Asus Xonar Essence STX - PCI-E Audiophile Soundcard
Test Setup and Rightmark Benchmarks
Published: 9th March 2009 | Source: Asus | Price: £160.99 |
Test Setup
For the excellent Asus Xonar Essence STX, I used the following PC equipment:
To bring out the best in the sound card, I have used the following Audio setup:
I managed to grab an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude to match against the sound quality of the Xonar Essence STX. Whilst this is more of a 'gamers' sound card, I feel it represents the closest card that the market has to offer for sound quality.
Rightmark
Rightmark is an audio analyser designed for testing the quality of analogue (and digital) paths of audio devices. The results are obtained by playing and recording test signals passed through the tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. – Rightmark.
The figures are good in the tests, with a compliance to the standard and above. I was not happy with the connection I had to use for the noise level tests as I could not get hold of the correct wire before running the tests. The noise level gained in the test was taken at approximately 60% volume, for example. Even this inaccuracy aside, the sound card was far superior to any onboard sound and subsequently is better that that of the X-Fi preludes (not shown).
CPU Utilisation
Here we see how much of an impact using the Xonar's software based emulation has on the CPU. Results are again provided by a Righmark piece of software, this time Rightmark 3D Sound CPU Utilisation test.
(CPU Utilisation set at 16-bit/44.1KHz – 16 buffers)
(CPU Utilisation set at 16-bit/44.1KHz-128 buffers)
(CPU Utilisation set at 24-bit/96KHz 16-buffers)
(CPU Utilisation set at 24-bit/96KHz-128buffers)
For the excellent Asus Xonar Essence STX, I used the following PC equipment:
Intel Q6600 @ 3.3GHz
Abit IP35 Pro
4GB OCZ ReaperX PC6400 @ 1000MHz
MSI 8800 GTX
Seagate 7200.10 250GB HDD
Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1000w PSU
Belkin AV Home Cinema Surge Protector - 7 Socket
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Abit IP35 Pro onboard sound (Realtek ALC888 codec)
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude
Abit IP35 Pro
4GB OCZ ReaperX PC6400 @ 1000MHz
MSI 8800 GTX
Seagate 7200.10 250GB HDD
Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1000w PSU
Belkin AV Home Cinema Surge Protector - 7 Socket
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Abit IP35 Pro onboard sound (Realtek ALC888 codec)
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude
To bring out the best in the sound card, I have used the following Audio setup:
Sennheiser HD555 Headphones
Denon AVR-1909 AV Receiver
Mordaunt Short 906i Floorstanders (Bi-Amped, silver coated oxygen free copper)
Mordaunt Short 905i Centre Speaker (Bi-wired, silver coated oxygen free copper)
Mordaunt Short 905i Bipole Rears (300 strand oxygen free copper)
Additional Cabling:
Tacima CS929 6 Way Mains Conditioner
IXOS XHD208-300 Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable
IXOS XHA215-300 2 RCA to 2 RCA Stereo Audio Cable
Denon AVR-1909 AV Receiver
Mordaunt Short 906i Floorstanders (Bi-Amped, silver coated oxygen free copper)
Mordaunt Short 905i Centre Speaker (Bi-wired, silver coated oxygen free copper)
Mordaunt Short 905i Bipole Rears (300 strand oxygen free copper)
Additional Cabling:
Tacima CS929 6 Way Mains Conditioner
IXOS XHD208-300 Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable
IXOS XHA215-300 2 RCA to 2 RCA Stereo Audio Cable
I managed to grab an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude to match against the sound quality of the Xonar Essence STX. Whilst this is more of a 'gamers' sound card, I feel it represents the closest card that the market has to offer for sound quality.
Rightmark
Rightmark is an audio analyser designed for testing the quality of analogue (and digital) paths of audio devices. The results are obtained by playing and recording test signals passed through the tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. – Rightmark.
The figures are good in the tests, with a compliance to the standard and above. I was not happy with the connection I had to use for the noise level tests as I could not get hold of the correct wire before running the tests. The noise level gained in the test was taken at approximately 60% volume, for example. Even this inaccuracy aside, the sound card was far superior to any onboard sound and subsequently is better that that of the X-Fi preludes (not shown).
CPU Utilisation
Here we see how much of an impact using the Xonar's software based emulation has on the CPU. Results are again provided by a Righmark piece of software, this time Rightmark 3D Sound CPU Utilisation test.
(CPU Utilisation set at 16-bit/44.1KHz – 16 buffers)
(CPU Utilisation set at 16-bit/44.1KHz-128 buffers)
(CPU Utilisation set at 24-bit/96KHz 16-buffers)
(CPU Utilisation set at 24-bit/96KHz-128buffers)
The Xonar Essence stayed well below 4.5% CPU utilisation during all CPU utilisation tests. This shows that even during 24bit, 96KHz, 128buffer Direct3D Sound with EAX playback, the Essence won't take up much of your processing time at all. As the saying goes: 'time is money' and the Xonar Essence STX saves your CPU time, dedicating it to playing games or whatever you are doing at the time!
Most Recent Comments
I prefer speakers too, which is why I hooked it up to my AV receiver 
Great card and personally I don't see it as a niche product per se, it's got all the connections you'd need to use with a decent speaker system (inc digital out)Quote
Great card and personally I don't see it as a niche product per se, it's got all the connections you'd need to use with a decent speaker system (inc digital out)Quote
I suppose I prefer a normal 7.1 wired on 3.5mm jacks rather than needing a separate amp etc.
I guess if you have higher end audio its great, but for £120 I would go for the D2X. I suppose its aimed at music listeners rather than gamers so its better in that respect. Considering my only really high quality headphones are the shures (~£250) its not worth it just for those.
Its all a matter of what you want from the card and if you want really nice sounding music and have a good av kit, this is definitely the card to go for.Quote
I guess if you have higher end audio its great, but for £120 I would go for the D2X. I suppose its aimed at music listeners rather than gamers so its better in that respect. Considering my only really high quality headphones are the shures (~£250) its not worth it just for those.
Its all a matter of what you want from the card and if you want really nice sounding music and have a good av kit, this is definitely the card to go for.Quote
Nice review mate and yes that card does indeed rock. Had one in my system for a month or so now and I just could never go back to an X-Fi or whatever now.Quote
How does it compare to the normal asus cards, does anyone know?
And kempez, the forum link at the end links to quad sli review...Quote
And kempez, the forum link at the end links to quad sli review...Quote
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Given the price, it looks like it would go great with my shure se530s, but if I'm sitting at my desk I prefer speakers.
Definitely a niche audiophile product (like high end headphones) but still a nice review guys.Quote