Product on review: ASUS Xonar U5
Manufacturer & Sponsor: ASUS
Street Price: £65 inc. VAT
ASUS 'Xonar' has made their presence felt in the audio world and due to their relentless will to cover all corners of the market, from the elite Essence family of DACs and soundcards, to those in a situation where audio output is often lackluster and limited, directly speaking, laptops and notebooks. After reviewing the Xonar U7, it is clear that there are some good options to consider, and now ASUS make another tempting offer with the Xonar U5.
Plugging the gap between the U3 and the U7 and aptly named, the Xonar U5 USB soundcard comes in priced competitively at a notch below the U7 at around £65. Primarily aimed at audio starved laptop gamers, the U5 comes packed with features set to bolster the output of anyone needing that little bit more in audio fidelity. Offering 192kHz/24-bit high-definition audio in 5.1 surround, also equipped with a headphone amp supporting up to 150 Ohm headphones, microphone-in and SPDIF out. The compact lightweight shell itself looks very similar to the U7, just with less gold and misses out a few 3.5mm and RCA ports. So we get a large on the fly volume dial as well microphone volume controls on the fly. There is a white LED indicator to let you know which audio channel is in use, which can be swapped by pressing in the volume dial.
Overview by ASUS
The Xonar U5 is 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.
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.