Hi Smiley
Thanks for suggestions.
The I/V &final board support balanced output. There is only to tap the signal from the right place... Else there is a mechanical problem to adapt the quite big 3 pins balanced connectors to the small place on a computer bracket, to have at last an professional construction. As the standard connectors are too big for the place, it may be a choice to find some other small 3 pins connectors to be mounted on a bracket, and having an enough elegant output from the device. This is a detail which I consider not very important in this stage. A solution it will be in place as the rest it will work as expected.
The main line of the design (of the boards in production) is the shortest possible traces and distances between critical components. The DAC board it have to be very close to the original board, because the digital interface, as the rest of the boards in between each other. But the output wires are not so length critical. These it can be connected to the right connectors on a near bracket.
The I/V stage is fully differential.
It will be some pictures here of the final device/system... when everything it will be in place.
Thanks for suggestions.
The I/V &final board support balanced output. There is only to tap the signal from the right place... Else there is a mechanical problem to adapt the quite big 3 pins balanced connectors to the small place on a computer bracket, to have at last an professional construction. As the standard connectors are too big for the place, it may be a choice to find some other small 3 pins connectors to be mounted on a bracket, and having an enough elegant output from the device. This is a detail which I consider not very important in this stage. A solution it will be in place as the rest it will work as expected.
The main line of the design (of the boards in production) is the shortest possible traces and distances between critical components. The DAC board it have to be very close to the original board, because the digital interface, as the rest of the boards in between each other. But the output wires are not so length critical. These it can be connected to the right connectors on a near bracket.
The I/V stage is fully differential.
It will be some pictures here of the final device/system... when everything it will be in place.
TSR Female Stereo Connectors
I already suggest to use a 5mm TSR Female Connector - the same one for all Analog I/O connections - as it is already on the STX board for the headphones, it's just perfect for the job here, a single stereo one for one CH Balanced I/O and fits nicely on the bracket too. It's not an XLR but functionally it's total the same for the purpose.
With my best regards
Andreas
I already suggest to use a 5mm TSR Female Connector - the same one for all Analog I/O connections - as it is already on the STX board for the headphones, it's just perfect for the job here, a single stereo one for one CH Balanced I/O and fits nicely on the bracket too. It's not an XLR but functionally it's total the same for the purpose.
With my best regards
Andreas
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Yes, is right.
The problem it may be the mounting of such connector. On original ST/STX boards this connector is placed/solder on the board. On the mod case, there is no any board to be soldered to, and it have to be in a way mechanical mounted on the bracket (and it have to be electrical isolated from the PC enclosure).
I`m sure there is a solution for this. When it will come the time, I will fix it.
The problem it may be the mounting of such connector. On original ST/STX boards this connector is placed/solder on the board. On the mod case, there is no any board to be soldered to, and it have to be in a way mechanical mounted on the bracket (and it have to be electrical isolated from the PC enclosure).
I`m sure there is a solution for this. When it will come the time, I will fix it.
Professionals they'd - an Inspiration
Hello Coris,
To get an inspiration please see here ''how ESI found a dockable'' daughter cards to serve both RCA inputs & Balanced Inputs on a single digital interface board - very clever implementation and they use an isolated stereo I/O TSR Female connectors as I suggest earlier.
Maybe just for an idea on how to solve some issues on an elegant way
With my warm regards,
Andreas
Yes, is right.
The problem it may be the mounting of such connector. On original ST/STX boards this connector is placed/solder on the board. On the mod case, there is no any board to be soldered to, and it have to be in a way mechanical mounted on the bracket (and it have to be electrical isolated from the PC enclosure).
I`m sure there is a solution for this. When it will come the time, I will fix it.
Hello Coris,
To get an inspiration please see here ''how ESI found a dockable'' daughter cards to serve both RCA inputs & Balanced Inputs on a single digital interface board - very clever implementation and they use an isolated stereo I/O TSR Female connectors as I suggest earlier.
Maybe just for an idea on how to solve some issues on an elegant way
With my warm regards,
Andreas
Yes, I know... This it may be an ideal approach, but what about writing the driver, and some other stuff to S/H interface the board with the computer, OS, and so on? Such task it may be suitable for a quite solid team work, and it represent a high level investment. Not my case...
Else the compromises on the signal paths actually do not exist in these quite compact daughter boards. The 4 layers boards involve high end components with the shortest possible signal path. Much shorter than on original board also. The only connections are to be (electrical isolated) made on digital domain/signals IO. The advantages of a such solution are quite significant... and the improvement it is accordingly,,,
Seven Steps To Heaven
Wow this is the top decision
Coris - Please proceed with the what ever is on the plan -to do list next, and give me a day or two to find within my files from the AD era of my friends Job times. . . I will supply You with one of the best I/P just for the this purpose already done incl. Mic/Line Pre + Phantom 48V - 14mA per Mic. + AD all already done with top performances achieved.
With my warm regards,
Andreas
Wow this is the top decision
Coris - Please proceed with the what ever is on the plan -to do list next, and give me a day or two to find within my files from the AD era of my friends Job times. . . I will supply You with one of the best I/P just for the this purpose already done incl. Mic/Line Pre + Phantom 48V - 14mA per Mic. + AD all already done with top performances achieved.
With my warm regards,
Andreas
Thanks Smiley.
The plan is mainly to follow the original board configuration for the compatibility reason. CS5381 is a very good chip, and the performance differences from so called high class ADC are quite minimal. Anyway I think to have a higher quality level alternative to the original chip, so I will take a decision, after some more investigations.
Else the analogue stage of the ADC I want it more improved than the actual Asus circuitry. The bricks are quite in place in this, but it may come good/better ideas on the fly.
I thought actually to place an extra/optional good line pre circuit just in case it will be necessary. But this is not decided yet and it depend on the available place on PCB.
So, to be continued...
The plan is mainly to follow the original board configuration for the compatibility reason. CS5381 is a very good chip, and the performance differences from so called high class ADC are quite minimal. Anyway I think to have a higher quality level alternative to the original chip, so I will take a decision, after some more investigations.
Else the analogue stage of the ADC I want it more improved than the actual Asus circuitry. The bricks are quite in place in this, but it may come good/better ideas on the fly.
I thought actually to place an extra/optional good line pre circuit just in case it will be necessary. But this is not decided yet and it depend on the available place on PCB.
So, to be continued...
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ASUS Announces Essence STX II and Essence STX II 7.1 Hi-Fi-Grade Sound Cards with 124dB SNR and 600ohm-Headphone Amplifier
High-end cards build on capabilities of hugely popular Essence STX to deliver exceptional audio clarity drawn from long and trusted Hi-Fi development experience
Taipei, Taiwan (12th March, 2014) — ASUS today announced Essence STX II and Essence STX II 7.1, two new Hi-Fi-grade sound cards designed to delight audiophiles with 124dB signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) clarity and a 600ohm-headphone amplifier.
Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 build on the success and huge popularity of ASUS Essence STX – the world’s first consumer sound card to deliver 124db SNR audio clarity plus 600ohm headphone amp, and the long-term holder of the number-one position in Head-Fi’s Sound Cards charts, as voted by highly-satisfied users globally.
Keeping the audiophile spirit and philosophy alive, the new Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 cards both feature a remarkable 124dB SNR for line-out connections and 120dB SNR for headphone listening. Precision clock is controlled by a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) clock source, optimized power delivery is assured with low-dropout (LDO) regulators and WIMA® capacitors deliver balanced sound.
With an amplifier capable of delivering impeccable output for up to 600ohm headphones, an additional gain control for in-ear monitor (IEM) headphones, high-quality MUSES operational amplifiers (op-amps) and an included op-amp swap kit, ASUS once again demonstrates its ability to redefine the sound card market. Essence STX II 7.1 even has the ability to output true 7.1-channel surround sound, via the included simple-to-fit daughterboard.
Commenting on the launch, Ives Chiu, ASUS Product Manager for the Audio Sector in the Multimedia Business Department, said: “Four years after the debut of Essence STX, ASUS remains committed to delivering ever better high-end sound cards to delight the most demanding audiophiles. Drawing on years of experience in developing Essence One, Essence STU and Essence III, Essence STX II delivers meticulous design, quintessential performance and profound musicality — elements that shape the spirit of the whole Essence Hi-Fi series.”
Legendary audio quality that just got better
Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 deliver industry-leading 124dB SNR audio clarity, a much-envied quality inherited from the revolutionary and widely-acclaimed Essence STX sound card — and up to 64 times (64X) better than typical onboard audio hardware. Headphone output reaches a fantastic 120dB.
To attain the essence of sound, ASUS engineers equipped Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 with even more Hi-Fi-quality components. These include a premium TCXO clock source that ensures ultra-low jitter, high-fidelity LDO regulators for consistent linear regulation and German-made WIMA capacitors for a more balanced sound. The profound musicality that Essence listeners expect is encapsulated by celebrated MUSES 8920 and MUSES 8820 op-amps, which deliver true-to-life tonality and spacious sound imaging.
Both Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 benefit from swappable op-amp sockets and come with a swap kit that includes three additional op-amps — two Texas Instruments LME49720s and one MUSES 8820 — that allow users to create different timbres and tonal combinations. The swap kit includes a clamp tool that makes it easy to remove the op-amp microchips.
True 7.1-channel surround sound that’s easy to fit and great to customize
Exclusive to Essence STX II 7.1 is a multichannel daughterboard that delivers true 7.1-channel surround with high-fidelity 120dB SNR outputs. This easy-to-fit daughterboard slides into a slot adjacent to Essence STX II 7.1, so installation couldn’t be more convenient.
Each channel is fully customizable with nine swappable op-amp sockets — giving audiophiles complete freedom to create the perfect surround-sound experience for their ears and listening environment.
Impeccable audio quality that’s all about the details
In their mission to create peerless sound output ASUS audio engineers study and consider all aspects of product design — attention to detail that shines through both Essence STX II and STX II 7.1.
The built-in headphone amplifier supports up to 600ohm impedance — so audiophiles can plug in the finest high-impedance headphones to enjoy the pure quality delivered by Essence STX II and STX II 7.1.
ASUS engineers have also furnished the new cards with an additional gain control designed especially for high-sensitivity IEM headphones, allowing musicians, audio purists and everyday listeners to use snug-fitting earpieces that channel audio output straight to the ear canal — isolating ambient noise for clear sound and undisturbed listening experience.
The cards also benefit from a software package that includes a full version of Dolby® Home Theater, an advanced software suite that turns a PC into a dedicated home-theater center with enhanced surround sound.
Source:
ASUS Essence STX II and Essence STX II 7.1 Hi-Fi-Grade Sound Launches | Republic of Gamers
High-end cards build on capabilities of hugely popular Essence STX to deliver exceptional audio clarity drawn from long and trusted Hi-Fi development experience
Taipei, Taiwan (12th March, 2014) — ASUS today announced Essence STX II and Essence STX II 7.1, two new Hi-Fi-grade sound cards designed to delight audiophiles with 124dB signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) clarity and a 600ohm-headphone amplifier.
Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 build on the success and huge popularity of ASUS Essence STX – the world’s first consumer sound card to deliver 124db SNR audio clarity plus 600ohm headphone amp, and the long-term holder of the number-one position in Head-Fi’s Sound Cards charts, as voted by highly-satisfied users globally.
Keeping the audiophile spirit and philosophy alive, the new Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 cards both feature a remarkable 124dB SNR for line-out connections and 120dB SNR for headphone listening. Precision clock is controlled by a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) clock source, optimized power delivery is assured with low-dropout (LDO) regulators and WIMA® capacitors deliver balanced sound.
With an amplifier capable of delivering impeccable output for up to 600ohm headphones, an additional gain control for in-ear monitor (IEM) headphones, high-quality MUSES operational amplifiers (op-amps) and an included op-amp swap kit, ASUS once again demonstrates its ability to redefine the sound card market. Essence STX II 7.1 even has the ability to output true 7.1-channel surround sound, via the included simple-to-fit daughterboard.
Commenting on the launch, Ives Chiu, ASUS Product Manager for the Audio Sector in the Multimedia Business Department, said: “Four years after the debut of Essence STX, ASUS remains committed to delivering ever better high-end sound cards to delight the most demanding audiophiles. Drawing on years of experience in developing Essence One, Essence STU and Essence III, Essence STX II delivers meticulous design, quintessential performance and profound musicality — elements that shape the spirit of the whole Essence Hi-Fi series.”
Legendary audio quality that just got better
Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 deliver industry-leading 124dB SNR audio clarity, a much-envied quality inherited from the revolutionary and widely-acclaimed Essence STX sound card — and up to 64 times (64X) better than typical onboard audio hardware. Headphone output reaches a fantastic 120dB.
To attain the essence of sound, ASUS engineers equipped Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 with even more Hi-Fi-quality components. These include a premium TCXO clock source that ensures ultra-low jitter, high-fidelity LDO regulators for consistent linear regulation and German-made WIMA capacitors for a more balanced sound. The profound musicality that Essence listeners expect is encapsulated by celebrated MUSES 8920 and MUSES 8820 op-amps, which deliver true-to-life tonality and spacious sound imaging.
Both Essence STX II and STX II 7.1 benefit from swappable op-amp sockets and come with a swap kit that includes three additional op-amps — two Texas Instruments LME49720s and one MUSES 8820 — that allow users to create different timbres and tonal combinations. The swap kit includes a clamp tool that makes it easy to remove the op-amp microchips.
True 7.1-channel surround sound that’s easy to fit and great to customize
Exclusive to Essence STX II 7.1 is a multichannel daughterboard that delivers true 7.1-channel surround with high-fidelity 120dB SNR outputs. This easy-to-fit daughterboard slides into a slot adjacent to Essence STX II 7.1, so installation couldn’t be more convenient.
Each channel is fully customizable with nine swappable op-amp sockets — giving audiophiles complete freedom to create the perfect surround-sound experience for their ears and listening environment.
Impeccable audio quality that’s all about the details
In their mission to create peerless sound output ASUS audio engineers study and consider all aspects of product design — attention to detail that shines through both Essence STX II and STX II 7.1.
The built-in headphone amplifier supports up to 600ohm impedance — so audiophiles can plug in the finest high-impedance headphones to enjoy the pure quality delivered by Essence STX II and STX II 7.1.
ASUS engineers have also furnished the new cards with an additional gain control designed especially for high-sensitivity IEM headphones, allowing musicians, audio purists and everyday listeners to use snug-fitting earpieces that channel audio output straight to the ear canal — isolating ambient noise for clear sound and undisturbed listening experience.
The cards also benefit from a software package that includes a full version of Dolby® Home Theater, an advanced software suite that turns a PC into a dedicated home-theater center with enhanced surround sound.
Source:
ASUS Essence STX II and Essence STX II 7.1 Hi-Fi-Grade Sound Launches | Republic of Gamers
Thanks Gradius for the copy/pasted Asus advertising informations...
We have also seen and heard before these "fantastic", "audiophile", "widely-acclaimed Essence STX sound card", as it were out of the factories.
There is very right that on data sheets of the components used on these sound card, there are specified a max 120 - 124 dB SNR, and so on. The only problem of these sound cards is that the components on it does not work at the specified by components producer parameters. F. ex. the opamps on board it give the max performances at a power rails of +/-15v, but not +/-12v... Specially when one of these rails is not equal with another one, when these rails come directly from a computer full of noise power system, or from on board switching PSUs, and so on (this issue it were corrected only on the last ASmedia edition of ST/STX boards).
There is right that Asus sound card are the only one which it works at max (for today) sampling frequency on both record/playback, but to state that these sound cards it give the best performances as high fidelity audio, is quite far from true. There is just not possible for the price involved in production/sale of the board, and in the environment these it have to function. There is enough much more to be done further to have the boards as a high performance audiophile product. But this "more to be done" it increase the price of the product.
I have worked on these boards for a quite long time now, and I know well the many weak sides on it. The improvements and modifications presented here it increase in real and quite much the boards performances, to perform as a very high end product. There is not in fact possible to have such quality out of the boards as Asus state in their media (advertising) announcements, for the price they sell it.
There it may be only the digital hardware stage, which is working well on these boards, even though Asus have not improved/updated their software drivers for years. There is at least one year since the STX driver it still in beta version. A software DIY guy have much more done in this field, issuing his UniXonar driver, which it works for all of the Asus sound cards boards in one installation package, and it have some few more improvements.
So, the Asus advertising sounds well and promising, but in real it is not just as stated...
We will see how these new boards it will look inside, and how it sounds, but personally, I`m quite reserved in my expectations from a consumer Asus product...
BTW, last Muses opamps are also part of my already designed, and soon coming out daughter boards for ST/STX models, working together with the most performing, newest and lowest possible noise floor on the marked`s today regulators.
Only to mention more that some of these daughter boards are perfect to be used with what so ever sound cards, or DAC systems out there...
We have also seen and heard before these "fantastic", "audiophile", "widely-acclaimed Essence STX sound card", as it were out of the factories.
There is very right that on data sheets of the components used on these sound card, there are specified a max 120 - 124 dB SNR, and so on. The only problem of these sound cards is that the components on it does not work at the specified by components producer parameters. F. ex. the opamps on board it give the max performances at a power rails of +/-15v, but not +/-12v... Specially when one of these rails is not equal with another one, when these rails come directly from a computer full of noise power system, or from on board switching PSUs, and so on (this issue it were corrected only on the last ASmedia edition of ST/STX boards).
There is right that Asus sound card are the only one which it works at max (for today) sampling frequency on both record/playback, but to state that these sound cards it give the best performances as high fidelity audio, is quite far from true. There is just not possible for the price involved in production/sale of the board, and in the environment these it have to function. There is enough much more to be done further to have the boards as a high performance audiophile product. But this "more to be done" it increase the price of the product.
I have worked on these boards for a quite long time now, and I know well the many weak sides on it. The improvements and modifications presented here it increase in real and quite much the boards performances, to perform as a very high end product. There is not in fact possible to have such quality out of the boards as Asus state in their media (advertising) announcements, for the price they sell it.
There it may be only the digital hardware stage, which is working well on these boards, even though Asus have not improved/updated their software drivers for years. There is at least one year since the STX driver it still in beta version. A software DIY guy have much more done in this field, issuing his UniXonar driver, which it works for all of the Asus sound cards boards in one installation package, and it have some few more improvements.
So, the Asus advertising sounds well and promising, but in real it is not just as stated...
We will see how these new boards it will look inside, and how it sounds, but personally, I`m quite reserved in my expectations from a consumer Asus product...
BTW, last Muses opamps are also part of my already designed, and soon coming out daughter boards for ST/STX models, working together with the most performing, newest and lowest possible noise floor on the marked`s today regulators.
Only to mention more that some of these daughter boards are perfect to be used with what so ever sound cards, or DAC systems out there...
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Hi everyone.
Very interisting thread, and since I'm going to buy a H6 daughter card soon...
i'm not using the xonar ST as my main HIFI source, I have a separate xeon pc running jplay/jriver for that, but I do plan to use my St + H6 to feed the Parasound P7 I have.
and I do plan to get the out the best of it for listening to the bluray concert or movie.
So this thread is vital for me, thanks a lot to everyone who shared all that
Very interisting thread, and since I'm going to buy a H6 daughter card soon...
i'm not using the xonar ST as my main HIFI source, I have a separate xeon pc running jplay/jriver for that, but I do plan to use my St + H6 to feed the Parasound P7 I have.
and I do plan to get the out the best of it for listening to the bluray concert or movie.
So this thread is vital for me, thanks a lot to everyone who shared all that
The mod is about both types of the sound card (ST/STX). These cards are quite similar, but the interface with the computer/motherboard differ.
The project here consist mainly of a three small board system (DAC, analogue and power) interfaced to the original sound card at its digital level output for DAC processing. There is another board for clocks and its battery powered system. These boards are to be mounted in one way over the original board, it take quite small place and is completely power independent from the rest of the computer. The main line of the project is a minimal hardware intervention on the original sound card.
The project here consist mainly of a three small board system (DAC, analogue and power) interfaced to the original sound card at its digital level output for DAC processing. There is another board for clocks and its battery powered system. These boards are to be mounted in one way over the original board, it take quite small place and is completely power independent from the rest of the computer. The main line of the project is a minimal hardware intervention on the original sound card.
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Thank you for your response.
Have you evaluate the total result?I think that if someone wants to upgrade his card,he will need enough money for this,so he will proceed,only if the audio quality of the project is very good.
I hope it is so,and for this,I wait.
Theodore.
Hi Coris...
Im just about finished building my regulator/PSU...just waiting on transformer.
I plan on inserting power from the back of the STX into the filtering caps (not sure if Im going to remove them or not yet). V+ and V- both have a ground on the STX...my regulator shares the same ground for both + and -. Do I want to run 2 ground wires to the STX from the regulator, each twisted with their own V wire to reject EMI...?
Or a single ground, and bridge the two ground pins on the filtering caps?
It looks like in the pic, you scraped away some of the silk screening at the cap positions to get more solderable area...?
Im just about finished building my regulator/PSU...just waiting on transformer.
I plan on inserting power from the back of the STX into the filtering caps (not sure if Im going to remove them or not yet). V+ and V- both have a ground on the STX...my regulator shares the same ground for both + and -. Do I want to run 2 ground wires to the STX from the regulator, each twisted with their own V wire to reject EMI...?
Or a single ground, and bridge the two ground pins on the filtering caps?
It looks like in the pic, you scraped away some of the silk screening at the cap positions to get more solderable area...?