ASUS today announced Xonar U7 Echelon Edition, a compact 7.1-channel USB sound card that retains the high audio quality of the award-winning Xonar U7 and adds the military-inspired digital camouflage pattern that is unique to the Echelon range.

As well as stylish looks, ASUS engineers have also worked hard to add an impressive range of exclusive features designed to help gamers, including Sonic Radar for in-game sound visualization and Sonic Studio Pro for fine control of every audio feature.Sonic Radar technology for an extra gaming edge
Modern games are more than graphics - gamers demand total immersion in the game world to help them see, hear and win. That's why Xonar U7 Echelon Edition includes Sonic Radar, a unique ASUS sound-visualization technology that enhances in-game audio - giving gamers an extra edge with first-person shooters. Regardless of the game being played, Sonic Radar displays a 'radar' HUD (head-up display) overlay that pinpoints in-game actions relative to the player's own position, based only on the positional audio information they generate.

What's more, multiple radar enhancers can be enabled in order to visualize and boost specific sounds such as footsteps or gunshots. This helps players accurately locate an opponent on the 360-degree HUD, even when there's no clear line of sight, giving the player a distinct advantage over the competition. The and on-screen appearance and position of Sonic Radar is completely customizable, too, giving total flexibility to fit in with different game titles and in-game scenarios.

Complete audio control and innovations with Sonic Studio Pro
ASUS Xonar U7 Echelon Edition also features the latest Sonic Studio Pro software suite. This gives the user full control over every aspect of the audio, from equalization (EQ) to 7.1-speaker level-balancing. The intuitive point-and-click interface can also be used to activate preset audio profiles to suit different audio environments, and to fine-tune Dolby Home Theater 4 settings for converting stereo audio into 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound.

Sonic Studio Pro also features Perfect Voice input-noise-reduction technology. Unlike other noise-reduction technologies that rely on inverse-phase-based noise cancellation, Perfect Voice uses advanced algorithms to separate ambient noise from speech. The result is crystal-clear in-game voice communication, even in a noisy environment such as a LAN party. Separate physical controls for headphone volume and microphone level also make it easy to adjust sound levels while playing, without the distraction of opening an in-game menu or settings panel.

Unrivalled audio quality
ASUS Xonar U7 Echelon Edition features 24-bit/192KHz audio quality, a 114dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and true 7.1-channel surround sound - all in a compact, lightweight device. The USB-powered design doesn't need an external power adapter, making for easy portability, while the built-in headphone amplifier makes it easy for gamers to immerse themselves in the action. Compact enough to slip into a bag alongside a laptop, ASUS Xonar U7 Echelon Edition delivers high-quality audio with unrivalled convenience.

SPECIFICATIONS

• 7.1 channels
• 114dB SNR
• 10Hz-46kHz frequency response
• 24-bit/192KHz sample rate
• Headphone amplifier optimized for 32-150ohm headphones
• 2 x RCA sockets + 3 x 3.5mm speaker sockets
• 1 x 3.5mm headphone socket, 1 x 3.5 mm microphone/line-in socket
• 1 x S/PDIF coaxial out