Asus Launches Xonar Essence One – Hi-Fi USB Digital to Analog Converter

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With most modern audio signals stored in digital format, the ASUS Xonar team has catered to audiophiles’ needs and launched its first hi-fi USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the Xonar Essence One. It is an industry-leading high-end USB DAC with the world’s first 8x symmetrical upsampling technology, while also featuring a 120dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), audiophile-class headphone AMP and eleven operational amplifier (op-amp) design for distinct tonal customization. While common upsampling USB DACs indistinguishably transfer various audio sources to 192kHz, the Xonar Essence One upsamples 44.1/88.2/176.4kHz input to 352.8kHz and 48/96/192kHz input to 384kHz symmetrically. As a result, data volume is also increased by upsampling the bit-rate to 32bit, corresponding to the original content and faithfully preserving the details of the user’s music collection.


The Xonar Essence One features a fully swappable op-amp design, unprecedented for a high-end USB DAC. An op-amp is the key part in a DAC that amplifies the analog signal and affects tonal characteristics, such as darkness or brightness of sound or the overall sound image. The Asus Xonar Essence One allows the user to swap every op-amp that is on board, for a truly customizable sound.