ASUS Xonar Essence STX PCI Express sound card review

jmke · 9th March 2009, 16:46

From left to right, we find that the Essence STX carries analogue outputs for left and right speakers via RCA outputs (with an RCA to 3.5mm jack adapter provided with the board) - If you're using analogue speakers, that means you'll only be able to produce two-channel audio from the Essence STX. Moving on, we then find the card's headphone output and line-in jacks, both of which use 6.3mm jacks (with one gold-plated 6.3mm-3.5mm adapter provided as part of the STX's bundle), and an SPDIF output with support for both coaxial and TOSlink connectivity, and allowing for multi-channel audio via Dolby Digital encoding.

http://www.elitebastards.com/cms/ind...96&Item id=27

9th March 2009, 19:51

Those reviews are totally n00b. At the moment I saw them speaking of the "additional juice" the card needed through the external power connector (heck, more than 75W for a sound card? Where's the fan than?), I realized this isn't serious. Besides, RMAA tests don't tell the whole truth and there's great variance between runs. A recent review @spcr revealed some interesting details about these tests to me which are worth reading.

jmke · 9th March 2009, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by npp

A recent review @spcr revealed some interesting details about these tests to me which are worth reading.

got any linkage for that? I must have missed that one, thanks!

10th March 2009, 02:19

Yeah, these cards don't require an external power connector due to power draw. They require it because ASUS believes a dedicated rail from the PSU will supply cleaner power than the motherboard itself.

10th March 2009, 04:54

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Xonar_HDAV

9th March 2009, 16:46	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,010	ASUS Xonar Essence STX PCI Express sound card review From left to right, we find that the Essence STX carries analogue outputs for left and right speakers via RCA outputs (with an RCA to 3.5mm jack adapter provided with the board) - If you're using analogue speakers, that means you'll only be able to produce two-channel audio from the Essence STX. Moving on, we then find the card's headphone output and line-in jacks, both of which use 6.3mm jacks (with one gold-plated 6.3mm-3.5mm adapter provided as part of the STX's bundle), and an SPDIF output with support for both coaxial and TOSlink connectivity, and allowing for multi-channel audio via Dolby Digital encoding. http://www.elitebastards.com/cms/ind...96&Item id=27 __________________

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9th March 2009, 19:51	#2
npp Posts: n/a	Those reviews are totally n00b. At the moment I saw them speaking of the "additional juice" the card needed through the external power connector (heck, more than 75W for a sound card? Where's the fan than?), I realized this isn't serious. Besides, RMAA tests don't tell the whole truth and there's great variance between runs. A recent review @spcr revealed some interesting details about these tests to me which are worth reading.

10th March 2009, 02:19	#4
Kougar Posts: n/a	Yeah, these cards don't require an external power connector due to power draw. They require it because ASUS believes a dedicated rail from the PSU will supply cleaner power than the motherboard itself.

10th March 2009, 04:54	#5
npp Posts: n/a	http://www.silentpcreview.com/Xonar_HDAV