It’s happened a few times before: a product that’s supposed to be easy to understand and review turns into the subject of a marathon research session aimed at making head and tails of its specs and features. In the case of Asus’ Xonar HDAV 1.3, it is not only a case of unfamiliarity; it is also a case of a sheer multitude of features that literally swamps the senses of the reviewer – in more ways than one.

                                            You wouldn't expect this fabulous-looking piece of kit to be a soundcard would you?

Let me explain – I expected a sound card when I was told to review an Asus Xonar card. What it turned out to be was a multi-function multimedia device that incorporated sound card functions into a device that’s much, much more complicated than your average on-board solution.

                                             I guess most would - after seeing the distinctiveXonar "power dome" right smack dab in the middle of the device.

While I deem myself quite up-to-date with PC components and the like, this Xonar product totally bamboozled me with the extensive list of compatibilities, certifications, features, specification, connections and many more that it came with – thus leading me to the situation described above – some heavy research on all these functions and capabilities, which I opted to display in a logical “list” format – as a way to educate both the reviewer and our readers on some of the more confusing acronyms and features of said card. Now straight from the Asus website, a list of specifications for the discerning audiophile….

Specifications

…which probably only a few of us are. For those who are actually audiophiles and can’t stand to see me mangle different definitions of the listed specifications above, I particularly welcome comments and corrections, as I try and explore what exactly was described above to our readers who I have now managed to totally confuse. Following is a list of common terms used in describing an audio product set at the high end of the market spectrum, in simple English and in no particular order:

Dolby
A compression/expansion noise reduction system developed by Ray Dolby, widely used in consumer, professional and broadcast audio applications.

Dolby Digital (AC-3)
Delivers CD-quality digital audio and provides five full-bandwidth channels for front left, front right, center, surround left and surround right speakers, plus an LFE (low frequency effect) subwoofer, for a total of 5.1 channels.

Dolby Digital Surround
Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound is the audio standard for HDTV. This provides audio channels for the front speakers (left, center, right); 2 channels for the rear surround sound and one channel for the subwoofer sound.

DTS (Digital Theater Systems, Inc.)
Digital Theater Systems, Inc. develops, markets and licenses a range of proprietary digital audio technologies, products and content for the motion picture and consumer markets.

DTS-HD Master Audio                                                              A lossless audio codec created by Digital Theater System. It was previously known as DTS++ and DTS-HD. DTS-HD Master Audio is an optional audio format for both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD.

API (Application Programming Interface)
A definition of functions or operations that a programmer can use for their application development.

DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
A microprocessor-like device designed to process electrical signals at high speeds and is usually found on electronic devices that are used to handle multimedia files.

Dynamic Range
The range between the loudest and softest sounds that can be produced by an audio system without distortion. Expressed in decibels (dB).

Environmental Audio Extensions (EAX)
EAX is an Application Programming Interface (API) that enables game and application developers to enhance their software with high-quality Environmental Audio effects.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio
A measure of the difference between the intensity of the audio signal vs the noise level, expressed in dB. The higher the figure, the lower the noise will be.

SPDIF
An interface standard by Sony and Philips which allows digital equipment (eg. CD players, sound cards, DACs, DATs and Minidisc recorders etc.) to transfer digital data with minimal lost of data.

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
An audio measurement used to determine how accurately a device can reproduce an input signal at its output.

DS3D GX                                                                                Extension in the Xonar driver used to provide full support for surround sound by translating DirectX into a format the Asus soundcard can understand.

PAPS & AACS                                                              Protected Audio Playback Systems and full Advanced Access Content System (AACS) certification – certifications needed for playback of full-quality Blu-Ray audio.

HyperGrounding Circuit Design                                           With HyperGrounding, Xonar sound cards reduce EMI noise inside modern PCs, providing clean 120 dB SNR and peerless 0.0004% low distortion. This works together with the more obvious shielding of the full-metal shroud covering the Xonar and shielding it from outside interference.

EMI                                                                             Electro-Magnetic Interference – basically unwanted “noise” emanating from other electronic devices – this is especially apparent in a closed environment like a PC casing.

OPAMPS                                                                              An operational amplifier, often called an op-amp , is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with differential inputs and, usually, a single output. The op-amp is one type of differential amplifier. The daughtercard of the Xonar Deluxe package has a total of 9 removable op-amps which can be replaced by the user for better audio quality.

Splendid HD Video Processor                                              Increases color performance and enhances edges for a more brilliant, crisper high definition image – without impacting the CPU load. Splendid HD not only recovers clarity when viewing lower-resolution content, but also reduces flicker for a more natural, brilliant viewing experience. Splendid is a type of DSP developed by Asus. 

                                             I can at least understand this part of the specifications...

This is hardly a comprehensive listing, but it has enough data for me to translate most of the Asus Xonar spec sheet, although in practical terms, I’d probably need to grow a new, better-hearing pair of ears and some musical chops to fully appreciate what the Xonar HDAV can do for me.

                                             Certifications, compatibility, connectivity, features - it's all here folks.

I don’t need to see an ear doctor to understand the HDMI 1.3 connector though, nor go to music school to start salivating at the many connection possibilities I can see right here and now at the rear of the two cards of the Xonar bundle. This Xonar actually has 2 HDMI connectors at the rear, one input, the other for output to your monitor / TV. This is the 2nd main portion of this bundle – video handling through these two ports are just as important as the sound card capabilities.

                                             The headers to the left connects to the daughtercard included in the bundle. A 4-pin molex power connector is to the right.

                                             HDMI connectors and analogue left and right connectors.

Video signal from your videocard is routed through the HDMI input, to be worked over by the Splendid DSP and a total of 4 DACS (Digital to Analogue Converters) for eventual output through the HDMI 1.3 socket. This connector also has support for HDCP content, making sure there won’t be any hang-up on the video-output side through this Xonar card. The Xonar supports up to 1920 x 1200 resolution and up to 48-bit colour depths.

                                             The familiar CD-in and a front panel connector header line the top portion of the Xonar.

Other details that I can pick out and appreciate are the 4-pin power connector similar to older videocards (a soundcard that requires 4-pin molex power? Zounds!) front panel connectivity through some headers on top of the card, a CD- Aux connector beside it if you want to route CD-Audio directly through the Xonar, and of course the PCI-E x1 slot (finally, a serious-looking device using the poor, ignored x1 slot).

                                             While not as visually interesting as the main card, this daughtercard is essential for completing the Xonar experience.

                                             A closer look reveals the op-amps that are user-replaceable - they are the ones that look like eight-legged insect.

At the rear are the aforementioned HDMI connectors as well as the SPDIF output, two analogue outputs for stereo speakers (front left and front right), and an input which can be configured as a line in or microphone port, depending on the situation. The daughtercard brings a further 6 analogue connectors for full support of a 7.1 channel sound system, and connects to the main board through an ugly (compared to the smooth-looking Xonar card) floppy-cable like cable that’s at least long enough for most motherboard configurations.

                                             Rear connectors found on the daughtercard enable 7.1 channel speaker support.

The bundle is another good example of the word “comprehensive”, as it includes a mini-TOSlink optical adapter, a DVI to HDMI cable (for connecting your graphics board to the Xonar), an HDMI cable and four sets of analogue audio adapters for converting two channels on the sound card to a single 3.5" jack if required by your speaker configuration. A quick-start guide, a driver CD with included ArcSoft Total Media Theatre software, plus the two cards that make up the Xonar bundle make for a package that’s bursting at the seams, especially for anyone who has the know-how to fully utilize the whole set of connections and capabilities of the Xonar.

                                             A comprehensive bundle makes connecting to everything else easy. The five cables at top left convert 2 analogue signals to a single 3.5" jack,the 2 long black cables are the DVI to HDMI and standalone HDMI cables, what looks like a floppy cable is used for connecting Xonar to daughtercard, and the small pin-like object is the TOSlink adapter.

Listening to the Xonar and routing a Blu-Ray film through the card didn’t give me a big “Oh I see” moment – but it sure looks mighty fine and the sounds pumping through our admittedly mediocre speakers sounded as good as can be had from our usual setup. Short of fumbling through all of the settings and trying to setup all of the options, whichunfortunately (or fortunately) we didn’t have time to do, the sheer number of features the card has frankly overwhelms us.

                                            A peek under the shielding shows the DSPs.

This leads us to a revelation of a different nature – if you are a connoisseur of good sound and video, then reading this review probably wouldn’t have enriched you by a lot. But if you’re like the majority of enthusiasts more concerned with the “big names” in a PC setup – like the videocard, motherboard, CPU and RAM, then this article would have given you a bigger appreciation of what we’ve been missing, as well as give you an idea of how much better your sound setup might be.

                                             This long header connects the daughtercard to the main Xonar card, using a floppy-cable-like connector.

                                            The daughtercard sports a dummy PCI-E x1 appendage which is used to secure the card onto the motherboard.

The Xonar HDAV 1.3 Deluxe is obviously a result of Asus listening to what the sound-enamored among us want – it is a tribute to their dedication and design savvy that this reviewer (and many others!) can’t decipher a lot of this little beauty’s functions, and finds himself still wanting one even if it’s just to have the joy of discovering each and every capability of the Xonar. For PC-centric buyers with a modicum of musical taste, this purchase is a no-brainer, for anyone else who wants to buy some of the best parts for their PC, they don’t have far to go either.