Brief listening

I compared the Asus Xonar U1 to the onboard audio of an Asus A8JR laptop as well as the AD1988B onboard the Asus P5E3 deluxe using a pair of closed-back headphones and a pair of AudioEngine A5 active speakers.  The tracks used include Bei Yi Wang De Shi Guang by Cai Qin, Pueblo Nuevo by Buena Vista Social Club and the Imperial March by the London Symphony Orchestra.  My immediate impression was that the Xonar U1 offered a larger soundstage and more clarity than the onboard solution.  The latter was particularly evident in the Imperial March.  On another note, the Xonar is also slightly brighter sounding than both of the onboard solutions so would be buyers can take note of its tonal qualities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Asus definitely has a unique and interesting audio solution at hand here.  Its capability to bring 5.1 audio support (through optical), 3D sound and more importantly, Dolby Digital technologies to laptop users is certainly a boon for mobile gamers, movie and music lovers alike.  The U1's use of USB ensures no-frills connectivity  across both desktops and laptops.  This alone sets it apart from the yet to be launched Creative Sound Blaster X-fi for laptops that requires the use of an Expresscard slot on newer laptops.  Furthermore, its clean and elegant design ensures that it will not be out of place in a home and can be an aesthetically appealing solution for those looking to find something better than onboard audio but lack the know-how or courage to probe within the casing.  One cannot help but wonder what new device(s) the innovative engineers at Asus are going to bring to us next.

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