ASUS Xonar Essence One Muses Edition D/A processor–headphone amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Source: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ekos tonearm, Linn Arkiv B phono cartridge.
Digital Sources: Marantz Reference NA-11S1 media player; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; Apple 2.7GHz i7 Mac mini laptop running OS10.7, iTunes 10, Pure Music 1.89, Audirvana Plus 1.5.10, JRiver Media Center 19 for Mac; NAD M51, Channel Islands Transient Mk.II, Auralic Vega D/A converters; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 USB A/D converter.
Preamplification: Channel D Seta L phono preamplifier, Pass Labs XP-30 line preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Pass Labs XA60.5, MBL Corona C15 (both monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Vivid Giya G3.
Headphones: Audeze LCD-X, Sennheiser HD650 & HD800.
Headphone Amplifiers: HeadRoom BlockHead, Benchmark DAC1.
Cables: Digital: DH Labs Silver Sonic, AES/EBU; AudioQuest Coffee, Belkin Gold, USB; AudioQuest FireWire 400 (prototype); AudioQuest Diamond, Ethernet. Interconnect: AudioQuest Wild, Kubala-Sosna Elation! (balanced). Speaker: Kubala-Sosna Elation!. AC: Kubala-Sosna Elation!, XLO Reference 3, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Audio Power Industries 116 Mk.II & PE-1, APC S-15 AC line conditioners (computers, hard drive); ASC Tube Traps, RPG Abffusor panels; Target TT-5 equipment racks; Ayre Acoustics Myrtle Blocks; Shunyata Research Dark Field cable elevators. AC power comes from two dedicated 20A circuits, each just 6' from breaker box.—John Atkinson

COMPANY INFO
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
US distributor: ASUS Computer International
44370 Nobel Drive
Fremont, CA 94538
(812) 282-2787
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COMMENTS
rockoqatsi's picture

And in any case, I think it's great that you're reviewing these entries from ASUS (this, and the Xonar ST), though I'm surprised to find them releasing such an expensive and esoteric item—for a motherboard manufacturer at least. How good have dacs in the $700-$900 range gotten since the Lynx cards were a hot commodity? Any idea? (I'd try selling my Lynx for the Benchmark DAC2, but nobody wants a legacy PCI card these days.)

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