ASUS Xonar Essence One Audiophile Grade USB DAC Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips

[Satfgk]

@Baromanthefool If music is what you're into, skip this. This thing is for gaming. If you want music enjoyment and have high end headphones, the musical fidelity m1hpa (built in, good dac) is nice for $599, then theres higher end ss amps like ray samuels audio apache, or tube amps like woo audio wa22, eddie current, and really extreme amps like ray samuels b52, apex pinnacle or woo WA234...

[anygameonpc]

I'm sorry you like what?! 5:04

[Satfgk]

@TeamExploit For what headphone?

[gaspower70]

"nice big knobs" okay...

[kabes7]

I have no doubt this thing is good but I think a better option if you already own a decent sound card (and thus have a decent DAC and only need a good amp), your better option is to get a headphone tube amp. The sound from a tube amp is liquid smooth and has characteristics that you just don't hear with a solid state amp. But if you have no good sound card yet this looks like a nice all in one solution.

[redaxe100]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND A WORD OF THIS :'( BUT I JUST WANT ONE!

[likesm14]

do I shit money?

[0BeNo]

logical point 07:48 , nice Linus :)

[Satfgk]

@hdgamevideos1 more power for high end headphones, just better sound...

[hdgamevideos1]

What makes this better than simply using a high end sound card such as a HT Omega Claro

Plus?

[AFIGHTCHANNEL]

How much is it?

[damnedcarrot]

How would i plug 5.1 into this if i wanted to go analogue?

[MrJonahRambo]

@damnedcarrot youre not understanding this thing are you?

[qmircea]

I'm thinking of getting this to play music/accompaniment CD-DVD in a 700 seats church going to the mixer using the XLR. Is there a better solution at this price point?

[armageddoon1]

Linus could you please unbox asus Xonar essence STX (the refresh of ST PCI -version)

[dshnig]

Is this better than the Essence STX Sound Card?

[armageddoon1]

@dshnig it will but it isin't worth it if your sound system costs under 1000-1500$

[armageddoon1]

@armageddoon1 woops meant to say it is

[prodigy2222]

@dshnig No. They just charge $400 more for the fun of it.

[dshnig]

@prodigy2222 T_____T Essence STX has a better SNR and has an amp good for 600ohms as well. I hardly think most people will here a difference. This "pricier the better" mentality you have going on here won't get you anywhere.

[phoenix7289]

@dshnig Miles better - it is more dedicated than just a sound card.

[canthaguild]

I wanted one..... Until I realised it was $600, I live in the UK I don't even know how much $600 is but I know its alot + shipping, i'll stick with a soundcard :)

[iamthewizard2]

im a noob when it comes to these things but how exactly do you connect this to your pc??? it has a usb connection but lets say you dont wanna use usb....how are u then supposed to connect it????

[BlueXiiter]

@iamthewizard2 Toslink and Coax is the two other alternatives.

[JogBird]

there a lot of marketing bullshit with this unit; there are better usb dacs/amps out there

[phoenix7289]

@JogBird He mentions that - but for $500-600 this is a killer.

[robbewuzhere]

im using the headphone jack & optical input :))

[Meuwuhh]

I'd like to know if this thing supports dolby headphone?

[Satfgk]

You do realise there are way better dedicated headphone amps/DACs out there, Linus?

[skawster]

@Satfgk He probably knows, he is like a spokesman for all the major PC related hardware manufacturers (Gigabyte, MSi, Asus, XFX etc.) so he just goes with the flow, sure there are a lot of far better headphone amps for a little more or less cash but as he doesn't unbox this kind of stuff he just gets it from one of the companies he is familiar with.

[TeamExploit]

@Satfgk Can you recommend me an alternative? Cost is no problem :)

[Baromanthefool]

@Satfgk Any examples?? from my experience in the music area (not gaming) this sound card is really up there.

[TheENofficial]

Hey great video!

If anyone is looking for technology/gaming related video content be sure to check out my channel! Unboxings, giveaways and much more!

I have a giveaway for a FREE blackberry playbook ! All you have to do is subscribe and leave a comment on my blog, one lucky winner will be chosen to win a brand new sealed playbook! Hurry before its over!

[PSCreativeGaming]

@TheJp707 what did i say? Im on my mobile so i can see the linked comments.

[abi2478]

can this thing make Justin Bieber's songs sound better?

[firecat960]

@OCKxx well if you want it to be silly : yes I want to pay for that equipment, compared to my onboard audio card, it will be like having an audiophile device. and no, I don't have the money to get a "true" audiophile system that cost 9.999$. --- it's like having a LADA, you want a better car, you gonna get a BMW, but you never gonna buy a ferrari. But, but... the difference between the LADA and the BMW will be significant. ;-)

[00unknownmember00]

my sony xb 1000 are 24ohms. will getting this be pointless?

[web1bastler]

the first power cord u unbagged was European :)

[MultiRedman7]

hi

[timramich]

It's not bit rate, it's bit depth. Bit rate is your sample rate * bit depth * channels.

[timramich]

I wish people would stop saying Ay-zoooss.

[EBACHKOle]

Cmedia is not much of an Audiophile equipment

[3674087574175895618]

@EBACHKOle is that the company that makes the components in this DAC?

[EBACHKOle]

@3674087574175895618 Yep. The main processor is. You can read it on the box, Audio processor: C-media CM6631 well...

[devouringone3]

I'm starting to like this guy's unboxings ^^

[kruso4400]

Can I use this with my mac through USB?

[TheQhozt]

Wow i can't wait to get my hands on this! Getting a pair of Prodipe Pro5's to go with it. :D

[Odst447]

I have no clue about any thing hes talking about on this thing.

[Spartan117FS]

Cheats and Hacks!! O_O

[HellishTV]

its listed at $594 on NCIX !!! WTF

[derbigpr500]

@HellishTV Whats so weird about 594? Its cheap considering its performance, it beats DAC's that cost 1000$+ in terms of sound and features.

[PSCreativeGaming]

Linus we love you. Extreme homo.

[zZZzzzSnooze2nd]

I'm kidding around about the bad words in my last comment!

[Rull3n1990]

Please do a review of these with the HD 800 ! ! ! :)

[TorontoRaccoon]

@Rull3n1990 that would be fun, but i guess they would suck with the 800's

[derbigpr500]

@TorontoRaccoon Actually, Essence One works great with HD800's, its amps is very good. Comparable with standalone amps that cost $500+.

[torkel104]

Focus!

[calvinblinkee]

@OCKxx Um what you said basically meant that the more expensive the product, the better it is.

[0perativeX]

LOL a UK power plug - count me in ^_^

[calvinblinkee]

@OCKxx I never said it could but that doesn't mean it's going to sound terrible. Hey I guess a $3000 Macbook Pro is going to be better than any computer in the world because it's in the price range of high end computers!

[Pirispanen]

I'm going to buy this for my iPig speaker.

True story.

[lolgina]

I have the Xonar Essence STX :) It's way overkill for me, but...it does sound superb. The difference between onboard and the card was night and day. That, and my Sennheiser PC 360s needed an amp, which the card has.

[OUTATIME2007]

FOCUS!

[NerdyFTW]

I want to get this for my 598s but I don't think its worth it.

[Frostedchunks]

why....

[T0mB1ll]

OK Linus, u got an international power cord so u cant use it.. send it to me..

[siwini]

If it's anything like XonarDX and it's shitty drivers I don't want it. I am tired of poping noises in Asus Xonar Cards. I think I'll give a shot to Creative

[ImKuuler]

@siwini in my experience they all fuck up

[Andragon90]

more audiophile gear please

[Neaniscuo]

Buy one of those and then listen music on youtube instead flac. FAIL.

[DamnCanucks]

slap on some mystic far east mumbo jumbo and BAM instant cash-in on the white man

[KriegsMaschine]

Hmm at 550$ don't you think it would be better spent on getting really good headphones? It's kind of stupid when the DAC you have is worth almost twice the price of ur headphones. I have AKG K702 "300$" which is among the best, just a step under the monsters "HD800" that cost 4 legs and 7 arms.. and I would had been interested at this headphone amp if it would had been more like 300$ at most.

[lexsoOr]

@KriegsMaschine Grado PS1000, 1700$ just sayin

[MrCdnAudiophile]

@KriegsMaschine How is it stupid. The source matters as almost as much as the headphones themselves. If you start with a quality source then all the headphones you own are going to sound that much better.

[KriegsMaschine]

Wtf it's not even on NCIX's website... fail

[pyro637]

@KriegsMaschine that's because it hasn't even been released yet. It will be there as soon as its released.

[donyario]

peer sound? oh PURE sound... great review :) thumbs up

[newtekie1]

This is the biggest waste of $600 ever.

[pyro637]

@newtekie1 No, its not. This product does not apply to you. That doesn't mean its a waste of money.

[newtekie1]

@pyro637 No, it is a waste of money for anyone. Audiophiles are stupid, and it isn't a hobby, it is an idiotic waste. The best was a study that took a bunch of self-proclaimed "audophiles" and played them 128-bit mp3s and Lossless FLACs and all but like 1 couldn't tell the difference. Because audiophiles are nothing more than hipster jackasses that like to pretend like they are better than everyone else because they spend useless amounts of money on useless audio equipment.

[1488slav]

@newtekie1 i can hear the difference from 128 mp3s and a WAV file, but I use Ultrasone headphones, and i'm neither a hipster or an audiophile

[newtekie1]

@1488slav No you can't. You just like to hear the sound of yourself saying you can.

[calvinblinkee]

@newtekie1 Why, you can't?

[firecat960]

@newtekie1 haha The guy is crazy XD. --- It's like someone tells us "there is no difference between LCD TN and LCD IPS" ---

or "there is no difference between a JPEG and a PNG" ---

and when you said : "no you can't, blabla" did you even read what he said ? he said "ABX test" ---

I can hear the difference almost instantaneously... ---

But I should not enter your game, just believe what you want.. seriously.

[newtekie1]

@firecat960 There is a difference between TN and IPS. There is no difference between JPG when save properly and PNG however, and JPG can be lossless FYI.

However, there is no noticeable difference with audiophile equipment and no noticeable difference between MP3 and FLAC. Look for yourself, there are plenty of studies that show this.

[MrCdnAudiophile]

@newtekie1 You obviously have no experience on the matter so why do you try to speak like you do? There is a huge difference in 128 to flac or wav but you propbably do not listen to high enough quality music to appreciate the difference. Have you tried it for you self? What did you use to test this? Please let us all know here.

[newtekie1]

@MrCdnAudiophile Yes, I have tried it myself, and I've studied it myself. When I was in college I took about 25 self-proclaimed audiophiles, provided them with 10 songs. Half of which were FLAC direct from the CD source. The rest were encoded as 128 VBR MP3 first, then converted to FLAC. So they had the outward appearance of FLAC. I told them all to take them home and play them on their own equipment and tell me which were 128 MP3. Only one was able to identify all 5 that were really MP3s.

[MrCdnAudiophile]

@newtekie1 What was the music used to test? What hardware was used?

[pyro637]

@newtekie1 Well, there must have been some flawed methodology in this experiment. I have performed multiple ABX tests and am able to tell the difference between FLAC and 256 kbs music files 100% of the time. And this is using $20 Sony XDR 200 headphones with the integrated sound card on a Dell Studio XPS 16. A few of the songs I used were "Frog's Theme" (Chrono Trigger OST) and "Empty Walls" (Serj Tankian on Elect the Dead).

[pyro637]

@newtekie1 I meant to say Sony MDR-XD200 headphones. I can only imagine the large differences I would be able to hear if I were to test again using higher quality hardware. While I do agree that some audiophiles can be elitists and hipsters. The fact is that there is an easily noticeable difference in sound quality. Just because you can't notice it doesn't mean other people can't.

[mercifulkyle]

@newtekie1 That's your opinion. Much the same as a person spending alot of money to maximize their video performance in their pc's, some of us care about audio just as much. Which audiophiles like to say they are better than everyone else?

[MrCdnAudiophile]

@newtekie1 Compared to?

[newtekie1]

@MrCdnAudiophile And if you look around, you'll find plenty of articles where people have done the same studies and found the same results. In "blind" tests, when you take away the placebo effect, humans just can't tell the difference.

[MadeInMinecraft]

@newtekie1 the really depends on the equipment you use, if you use a pair of Genelec studio speakers or maby a pair of Beyerdynamic T1 you would probably notices the differences i would anyway :P 128 kbit/s is kinda low sample rate :)

[newtekie1]

@MadeInMinecraft Look at some of the articles on the subject, the equipment used ranges from the own audiophile's equipment, which probably isn't cheap stuff if they really are audiophiles, to $600 pairs of headphones used for all the test subjects. In the end it doesn't matter, most couldn't tell the difference.

[MrCdnAudiophile]

@newtekie1 There are plenty of sites saying that people saw Aliens but doesn't mean it is true.

[newtekie1]

@MrCdnAudiophile Scientific experiments performed by legitimate researchers is far different from whack job ailien theories, but if you think that is a legitimate argument, good luck with that...

[trollingyou666]

great info thx

[D3athangel888]

Wow, ASUS is gonna release an audiophile product! ASUS IS DEFINITELY MY FAV PC BRAND :D

[Pirispanen]

@D3athangel888

Corsair is my fav pc brand.

[Zomgwtfbbq1228]

linus here is the problem i have with you.

you unbox things, you say that people like me does not need said object......but i still want it lol

[TheQhozt]

@Zomgwtfbbq1228 As you stated yourself, you don't NEED it but you WANT it...

[Zomgwtfbbq1228]

@TheQhozt yes as i stated myself, i want it. whats your point

[firecat960]

@TheQhozt you don't need internet, yet you want to have it. it's just about confort or pleasure or hobby etc...

[TheQhozt]

@firecat960 Nad this is relevant because?

[TheQhozt]

@firecat960 And*

[TheLizardGamer]

I wonder what Dubstep will sound like with this :D

[lemmor6791civ]

What's the deal with the soft focus???

[KriegsMaschine]

@lemmor6791civ Ya the focus was totaly wrong on the whole video. I think it's because camera man wasn't there as we can see in the tv it seems to be a "home-made studio" with a tripod for the camera.

[GamersCanGame]

my uncle would love this lol

[arranmc182]

The reason I think this is cheaper DAC is that its more geared for Headphones as it does not have 5.1 or 7.1 compatibility for speakers but hey for hardcore PC gaming this is a win cus you would be using headphones then

[trdi]

@arranmc182 You don't know what you are talking about, but that's ok, nobody is born a genius. Headphones are audiophiles' best friend. If you want to know why, you will have to read more about it. But of course not the headphones that you have, you gotta spend much more money for them.

[hrabia99332]

im not the most informed man but isnt it better to buy somehting like Harman Kardon or Technics ?

[hrabia99332]

man, we know its expensive, just when you see xonar audiophile it must costs fucking much

[FoxMulder78]

Audio Processor: C-Media... NOPE.avi

[agentjucey]

what is this used for?

[cheesekabob]

this would be great for my garage band (not the apple software) recording studio!

[calvinblinkee]

Heard C-Media chips are pretty disappointing in audio measurements..

[passivepower]

I lyke music mp3 format is pretty good quality

[TheQhozt]

@passivepower Troll

[glauqu1nhoo]

this with 500w RMS amplifier, PLUS skyrim. i would never leave my room.

[vmeisterkun]

LOl ahah "audiophile fags" just loved to troll. i'll say this will shit all over a majority of entry point D.A.C.'s. and plus if you "Audiophiles" realise, a little tweaking and changing this D.A.C will be unmatched for quality and price point. (well it is already)

[gumberly]

@OCKxx why? i am asking you that cause i actually wanna know. I'm not that well educated in the audio market. I know bits and pieces? I had a feeling Linus was overhyping this...

[trdi]

I was reading audiophile reviews and I haven't seen anyone saying it's POS. In fact they say that price/quality ratio is superb, but at the same time they can't compete with models priced 100% higher. Obviously. Considering that price tag is not very low and that price/quality ratio is very good, anyone who says this piece of equipment is POS, is not an audiophile but an idiot.

[calvinblinkee]

@trdi I've heard this before...

[adam723]

Nice big nobs and outstanding build quality! Sounds good to me.

[VicViperXxXxX]

Wait wait wait... so it goes from the computer... to this, then to stereo? why wouldnt you just use a USB A-B compatable Reciever?

[speedemon574]

oh wow i thought i herd him say that it was a 8x pci card

[speedemon574]

personally i dont think that i would wase a 8x pci slot

altougth i dont have a decent motherbourd (lol)

[DackIsBack]

Hmm, the upsampling is more like anti-aliasing than anything, it eats all the jaggies.

[DackIsBack]

8x upsampling, great... so my 128kbps torrents will sound better? ;P

[CrissBlackHawk]

Audiobear approves.

[latem777]

@CrissBlackHawk lmao

[DXXDgame]

UK plug FTW

[netaberger94]

its good and all... but still not high end studio shit

[mrmactknife]

I love, and own Asus products, but I'm sure the Cambridge Audio DacMagic, would urinate all over this lol

[demonsoulzx]

i'm surprised how asus is bursting into the technology scene. I don't know exactly how long they were in the mobo market, but everything they have released within the last couple years has been amazing products. I would assume they don't have that much experience in all these different fields, but every single product is very well made with very high specs at very low prices...

[ProfessaKA0S]

@MN12BIRD You can get Audio Interface that cost over thousands of dollars. Audio dedicated companies design there Audio Interfaces for Recording, Monitoring and Mixing. E-mu and Digidesign Avid have been making PCI cards longer then ASUS has been a company so I highly doubt ASUS are at there level of components.

[MN12BIRD]

@ProfessaKA0S Yes I know but it sounded like you meant you can take "any" model from any of those brands and it will kill this. Like if you take a $100 Fast Tracks or a $200 Audiophile 192 it would "destroy the shit out of this" just because it was from a professional audio engineering brand. Because you said "any" interface would destroy this. Well no not just ANY of them will but surely some will. Asus makes products for end users who are listening to music not for people making music.

[ProfessaKA0S]

@MN12BIRD Cool I got my wording wrong, I would think 90% of the Audio Interfaces made by those companies would out perform Asus's card because they are made by Professional Audio Hardware Engineers by companies that do nothing else but manufacture the best possible audio hardware solutions around and have been before PC's were in homes. End of the day it is personal preference, so if you think Asus make better PCI or Audio interfaces then the top dogs in the Audio business then its your opinion

[BigBadBadger1]

5:02 thats wat she said

[ytfmichaelxu]

You are always pronouncing ASUS wrong. There's no emphasis on "U".

[TehMG]

This would probably be a nice match for the amplifier I built (using Hypex UcD400HG 400W modules).

[jeproject1]

As with all mid-top range pc sound hardware... The hardware is great but the drivers are *usually* shit and either don't take advatange of the hardware properly or cause problems with it.

Such a shame.

[InternetSandman]

european outlets are freaking huge. I learned that on vacation 3 years ago

[nanquan491]

Hey Linus! Will I be seeing you at the gay pride parade this year like last time? ^^

[WordsThroughTheSky]

NCIX doesn't even sell it. Show us some prices Linus!

[3dSamm]

ASUS not Aseus and D.A.C not DACK

:P but AWESOME MAN I want one D:

[mackjeez]

@3dSamm

According to Asus Its correctly pronounced Eisus and/or Asus. Its not pronounced D.A.C but DACK as in Digital Analog Converter (dee)(Ah)(Kq).

[3dSamm]

@mackjeez i know How asus is pronounced, no need to type it. and you dont say USB yousb

D.A.C DAC

[mackjeez]

@3dSamm

Well I work in a studio and we always called a "D,A,C" a DACK, its always been like that, from audiophiles to studio junkies to basement producers.

[princeboy5]

It is pronounced D A C Digital Analog Converter....

[k1ngskin]

Is upsampling kinda like interpolation?

[danielbluesmoke]

I don't think this is for sound enthusiasts... But rather for sound professionals. Like DJ's and stuff like that...

[onebulletisit]

@danielbluesmoke yeah like a dj will go to a rave with this...

[frickfrock999]

How much is this behemoth?

[SpadesHeart]

...just get a proper receiver and hook it up to that? hell, it'd probably be cheaper

[drakesHD]

ffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuu­uuuu

[Warbsky]

5:04