In Reply to: New Asus Dac posted by Dawnrazor on July 3, 2012 at 14:54:21:
From the review:
World of sound cards for PC, dominated with authority by Creative until that time, started to get confused four years ago by those from Asus. The launch of Xonar series, with its top models D2/PM and Essence ST/STX, brought the PC into a territory for audiophiles. By that time, the only viable alternatives were only the expensive CD players or external DACs.
This is a bad way to start a review. There were tonnes of alternatives to low-buck computer soundcard solutions 4 years ago. Even 10 years ago. All kinds of USB, firewire, PCI, PCIe and proprietary solutions in the prosound/studio realm to get above the likes of the "usual suspects" in soundcards.
If anything, the low-buck consumer soundcard stuff was the alternative, giving people a low-buck way to get decent sound. Some of the low buck stuff has been said to meet or beat even good quality CDPs and DACs.
In any case, the DAC looks interesting with many audiophile "must haves" in mind.
Oh, someone should tell the guy that XLR connectors are used for AES/EBU digital audio signals as well as analog signals. AES/EBU is a digital audio format, not a connector type. Apparently, AES/EBU comes in three physical transmission types: balanced XLR 110ohm, unbalanced 75ohm 2 wire with a (gasp) RCA connector and optical. Hmm. Didn't know that. Thanks to wikipedia for that tidbit.
Cheers,
Presto
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Follow Ups
- RE: New Asus Dac - Presto 10:31:53 07/04/12 (0)