Asus Essence STX II Sound Card
Best premium audio upgrade for serious audiophiles and PC enthusiasts.
This internal card is the ultimate upgrade for those who demand absolute sonic purity from their desktop setup. By prioritizing high-end components and customizable op-amps, it delivers a level of detail onboard audio simply cannot touch, though it requires a bit of hands-on tinkering to truly master.
$973.65
at
IT Hardware Hub Inc.
More Xonar Essence STX options
Who it's for
- Audiophiles seeking uncompromised sound quality
- Headphone enthusiasts with demanding high-impedance models
- Audio enthusiasts who enjoy fine-tuning their listening experience
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious users or those satisfied with integrated audio
- Casual listeners or users without high-fidelity playback gear
- Users with limited internal PC space or preference for external solutions
Performance breakdown
Audio Fidelity
Industry-leading signal-to-noise ratio delivers exceptionally clean and detailed sound reproduction.
Headphone Amplification
Robust power output effortlessly drives high-impedance audiophile headphones with ease.
Customization Potential
Included op-amp swap kit offers unique sound tuning for discerning listeners.
Component Quality
Premium WIMA capacitors and LDO regulators ensure stable, interference-free power delivery.
Surround Sound Processing
Comprehensive Dolby suite provides immersive spatial audio for movies and gaming.
Digital Precision
Ultra-low jitter clock source maintains perfect timing for high-resolution audio files.
Key Specs
Mfr Part Number
ESSENCE STX II
Audio Interface
PCI Express
Chipset
Audio Processor - ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor (Max. 192KHz/24bit)
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) (Front-out)
124 dB
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) (Headphone-out)
120 dB
Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted)
118 dB
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Front-out)
>0.0003 %(-110 dB)
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Headphone-out)
>0.001 %(-100 dB)
Frequency Response (-3dB, 16bit/44.1KHz input)
10 Hz to 90 KHz
Line output (RCA, 3.5)
2 Vrms (5.65 Vp-p)
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