ASUS Launches The World's First PCI-E Xonar D2X Audio Card

[malware]

Hot on the heels on the success of the Xonar D2 audio card, ASUS now offers users even more audio choices by introducing the first PCI-E interface audio card Xonar D2X; and the stylish USB interface audio device Xonar U1. Providing solutions for the gaming audio issue found in Windows Vista by utilizing DS3D GX, and Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) for best voice communication quality, the Xonar D2X will undoubtedly provide the best gaming experience ever. The Xonar U1 on the other hand will feature eye-catching industrial design, a convenient user interface and total compatibility with both PCs and notebooks.




ASUS Xonar D2X -Solution to Windows Vista Gaming Audio Problems
With the introduction of Windows Vista, the whole audio architecture landscaped has been changed. This has resulted in teething problems for gamers - with the possibility of losing all surround sound or hardware accelerated Direct3D and EAX while gaming in the Windows Vista environment. To circumvent this problem, the ASUS Xonar family of audio cards utilizes an ASUS exclusive technology - the new DS3D GX extension in the Xonar D2X driver; to provide full support for surround sound and hardware accelerated features by translating DirectX to the DS3D GX. While other solutions like OpenAL requires special installation and game support, DS3D GX doesn't. Gamers can enjoy DirectX gaming with hardware enhanced surround sound and EAX effects automatically and immediately after installation.

Cleanest Voice in Online or LAN Game Chatting
The Xonar D2X also includes the innovative "Acoustics Echo Cancellation" (AEC) technology to facilitate the best online voice communication quality. AEC can eliminate up-to-40dB speaker echo return and suppress noises that would otherwise enter the users' microphone - making the Xonar D2X the best audio card choice for online chatting in VOIP applications (Skype, MSN, Google, QQ, etc.) or online gaming.

Unparalleled Sound Clarity
The ASUS Xonar D2X also features a signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) of 118 dB for both audio in and out - reaching the maximum limit of audio quality on most PC platforms. Unlike generic audio cards in the market that provide the highest SNR to only the front stereo outputs, the Xonar D2X is able to deliver 118 dB quality audio for all 7.1 channels.

Dolby and DTS for Complete Digital Home Experience
Besides delivering impressive audio quality, the Xonar D2X is also packed with multiple sound technologies from Dolby and DTS to deliver outstanding entertainment experiences. These include Dolby Digital Live, which converts PC or game audio content into Dolby Digital in real-time; Dolby Headphone, which creates a surround sound listening experience when using any set of headphones; Dolby Virtual Speaker, which delivers a vibrant surround sound listening experience from stereo speakers and Dolby Pro Logic IIx, which creates up to 7.1-channel surround sounds from stereo or 5.1 sources as well as DTS Interactive for real time AC-3 encoding and DTS NEP: PC stereo to multi-channel expander.

"As users increasingly use their PCs to enjoy music, movies, and gaming, great audio is key to delivering an outstanding entertainment experience," said Greg Rodehau, PC Market Segment Director, Dolby Laboratories. "The ASUS Xonar D2X audio card delivers a powerful suite of Dolby technologies that create highly immersive listening environments from virtually any content or playback device being used."


Backup Digital Music Files and Enjoy Them On-the-Go
The Xonar D2X also comes with a special application called "Portable Media Processor". This application works with the onboard ALT (Analog Loopback Transformation) circuit to provide almost lossless analog recording audio quality from digital music files.

ASUS Xonar U1- Stylish External Audio Processor with EAX Support
The Xonar U1 is an external USB audio device that improves the laptop or PC's underachieving audio by first eliminating electromagnetic interference (EMI) and noisy DC circuits inside the PC chassis. It then utilizes the high quality DAC (digital to analog convertor) to bring about crisp, clear music or gaming audio in the original flavor that was meant to be heard. The Xonar U1 provides a huge boost to PC gamers by supporting EAX and DirectSound HW acceleration for best gaming experience in Windows VISTA and XP.

High Quality Headphone Amplifier for Audio Listening Pleasure
The Xonar U1 brings further enjoyment to the user by utilizing the high quality internal DAC for playback of original details of MP3s; and superb output with the built-in high-fidelity headphone amplifier to achieve best listening quality with most stereo headphones (8~150 ohms @ >10mWx2).

• THD+N< 0.005% @ 47mW x2 / 32ohms
• THD+N< 0.006% @ 88mW x2/ 16ohms
• 96dB SNR
• >1.1Vrms full-scale output voltage for >8 ohms load
• Frequency Response (-3dB/48KHz): 20~20KHz for 32ohms

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[devguy]

Now that's got my attention. I like the idea of a hardware DS3D converter similar to Alchemy. Alchemy uses the cpu to transform DS3D calls into OpenAl calls that can be hardware accelerated by a Creative sound card. But if this can do that transform at the hardware level, that'd be good news for Vista users.

I'm on xp x64 so it doesn't concern me- although part of reason I switched from Vista x64->xp x64 was Creative's crappy Audigy drivers (of which still haven't been updated since I switched to xp x64 around the release of xp x64 SP2!) and a refusal (at the time) to give Alchemy Audigy support (even now, they actually charge you for it after you buy the card...).

So kudos to Asus, tackle Creative at their own game and in this case, lead the market in high end pcie audio cards! Also, the acoustics echo thing sounds pretty sweet, but I'll admit I've never used a mic in an online game outside of my old Xbox Live days...

 

[Deleted member 24505]

nice,how much how much.i mite replace my x-fi with one of these.i like that its pci-e 1x too.it will fit above my graphics card.

 

[Jess Stingray]

I sdaw this reviewed last month, good review. It lights up at the top and the ports at the back do too.

 

[Weer]

Is this better or worse than the X-Fi?

 

[Deleted member 24505]

well the way the vista drivers are for vista,it cant be no worse can it,i believe its the oxygen hd chip on it.

 

[Hawk1]

I think it should be better than Xfi- at least for Vista.

Hey Ben, any link to that review you mentioned?

Edit: they had a brief preview at [H]ardocp back in August saying it will go for about $199.

 

[Helvetica]

X-FI is trash on vista. I'm getting tired with creative anyway. They add crap like "Crystalizer" or "3D surround Effects". All they crystalizer does is boost and compress the high frequencies. All 3D Surround does, is change phasing to make it sound like you've got more speakers than you actually do - which sucks for games because if someone's behind you shooting, you can't tell that they're behind you because it sounds like they're to the side. I have X-Fi, and I have all that garbage disabled.

 

[Grings]

Very nice, i was thinking of getting the pci one, but will probably go for this instead, though i dont see why asus had to go making out its their sound chip on these cards (its a re-labelled c-media oxygen)

 

[Darren]

Is this better or worse than the X-Fi?

Dolby Digital and DTS encoding in real time. MUCH MUCH BETTER!

 

[nick_1992]

Just wondering what PCI-E is it? is it a 1x,4x,8x,or 16x?

 

[devguy]

Just wondering what PCI-E is it? is it a 1x,4x,8x,or 16x?

Judging from the fact that they have a pci version which has enough bandwidth to support it, I'd guess that it will be a 1x card, so it will fit an any of those slots that you listed.

 

[WarEagleAU]

doesnt asus use the oxygen DSP from whats their face? I thought it was a mix of Oxygen and xfi.

 

[Don__1]

Am I seeing a fan on a sound card?

 

[Jess Stingray]

It only has EAX2, Creative won't give out anything later than that to third parties.

@Don: No, it's a light.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

X-FI is trash on vista. I'm getting tired with creative anyway. They add crap like "Crystalizer" or "3D surround Effects". All they crystalizer does is boost and compress the high frequencies. All 3D Surround does, is change phasing to make it sound like you've got more speakers than you actually do - which sucks for games because if someone's behind you shooting, you can't tell that they're behind you because it sounds like they're to the side. I have X-Fi, and I have all that garbage disabled.

first of all.....calm down,take a deep breath & go look at pictures of Jeniffer Love Hewitt

2nd... I hope you actually have a 5.1/7.1 etc to correspond with your settings not trying to get a 5.1 up mix through 2 tiny speakers because if that is the case you are an idiot to do so (no offense intended) & what your doing is called flaming.

as for the Crystallizer, i think its pretty neat. I play a lot of games & I quite enjoy the tinny sound of the high freq especially when playing FPS. as I am an audiophile also - having drums & guitar etc sound more pronounced kicks ass like the tapping of the high hats or the crashing of the cymbals. gotta love that crystallizer!

obviously if you think its a waste of time then fair enough, each to their own but id like to see you do better.

 

[OnBoard]

Am I seeing a fan on a sound card?

@Don: No, it's a light.

Actually it's a EMI shield (and a led behind for aesthetics).

I was so looking forward for this card almost a year ago. Took them way too much time to get it out. Now I have a different motherboard and no PCI-E 1x slot on top of GPU, but still one 1x almost in bottom.

That DS3D GX thingy sounds good, but not yet in Vista, so my Audigy 2 does ok. Seems like this will be too expensive for me, as I have Creatives DDTS-100 (with Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital-EX, DTS, DTS ES and other decoders) so no need for any decoders in card.

Still will keep this in mind, if the price ever comes down and maybe Creative finally does one in PCI-E too, or I'll just go for onboard sound (eeek, I've always had a soundcard) with vista and get optical out (now just coaxial with Audigy).

 

[Deleted member 24505]

hers a review by custom pc of the pci version,basically the same card tho'

 

[hat]

It would be cool if it had a USB port for headsets and like 16MB RAM.

 

[Weer]

Dolby Digital and DTS encoding in real time. MUCH MUCH BETTER!

Is that really important? I just want to game.

 

[Wile E]

as for the Crystallizer, i think its pretty neat. I play a lot of games & I quite enjoy the tinny sound of the high freq especially when playing FPS. as I am an audiophile also - having drums & guitar etc sound more pronounced kicks ass like the tapping of the high hats or the crashing of the cymbals. gotta love that crystallizer!

obviously if you think its a waste of time then fair enough, each to their own but id like to see you do better.

I'm an audiophile as well, and I gotta agree Helvetica on this one. Crystallizer sounds terrible. You can do so much better with a good parametric Eq.



Back on topic: I'm really glad to see PCIe cards trickle into the market, but I'm growing tired of the C-Media chips. We need more true DSPs to duke it out on the market.