[applegd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojave /img/forum/go_quote.gif You can buy the ST in the USA at overstock.com. Mine will arrive on Monday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chase /img/forum/go_quote.gif ncix.com in canada has a few left as well. although i think they ship to the us as well, they have a us store.

Thanks very much for your help!!

By closely looking at some of the digital pictures of the ST and STX, my findings are:
(1) From PCB layout standpoint, for the circuit of AV100 chip on ST, it is rotated 90 degree comparing to STX's.
(2) On STX PCB, the 10-pins footprint for Cirrus Logic CS2000 IC is there but ASUS just does not solder the CS2000 chip there by leaving it blank.

As I did not have either ST or STX in hand at this moment, I will leave ST/STX owner to comment/confirm my above view.


By looking further, as my current working view, it seems to be possible to upgrade the STX's clock by adding the "missing" CS2000 (and changing some resistor/cap etc ???). Then technically we match STX to ST as I am sure PCI-E version can live longer than PCI. Of course there are still a lot technical homework to do.....

At least very nice and big pictures from both ST owner and STX owner should be helpful to investigate further....

 

[BenWaB3]

A stupid question I realize, so I'll probably get fragged for asking it, but here goes: I just got the ST in this afternoon. In looking at the 1/4" input it says mic/line. However it doesn't say if the line in is stereo or not. You would think it would almost have to be stereo but we all know what happens when we assume. I know I could find out by breaking it open & reading the manual but if it isn't stereo I'm sending it back & that would probably be easier w/ the packaging still sealed. So what's the deal here? Thanks in advance.

Ben (putting on flameproof pants now)

 

[krisno]

Anyone want to sell me a Asus Xonar Essence ST ?

 

[oqvist]

Perhaps if you want a K701 along with it

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenWaB3 /img/forum/go_quote.gif A stupid question I realize, so I'll probably get fragged for asking it, but here goes: I just got the ST in this afternoon. In looking at the 1/4" input it says mic/line. However it doesn't say if the line in is stereo or not. You would think it would almost have to be stereo but we all know what happens when we assume. I know I could find out by breaking it open & reading the manual but if it isn't stereo I'm sending it back & that would probably be easier w/ the packaging still sealed. So what's the deal here? Thanks in advance. Ben (putting on flameproof pants now)

Stereo.

 

[jalyst]

No way I "FINALLY" just got mine, yay!
Good luck with it though, surely they should be in the US very soon.


U.S/E.U. normally get everything waaaay before Australia.
This is a nice change

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisno /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone want to sell me a Asus Xonar Essence ST ?

 

[Kasuza]

They are available at newegg.com. Grab it! If i don't have Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3, i would jump on it right away.

Newegg.com - ASUS Xonar Essence ST 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Audio Card - Sound Cards

 

[forciano]

Robscix or somebody else mind telling me if I could use a dual OPA 637SM on the ST, I will be using the line out so by what i have been able to understand so far is that I might be able to use them as the buffer.

 

[ROBSCIX]

You can use it for buffer only. It is unstable in the I/V section without circuit modifications. I have tested it myself.

 

[forciano]

Thanks, Robscix.
Now the question is, does buffer opamp help change the sound enough to warrant paying $250.

 

[ROBSCIX]

No, not in my opinion.
The I/V changes the sound the most and the buffer seems to highlight or surpress certain aspects of the sound if that makes sense.

Such as using a buffer opamps that is "warm" because your I/V opamps are edgy and so the buffer will roll off the high range on the I/V.

You don't have to go with the SM version of the 637. There are other grade, AU,AM BP..etc.

They would never fit in the I/V section without using some type of mod or extension anyhow.
The adapters make them too wide for the I/V section on any of those cards as the sockets are very close and on the one side of the socket there is tall Caps

 

[forciano]

Well thats good to know, I didnt want to spend all that money for minimal benefits.
I guess for now my opamp search will have to be based first on soundstage, and second on non-harshness of the sound, so there seems to be lots of reading ahead of me...

Thx again btw

 

[jalyst]

crikey there seems to be a bunch of 'weird science' in opamps themselves, I'm just going to make do with the defaults for the time being

 

[OpTicaL]

What's the 7.1 card I have to buy for the Essence ST?

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpTicaL /img/forum/go_quote.gif What's the 7.1 card I have to buy for the Essence ST?

It's called the H6 DAC Expansion Card.