.
Bit-perfect with ASIO 2.2 Driver: If you are running bit-perfect with ASIO, you will hear the music as it was encoded on the CD.
Low Clock Jitter with Asynchronous Data Transfer: Super Low Jitter.
Dedicated Volume Controls: one for the headphones and another for speakers.
Toslink and Coaxial S/PDIF inputs: which enable the connection of source components. The digital inputs accept data formats at sample rates up to 192 kHz.

Key specification

Audio Performance
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) (Front-out) :120 dB
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Front-out) :0.000316 %(-110 dB)
Frequency Response (-3dB, 24bit/192KHz input) :10 Hz to 48 KHz
Output/Input Full-Scale Voltage :7 Vrms ( Vp-p)
Bus Compatibility: USB
Sample Rate and Resolution
Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution : 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
S/PDIF Digital Input : 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
ASIO 2.0 Driver Support : Hz @ with very low latency
Dimensions: 261.33 x 230 x 60.65 mm ( L x W x H )

Outputs

1 x 6.3mm RCA jack
2 x 3.5mm RCA jack

Inputs

2 x Digital S/PDIF Input

In The Box

Accessories Driver CD
6.3mm to 3.5mm stereo adapter
USB Cable
User Manual
Test Certificate
Power Cablr

Features

Hi-Fi audio through the world's first 8x symmetrical upsampling
The Essence One preserves faithful details of your music collection. While common upsampling USB DACs just transfer whatever audio source to 192 kHz indistinguishably, the Essence One upsamples 44.1/88.2/176.4 kHz input to 352.8 kHz and 48/96/192 kHz input to 384 kHz in a symmetrical manner. The Essence One also supports to increase data volume by upsampling the bit-rate to 32-bit corresponding to the original content.
Extreme audio clarity with 120 dB SNR
The average SNR of other USB DACs is about 110 dB. With the extremely high SNR (120 dB), the Xonar Essence One provides audiophiles clearer sounds with every detail while significantly reducing noise level.
Built-in headphone amp powers up even 600 ohms impedance headphones
The Xonar Essence One integrates an audiophile-class headphone AMP circuit which powers up all Hi-Fi headphones and grants 100% performance, even with impedance up to 600 ohms. It offers extra dynamics, sound details and low distortion.
11 swappable OP-amps for customizable tonal characters
This is the unprecedented attempt for any high-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.
Clean sound thanks to a dedicated internal power supply
The internal power supply supports all international voltages and has generous margins for over and under voltage conditions. It provides the clean power for the clean sound with excellent immunity to noise on the AC line.
Balanced XLR output
The Xonar Essence One also features balanced (XLR) outputs. This is a higher quality output that is useful for eliminating unwanted noises and interference. Since a balanced line contains two signal carrying conductors of equal magnitude but opposite polarity, noises induced along the cable path cancel each other out when they reach the destination load.
Low clock jitter with asynchronous data transfer
Most USB audio uses synchronous data transfer mode to adjust the internal clock to compensate different data transfer rates between PCs and USB audio devices. But the jitter is worse if the transfer rate is different between a PC and the audio device. To avoid this issue, the ASUS Xonar Essence One supports asynchronous data transfer mode. This mechanism feedbacks the buffer status to the system, and the system is based on buffer status to adjust to the speed of the data transfer, which leads to a low amount of jitter in the Xonar Essence One.
Dedicated volume controls
The ASUS Xonar Essence One is fitted with two dedicated volume controls: one for the headphones and another for speakers. Unlike most USB DACs which use only one volume control for the output level of both headphone and speaker (or even no volume control), The Xonar Essence One allows users to set the headphone and speaker volume level separately.
Toslink and coaxial S/PDIF inputs
The ASUS Xonar Essence One is fitted with a set of digital inputs, coaxial and Toslink, which enable the connection of source components. The digital inputs accept data formats at sample rates up to 192 kHz.

Specifications

Summary

Product Description: ASUS Xonar Essence One - sound card

Device Type: Sound card

Enclosure Type: External

Interface Type: USB 2.0

Weight: 3.2 kg

Signal Processor: CM6631

Sound Output Mode: Stereo

DAC Resolution: 24-bit

Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz (min) - 192 kHz (max)

Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 120 dB

Power: AC 120/230 V

Detailed Specification

General

Device Type: Sound card

Form Factor: External

Interface Type: USB 2.0

Weight: 3.2 kg

Processor / Memory

Signal Processor: CM6631

Audio Output

Sound Output Mode: Stereo

DAC Resolution: 24-bit

Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz (min) - 192 kHz (max)

Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 120 dB

Frequency Response: 10 - 48000 Hz

Compliant Standards: EAX 5.0

Audio Modes: Playback: 24-bit 192 kHz - 120 dB

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces: 1 x headphones - phone stereo 6.3 mm , 1 x audio line-out - RCA x 2 , 1 x balanced output - XLR x 2 , 1 x SPDIF input - RCA , 1 x SPDIF input - TOSLINK , 1 x USB 2.0 - 4 pin USB Type B

Miscellaneous

Cables Included: 1 x audio adaptor , 1 x USB cable

Power

Voltage Required: AC 120/230 V

Software / System Requirements

Software: Drivers & Utilities