Thursday, May 14 2009
ASUS today launched the Xonar DS 7.1 channel audio card which is equipped with design features found only on high-end audio equipment, fully catering to audiophiles seeking to enjoy high fidelity audio on their PCs—across all forms of entertainment including music, movies and games.

The Xonar DS boasts 107dB SNR, which is 12 times clearer than most onboard audio solutions. By eliminating 91% of background noise, the Xonar DS lets gamers hear every detail in the game audio, allowing them to locate enemies from a distance and thus giving them the edge in their games. This noise elimination also leads to a more enjoyable movie watching and music listening experience.



Supports the Latest GX 2.5 for Gaming on Windows Vista and Windows XP
With the Xonar DS' immersive GX 2.5 audio engine, users will be able to experience truly believable, ultra-realistic audio in today's games. This audio engine enables the latest EAX technologies, DirectSound effects and full surround sound in Windows Vista without additional software.

Innovative VocalFX Makes Gaming and Online Chat Livelier and more Engaging
VocalFX is an innovative voice processing technology that allows users to insert voices into realistic game landscapes (VoiceEX), or inject audio ‘backdrops' into online chats (ChatEX). It also allows them to change their voice pitch to disguise who they are (Magic Voice).

Superior Connectivity and Conveniences
The Xonar DS boasts an Intel HDA compatible jack-sensing front panel header which automatically switches signals from the back panel to the front whenever headphones are plugged into the front panel output. Providing the best digital output connectivity among low-profile cards, the Xonar DS' S/PDIF output combines with the less utilized rear surround analog output jack, and the optical digital output adaptor is bundled in package.

Delivers a Hi-Fi Theater Experience on Desktops with DTS Connect Technology
Consisting of DTS Neo: PC and DTS Interactive technologies, DTS Connect™ brings the world's most appreciated Hi-Fi surround sound to the PC, transforming it into a powerful multimedia center and game console. DTS Interactive converts gaming audio into sensational DTS Digital Surround to feed systems with the world's best surround sound available, while DTS Neo: PC automatically converts stereo audio into 7.1 channels to get the most out of multichannel speaker setups.

192kHz / 24bit Support for Lossless Hi-Fi Audio
Normal sound cards can only support up to 96kHz, which just cannot keep up with the 192kHz/24bit lossless audio content standard. The Xonar DS' 192kHz/24bit playback support allows users to enjoy every music file converted at the highest quality without any sample rate downgrade.

Swappable OPamp Sockets for Easily Customizable Sound
Normally only present on high-end audio equipment, the design utilized by the Xonar DS includes swappable OPamp sockets that allow users to customize their sound by solderlessly adjusting the OPamp, creating new listening flavors with ease.
posted by btarunr - 4:04 PM |  Related News

User comments
by TheMailMan78 (May 14th - 5:03 PM) - Reply
Man I want this but I don't have anymore PCI slots. I wonder if they will releases a PCI-E x1 version.
by btarunr (May 14th - 5:16 PM) - Reply
The Xonar DS boasts 107dB SNR, which is 12 times clearer than most onboard audio solutions
This is BS. You already have onboard audio solutions such as the Realtek ALC889A that come with rated SNR close to that. Even the most meh 8-channel HD-Audio codec from Realtek, ALC883 comes with an SNR of ~90 dB.
by WarEagleAU (May 14th - 5:37 PM) - Reply
So they have enabled support for EAX 5.0 then...
by KainXS (May 14th - 6:21 PM) - Reply
by: btarunr
This is BS. You already have onboard audio solutions such as the Realtek ALC889A that come with rated SNR close to that. Even the most meh 8-channel HD-Audio codec from Realtek, ALC883 comes with an SNR of ~90 dB.
realtek onboard sounds like garbage compared to even a cheap audigy so i think it could sound vastly better
by btarunr (May 14th - 6:27 PM) - Reply
by: KainXS
realtek onboard sounds like garbage compared to even a cheap audigy so i think it could sound vastly better


ALC889A is a wonderful codec. Maybe it concentrates too much on the mid-low, but does hold up well against Creative. ALC883, ALC885, however, are garbage quite rightly so.
by runnin17 (May 14th - 6:55 PM) - Reply
I own the Asus DX2 and it is the best soundcard I have ever used (and I have used a lot over the years).

Realtek is garbage compared to real opamps and the DAC's that are seen in high end cards.

If I hadn't bought my Asus card only a few months ago I would be saving for this puppy. Go Asus, kick creative's ass!!!
by TheMailMan78 (May 14th - 7:11 PM) - Reply
Bta whats a good PCI-E x1 sound card? Are there any?
by twicksisted (May 14th - 7:38 PM) - Reply
by: TheMailMan78
Man I want this but I don't have anymore PCI slots. I wonder if they will releases a PCI-E x1 version.
this is pretty much the pci version of the pci-e Xonar D1X / D2X
by BazookaJoe (May 14th - 8:13 PM) - Reply
Not taking sides - but EVERY on board audio option i have ever used as been an absolute abortion of depthless, powerless, buzzing, hissy sound, and performance of applications using multiple channels has been SIGNIFICANTLY worse. Even an old SbLive 5.1 EMU10K MASSIVELY outperforms any on-board chip I have ever tested. (Gigabyte / Asus / Chaintech / Asrock / Intel & others)

On MY sound system (Custom Build) the difference in quality, depth , and vibrancy of sound between on-board and dedicated card is enormous, and I will never use on-board sound ever again.

That's just my experience.
by MKmods (May 14th - 8:17 PM) - Reply
by: btarunr
ALC889A is a wonderful codec. Maybe it concentrates too much on the mid-low, but does hold up well against Creative. ALC883, ALC885, however, are garbage quite rightly so.


+1..(its one of the reasons to look at the Gigabyte mobos)

That said Im in LOVE! my Asus D1, it would be interesting to see it and this card compared.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132007
by btarunr (May 14th - 8:35 PM) - Reply
by: TheMailMan78
Bta whats a good PCI-E x1 sound card? Are there any?
Auzentech X-Fi Forte and ASUS Xonar Essence STX. Good cards.
by aj28 (May 14th - 10:40 PM) - Reply
Anyone clear on what kind of price we can expect from this and when it will be available? I was about to pick up a refurbished XtremeGamer, but now I'm not so sure...
by Basard (May 14th - 11:01 PM) - Reply
i have a 889a... and when playing team fortress, there is a lot of sound loss and corruption, compared to my friend's system with a creative x-fi card....

but, it sounds good anyways, when it's not crazy gaming....
by Esse (May 15th - 3:40 AM) - Reply
by: btarunr
ALC889A is a wonderful codec. Maybe it concentrates too much on the mid-low, but does hold up well against Creative. ALC883, ALC885, however, are garbage quite rightly so.

I disagree with you about the 885, it is just as good as the 889/A. I own both and they are indistinguishable in sound quality.

The 883 however is rubbish :toast:
by reverze (May 15th - 4:12 AM) - Reply
Hmm just received my DX...
by Hayder_Master (May 15th - 11:37 AM) - Reply
why it is not pci-e x1 , time to forget pci slot from mobo's ans also FDD connector
by twicksisted (May 15th - 1:50 PM) - Reply
by: hayder.master
why it is not pci-e x1 , time to forget pci slot from mobo's ans also FDD connector
if you want one with pci-e X1 then you should look at the D1X & D2X xonar cards... this is the DS series for the pci slot only
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