This is a report for professionals with a suite of test of headphone amplifier.
You can see a simple report for "dummies" with explanations of the main characteristics for ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain

A suite of tests for a headphone amplifier can be applied to just a universal output without a formal presence of an amplifier, if in this mode you can connect headphones to this output. Based on the results of the tests, you can understand the real picture, is the output powerful enough or not, with the initial data on the circuitry as a "black box".

Line-out, differences from the output for headphones and speakers

Advantages and disadvantages of balanced amplifiers

Test report - general data ASUS Xonar Essence STX (as headphone amplifier)

Frequency response, Impedance and Frequency response with standard headphones

Voltage levels from the load at the output of the amplifier

Average value of impedance band in 40 Hz - 15 kHz	10.3	ohm
Voltage: Linear Mode / Maximum or before clipping level	15.4/16.4	dBV
	5.9/6.6	V_RMS
Current: Linear Mode / Maximum or before clipping level	30.4/47.0	dB(mA)
	33.1/223.0	mA

Brief information

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Frequency response ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Channel:	Left	Right
Variation in frequency response in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	-0.1, +0.0	-0.1, +0.0	dB

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

On the frequency response comparison page, there is an export option and additional tools for adjusting the frequency response

Impedance ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Channel:	Left	Right
Impedance average in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	10.3	10.3	ohm
The minimum value in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	10.3	10.3	ohm
The maximum value in band from 40 Hz - 15 kHz	10.4	10.4	ohm

Comparison of basic characteristics AMPs

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Crosstalk ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Load

Channel:	Left	Right
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 15.8 ohm	-66.2	-65.8	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 24.5 ohm	-68.7	-67.9	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 30.5 ohm	-69.8	-69.3	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 62.4 ohm	-73.5	-97.2	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 100.0 ohm	-80.2	-79.1	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 198.9 ohm	-84.1	-83.3	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 300.0 ohm	-86.9	-87.4	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ 763.0 ohm	-93.5	-94.6	dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz @ Not loaded	-104.5	-96.1	dB

Brief information

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Crosstalk Phase ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Load

Brief information

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Frequency response ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain with resistive load

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Frequency response of amplifier with resistive load @ 40 Hz - 15 kHz

Channel:	Left	Right
TEST 16 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
TEST 32 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
TEST 64 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
TEST 126 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
TEST 256 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
TEST 512 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

On the frequency response comparison page, there is an export option and additional tools for adjusting the frequency response

Frequency response ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain loaded dynamic headphone type

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Frequency response of amplifier loaded dynamic headphone type @ 40 Hz - 15 kHz

Channel:	Left	Right
TEST 10000 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
Grado GH4 Limited Edition + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	1.6	1.5	dB

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

On the frequency response comparison page, there is an export option and additional tools for adjusting the frequency response

Frequency response ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain loaded type balance armature headphone type

Graphics setting view

Channel

Range

Frequency response of amplifier loaded type balance armature headphone type @ 40 Hz - 15 kHz

Channel:	Left	Right
TEST 10000 ? + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	0.0	0.0	dB
Campfire Audio Andromeda + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	8.7	8.6	dB
Fearless Audio S8F Freedom + ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain	6.9	6.4	dB

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

On the frequency response comparison page, there is an export option and additional tools for adjusting the frequency response

THD vs load vs output voltage ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain

Graphics setting view

Channel

Load

Harmonic, number

Graphics setting view

Channel

Load

Harmonic, number

Graphics setting view

Channel

Load

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Maximum voltage output level vs load ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain

Graphics setting view

Type of chart

RAW coordinates

Power characteristics of the	Voltage		Current
	dBV	V_RMS	dB(mA)	mA
Equivalent class A	15.4	5.9	30.4	33.1
Equivalent class AB	15.4	5.9	47.0	223.0
Equivalent class B	15.4	5.9	47.0	223.0
Maximum mode	16.4	6.6	47.0	223.0

Volume Control Type	Digital
Optimal range of volume control	47.0	dB
Signal/Noise / Maximum	117.0/16.4	dB/dBV
Signal/Noise @ -14.9 dBV 32 ohm (1 mW)	88.13	dB
Signal/Noise @ -5.2 dBV 300 ohm (1 mW)	95.71	dB

Comparison ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain and another amplifiers by loudness (Volume Level)

Main characteristics of the ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Maximum voltage output level vs load ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain

Graphics setting view

Type of chart

RAW coordinates

Maximum Amplifier Voltage Level

Load	Pure or equal class A		Optimal or equal class AB		Hard or equal class B		Max, before clipping
	dBV	V_RMS	dBV	V_RMS	dBV	V_RMS	dBV	V_RMS
15.8 ohm	-6.0	0.5	10.9	0.5	10.9	0.5	10.9	0.5
24.5 ohm	-1.7	0.8	12.2	0.8	12.2	0.8	13.2	0.8
30.5 ohm	1.7	1.2	12.7	1.2	12.7	1.2	13.7	1.2
62.4 ohm	6.0	2.0	14.0	2.0	14.0	2.0	15.0	2.0
100 ohm	10.5	3.3	14.5	3.3	14.5	3.3	15.5	3.3
198.9 ohm	14.9	5.6	14.9	5.6	14.9	5.6	15.9	5.6
300 ohm	15.1	5.7	15.1	5.7	15.1	5.7	16.1	5.7
763 ohm	15.2	5.8	15.2	5.8	15.2	5.8	16.2	5.8
Not loaded	15.4	5.9	15.4	5.9	15.4	5.9	16.4	5.9

Maximum level of amplifier current

Load	Pure or equal class A		Optimal or equal class AB		Hard or equal class B		Max, before clipping
	dB(mA)	mA	dB(mA)	mA	dB(mA)	mA	dB(mA)	mA
15.8 ohm	30.0	31.6	47.0	223.0	47.0	223.0	47.0	223.0
24.5 ohm	30.5	33.4	44.5	167.2	44.5	167.2	45.4	187.3
30.5 ohm	32.0	40.0	43.0	141.8	43.0	141.8	44.0	158.9
62.4 ohm	30.1	32.1	38.1	80.5	38.1	80.5	39.1	90.3
100 ohm	30.5	33.5	34.5	53.1	34.5	53.1	35.5	59.6
198.9 ohm	28.9	28.0	28.9	28.0	28.9	28.0	29.9	31.4
300 ohm	25.5	18.9	25.5	18.9	25.5	18.9	26.5	21.2
763 ohm	17.6	7.6	17.6	7.6	17.6	7.6	18.6	8.5

Power

Load	Pure or equal class A		Optimal or equal class AB		Hard or equal class B		Max, before clipping
	dBm	mW	dBm	mW	dBm	mW	dBm	mW
15.8 ohm	12.0	15.8	29.0	785.5	29.0	785.5	29.0	785.5
24.5 ohm	14.4	27.4	28.4	685.0	28.4	685.0	29.3	859.2
30.5 ohm	16.9	48.8	27.9	612.9	27.9	612.9	28.9	770.4
62.4 ohm	18.1	64.1	26.1	404.5	26.1	404.5	27.1	509.1
100 ohm	20.5	112.2	24.5	281.8	24.5	281.8	25.5	354.7
198.9 ohm	21.9	155.8	21.9	155.8	21.9	155.8	22.9	196.1
300 ohm	20.3	107.0	20.3	107.0	20.3	107.0	21.3	134.7
763 ohm	16.4	43.8	16.4	43.8	16.4	43.8	17.4	55.1

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Spectrum of Total Harmonic Distortion vs Level ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

dBm

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

dBV

Range

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Spectrum of Multitone Distortion vs Level vs Load ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

dBm

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

dBV

Range

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Spectrum of IMD SMPTE vs Level ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

Range

dBm

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

Range

dBV

Range

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

Spectrum of IMD CCIF vs Level ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain (as headphone amplifier)

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Level

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

dBm

Range

Graphics setting view

Channel

Shift

dBV

Range

Brief information

Clicking on the graph will take you to the comparison page of different models with advanced graph display settings.

More detailed

Measurements of ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain were carried out by Roman Kuznetsov on the hardware-software complex RAA.

The ASUS Xonar Essence STX Hi Gain test was conducted as a black box test, without regard to cost and prestige. This is the basic principle for making measurements, measurement reports and developing tests in RAA.

I believe that it is important to do not make an absolute assessment of the device, but an aggregate assessment when working together with a headphones and taking into account external factors. This allows you to effectively reveal the potential of the entire set of devices or to make a more optimal choice of components.

Kuznetsov Roman
Founder of RAA

Known by the nickname romanrex
Аuthor of articles iXBT.com

Information for Authors. You can freely use the graphics in your articles with a link to us.

ASUS Xonar Essence STX is available in reports and services. You are in a professional report.

Information for entry level users

reports for a newbie (Headphone amplifier)

The automatic selection of the optimal AMP models

Information for all

Versus of characteristics

Information for professionals

reports for a pro (Headphone amplifier)

reports for a pro (DAC Line Out)

DAC Line Out

Comparison of on-line graphs

Quick jump to the schedule in this report: Hi Gain

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