Xonar Essence One Hi-Fi USB DAC (Digital-to-Anolog Converter) User manual
E6774 First Edition (V1) July 2011 Copyright © 2011 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Contents Introduction............................................................................................. 4 Package contents................................................................................... 4 Safety Information.................................................................................. 5 Voltage Selection............................................................................................5 Repairs . ....................................................................
Introduction Thank you for purchasing this ASUS Xonar Essence One Hi-Fi USB DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). We are confident that you will enjoy many years of listening pleasure from it. Xonar Essence One USB DAC is ASUS Xonar’s innovative response to the world-wide trend of PC Hi-Fi.
Safety Information For your own safety please read the following important safety instructions carefully before attempting to connect this unit to the mains power supply. They will also enable you to get the best performance from and prolong the life of the unit. Voltage Selection The rear panel includes a voltage selection switch with two settings: ‘115’ and ‘230’. Check to see that it is properly configured for your location before connecting AC power.
Repairs Do not service or repair this product unless properly qualified. Only a qualified technician should perform repairs. Fuses The fuse holder is built into a drawer next to the IEC power connector. CAUTION: For continued fire hazard protection always replace the fuses with the correct size and type (1A 250V, 5 x 20 mm). Use tools to replace the fuses.
Other Safety Information 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean machine surface with a cloth (no any detergent applied). 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
Driver installation After connecting ASUS Xonar Essence One with your computer by the bundled USB cable, you need to install the device driver that enables the Xonar Essence One to work with Windows operating system. NOTES: • The driver is only needed when you connect ASUS Xonar Essence One with PC/NB. The version and content of the support CD are subject to change without notice. • To install the device driver: 1. Insert the ASUS Xonar Essence One support CD into your optical drive.
Functionality 1. USB DAC ( Digital-to-Analog Convertor) Clear, detailed, life-like sound for your digital music collection in PC/NB, with all the connection(XLR, RCA) you need for end devices.
2. Stand alone DAC With S/PDIF in and input select, it also serves as an independent DAC which connects with digital inputs such as CD audio source and then plays to the end devices. Steps: • Connect with other audio resource with S/PDIF input (by Coaxial/Optical cable) • Select COA (coaxial input) or TOS (optical input) in the front panel as the input source CD/DVD player 3.
Important Features Hi-Fi audio via the world-first 8x symmetrical upsampling: While common upsampling USB DACs just transfer whatever audio source to 192kHz indistinguishably, Xonar Essence One upsamples 44.1/88.2 /176.4kHz input to 352.8kHz and 48/96/192kHz input to 384kHz in a symmetrical way, preserving the originality of your music collection, also upsample bit-rate to 32bit corresponding to the original contents. (Note: 44.1 x 8 = 352.
Balanced XLR output: Xonar Essence One also features balanced (XLR) outputs. This is a higher quality output that is useful for eliminating unwanted noises and interference. Since a balanced line contains two signal carrying conductors of equal magnitude but opposite polarity, noises induced along the cable path cancel each other out when they reach the destination load. This makes balanced lines the professional applications for long cable connection which induced noises might be a problem.
Front Panel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BIT PERFECT Xonar Essence One 192 176.4 COA 96 TOS 88.2 USB POWER UPSAMPLING INPUT MUTE 48 _ VOLUME + 44.1 _ HEADPHONE VOLUME + 9 1. 9 Power On/Off Press to turn on and again to turn off. 2. Upsampling function on/off (1) Press to turn on the upsampling function which increases sample rate to 352.8 or 384kHz symmetrically and bit rate to 32bit (2) When the upsampling function is turn on, the LED light of Bit perfect / sample rate indicator will light off.
9. Set screws These 4 screws are used to hold the machine bed (including PCB board and power module) and machine housing together. For repair’s sake, ASUS technicians may need a small screwdriver to loosen the 4 screws to remove the front panel and then draw the machine bed out for checking PCB board (or power module). Rear Panel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 COAXIAL L 230 R UNBALANCED OUTPUT R L TOSLINK BALANCED OUTPUT 1.
3. Coaxial S/PDIF Input Connects to external digital decoder or digital speaker systems, Home Theater systems, AV receivers for outputting digital audio. These outputs loop or pass-through unprocessed digital audio from the selected digital input. Two types are available and this port is for Coaxial S/PDIF Input. 4. Toslink Optical Input As mentioned in point 3, this port is for Toslink Optical Input.
Hardware Introduction 5 7 6 8 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 5 2 1 16 10 3 5 7 1. USB Audio processor: C-Media CMI6631 (for USB input) 2. S/PDIF receiver: AKM AK4113 (for digital input) 3. DSP: ADI ADSP-21261 4. DAC: TI PCM1795 5. Swappable Op-amps: NE5532 6. Swappable Op-amps: NE5532 7. Film Cap (red ones): WIMA FKP2/FKS2 8. Swappable Op-amps: LM4562 (for Speaker out) 9. Swappable Op-amps: LME49720NA (for Headphone out) 10.
Connections Input 1. NB/PC-USB connections NOTE: Do not turn on the machine until all connections have been made. or PC NB COAXIAL L 230 R UNBALANCED OUTPUT R BALANCED OUTPUT L TOSLINK USB DIGITAL INPUT VOLTAGE SELECTOR AC IN (1) Connect a USB ‘B–A’ type lead (as illustrated at left) from the Xonar Essence One’s USB input to one of the USB ports on the PC/NB. (2) Turn on the Xonar Essence One using the front panel On/Off switch and make sure that the USB input is selected (USB LED lit).
NOTES: • The PC’s previous audio output device should now be temporarily disabled and the Xonar Essence One becomes the default audio playback device for the PC/NB. This can be confirmed in the Control Panel’s Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices properties window under the Volume tab. • 2. If you wish to disconnect your Xonar Essence One and return to using your previous soundcard, etc., simply disconnect it or switch off the power on the front panel.
(1) Connect your digital source (ex. CD/DVD players or some PC/NB with SPDIF output) to Digital Input. Either S/P DIF Coaxial or Toslink optical types can be used, each being of equal quality. NOTE: Both Coaxial and Toslink Inputs can be used to connect and run equipment at the same time. Output 1.
2. With Active Speaker directly COAXIAL L 230 R UNBALANCED OUTPUT R L BALANCED OUTPUT (1) 3. (1) 20 TOSLINK USB DIGITAL INPUT VOLTAGE SELECTOR AC IN Connect Xonar Essence One with a set of active speakers directly. With Headphone/Headset Connect Xonar Essence One with high-quality headphones/headsets directly.
Specifications Items Description Audio Performance Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 120dB Output Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz@-3dB (A-Weighted): -110dB Balanced Output: 4Vrms Output/Input Full-Scale Voltage Unbalanced Output: 2Vrms Headphone: 7Vrms Frequency Response (-3dB, 24-bit/192kHz output ): <10Hz to 48kHz Bus Compatibility USB USB 2.
Specifications Sample Rate and Resolution Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution 44.1K/48K/88.2K/96K/176.4K/192KHz @ 16/24bit Upsampling capability Up to 352.8kHz (44.1/88.2 /176.4kHz input) or 384kHz (48/96/192kHz input), 32bit I/O Ports Balanced Output (XLR) Unbalanced Output (Dual RCA) Output Jack: 6.
