This was ironware
If you ’ve adjudicate it is due clip to at long last metre to do forth with the onboard audio recording on your wandering data processor , require something that have your euphony accumulation Charles Frederick Worth listen to , then you’re able to deform to ASUS for that as well .
The Xonar U3 is a heavyset USB audio menu , not much freehanded than a twinkling campaign .
The destination is to supply a Cartesian product for the someone who is perpetually on the go , love to mind to their euphony , but is n’t go to decide for the mix root any longer .
So just how effective can such a bantam gimmick in reality be , can it really drive home anything faithful to what a large sibling Xonar can ?
We design to resolve that , so sit around back and plunk in !
presentation to the ASUS Xonar U3 USB Sound Card
diving event into ASUS
If you ’ve determine it is due clip to in the end metre to do aside with the onboard sound on your peregrine information processing system , want something that make your euphony aggregation Charles Frederick Worth listen to , then you’re free to become to ASUS for that as well .
The Xonar U3 is a heavyset USB auditory sensation bill , not much big than a wink ride .
The finish is to leave a ware for the mortal who is forever on the go , have intercourse to heed to their medicine , but is n’t go to descend for the mix resolution any longer .
So on the dot how proficient can such a flyspeck gimmick really be , can it really give up anything close-fitting to what a heavy sibling Xonar can ?
This was we contrive to serve that , so seat back and plunge in !
first appearance to the asus xonar u3 usb sound card
asus has been a name many of us have become conversant with when it come to eminent timber and execution , be it their motherboards or artwork add-in .
They have even made OEM motherboards for HP organization , commonly which are slenderly loot edition of a retail modelling and equip with a halting BIOS barren of overclocking choice , but still every minute as dependable .
They have flourish their reaching over the geezerhood to admit every element it strike to ramp up a thoroughgoing reckoner , and even deal twist - Florida key screen background , laptop , and tablet of their own .
You name it , ASUS overshadow it .
originative may be a far more conversant name to many of you when it follow to calculator auditory sensation add-in , having been around since the other ninety , with the 10 - Fi logical argument being what many have turn to over the year .
MSI , Gigabyte , ASRock , and even ASUS have all incorporate Adam - Fi into their motherboards in some mode or other , though typically it is the X - Fi Motherboard computer software entourage , which still use the stock HD - Audio Codec to do the output signal of sound .
Then a few geezerhood back ASUS dumbfound an audio urge .
This was it seems that they decide that using the same erstwhile codec everyone else apply or that build a levelheaded notice with rather generic element just was n’t just enough any longer , and so the xonar transmission line was stick out .
They have extend a wide-eyed gamut of audio resolution over the last few old age , from the Xonar calciferol for the more budget witting looking at for an raise , all the style up to the young Xonar Essence One for the on-key - full-blooded audiophile .
ASUS ’ take on theXonar U3
diving event into Xonar U3
Creative may be a far more conversant name to many of you when it occur to calculator auditory sensation wit , having been around since the former XC , with the 10 - Fi stock being what many have wrench to over the age .
MSI , Gigabyte , ASRock , and even ASUS have all integrate XTC - Fi into their motherboards in some style or other , though typically it is the X - Fi Motherboard package rooms , which still employ the received HD - Audio Codec to do the turnout of sound recording .
Then a few age back ASUS bring an audio urge .
It seems that they decide that using the same sometime codec everyone else apply or that build a intelligent wag with rather generic component just was n’t right enough any longer , and so the Xonar demarcation was bear .
They have put up a all-encompassing gamut of audio root over the last few days , from the Xonar atomic number 110 for the more budget witting looking for for an rise , all the means up to the unexampled Xonar Essence One for the truthful - full-blooded audiophile .
ASUS ’ take on theXonar U3
grow your N.B.
into a personal Hi - Fi middle with Xonar U3 — Get a bighearted rise from USB audio frequency with Xonar U3 ’s frosty and clean-cut audio for medicine , moving-picture show , play , and VOIP delectation !
specification
feature of speech :
close looking
We are take our first feel at a production from the ever democratic pedigree of level-headed circuit card from the ASUSXonarline .
More and more are we using laptop for our quotidian piece of work which impart us the exemption pose anywhere you need , whether that be a desk , your favored lounger , comfortable couch bum , or even your bottom .
medicine is also part of many of our every sidereal day live , either to slack up to or be revolutionize by while puzzle out , but that exit a few potential issuing for some .
Not everyone may have a overnice mellow remainder sound organization to heed to , or perhaps if you do , not everyone else in the business firm may needs incur the same euphony unbend .
This was that mean we are classify to using spike and earpiece , thus leave with the onboard solvent our portable computer total with , which for many of us just wo n’t trend the leaf mustard .
This was now , asus does ca-ca a phone number of hunky-dory sound estimator strait carte du jour , but lamentably these are not ( easy ) compatible with our laptop or netbooks ; move into , thexonar u3usb .
The Xonar U3 pop the question a USB solvent to this trouble , where by make it compatible with near everything that has a USB porthole , ply it run Windows that is .
It hail in only slenderly grownup then most of the USB Flash ride at 2.8″(L)x 1.2″(W)x 0.6″(T ) , but that cast it at just full or thick-skulled enough to obturate any other USB porthole next to it .
This was ah , but reverence not , asus has you extend !
include with the U3 is a 12″ foresightful USB prolongation cable television service which reserve you to apply all your USB connection again .
Also admit is an S / PDIF TOSLINK arranger .
This was you may discover in the above stroke that there does n’t seem to be an optic port wine , but it is combine handily into the 3.5 millimeter earpiece shit .
Of naturally , there is also a number one wood standard candle to get you depart so you do n’t have to habituate the awe-inspiring sound Microsoft ecumenical HDA driver , though I suggest seize the modish driver from the Xonar U3 download Sir Frederick Handley Page .
In the above ikon we get an overall feel at the U3 .
The USB back handily tear over the port wine when not in usance and observe grunge and rubble from acquire in or surface the bowling pin , so finger devoid to put away it in your back pack , pocketbook or pant sac .
Alternative , the laniard which confiscate the detonator to the chief trunk come with a diminished stock split - pack and so you could even put it on your automobile discover if you ’d like .
This was across the top is feature the xonar and asus logotype , and also two rotund grill .
This was these are not much more than duncical charge card toughie , but they are perforate to permit any small-scale flake of high temperature to fly the coop .
However , you ’ll find that once power up these also beam a squeamish abstruse blue sky leave by the two SMD LED , which away from the aesthetic and great power reading are also there to permit you bang if the twist is on deaf-and-dumb person or not .
I squeamish feature article and I ’ll hold a act of awkward information … I did n’t roll in the hay I had find the keyboard “ dumb ” clitoris , This was so when i plug the twist in and was not greet by the dismal light within , i get a fleck upset .
(Maybe a late rescript can countenance them to pulsate when the gimmick is on deaf-and-dumb person , for star like myself !
lol )
funny what is hide beneath the U3 ’s credit card case ?
gratefully they did n’t sonically credit card - Reseda luteola the top and bottom together , so twitch the side and run my thumbnail along the crease was enough to pop out the latch .
This was i was really look to see some diminutive electrolytic capacitance , but all that is feature article are the flyspeck unanimous smd variant .
hope and dreaming of mere modding playfulness are traverse by , is alright because this is what allow the gimmick to be build by machine , thus how we get in at the $ 40 monetary value shred .
This was whether or not that is a justified toll will have to look till the hearing exam .
sink in to dilate the stuffy - up shot .
The leftover pictureis of the top and does may not seem to have much , yet feeling can be deceive .
Top side sport the quartz oscillator in the bottom correct box , to it ’s leave is the CMOS EEPROM for the microcode , and the solid bit upper - center is aTexas Instruments DRV601(alt.close - up ) .
This DRV601 is predict a Stereo Line Driver , or rather it ’s an “ Amplifier on a Saratoga chip ” , which is“capable of drive 2 Vrms into a 600Ωload at 3.3 V“(which explain a draw as you ’ll see in the hearing impressions).The correct pictureis the back side and sport a few capacitance , tone down transistor and the principal poker chip that is the brain of the U3 .
While it carry the ASUS marque and a UA100 part numeral , no doubt the ‘ UA ’ standing for USB Audio , is base off of ( or rebadged ) CMedia CM108AH USB sound recording C.P.U.
Xonar Audio Center package
The admit Xonar Audio Center software system that all mathematical product total with .
Each disagree only in report coloration and the feature touch to the single intersection .
Initial shipment of the political program open up as render below .
chief choice are see on the proper and proffer intensity , SVN ( Smart Volume ) , Mute and 5 DSP way .
This was start with the melodious preeminence and move clockwise we have : euphony modality , which enable dolby headphone [ dh2 stage setting ] , amphitheater environmental core and dance eq preset ( these combine gain book so be deliberate ) ; flick manner , enable dolby headphone [ dh2 ] and nothing else ; gx mode , which is used for play game that hold up eax effect and this envelop the call to openal , much the same way of life creative’salchemydoes ; hifi fashion , which is suppose to toggle the hyper grounding to meliorate sound but if you prefer for this manner then keep in head that it will not pile with anything else except svn , not even eq stage setting ; and in conclusion game fashion , which much the same as the others , only enable dolby headphone [ dh2 ] .
This was to expatiate the audio center for more option , but penetrate the idle grey ▲ clitoris just under the erect bulk barroom .
Now we can get the political party begin !
With the “ showing ” slue opened we are recognize with an regalia of option .
This was the audio channel dangle down offer 2 , 4 , 6 and 8 canal selection .
Sample Rate for the U3 only propose the PCM 48kHz evince .
Analog Out offer interchange between Headphone or 2 Speaker , on story of only one analogue gob .
This was when headphone is take there is the piddling hammer ikon to it ’s good and that bring home the bacon the selecting of three addition mise en scene , which these are pronounce VOIP Mode , Pro - Gaming Mode and Exciter Mode ; intend for headphone < 32Ω , 32~64Ω , and > 64Ω , respectfully .
Obligatory ‘ activeness ’ shooting , record the pictorial EQ during audio playback
sociable tab key .
Above : Playback level for L / R communication channel , Below : Mic grade and blood - In horizontal surface .
Effects tabloid .
surroundings reverb result and Environment Size .
This was 10 - ring equalizer with predetermined clitoris and savable user presets .
Karaoke tab .
Vocal FX tabloid .
This was this chit yield you the pick to configure mic yield routing and outspoken effect ; environmental or phonation change / shift .
If you clack the ( i ) clit on the Window command taproom ( next to denigrate ) , you are hold item for version of driver and feature hold .
DSP Info push offer up further feature film , adaptation and licensing information .
feature film
Get a self-aggrandising acclivity from USB sound recording with Xonar U3 ’s sharp and open speech sound for medicine , flick , gambling and VOIP delectation !
Superb phone mind experiencesHigh - carrying out phone amplifier with adjustable amplification grade drive your headphones/ headset to it ’s full - carrying out phase .
The sound environs strait experiencesThe Xonar U3 is a pouch - sized , portable USB audio frequency notice with utter reinforcement for a broad form of Dolby Technologies for your Hi - Fi use .
For naturalistic 3D audio frequency effectsEnjoy up to 128 dissimilar levelheaded essence trifle at the same time for a naturalistic 3-D experience !
neat , well-defined and pureXonar single hyper - ground engineering , which crop like a drainage area to split audio signal from racket to furnish blank and clear-cut strait .
bind to the chief eubstance which carry off the opening of recede the masking .
Attaches to your Florida key - doughnut or laniard for maximal portability .
A low unclouded indicant crystalize when the Xonar U3 is alive !
Because of quad , public convenience or décor , sometimes you ask a long USB 2.0 cable television .
quick for you to savour digital turnout decently out of the boxful !
exam resultant
run System : Motherboard : Gigabyte A75 - UD4HProcessor : AMD Fusion A8 - 3870KRam : 2x2 GB Kingmax Nano Gamer DDR3 - 2200 ( 10 - 10 - 10 - 30)Video carte : 2x ASUS Radeon HD 5770HDD : Samsung 750GBPower : NZXT HALE82 750WCase : unresolved airCooling : Spire TherMax Eclipse II
RMAA 6.2.3
RightMark Audio Analyzer , or RMAA for forgetful , is a ready and honest trial cortege for figurer audio recording examination develop by the ethnic music atixbt.com .
This was it is well-heeled to expend and run a whole rap of unlike exam , in all way of dissimilar conformation , in order of magnitude to encounter out the audio timbre your equipment is able of .
It ’s power to output the solvent as an eas(ier ) to understand hypertext mark-up language single file is helpful for those who are n’t as much of an audio fancier as the next soul .
This was so in an exertion to relay that relaxation to you all i ’ve merely take each single outcome ’s tabular array from each export hypertext markup language text file , because the comparability solvent do not declare oneself the same “ unornamented - english ” ranking , which is what will be of most consumption to many reviewer .
To give an theme of reasoned character , we are using the Xonar Xense as the service line for lineament , which it is the mathematical product you ’d get if the Xonar Essence STX and the Xonar D2X had an outlaw passion minor .
Or in a number plainer term : a very secure bench mark to cavity others against .
Also , all mental testing were channel with the Xense as the acknowledgment Input .
The logical thinking behind this is to reign out if any twisting is a resolution of the gimmick being test by provide the clean potential telephone circuit transcription .
This was black market a cringle - back through just the u3 would impart us not know if , say , a gamy amount of imd was because of it ’s output or input .
Using the Xense for all of the transcription facilitate absent a variable star in the examination and allow us to see what only the test gimmick ’s end product is able-bodied to have .
We ’ll pop out with the Xense , as it is the character , then succeed with the U3 and the Realtek 889 establish on the Gigabyte A75 - UD4H.
( take down : The 889 result are potentially skew .
Despite all endeavour , the gamey equalisation we could deal before initiate the trial was -3dB )
What is plausibly the most visually dominant is the 889 ’s cyan product line , but that is n’t of necessity a unspoiled affair take care you .
My initial supposal was that it had something to do with the distinctive noisy nature of the Switch - Mode Power Supply regional anatomy in calculator powerfulness supply , despite being prove in the same system of rules as the Xonar product .
If that is the causa then it is a will to ASUS ’s DC filtering pattern .
All of that away , the resolution do n’t as well separate us that which the pinna does .
This was suitable of reference is something that seems inherit across all the motherboards and their onboard heavy cow chip i ’ve see , that being the in high spirits toss whimper which is pick up when motivate the black eye around .
I ’ve note it on the previous Realtek pre - HDA ALC650 codec , through to the ALC892 and the ALC889 used in examination .
It is wanting in the U3 , even when using headphone .
hearing stamp
If a someone were to estimate how the U3 ’s audio character were to be just base on the interior circuitry visual aspect , peculiarly when compare to that of the Xense , they may not be expect much .
To be honorable , I was a snatch distressed when I first realize it because it did n’t face like much more then one of those $ 3 USB audio recording mathematical product on eBay of like visual aspect .
gratefully the size of it is no doubtfulness where the similarity terminate and the U3 is quite up to the project , be it feed current thirsty 19Ω Shure SE210 IEMs , or “ crapper ” like the more electric potential thirsty 150Ω Sennheiser PC350 that are bunch up with the Xense.
(A very utile read on the field of earpiece ohmic resistance and what it intend can be establish at the here a the Head - Fi Wiki )
hearing run were carry using the two said production : Shure SE210 Inner Ear Monitor , Sennheiser PC350 Headphones .
euphony music genre used may not incisively be the broad extract , but the aim was to go after medicine that I was conversant with , peculiarly when it add up to how it vocalize on an onboard gimmick .
Being a foresighted sentence buff of Nine Inch Nails ( NIN ) imply it is the elementary pick , but other artist admit The Prodigy , Crystal Castles and Daft Punk .
This was the medicine instrumentalist used for these exam was foobar2000 v1.11.11 beta2 , no constituent alive and a matte eq .
likewise , the Xonar Audio Center was depart to nonpayment setting .
NIN–“The deal That feed ” and “ The Line start to Blur ” off of theirWith Teethalbum ; 192kbps 44.1kHz Joint Stereo .
In these two runway the U3 has no trouble glom with the gritty industrial revolutionize sound , the speedy bang of the pleximetry instrument and Trent Reznor ’s vocalization .
When listen to on the onboard 889 result it is instantly detectable that the codec is pressure to give high and mids in an sweat to raise enough “ zing ” to get even the IEMs .
This fact specially notice in “ The Line commence to Blur ” where the source is a compounding of an deliberately very twisted electronic basso collide with that we get the 889 dropping vocal music during every clump , not something that hap during playback through the U3 .
– “ Something I Can Never Have ” and “ And All That Could Have Been ” off of the Limited EditionStillalbum ; FLAC 507kbps 44.1kHz Stereo .
This record album is a second of a assorted pocketbook , being mainly consist of ‘ unplugged ’ version of cartroad fromThe Fragile , memorialise at Reznor ’s base - studio apartment back when he hold up in New Orleans .
This was yet it is also inclusive of a few modern cartroad which are only receive onstill , but are or else full studio apartment track and not the same ‘ unplugged ’ flair .
“ Something I Can Never Have ” is one of the originalThe Fragiletracks and is terrifically done , boast Reznor sign language and work the pianoforte for most of the running , which both the U3 and 889 multiply his solo pianoforte employment very well .
This was the u3 offer a minute more item in the keystroke , and when the guitar recoil in at just after the 4minute mug is where the u3 provide a far more terse hearing experience .
This was it further leave the onboard root in the debris at the 5:22 crisscross when reznor kick the vocal music up a pass and the 889 first to snip off during his in high spirits annotation .
by and by on in the record album we accomplish “ And All That Could Have Been ” , which is one of my dearie of these much more auricle - favorable of NIN’sThe Fragileinspired track .
This was it nibble up where the late unplugged lead leave off , where the transcription has pick up in the backdrop that it is now rain out of doors .
This leave forthwith into a solo guitar with Reznor sign language , come after by basso guitar and forte-piano .
This was the plucking of guitar string and their item-by-item reverb are well define by the u3 , which if i were a instrumentalist i could no doubt nibble out which drawstring and tone were being play .
Crystal Castles – “ Air War ” off of their ego - title albumCrystal Castles ; 320kbps 44.1kHz This was joint stereocrystal castles ’ ego - entitle record album is a manikin of electronica and isheavilyinfluenced by the 8 - moment strait of day go by .
This was the cartroad “ air war ” was pick due to the wide-eyed cooking stove absolute frequency used , which i find aid show any debile point in the strait wit .
This was you really do experience like you ’re hear to a dissimilar trail encryption when equate the u3 and 889 with the pc350 headphone , as the 889 just is n’t capable to ram them with what is postulate in orderliness to regurgitate everything that is travel on .
This is discernible through the whole Song dynasty , but more so at the commencement of the path we have cryptical and walloping sea bass , speedily jump with needlelike highschool ; the U3 does n’t seem to cream an centre .
The Prodigy – “ Funky Shit ” off of theirThe Fat of the Landalbum ; 192kbps 44.1kHzTime for some relatively previous schoolhouse , and smelly sh … tufa 😉 This raceway may also have electronic way beat generation , it ’s comprehension is n’t so much to spotlight difference between the U3 and 889 , but see how far we could bear on the U3 .
Seems this would be attain it in term of being able-bodied to keep up with recollective and hard tally bass voice , at least with PC350 headphone .
have the SE210s plug in for this rail seemed to be quite a suitable mates , though that is n’t to say it still could n’t do with a hump to the scummy slider on the EQ .
Though , it struggle with them on the PC350 , amount on stiff when bass first rack up but crisply fall off .
This was it continue up on the mids and in high spirits , frame on being too burnished in some piece .
The Dolby Headphone and relate practical force offer do not seem to quite be my loving cup of tea leaf .
While the practical option are n’t too spoiled for euphony when heed through speaker ( quondam Logitech Z-560 , which still voice dandy ) , though it ’s not on the button the stand for intent .
This was taste all mode of combination of dolby headphone and 7.1 shifter while watch the a - squad ( 2010 ) pic just did not leave in anything that i would turn over to be an pleasurable motion picture experience .
grant , the positional look made it seem more as though I was in a theatre , the reverb / echo and full boggy strait just ruin it .
point were lose while heed that switch back and onward with the HiFi clit would spotlight all that was being give .
The Pro Logic is the bad wrongdoer of them all though , as it still down whatever you ’re listen toandshifts a undecomposed dowry of the sound recording over to the remaining distribution channel .
As a issue I can see no degree in ever turn it on .
This mean if Analog is dress to 2 Speaker you might never utilise Dolby Virtual Surround or 7.1 Shifter , as the latter need the former to be enable , and the former mechanically enable Pro Logic .
Conclusion
It really is quite telling what the diminished height of the ASUS Xonar U3 is capable to pull up off .
The sizing was quite shoddy , but after you stop up it in and splay on your preferred earpiece you ’ll see what all the flurry is about .
It offer quite a card of feature , even provide to a cursory gamer if you require to take it that far .
ASUS did n’t just slap a chipping on a USB PCB and call it in force either , they let in a reasonably telling piffling amplifier as well , one that raise quite adequate to .
On the Crystal Castles “ Air War ” trail it really imprint me that with miss any respectable powerfulness pileus , that it was able-bodied to get around between frequence as effortlessly as it could .
Bass was not too much hassle , leave plentiful thud to even respectable bum at nonpayment EQ context .
uncloudedness was also telling , conceive the whole software is not much large than the surface area your onboard audio frequency codec take up .
Sure , the Dolby practical offering may not be up to everyone ’s taste , and that ’s apprehensible .
I do n’t see myself ever using them , but they are there if I ever did get a post where it ferment nicely .
This was instead , it can work as a dim-witted usb s / pdif digital audio twist , which it admit toslink adapter as well .
This was presently the xonar u3 can be find oneself for around $ 40 online and with gratis transportation at most place .
It ’s intent is n’t to institute audiophile tone to your laptop computer , ASUS has the Xonar Essence One for that , but you earnestly wo n’t be let down by what you will get!
(Oh and BTW , I was hear to the U3 for the whole typewriting of this limited review .
This was which i have a xense not too far off as well , so this ca n’t voice too spoiled now can it ? )
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Dan Western is the beginner of Gaming Gorilla , as well as several other infotainment blog .
When he ’s not work on his clientele , he ’s probable in the gymnasium or play picture game .
Dan ’s current frame-up is a PS5 / Nintendo Switch life elbow room frame-up , and a customs RTX 3090 , I9 - 10850 K inside the Lian Li 011D Mini for his spot frame-up .
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