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ASUS Essence 3

Package contents

This package should contain the following:
•  ASUS Essence 3 Hi-Fi USB DAC x 1
•  USB cable (‘B-A’ type) x 1
•  Power cord x 1 (may contain two power cords depending on region/country)
•  6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter x 1
•  Multi-language QSG x 1
•  Audio-Precision (AP) test report x 1
•  Installation driver CD x 1
•  Spare fuse
•  Remote control x 1
•  IR Receiver Cable x1
•  XLR to Mini XLR x2 
•  XLR to RCA x1

•  RCA to RCA x1 

System requirements

To ensure a successful installation of the ASUS Essence 3 USB DAC, your computer must meet the following requirements:
•  IBM compatible PC with one USB2.0 (or higher) compatible port for the USB audio device
•  Mac OS X 10.6/ Microsoft

®

 Windows

®

 8(32/64 Bit) / 7 (32/64 Bit)/ XP (32/64 Bit) 

•  Intel

®

 Pentium

®

 4 1.4GHz or AMD Athlon 1400 CPU or faster CPU

•  256 MB DRAM system memory
•  200 MB available HDD space for driver installation
•  CD-ROM drive (or DVD-ROM drive) for software installation
•  High-quality headphones or powered analog speakers

Driver installation

After connecting the ASUS Essence 3 to your computer using the bundled USB cable, install the device driver 

using the provided CD.

NOTES:

•  Driver installation is only required if you plan to connect the ASUS Essence 3 to a PC or notebook.

•  Driver version and the contents of the support CD are subject to change without notice.

T

o install the device driver:

1.  Insert the 

ASUS Essence 3 Support CD 

into your optical drive. Proceed to Step 5, if 

Autorun

 is enabled on your 

computer and the driver setup screen appears. If Autorun is not enabled on your computer, perform step 2.

2.   On your Windows desktop, launch 

File Explorer

.

 

• Windows

®

 7 SP1  Click 

Start

 then 

Computer

.

 

• Windows

®

 8 

Click   

+ E

3.   In 

File Explorer

, double-click the optical drive icon.

4.   Double-click 

Setup.exe

.

5.  Read through the 

End User License Agreement

 and click 

Accept 

when prompted. Follow the on-screen instructions 

to complete driver installation.

6.  When driver installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer.

10

Summary of Contents for Essence 3

Page 1: ...Essence 3 Hi Fi USB DAC Digital to Anolog Converter User manual ...

Page 2: ...F MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS ITS DIRECTORS OFFICERS EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT SPECIAL INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS LOSS OF BUSINESS LOSS OF USE OR DATA INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERRO...

Page 3: ...onality 1 11 Hardware features 1 11 Front Panel 1 11 Rear Panel 1 12 Remote Control 1 13 Connectivity options 1 14 Connecting a desktop PC or laptop using USB 1 14 Connecting an anplifier and passive speaker setup 1 14 Connecting digital audio input devices using AES EBU TOSLINK COA 1 15 Connecting an iPhone iPad iPod Smart Devices using AUX IN 1 15 Connecting an EX IrDA receiver 1 16 Connecting h...

Page 4: ...manufacturer 12 Use only with the cart stand tripod bracket or table specified by the manufacturer or sold with the apparatus When a cart is used use caution when moving the cart apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip over 13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time 14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel Servicing is required when...

Page 5: ...a constantly changes and evolves based on our personal experience the ASUS team constantly evaluates the design segments with different outlook and perspective striving to provide new and better experience for music lovers and audiophiles Being Present Instead of defining hard stoned desired results we believe that sound is about appreciating the present Top grade component is just one tiny part o...

Page 6: ...based multi rail linear power supply with fully independent noise free left right channel power delivery A clean power source is crucial for ensuring minimal supply contamination and consistent power delivery The toroidal transformer comes with a specially designed silicon strip to prevent hysteresis loss The power supply is also regulated such that the left and right channels power sources are in...

Page 7: ...rs with 3 swappable Op Amps LM4562 LME49720 Customizable tone characters with 11 swappable Op Amps focusing on 6 key Op Amps Op Amp Tweaking Kit with additional TI 2132 4pcs and NS4562 2pcs and tweaking tool set Unimagiably heart touching and spacious sound powered by MUSES 01 Op Amp 6 pcs Premium AD 827SQ and MUSES 02 Op Amps Powerful Headphone Amplifier Headphone amplifier for up to 600ohm headp...

Page 8: ...ence 3 and hence a buffer will monitor the data speed such that when the PC clock is firing too fast this is regulated and the data transfer feed is adjusted to slow down This greatly improves the precision of digital audio and provides more detail with less listening fatigue TCXO Clock Source Clock generators are susceptive to heat temperature changes which can impact the stability of audio sourc...

Page 9: ...ect mode allows the use of ASIO or similar function while doing audio playback avoiding any sample rate conversion being done by PC s operating system This feature keeps audio contents of all resolutions being played as its original sample rate without any potential quality loss during sample rate conversion Component Selection ADI AD1955 Supreme DAC with great sound stage at 115 SNR WIMA FKP2 Hig...

Page 10: ... software installation High quality headphones or powered analog speakers Driver installation After connecting the ASUS Essence 3 to your computer using the bundled USB cable install the device driver using the provided CD NOTES Driver installation is only required if you plan to connect the ASUS Essence 3 to a PC or notebook Driver version and the contents of the support CD are subject to change ...

Page 11: ...tures Front Panel USB Digital to Analog Converter Standalone Digital to Analog Converter High end Headphones and Headsets DVD Players AV Receivers Home Theatre Systems Speakers and amplifiers iPhone iPad iPod Laptops Desktops Edit 9 8 7 6 5 11 ...

Page 12: ... 6 Headphone volume control The volume control adjusts the output levels of the headphone jack 7 Headphone output Balanced Connect your high quality headphones headsets with mini XLR left and right connectors The left and right channels are labelled in the right diagram 8 Headphone output Single End Connect your high quality headphones headsets with a 6 3mm connector 9 IR sensor Point your remote ...

Page 13: ...7 TOSLINK Optical Input This port is used to support TOSLINK input audio sources 8 Coaxial COA S PDIF Input This port is for connecting external digital decoders or digital speaker systems home theater sets and AV receivers for outputting digital audio This connection produces loop or pass through unprocessed digital audio 9 USB port This USB port can be used to connect a desktop PC or laptop usin...

Page 14: ...ion Driver Installation Connecting an anplifier and passive speaker setup 1 Connect the amplifier to the Essence 3 using either the unbalanced RCA Phono or balanced XLR output connectors 2 Connect the amplifer to a passive speaker system AUX EX IrDA L R R VR Bypass L USB USB Audio EBU AES COA TOS VOLTAGE ACIN IN on off USB Mini USB B A type connector Desktop PC Laptop Portable AUX EX IrDA L R R VR...

Page 15: ...onnecting an iPhone iPad iPod Smart Devices using AUX IN AUX EX IrDA L R R VR Bypass L USB USB Audio EBU AES COA TOS VOLTAGE ACIN IN on off Option2 Option1 Option3 Digital Outputs AUX EX IrDA L R R VR Bypass L USB USB Audio EBU AES COA TOS VOLTAGE ACIN IN on off iPhone iPad iPod 15 ...

Page 16: ... L USB USB Audio EBU AES COA TOS VOLTAGE ACIN IN on off IR Receiver Option 1 Left and right mini XLR connector Option 2 6 3mm connector High end headphones headsets Connecting an active speaker set directly AUX EX IrDA L R R VR Bypass L USB USB Audio EBU AES COA TOS VOLTAGE ACIN IN on off Active Speaker System 16 ...

Page 17: ... Crystal clock 12MHz for USB 24 576MHz for S PDIF Oscillator 45 1584MHz for 44 1KHz sample rate 49 152MHz for 48KHz sample rate Sample Rate and Resolution Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution USB audio Device 2 0 Digital Input 44 1K 48K 88 2K 96K 176 4K 192KHz 16bit 24bit DSD64 DSD128 USB audio Device 1 0 Digital Input 44 1K 48K 88 2K 96K 16bit 24bit S PDIF Digital Input 44 1K 48K 88 2K 96K ...

Page 18: ... 1 Remote control x 1 6 3mm to 3 5mm stereo adapter x 1 Audio Precision AP test report x 1 USB cable x 1 Power cord x 1 Mini XLR to XLR x 2 XLR to RCA x 1 RCA to RCA x 1 OS Support The Essence One supports Mac OS X 10 8 or later version without any driver needed Specifications are subject to change without notice Specifications 18 ...

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