Introduction

ASUS is one company that has for a while now been making quality PC-audio components for both gamers and audiophiles. Good sound quality can come in a variety of packages, and today, we will take a look at the self-powered U7 DAC/Amp solution from ASUS. Not a bulky, grid-powered solution, it makes sense for laptops and uncluttered desktops. The U7 is packed with features for home entertainment and has full 7.1 out and both coax and optical S/P-DIFF, which you don't see in a lot of external DAC/Amps. Apart from its many connectivity options, the U7 also features a headphone amplifier that can be used with medium demanding headphones.

Specifications

Audio Performance

• Output signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted) (front-out): 114 dB
• Input signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted): 110 dB
• Output THD+N at 1kHz (front-out): >0.0006 %(104 dB)
• Frequency response (-3dB, 24bit/96KHz input): 10 Hz to 46 KHz
• Output/input full-scale voltage : unbalanced output : 1 Vrms (2.828 Vp-p)
• Headphone: 1.3 Vrms (3.677 Vp-p)

Chipset

• Audio processor :C-Media 6632A High-Performance Sound Processor (Max. 192KHz/24bit)
• Analog playback sample rate and resolution: 44.1K/48K/88.2K/96K/176.4K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
• Analog recording sample rate and resolution: 44.1K/48K/88.2K/96K/176.4K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
• S/PDIF digital output: 44.1K/48K/88.2K/96K/176.4K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
• ASIO driver support: 44.1K/48K/88.2K/96K/176.4K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit

Connectivity

• Analog output: 4 x 3.5 mm jack (1/8") (headphone out /side out/center-subwoofer out/rear out), 2 x RCA (Un-Balanced) (front out), 1 x 3.5 mm jack (1/8") (line-in/mic-in combo)
• Digital: 1 x S/PDIF out (1 x coaxial)