ASUS Xonar Essence STX

 

 

 

Audiophiles are interested in getting the best audio quality they can out of their components. The ASUS Xonar Essence STX is probably one of the best consumer level audio cards on the market thanks to its high signal-to-noise ratio, 192KHz/24bit support, superb digital to audio converters and even a built-in headphone amplifier. The audio components also have shielding to ensure that it doesn't receive any interference from other computer components. This provides it with some of the best playback and recording capabilities in a desktop audio card. The card does require an additional 4-pin power connector to provide it with sufficient power. It uses a PCI-Express x1 interface. Priced around $200.

 

 

 

 

Audio Chipset: ASUS AV100
Sample Rate: 192KHz

Digital Audio:24-bit

SNR: 118 dB Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio 124dB for Front-out 110dB for Headphone-out dB

Line In: Yes

SPDIF Out: High-bandwidth Coaxial/TOS-Link combo port supports 192KHz/24bit

MIC In: Yes

Other Ports: Aux-In (4-pin header on the card) Front-Panel Header: Shared by Headphone out / 2 channels out / Microphone in S/PDIF Header: Connects to compatiable graphic cards for HDMI output

 

 

 

Altec Lansing Speaker System

Expressionist Ultra speaker system

Altec Lansing 

 

 

   Live your games with the Expressionist Ultra speaker system. Crashing waves of sound hit you from five digital amplifiers powering five separate drivers, drenching you in the action. Lose yourself in titanic bass and astonishingly accurate, full-spectrum sound from precision-matched speaker drivers. This uniquely designed 3-speaker, 200-watt monster is hardcore equipment to unleash your games to the next level. The desktop controller puts you in the driver’s seat, letting you command your sound. Get earth-shattering volume, crystal clarity and seriously heavy bass whatever you plug in – computer, TV, MP3 player, games console or DVD player. With the Expressionist Ultra, you need to get ready for the ride.

• 200 Watt powerhouse
  Separate bass, midrange and treble amplifiers turn out phenomenally clean power at any volume.
  
• Audio Alignment™
  Drivers, enclosure and electronics perfectly balanced for ultimate sound.
  
• Exhilerating ride
  a mind blowing experience whatever you’re plugged in to.
  
• Full, accurate sound
  Each speaker delivers clear, full-spectrum sound from a 3” midrange driver and a 1" inch neodymium tweeter.
  
• Formidable bass
  6 1/2“ front-firing, long-throw woofer delivers low-frequency bass you can feel.
  
• Desktop Controller
  Full-function Power, Volume, Treble and Bass controls gives you total command.
  
• Plug in more devices
  AUX IN jack and RCA adapter let you add devices to the mix while plugged in to your computer. Connect to your TV, game console, MP3, DVD, VCR or CD player.
  
• Headphone jack
  Get lost in your own world.

 
Specifications
Two 3” mid-range (75 mm) and
two 1” (22 mm) high-frequency
neodymium drivers
 
6.5” long-throw woofer (165 mm)
 
Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 106 dB
 
Total Continuous Power: 200 Watts RMS
 
Midrange driver: 33 Watts per Channel @
4 ohms @ 10% THD @ 150 Hz – 2.5 kHz
 
Tweeter: 33 Watts per Channel @ 4 ohms
@ 10% THD @ 2.5 kHz – 20 kHz
 
Subwoofer: 68 Watts @ 8 ohms @
10 % THD @ 40 Hz – 180 Hz Single
Channel Loaded
 
System Response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz (-10 dB)
 
Signal to Noise Ratio
@ 1 kHz input:> 75 dB
 
 
Dimensions:
Subwoofer:
10.2” (W) x 15.1” (D) x 15.8” (H)
260mm (W) x 382mm (D) x 400mm (H)
 
Satellite:
5.4” (W) x 6.2” (D) x 8.7” (H)
135mm (W) x 156mm (D) x 220mm (H)

 Specifications subject to change without notice. 

• 1-year limited warranty (2 years in Europe; see inside for details.) 
• © 2008
Plantronics, Inc. All rights reserved. 
• ALTEC, ALTEC LANSING, the Altec Lansing logo, the horn design, Altec Lansing Hear What’s
Next, Expressionist, and MX6021 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics, Inc. 
• Plantronics,
the logo design and Sound Innovation are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. 
• iPod is a trademark of Apple,
Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. 
• All other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.
• Designed by Altec Lansing in the USA. Made in China.
 
 
Packaging Specifications
Master Carton Quantity: 2
Master Carton Dimensions:
18.2” (W) x 34.7” (D) x 18.4” (H)
Display Carton Dimensions:
17.1” (W) x 17.6” (D) x 17.6” (H)
Master Carton Weight: 47.8 lbs.
Display Carton Weight: 22.2 lbs.

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD

   










   The Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD provides the highest quality audio playback of any other sound card Creative has ever introduced. This sound card includes THX TruStudio PC audio technology, bringing together two of the most respected names in sound quality to provide an unparalleled audio experience on the PC. The Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD features audiophile-grade components for high-quality playback of music, games and movies, including 122db SNR Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), the highest signal-to-noise ratio sound card ever produced by Creative. Replaceable OP-amps provide the flexibility to further customize your audio experience through different sound coloration. If you are serious about how your PC sounds, this is the ultimate Sound Blaster experience.

	Premium Sound Blaster quality Featuring High-Fidelity audio performance with the Digital-Analog (D/A), Analog-Digital (A/D) converters, together with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 122dB with 0.001% (THD) distortion, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD is the ideal choice for the demanding audiophile.
	Audiophile components The Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD features high quality components offering audiophile-grade performance, designed to eliminate noise, while dramatically improving sound field dynamics in the high and mid tones.
	Superior headphone experience Enjoy pristine audio in private anywhere with the superlative headphone output featuring an amazing 115dB, 24-bit/96kHz support in High-Definition (HD) quality sound for original playback.
	Personalize your sound with upgradeable components For the discerning music listener, you can personalize your listening experience with the swappable OP-amp sockets on the sound card to tailor sound to the way you want it.
	THX TruStudio PC for unprecedented audio realism The ground-breaking THX TruStudio PC sound effects will transform your experience into a true High-Definition (HD) multimedia emotional journey.
	Hardware accelerated EAX 5.0 for ultimate gaming audio Hardware-powered 3D positional audio and EAX 5.0 effects provide stunning audio realism over both headphones and speakers without affecting your frame-rates.
	Pristine audio recordings with ultra low latency ASIO recording support with latency as low as one millisecond and minimal CPU load for precise audio recordings.
	Immersive digital home entertainment Dolby Digital and DTS encoding enable a simple one-step single-cable connection to home entertainment systems with included optical cables, for compelling surround sound.
	Optimized for Windows Vista and Windows 7 In order to achieve the ultimate Sound Blaster performance, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD has been optimized to work on PCs with Windows Vista or Windows 7 only.

Feature	Description
Audio Performance
DAC Resolution:	Front Channel Out : 24-bit, 192kHz Headphone (330Ohms): 24-bit, 192kHz Headphone (33Ohms): 24-bit, 192kHz Aux In: 24-bit, 96kHz
Output Level (Full Scale):	Front Channel Out : 2Vrms Headphone (330Ohms): 1Vrms Headphone (33Ohms): 1Vrms Aux In: 2Vrms
SNR (20kHz Low-pass filter, A-Wgt), @ 24-bit, 96kHz	Front Channel Out : 122dB Headphone (330Ohms): 117dB Headphone (33Ohms): 115dB Aux In: 118dB
THD+N (20kHz Low-pass filter):	Front Channel Out : 0.001% Headphone (330Ohms): 0.001% Headphone (33Ohms): 0.006% Aux In: 0.001%
Frequency Response (-3.5dB):	Front Channel Out : 10Hz to 90kHz Headphone (330Ohms): 10Hz to 46kHz Headphone (33Ohms): 10Hz to 46kHz Aux In: 10Hz to 46kHz