ASUS Announces Xonar U5 USB Soundcard and Headphone Amplifier
True 5.1-channel, 192kHz/24-bit high-definition sound from a compact USB-powered device
ASUS today announced the availability of Xonar U5, a compact USB-powered sound card and headphone amplifier featuring true 5.1-channel surround sound, 192kHz/24-bit high-definition audio, Perfect Voice technology, and dedicated microphone and output volume controls for incredible gaming, music and movie experiences. Xonar U5 comes with Sonic Studio, powerful configuration software that allows complete, fine-tuned control of the audio experience via an elegant and intuitive user interface.
With its easy plug-and-play setup, Xonar U5 is an ideal solution for laptop gamers looking to experience true 5.1-channel surround sound, and for PC gamers who want an incredible audio performance without the hassle of having to open their PC's case to install a sound card.
Simple audio configuration with Sonic Studio
Sonic Studio is the next-generation sound utility from ASUS that works with Xonar U5 to provide complete control over the PC audio experience. It features a beautiful, intuitive interface that groups a wide range of audio adjustment functions together logically, making Sonic Studio both powerful and easy to use. Unlike typical audio utilities with multi-screen interfaces that make configuration complicated and time-consuming, Sonic Studio has an elegant all-in-one view that puts all the necessary controls on a single screen to make adjustments fast and easy for users.
The Sonic Studio interface groups key audio controls together based on function, making features easy to find and configuration error-free. The main audio setting group includes basic settings such as volume and channel selection, as well as audio presets for instant one-click control of the overall sound style. The I/O selection group provides a quick and easy way to select different input and output devices, such as microphones, speakers and headphones. The audio enhancement group features tools for fine-grained audio control, including an equalizer for adjusting the gain of specific frequencies, Bass Boost for deeper, more pronounced bass, Voice Clarity for making speech stand out more prominently in movies and music, and Compressor to adjust audio dynamic range. The tuning group lets headphone listeners enable virtual surround sound and configure the spaciousness of the effect by virtually adjusting speaker placement and reverb. Finally, the mic tuning group contains microphone configuration tools and features the Perfect Voice technology control, which ensures gamers have clear, in-game voice communication by reducing background noise in speech signals by up to 20dB.
Compact size, HD sound
Xonar U5 has a small footprint for flexible placement, yet packs serious performance into its compact USB-powered design. Unlike most small USB-powered audio devices whose performance is compromised by space and power restrictions, Xonar U5 was carefully engineered to overcome these limitations, and delivers simultaneous true 5.1-channel surround sound and 192kHz/24-bit high-definition audio with a 104dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Xonar U5 includes an integrated high-quality headphone amplifier to provide clear, dynamic and highly-detailed sound for rich and immersive audio experiences. When gaming, effects like the rumble of explosions and sound of footsteps are incredibly realistic and precisely-positioned in the game’s environment.
Gamer-friendly design
In addition to its incredible performance, Xonar U5 features a variety of design details to enhance the gaming experience and add to the user’s enjoyment. A dedicated microphone volume control makes it easy to perform instant adjustments in the middle of intense gaming action. The main volume control knob conveniently doubles as an output selector for quickly switching between speakers and headphones with a simple click.