ASUS Xonar U5 Review

👤by Tony Le Bourne Comments 📅22-10-14
Performance Testing Continued...

Right Mark Audio Analyzer
RMAA suite is designed for testing quality of analog and digital paths of any audio devices, be it a sound card, an MP3 player, a consumer CD/DVD player or an acoustic set. The results are obtained by playing and recording test signals passed through the tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. A more common mark is also provided for those unfamiliar with measured technical parameters.


Understanding the limitations of a test is something that should be addressed in regards to giving an accurate portrayal. RMAA is a useful tool but testing has many variables thus results are only comparable under similar set standards and parameters and shouldn't be compared directly to other results that may have been obtained under different testing conditions. Remember that audio preference too is subjective and numbers do not tell the full story.

In this test, I compared the Xonar U5 against the cream of the crop in latest inregrated audio solutions, the Realtek ALC1150. This has become a popular choice for most motherboard manufacturers offering onboard premium audio solutions. This will also be the premium solution that will eventually work its way into more premium notebook and laptops.

Frequency response: Closer to 0 = Better
Noise: Lower = Better
Dynamic Range: Higher = Better
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): lower = Better
Intermodular distortion (IMD): Lower = Better
Stereo Crosstalk: Lower = Better


In regards to numbers, the ALC1150 generally beat the Xonar U5 in each situation except for Total Harmonic Distortion, to which could be attributed to poor EMI shielding, or electrical isolation on the motherboard.



Frequency response reveals that the Xonar U5 is all over the place in the low frequencies, while the ALC 1150 @24/192 produced the flattest response.



The noise level results of the ALC1150 are clustered together below the Xonar U5.



Again we see two clear groups for the ALC1150 and the Xonar U5 in the Dynamic Range.



Regarding the THD, we can again see the trend continued of the ALC 1150 grouped below the U5, however, between 2KHz-20KHz the ALC1150 struggles to be completely consistent with large spikes appearing, as opposed to the Xonar U5 which is able to remain relatively flat.



The grouping trend continues with the intermodular distortion, however, like with the Harmonic distortion, the ALC 1150 may be travelling at a lower path, but with less control. This would suggest that the U5 benefits from better circuitry and isolation as opposed to the motherboard solution.



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