Asus xonar u5 review

Asus leader in the manufacture of graphics cards, motherboards, laptops and sound cards. It has recently launched the Asus Xonar U5 external sound card especially for the most demanding gamers in Spain.The Xonar series is characterized by having the highest quality components, amplifier and the possibility of using it as a DAC. Although it is the first external Xonar that we analyze, we have in the laboratory the Xonar U7 that has given us such good performance in our equipment. In this analysis we will show you everything you need to know about this sound card piece that is postulated in the best quality / price ratio.

We thank Asus for trusting the product for its analysis:

Technical characteristics

ASUS XONAR U5 FEATURES
BUS compatibility	USB
Audio performance	Signal-to-noise ratio, front output (A-Weighted): 104 dB THD + N @ 1kHz: > 0.005% (- 86 dB) Frequency response (-3dB, 24bit / 96KHz input): 10 Hz to 44 KHz Input and output voltage (FS): Unbalanced output: 1 Vrms (2, 828 Vp-p) Headphone output: 1.3 Vrms (3, 677 Vp-p)
Chip	C-Media CM6631A High-Definition Sound Processor
I / O connections	Analog outputs: 4 x 3.5mm jack (1/8 ″) (Headphone Out / Front Out / Center Subwoofer Out / Rear Out) Analog input jack: 1 x 3.5 mm jack (1/8 ″) (Line / Microphone combo input) Digital 1 x S / PDIF Out (1 x Coaxial)
Sampling frequency and resolution	Analog output resolution and sampling frequency: 44.1K / 48K / 88.2K / 96K / 192KHz @ 16bit / 24bit Analog recording resolution and sampling frequency: 44.1K / 48K / 88.2K / 96K / 192KHz @ 16bit / 24bit S / PDIF digital output: 44.1K / 48K / 88.2K / 96K / 192KHz @ 16bit / 24bit ASIO 2.0 Driver: 44.1K / 48K / 88.2K / 96K / 192KHz @ 16bit / 24bit
Input noise reduction	Yes, thanks to Perfect Voice.
Connectivity	No need for drivers, all plug and play.
accessories	S / PDIF adapter x 1 USB cable x 1 Drivers CD x 1 Quick Start Guide x 1
Compatibility	Windows 8.1 Windows 7 32 bit / 64 bit Windows 8 32 bit / 64 bit Mac OS X
Dimensions	138 x 80 x 25 mm (L x W x H).
Additional features	Sonic Studio
Warranty	3 years.

Asus Xonar U5

Asus surprises us with compact packaging, in red and black colors (reminiscent of the ROG series) and a presentation that is very pleasing to the eye. In the front we have the classic presentation and in the back all the specifications. The bundle includes:

• Xonar U5 sound card.Instruction manual and quick guide.USB cable for connection to PC and TOSLINK.CD optical adapter with drivers and software.

As we have seen in the previous images we have a compact, slim and very attractive appearance. Its design is not at all aggressive and gives a touch of elegance characteristic of the Xonar series. Among its connections we find 3.5 mm jack connections for microphone, headphones, front, center, rear and SPIDE speakers. In addition to the USB power connection. At the top we have 3 LED status indicators for the helmets, speaker and SPDIF, we also have a control to adjust the audio level.

I leave you an image where we can compare its size with a pen.

Sonic Studio software

The Xonar U5 incorporates the latest version of the Sonic Studio suite of software applications to give you full control of all audio settings, from EQ to 5.1 speaker level balancing. Sonic Studio displays a single page of navigation that puts all the controls at your disposal in a simple interface that allows you to preset the audio profiles to adapt them to specific audio needs.

Final words and conclusion

The Asus Xonar U5 is an excellent product to improve the sound quality of your PC or especially your laptop that manufacturers have forgotten so much. As we have seen in this review, it has 5.1 surround sound, a 150 ohm headphone amplifier and Sonic Studio technology.

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A highlight is the Perfect Voice technology that dramatically reduces input noise. This will be great for us in our games with capacity… allowing us more clarity. I also really liked Sonic Studio since it allows us to control any type of interaction… volume control, equalizer in a single window. Chapó! The tests carried out have been with my work laptop (Lenovo Y50-70), I describe it below:

• Sound reproduction / Series / Movies: I notice greater clarity in the sound and thanks to the software it allows us to adjust many options. Professional Headphones: I have used SuperLux HD 668B and the DAC music playback is excellent. Games: Here we notice some improvement thanks to all the features. In games like Battlefield 4, Left 4 Dead and CS GO you can see the steps of your rivals. A great surprise!

In short, if you need to improve the sound card of your PC or laptop, the Xonar U5 is one of the excellent candidates. First, because it allows us to perform DAC functions, it is fully compatible with any operating system, it allows the installation of headphones and because we are going to notice a really important improvement with the integrated chips on boards. Its price? It is scheduled to arrive in Spain for around € 65/70.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ DESIGN AND SOUND 5.1.	- IF WE USE ALL THE CABLES, WE SHOULD SEEK SOME WAY TO LEAVE IT WELL FIXED ON THE TABLE OR WALL.
+ MANY CONNECTIONS.
+ WE CAN USE AS A DAC.
+ ALLOWS 150 OHM HEADPHONES.
+ SOFTWARE.
+ PRICE.

The Professional Review team awards him the Platinum medal:

Asus Xonar U5

Design

Components

Connections

software

Price

9.5 / 10

One of the best external sound cards on the market in quality / price.