ASUS Xonar U3 USB Headphone Amp & Sound Card Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips
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Description
ncix.com USB sound cards exist to fill the gap between horrible onboard notebook sound cards and higher quality solutions that come on PCI cards that are only really possible on the desktop. The U3 from ASUS attempts to one-up the other USB cards on the market by adding a powered headphone amp to go along with the higher quality audio output.
The Asus Xonar U3 is presented as a compact USB powered headphone amplifier and sound card designed to upgrade typical notebook audio. Linus begins with the unboxing, noting the device’s purpose as a portable gaming oriented audio upgrade that can drive headphones up to 150 ohms. He explains the back panel features, including the USB 2.0 connection, the combination analog/digital jacks, and the built in headphone amp with a claimed 98 dB signal-to-noise ratio. The device supports multiple output options such as a line out, S/PDIF, and a mic input, with dedicated software controls to tune the audio for different listening scenarios. Linus highlights the product’s portability, the included USB extension cable, and the physical design that keeps the small cap connected so nothing is easily lost. He discusses how notebook internal audio can be noisy due to fan activity and high-frequency interference, and why isolating the audio path with the U3 can deliver clearer sound. The unboxing then transitions to a high level overview of the hardware’s intended use on notebooks rather than desktops, stressing improved audio quality for games and media playback. In the latter portion of the segment, Linus touches on the device’s three operating modes and the purpose behind each, including gaming enhancements and a mode optimized for video viewing, concluding with a call to subscribe for more unboxings and reviews.
Topics · Technology · Audio
Questions answered
- Can the ASUS Xonar U3 power 150 ohm headphones effectively, such as the Sennheiser PC350?
- Yes, the U3 is designed to power headphones up to 150 ohms and offers adjustable gain in software to better match high impedance headphones.
- Will connecting the Xonar U3 disable the laptop's onboard audio?
- No, it acts as an external USB audio device; if connected, the laptop routes audio through the U3 while its onboard audio remains unused for playback until you disconnect the device.
- Does the U3 support direct monitoring with zero latency for voice input?
- The device provides a mic input and software options, and the user can enable monitoring paths through the driver settings for low-latency monitoring depending on the software used.