ASUS Xonar Xense Premium Gaming Audio Set Review

When you first see the ASUS Xonar Xense’s EMI shield, you get a sense that this isn’t an ordinary soundcard. The non-ironic conclusion is, you’re right. ASUS has put together another great soundcard and bundled it with a great pair of headphones, the Sennheiser PC350 Xense Edition. The Xonar Xense offers a myriad of inputs and outputs, and can chug out high definition audio up to 192kHz/24bit without breaking a sweat. It easily is one of the coolest pieces of hardware you can add to your rig. Need more convincing? Continue reading to check out all of the details of the ASUS Xonar Xense.

Special thanks to ASUS for providing us with the Xonar Xense Premium Gaming Audio Set to review.

Specifications

Audio Performance
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A Weighted) 118dB for front channel
112dB for other channels
110dB for headphone out with 600ohm load
Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A Weighted) 118dB
Output Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise @ 1kHz (-3dB) 0.00039% (-108dB) for front channel
0.00063% (-102dB) for other channels
0.0019% (-94dB) for headphone out with 600ohm load
Input Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise @ 1kHZ (-3dB) 0.0003% (-110dB) for line-in
Frequency Response (-3dB, 96kHz/24bit) <10Hz to 46kHz
Output/Input Full-Scale Voltage 2 Vrms (5.65 Vp-p)
Headphone Output Full-Scale Voltage Up to 6.8 Vrms (supports headphones up to 600ohms)
Bus Computability
PCI Express PCI Express Rev. 1.0a
Maximum full 2.5Gbps bandwidth per direction and optimized latency for high-definition audio processing
Compatible with X1, X4, X8, X16 PCI Express slots
Sample Rate and Resolution
Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution 44.1K/48K/96K/192kHz @ 16/24bit
Analog Recording Sample Rate and Resolution 44.1K/48K/96K/192kHz @ 16/24bit
S/PDIF Digital Output 44.1K/48K/96K/192kHz @ 16/24bit, Dolby Digital
Main Chipset
Audio Processor ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor (Max. 192kHz/24bit)
24bit DA Converter of Digital Sources Texas Instruments PCM1796*1 for Front out (123dB SNR, 192kHz/24bit (max))
Cirrus Logic CS4362A*1 for other 6 channels (114dB SNR, 192kHz/24bit (max))
High Fidelity Headphone Amplifier Texas Instruments 6120A2*1 (120dB SNR, -117dB THD+N @ Vcc±12V, RL=600Ω, f=1kHz)
I/O Ports
Analog Output Jack 6.30mm (1/4″) x 1 (headphone out)
7.1ch analog output (with bundle audio cable) (1/8″)
Analog Input Jack 6.30mm (1/4″) x 1 (shared by line-in/mic)
Digital S/PDIF Output High-bandwidth Coaxial/TOSLINK combo port. Supports 192kHz/24bit).
Other Line-Level Analog Input (TV Tuner/CD-ROM) Aux-In (4-pin header on the card)
Front Panel Shared by headphone out / 2 channels out / mic in

Packaging
The black and blue box with white lettering will catch your eye, not only because of the design, but because its right side is bulging out! Right away you know that this isn’t an ordinary soundcard, or some ordinary pair of headphones bundled with it. Once you stop and look, you’ll see that this soundcard supports every possible form of surround sound you could need, including Dolby Headphone, Dolby Prologic IIx, Dolby Digital Live, and Xonar GX2.5. Also, it can process high definition audio up to 192kHz/24bit. And for all of the professional audio guys and gals out there, the ASUS Xonar Xense supports ASIO 2.0.

ASUS Xonar Xense Premium Gaming Audio Set ASUS Xonar Xense Premium Gaming Audio Set

Opening the top flap of the box will provide you with much more detailed information about the Xonar Xense and the Sennheiser PC350 “Xense” edition headphones. Also, you will get your first look at the actual soundcard. Its shiny metal EMI shield which is designed after the cans of the headphones. It also has “XENSE” imprinted on the EMI shield.

After unpacking everything you’ll find the ASUS Xonar Xense soundcard, the Sennheiser PC350 “Xense” edition headphones, the audio splitter for 7.1 channel analog audio (your standard 3.5mm, 1/8″ plugs), a 6.5mm (1/4″) to 3.5mm (1/8″) adapter, a special TOSLINK adapter, and the quick start guide along with the driver and utility CD.

ASUS Xonar Xense Premium Gaming Audio Set ASUS Xonar Xense Premium Gaming Audio Set