With us today we have the Xonar DS 7.1 PCI Sound Card from ASUS. This is one of their entry level audio devices. Let’s see whether it’s any good.
Product on Review: Asus Xonar DS 7.1 PCI Sound CardManufacturer and Sponsor: ASUS
MSRP: Not mentioned on site
Street Price: £36.99.
For a long time, Creative dominated the hardware sound market and the launch of the X-Fi series of cards placed them firmly at the top of the game with features such as EAX 5.0, X-RAM and other 3D sound emulation software. Gamers looking for a more immersive experience had only one choice and that was Creative. However with the introduction of Windows Vista and growing frustration towards Creative on the basis of their lack of support, a gap opened up in the market which was immediately filled by the ASUS Xonar. Vista saw DirectSound being deprecated so as to introduce a re-written audio stack based on Universal Audio Architecture. As a result, creative’s main advantage EAX 5.0 was effectively gone on older DirectSound based game since there was no longer direct communication from DirectSound to the hardware.
So what did this mean? Vista effectively opened up the sound card by placing all competitors on equal footing and ASUS saw this as an opportunity to bring in their own innovations in their products. Initially, the Xonar D2 and D2X were released which were met with much success in both game audio performance and music listening. It didn’t take long for ASUS to introduce a whole line up of cards for all consumers. So today, we have with us the Xonar DS, the entry level sound card from ASUS. Don’t let the price fool you because this card receives many of the high end features of its bigger brothers such as the AV200 high performance codec chip and high resolution 192khz/24bit audio. ASUS also targets this sound card at small media PCs, which is reflected in the low profile form factor of the ASUS Xonar DS.
A bit about ASUS:
ASUS comes from the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology that represents the inspiration of art and learning. ASUS embodies the strength, creative spirit and purity symbolized by this regal and agile mythical creature, soaring to new heights of quality and innovation with each product it introduces to the market.
ASUS pursues technological and aesthetic perfection through continuous innovation. We place ourselves in our customers’ shoes to develop a deep understanding of, and genuine empathy for, their needs—enabling us to create user experiences that transcend the norm.
ASUS Design Philosophy
ASUS Design develops high-quality solutions our customers will enjoy.
Our design process is built on thorough research, early anticipation and well-planned execution.
We act with a global vision and a focus on local strengths, conditions and heritage.
So there we have it with the history lesson, let’s take a look at what the card offers.
Features and Specifications
The Xonar DS has many high end features that promise to deliver excellent multimedia experience. DTS connect turns your PC into a powerful multimedia centre by converting stereo signals into 7.1 channels for surround gaming and immersive movie watching/music listening.
To compliment the gaming aspect of the card, the Xonar has an immersive GX2.5 audio engine to enable EAX gaming audio, thereby restoring many of the features lost in Vista, without using any additional software.
To bring the true spirit of Hi-Fi to your system, the Xonar DS is designed with a swappable OPamp socket allowing you to customize your sound solderlessly and for best listening experience.
ASUS also has flexibility in mind, as shown by the inclusion of a low profile back-plate, an Intel HDA compatible front-panel header and an internal S/PDIF header to feed digital audio to any HDMI-ready graphics card.
Packaging and Content
The front of the boax
On the front of the box, ASUS have kept to a clean design, displaying the card and some of the key features you can expect from the card. The box is a standard cardboard package. The front acts as a lid which can be opened to reveal more detailed characteristics of the sound card. The key features listed are the GX2.5 audio engine, DTS connect support and 192khz/24bit audio presentation.
The back of the box
The back is just a quick summary of the already mentioned featured but in 12 languages for universal appeal. The package contents, system requirements and specification sheet can be found on the side of the box. The user will know exactly what to expect from the very informative box ASUS package their sound card in.
The interior box
On opening the box, you get to another cardboard box holding the nicely wrapped up sound card in an anti static bag and the bundle. All the packaging makes sure that the card is safe and sound (hehe) when it arrives to your door.
The bundle
The bundle is fairly limited compared to the Xonar D2 but that’s to be expected for an entry level sound card. The package includes a quick start guide giving instructions in several languages, a low profile back plate for small media PCs and the driver CD.
Closer Look
The Xonar DS 7.1
The card is a low profile sound card and uses the PCI interface. Despite this, it still packs in many features. The card supports analog connectivity and can decode DTS over the optical for ultra high fidelity sounds. Unlike its bigger brother, it doesn’t make use of an EMI shield or a heatsink but this isn’t a problem. The card is very nicely laid out overall.
The AV200 Processor
The AV200 HD audio processing unit is the heart of this sound card, the same one found in the more expensive D2/D2X so we can expect very good quality audio from this little card. The Xonar DS features an output signal to noise ration of up to 107 dB and an input SNR of up to 100 dB.
The swappable OPamps amongst the capacitors
On the left, we can see the capacitors and the OPamp tucked nicely in between. Unlike the D2/D2X, ASUS have kept to using normal capacitors with this card rather than the more expensive box-style ones. The card also uses 24 bit Wolfson WM8775/WM8766 DACs with a maximum resolution of 192khz on all 8 channels.
The Front panel HD audio, Aux In, and S/PDIF out headers
On the side of the card are three connectors, one labelled “Front panel” to switch the output to the front panel of your case, the next being the “aux in” 4 pin header for line-level analog input and the final header is the “SPDIF out” one. The internal S/PDIF header can feed digital audio to HDMI ready graphics cards.
The I/O back plate
The Xonar DS has 4 analog output jacks 7.1 support. From left to right, there’s the front, side, centre and rear outputs. The right most connector is the Line-in/Mic-in jack. For cost-cutting measures the DS does not feature the same gold plated back plate as the D2/D2X and also lacks the external S/PDIF, optical and coax input and output jacks. The latter aren’t crucial so for a media PC, the I/O connections are more than sufficient.
Test Setup
CPU – Intel Core i7 920 – 4.0ghz
RAM – 6GB (3x2GB) OCZ platinum DDR3 1333mhz
Motherboard – Biostar T-Power x58
Graphics card – Gainward GTX 260 216 896MB
Power Supply – Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W
Hard Drive – Samsung F1 320GB
Western Digital Caviar WD3200AAKS 320GB
Drivers – ForceWare 196.12
Speakers – AEGO M 2.1
Sound cards
ASUS Xonar DS 7.1
ASUS Xonar D2
Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic
How I Tested
Rather than going through a number of benchmarks with numbers that really don’t mean much, I’ll give a more subjective description of the quality based on comparisons with other sound cards I have used. A number of games will be tested and music tracks.
Installation
The CD supplies contains the drivers so installing them is very straight forward. However if you are using Windows 7, download the latest drivers on the ASUS page. One problem I did have after installation is that Windows Media Player would not work. It turns out that the HsMgr64.exe and the HsMgr.exe*32 processors and the DS3D GX feature, relating to the software was somehow interfering with Windows Media Player. To solve the issue, I had to install a patch by daniel_k, who some may know from the creative forums. I had the same issue with the Xonar D2 but the same patch works across the whole range of cards.Installing the software also installs the Xonar DS Audio Centre, which gives the user access to several features to customize the sound for their needs.
Software
The audio console is a very sleek, attractive and friendly user interface which a plethora of options even with the entry level sound card. The appearance reminds me of a flip up phone like devise so it’s very intuitive. The main console has options to customers the sample rate and number of audio channels used. If you are using an 8 channel output, this can be set here. The flipped up console shows the different modes that the audio centre is currently using and also has a graphical equaliser that records the different frequency response of the audio being played. On the right hand side, the user can select the volume and the DSP mode. SVN refers to the Smart Volume setting which effectively brings low signal up and high signals down. The DSP mode includes the GX mode for 3D gaming audio, and the Hi-Fi mode. The great thing about the GX mode is that it is applied instantaneously unlike on the X-Fi.
The next window is the mixer where the individual speaker volume can be altered. The Record tab allows the user to select the recording devise input, such as MIC, Line-in, Aux and Mix.
The effect console is where a range of pre-applied environmental settings can be chosen. The user can otherwise select the music mode that best compliments their taste to customise the equaliser settings optimally. These settings can also be changed independently for each frequency band.
Should you like delving into karaoke once in a while, the Xonar DS has a few options to make sure your voice sounds as clear as possible.
As the name suggests, the FlexBass window allows the bass to be adjusted and the size of the speakers being used can be defined for the best audio quality. However I found that leaving it off produced a more accurate sound.
VocalFX takes care of vocal effects via internet communication such as in games or for VOIP applications. Here there are several to specify the environment you are in or you can even mask your voice using the Magic Voice option. This could be fun and or weird depending on the situation. For 3D games, your voice can be boosted by using the VoiceEX settings. Conveniently there’s an app list for VOIP so the user can choose which programs can benefit from those voice enhancing settings.
Results
Gaming
For this test, I thought I’d play some first person shooters where accurate positioning and the faintest of sound is crucial to your survival. First off, I tried Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare. The Xonar DS was excellent. Every shot fired sounded just right and it didn’t lack the depth that onboard sound would have problems with. The Barrett .50 cal packed a punch when fired, reproducing a life like sound that I certainly felt within me. Despite only using 2.1 speakers, it was easy to discern the directions shots came from as they went whizzing past you and it was easy to determine where a helicopter was overhead, thanks to the DS3D GX feature. Those audio benefits do not only produce a more immersive gameplay but also give you an edge in battle. The Xonar DS managed to recreate the suspense of battle through the production of an accurate atmosphere and tense ambient setting.
Next up, I tested Battlefield 2, one of the few games that originally made heavy usage of EAX features on vast open ended multiplayer maps where up to 64 players produced sounds. EAX 5.0 was designed to support 128 simultaneous voices and up to 4 effects, hence Battlefield’s reliance on this technology. Surprisingly using the Xonar DS, I was able to select the Creative X-Fi option in the audio window and Ultra-high was selectable. Although the Xonar does not support EAX 5.0 on a hardware level, it does so by intercepting DirectSound 3D and EAX calls produced in game and redirecting them to ASUS’s own DS3D GX audio engine which does a good job replicating those effects. However, in game I noticed a lot of popping and squealing sounds even during quiet game play. Lowering the setting to high did not solve those issues. That said, the actual audio quality was on par with the X-Fi, and all bullets shots were accurate. The slight rustle of the player’s backpack and clothes can be heard crisply as he runs. None of the sounds produced were muffled at all, and everything was clear. However the popping sounds does get distracting and may adversely impact your gameplay.
Music
To test music, I decided to play a variety of songs making sure they were either 320kbps mp3 or in FLAC format.
First off, I played “Shelter me” by Ferry Corsten from his Twice In A Blue Moon album. The trance sound track combines a range of fast upbeat sounds with more melodic undertones. Throughout the song, there was no crackling or distortion whatsoever even after turning up the volume. The sound card reproduced the finest detail without skipping a beat. The beats were often punchy and the bass was not heavy, which was great. The music felt warm rather than the cold and crisp sound produced on the X-Fi but I felt that the DS could not quite match up to the clarity of the D2.
My next track was “LAX” by Xzibit. The song makes use of heavy base and the Xonar DS coped very well without having it overpowering the vocals. Again the track was reproduced accurately but lacked the clarity of the Xonar D2. All the effects in the background were heard and there was no loss of detail at higher volumes.
Finally, I listened to “Secret” by Oceanlab from their Sirens Of The Sea album. The track is very melodic but uses a range of tones with soft vocals on top. The Xonar DS reproduced an atmospheric ambiance, reflecting the song’s mood. The gentle tapping sounds at the start of the song could also be distinguished while the vocals were warm and accurate. The faintest instrumental playback were easily picked up. Overall it made for a great aural experience.
Conclusion
The overall experience with the sound card was a pleasant one. At its price point, it\’s clearly an entry level sound card, with its bigger brothers targeting the enthusiasts and audiophiles. However, that\’s not to say that the Xonar DS is bad because it inherits much of the aspects that made the other Xonars so popular. The AV200 chip and DS3D GX audio engine complement each other for an excellent music and gaming experience.The card does have its draw backs. Firstly, it lacks the finesse of the Xonar D2/D2X in terms of aesthetics and the bundle is very limited. While sound quality was excellent, battlefield 2 brought it to its knees and it just cannot topple the X-Fi solution at their game. For music, the sound was warm and accurate but not as clear as the Xonar D2. It\’s important to mention that those alternatives cost much more than the DS, thus it remains a very viable piece of kit.
The bundled low profile bracket is testament to the target audience and I am certain that it will make a great addition to any PC. At under £40, there\’s no reason people should be sticking to onboard sound solutions!
Pros
[+] Good sound quality
[+] Supports DTS decoding
[+] Low profile for compatibility
[+] Very good audio console
[+] DS3D GX works well for surround gaming
[+] Cheap
[+] Swappable OPamps
Cons
[-] Issues on Battlefield 2
[-] The bundle is limiting
The Xonar DS is definitely a card I\’d recommend and as such, it deserves the Vortez Hardware Silver Award!
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