Onkyo SE-300PCIe sound card review part I.

When I upgraded my computer recently I accidentally bought a motherboard with no PCI slots which meant I could no longer use my SE-200PCI card, my main reference source now for some years. Rather than switch motherboards again I figured I'd try Onkyo's latest version which has been out for a while now, the SE-300PCIe. I picked up a used "R2" model for $200.

I mention the price up front because the cost of this thing outside of Japan is astronomical. I've seen asking prices of $450 US! In Japan the retail price is about $300 in most stores. That's still very expensive. Despite the good things I have to say about it, the cost/performance must be taken into account based on the particular price you are looking at paying.

This is a Japan-only product, so the web site is Japanese:

main page (gallery)

The basic specs for the stereo line output is 120 dB S/N A weighted, 24/192 capable, 0.3-88kHz -3dB for the 2 channel stereo analog output. Each channel features a Burr-Brown (TI) PCM1978s DAC rigged for differential output.
(datasheet), 24/192, 123 dB. The I/V stage and analog output are Onkyo's patented DIDRC technology (info in Japanese) which I think is the newer version of the vector-linear (VLSC) output stage they've used for a while. The output stage is complementary symmetrical (differential*), discrete transistor topology, a big change over the NE5532s in the SE-200PCI.

*The IV section is presumably differential through to the last stage, where the phases are summed to provide the usual singled-ended output.

The headphone amplifier is separate and also fully discrete (no op amp used). The 7.1 channel surround sound outputs are through a separate, much more mundane circuit. There are also digital input and outputs.

All the digital processing relies on the Creative X-Fi codec, a big change from Via's Envy24HT found in the previous models. In addition to multichannel outputs and digital I/O, ASIO support, there's also a bunch of DSP functions for 3D and various "enhancements" which are best left off.

setup notes:

• There are separate RCA and 3.5mm outputs. The 3.5mm output is a headphone amplifier but can also be used as a line output.
• Both line outputs are controlled from the Windows volume control.
• The analog surround outputs are on a backplate that optionally fits into a second expansion slot.
• This is a full-height PCIe X1 card.
• Toslink in, Toslink out, and coax digital output on the main board.
• No header for a front panel audio connection.

So there are some conveniences here, as well as some compromises. Overall I'm pleased. I like having a functional Windows volume control (easy to mute and adjust), and the dual outputs is handy, as is the option of leaving out the surround outputs completely if they will not be used.

The Creative drivers install in English, and have given me no trouble so far on Windows 8.1 64 bit. Other than turning off all the DSP "enhancements", there's not much there to do, and there is no reason to play around in Creative's console window normally. Overall though it seems to be full featured and nicely integrated with Windows OS, so a big improvement over the Via drivers (basically XP drivers hacked to work with Vista and later).

I think thats all for the preliminaries. "How does it sound?" is answered in part II.

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