[dynamics]

I'll leave some feedback here on my opinion of the One vs STX once I get to listen to it.

 

[misha0209]

Hi all,
Glad to see this thread is still going
Planning on buying this first month next year, as an upgrade to my essence st.
I'd like to ask the happy users who got their hands on an essence one to provide some info.
I read the review on soundnews, and it was saying the sound is warm (a good thing to pair with my q701), but it also mentioned that the highs are recessed. Now, i like my bass, but highs are important. Just how recessed are the highs compared to an essence st/stx?
Also, is the upgrade worth it? does the thing sound better than the st/stx?
Thanks!

 

[feax]

The sound of the essence one is a very good sound specially under windows (vista seven).
It 's close to the stx, I even think the sound seems to be better.(44K/16bits)
 
if you upsample , you may have a little bit less treble.
 
But with the essence one, under windows, you can choose your sound, 4K/16bits, bitperfect, upsample with pc or with the essence,
it will depend on your musical tastes...
 
A friend of mine made a test with a 44K/16bits file upsampled to 192K/24bits ,with a grado RS2i headphone, and we could hear
details in the sound that we never heard before.

 

[misha0209]

Well now, close to the stx would be bad. stx close to one, still kind of bad. better than stx would be worth the cash...
Anybody tried some swapping a few opamps? the first thing i plan on doing will be to swap out the hedphone IV opamps with the opa827.

 

[leeperry]

 

Anybody tried some swapping a few opamps? the first thing i plan on doing will be to swap out the hedphone IV opamps with the opa827.

A friend of mine just got his shipping notice, so I should be able to post opamps rolling impressions soon...and yes OPA827 is on the list

 
This said, 22 single opamps to roll is gonna turn my head fosho

 

[audionewbieyao]

Ok, I got mine arrived at my office today, tried it immediately on my laptop but haven't changed any OPAMP and haven't compared it with my STX at home.
 
First impression, compared with my NuForce uDAC2 HP used in office, it's really like day and night, and making uDAC2 looks like a... well, joke.
 
Look and Feel
The look and feel of the Essence One is solid and Asus again telling the world that they are serious about their audio line. It again comes with great craftsmanship, as pretty much all the details of the design, from package to the metal chases, has been taken cared of. It's pretty obvious that I'm sure everyone will agree on this once you all get your Essence One in hand. It's so impressive.
It's also shown great confidence of Asus in this device, like STX/ST, it also came with the same little booklet of AP test results with gold string on it. I don't see it yet on any other vendors, not to mentioned some claimed to be hi-fi, but don't even have the testing analyzer. [I found this link after I got my uDAC2, it's really a joke. ]
 
Subjective Feeling
The Essence One greatly enhanced the body of my HD650, it did the same to my borrowed K240(600ohm). Although the 2 cans were born with so much different character, but both stepped up a level compared with uDAC2, in terms of detail, body, and especially the weight of the lows. The highs are crispy but not sharp. I used volume at 9 o'clock for my HD650, and around 11 for the K240.
 
I can't quite tell the difference between Essence One and my STX back at home yet, but one thing is for sure, the STX is more monitor style clean and crisp, and the Essence One is of a very different approach. It's also very very clean, but I can feel that Asus is trying to give it more depth and warm feeling.
 
So far I'm very happy with it, still enjoying it in my office. Bye bye my uDAC2 HP, I will tell more after more testing and hearing. 

 

[misha0209]

Thank you for the impressions!
Can't wait for an in depth comparison to the st/stx 

Also very excited about leeperry's opamp rolling intentions! Can't wait for that post 

 

[Gabrielisc]

I'd like to see what people think is best?
 
setting the audio to 44khz/16bit (bitperfect) and then pressing the upsampling on the essence one, or upsampling via jriver or whatever to 24bit 192khz and leave upsampling off the essence one.
 
let me know what you meant feax?
Quote:

The sound of the essence one is a very good sound specially under windows (vista seven).
It 's close to the stx, I even think the sound seems to be better.(44K/16bits)
 
if you upsample , you may have a little bit less treble.
 
But with the essence one, under windows, you can choose your sound, 4K/16bits, bitperfect, upsample with pc or with the essence,
it will depend on your musical tastes...
 
A friend of mine made a test with a 44K/16bits file upsampled to 192K/24bits ,with a grado RS2i headphone, and we could hear
details in the sound that we never heard before.

 

 

[devouringone3]

I don't get it... One vs. STX is supposed to be a no-brainer match. One is filled with components and priced to support the fact it should outperform the STX because that the logical reason to open your wallet to it (or at least that's what every company who seeks profit should ensure). I can understand you guys thought the STX was the best option for your computer until now (I sure think it was, but now I'd want to believe it has become the next best thing), but for the ones here who have both, how can you compare these two tritely and say they are complementary? and sometimes even consider the essence one inferior to the STX? The STX is a soundcard and the One is a headphone amplifier-more than a soundcard, it is external and independant in terms of size and power (doesn't need to fit in a computer, attached to a motherboard by PCIe), which means it allows for more components, stuff like impressive torroidal transformer and swappable opamps (overrated stuff?).
 
Are you guys being real or is the three times cheaper STX as good, and even better if treble and details are for you? And is "warm" a quality or a preference for a headphone amp?

I would have expected the first reviews on head-fi to be made by people who had their mind blown away by the Essence One.
 
Can you "fix" the Essence One with better Opamps? I know for one that Asus officially came to read on forums similar to here about the most popular Opamps to factory the Essence One with so we don't have to buy it only to change opamps at first glance.
 
And finally, what internally's been driving me mad this week, Q.: which one should I buy as my first headphone amp/DAC combo? Which one is best, frankly?... there's got to be one, but I just wish the One is because, erm, I only have a laptop, lol.
 
 
I'll be more patient...grr... reviews will come out and I'll make myself a better opinion with more impressions from more people.

 

[audionewbieyao]

hehe.. be patient, audio is subtle when up to certain level.
But now that I'm home listening to both my Essence One from my laptop and my STX from my PC..
 
"MAN! I"m blown away by the Essence One"
 
haha.. 
 
but serious, Essence One's sound is indeed much more polished than STX, I think it is performing superbly at it's price level. 
Also it could be that Asus has advanced their sense of hi-fi or skill or whatever after the development of STX/ST series.
 
Consider the sound/cost performance of Xonar Essence One and that of Benchmark DAC1 USB, I think this Essence One is doing great job.
 
Be warned, traditional hi-fi brands, a new strong competitor is coming.
Again, I will tell more after more testing and hearing. 

 

[Tablix]

Also worth noting the more traditional audio brands are not slacking, they are also following this trend for mid-tier multi input dac units.  Both the TEAC UD-H01 and A-H01 are similar products in the same price range, and I would think the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus would also be a fair contender although I am not sure how price point compairs.  I would love to see a comparison of all 3 DAC units to see which comes out on top. 
 
I have been watching the ASUS for a long time but now I can buy it I am concerned the competition may offer similar if not better value for money, the wallet wont hold out much longer I am suffering sever upgraditus.

 

[leeperry]

 

Also worth noting the more traditional audio brands are not slacking, they are also following this trend for mid-tier multi input dac units.  Both the TEAC UD-H01 and A-H01 are similar products in the same price range, and I would think the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus would also be a fair contender although I am not sure how price point compairs.  I would love to see a comparison of all 3 DAC units to see which comes out on top. 
 
I have been watching the ASUS for a long time but now I can buy it I am concerned the competition may offer similar if not better value for money, the wallet wont hold out much longer I am suffering sever upgraditus.

The nice thing is that the opamps in the One are all swappable, in the Teac they've used hard soldered NJM dual opamps:
http://174.120.226.97/~leoyeh1/vbb/showpost.php?p=150038&postcount=23
http://www.cn.njr.com/PDF/MUSES8920_E.pdf
 
and tbh, NJM aren't exactly famous for a stunning SQ. The first reviews of the Teac are rather bland: http://www.whathifi.com/review/teac-ud-h01

 

[Tablix]

Thats interesting, as the UK price is almost identicle, seems that ASUS has the edge.  Not had experience changing opamps, but its worth considering as the quest for audio perfection is never complete.  Wondering if the DacMagic Plus is going to be comparible, although from my research it seems to be bit more expensive than the ASUS essence one.  I dont need much more persuasion to push the buy-now button, although the kids may not be as impressed with the xmas gift as daddy

 

[sonci]

For God`s sake, how can you compare a 22opamp JokeDAC, with a product from Cambridge Audio or Teac,
those opamp are soldered because they need to be, they fit that circuit, what you think those at Teac would spare 0.3$(cause thats manufacter price) for better opamps?
replacing opamps could end up in a noisier enviroment, hearing artefacts and claiming of music details never heard before, like some posts above,

 
Quote:

 

The nice thing is that the opamps in the One are all swappable, in the Teac they've used hard soldered NJM dual opamps:
http://174.120.226.97/~leoyeh1/vbb/showpost.php?p=150038&postcount=23
http://www.cn.njr.com/PDF/MUSES8920_E.pdf
 
and tbh, NJM aren't exactly famous for a stunning SQ. The first reviews of the Teac are rather bland: http://www.whathifi.com/review/teac-ud-h01

 

 

[Tablix]

so why is ASUS product a JOKE DAC??? some reason or clarification to back up your claim, as the STX card appears to be good value for money.  There is a reason there are so many opamps if you look at the design of the product, having seperate paths for numerous output types allows you to fine tune each output path if you choose.  I am not claiming to be an expert, as previously stated its not something I have experiemented with in the past.  I have done plenty of background research and find no flaw in the design style other than its more costly to produce, but it also offers the user flexibility.  Having fixed opamps is better HOW?  Considering from my research, and others suggestions, the teac product uses cheaper and lesser quality components does the fact they are fixed improve them beyond a superior component?  The CA DacMagic is superior in both design and in some respects its components but also comes in much more expensive with no superior features.  I would spend the extra £50 for CA product as I trust their reputation, but I also have no issue with ASUS products as I have a laptop and soundcard made by them that have both been excellent products.  I am concerned you opinion may be audiophile elitism, because I have no reference for your own history or experience.  I am aware ASUS are not "audiophile" specialists but they also have far more buying power and R&D budget  than ANY company that specialises in this field. 
 
I am not saying you are wrong, not at all.  I just would appreciate some information beyond your claims to help in my learning experience.  Up to now I have been more than satisfied with my Fiio system but have been searching for the next step up without spending $1000 and these three products have been on the radar, mainly for the numerous connectivity options.  Any firm information would be appreciated, as I like to make informed decisions before parting with hard earned money.  I am not playing favourites in any way either, but I have read some negative comments on the teac system after some links provided here, and there is very little impartial information on any of these options.