Xonar Essence STX: Sneak Peek!

[Shahrose]

Originally Posted by mcegan

I had another question about the card...since it says in the specs it outputs 24bit...should I enable the bit depth in foobar to be 24 instead of the default 16? Not sure if that's what bit depth is or not.

yes, select the 24-bit option in foobar AND the windows mixer.

[taso89]

Card came in about an hour ago! Thanks NCIX on eBay

Thoughts so far:

I'm going to compare this card to what I know: Zero DAC with Earth HDAM, Xonar DX, Sansa Clip.

The card is CLEARLY superior to all three, including the $200-ish Zero with OPA-Earth. The Essence STX has a tiny hint of warmth, a brand new level of detail that wasn't there before. The card is extremely revealing, but not in a fatiguing way, rather in a musical way. The card NEEDS burn-in. By far the best $200 I've spent.

One tiny issue: at 24 bit/44.1khz I hear a tiny bit of noise that disappears when switching to something like 24bit/96khz. I just keep it at 96khz but I don't know if this affects SQ.

[ROBSCIX]

Yes, the Essence STX definately has some high quality sound.
Great deal for $200 given the sound quality out of the box.
The sound will improve and change as the card burns-in and settles. Enjoy.

[Hadakan]

I'm so getting this one, when it's released here in Europe!

One question though. I have SR225 which have low impedance but high current demands. What should be the gain on this card set to, so it would drive these headphones properly? As I understand it, the higher gain levels are for cans with high impedance (up to 600 ohms). Grados of course have 32 ohms, but when I was considering M^3 amp I learned that for Grados higher (5) gain is better.

So now I'm kinda confused about what gain should I use on Essence STX.

[viscosity]

Originally Posted by taso89

Card came in about an hour ago! Thanks NCIX on eBay

Thoughts so far:

I'm going to compare this card to what I know: Zero DAC with Earth HDAM, Xonar DX, Sansa Clip.

The card is CLEARLY superior to all three, including the $200-ish Zero with OPA-Earth. The Essence STX has a tiny hint of warmth, a brand new level of detail that wasn't there before. The card is extremely revealing, but not in a fatiguing way, rather in a musical way. The card NEEDS burn-in. By far the best $200 I've spent.

One tiny issue: at 24 bit/44.1khz I hear a tiny bit of noise that disappears when switching to something like 24bit/96khz. I just keep it at 96khz but I don't know if this affects SQ.

I currently own a Zero DAC with OPA-Earth but have been very interested in this card. Have you been using these devices without an external amp? I own a Darkvoice tube amp and so DAC quality is what I've been looking for. Also, I know you just got this card, but please report back if you decide to stick that discrete opamp on the Essense, I'd like to know the improvements

[taso89]

Originally Posted by viscosity

I currently own a Zero DAC with OPA-Earth but have been very interested in this card. Have you been using these devices without an external amp? I own a Darkvoice tube amp and so DAC quality is what I've been looking for. Also, I know you just got this card, but please report back if you decide to stick that discrete opamp on the Essense, I'd like to know the improvements

Unfortunately I no longer have the Zero with the discrete opamp in my possession, sold it last week. However, when connecting my Little Dot I+ to the Essence RCA outs, I do notice improvements from my memory over the Zero with OPA-Earth. The Essence has a little bit more detail and pushes it out in a more musical and fluent way (for lack of better words) than the Zero with the Earth.

Has anyone tried this card with OPA627 yet? I will probably swap tonight to give it a listen

[KDE]

Anyone tried to compare volume/power/quality of headphone output of STX and Xtreme Gamer/Music/Audio using same settings and headphones, which have impedence less than 64 ohm?

[riderforever]

There is one thing that is still unclear to me: does the opamp replacement affect the headphone out as well as line-out, or the latter only?

I don't get where the circuitry separation starts (or is it only a matter of power source separation?)

[chinesekiwi]

Anyway, I'm in the middle of writing a massive review of this card as I have been sent the Essence STX to review by the only store in New Zealand to stock them, ComputerLounge, and it will cover many aspects so stay tuned!

[twhtpclover]

cool.. looking forward for it...
But I don't see there's review section in ComputerLounge, is it in another site?

[Brando]

Here's the specs for the cards amp if it hasn't been posted already.
Audio Amplifiers - Headphone Amplifiers - TPA6120A2 - TI.com
What are the thoughts of people that know what to make of it?
I don't know what's good as far as amps go. 80 mw into 600 ohm. What's that into 1 ohm? Curious how it compares to my glite spec-wise.

[taso89]

Well I quickly swapped to OPA627 last night (I shouldn't say quickly at all, it takes forever). However I was very disappointed. The OPA627 is a fantastic opamp for the Zero DAC/amp, but it was terrible in my Little Dot I+ amp and it's terrible in the Essence too. OPA627 sucked detail out, and put a little more bass. It turned the Essence into more like a $70 sound card rather than a $200 one . Swapped back to LM4562 and it sounds great! I'm keeping this thing in until someone thinks they have a better opamp

[Bojamijams]

Originally Posted by taso89

Well I quickly swapped to OPA627 last night (I shouldn't say quickly at all, it takes forever). However I was very disappointed. The OPA627 is a fantastic opamp for the Zero DAC/amp, but it was terrible in my Little Dot I+ amp and it's terrible in the Essence too. OPA627 sucked detail out, and put a little more bass. It turned the Essence into more like a $70 sound card rather than a $200 one . Swapped back to LM4562 and it sounds great! I'm keeping this thing in until someone thinks they have a better opamp

Well thank you for testing it out 1 down... 5? to go =D

[chinesekiwi]

Originally Posted by twhtpclover

cool.. looking forward for it...
But I don't see there's review section in ComputerLounge, is it in another site?

I'll post it on their forums first then post on other forums, including Head-fi
Not 56k friendly

[pompon]

I tried with 2 other friends a linear powersupply on the STX and that gave a positive influence on the soundquality.

BTW, for my tastes, I tend to prefer X-Meridian (with lm4562) over the STX because the STX give a little bit too much details for my tastes.