14 DAY TRIAL // Even though companies usually make a point of creating excellent devices through their own means, they sometimes decide on partnerships with other outfits whose technologies have a high potential to complement their own. This is exactly what ASUS and Sennheiser did as they put together the Xonar Xense so-called audio system. What the two did was coordinate the development of their sound card and headphones, respectively, in order to truly provide the immersion that gamers look for.
What the two promise is that, since the two electronics were tested for compatibility, the sound card and headphones will enable a higher quality than would be possible on so-called 'random audio card/headphone combinations.'
The Xonar Xense One card itself brings 7.1 channel surround sound into the mix, with analog and digital inputs, as well as connections for front-panel ports. A splitter sable is also included in the package. Meanwhile, the Sennheiser PC350 supporta frequencies (with less than 0.1 percent distortion) of 10-26,000 Hz.
According to the official release, ASUS tried out about 1,000 headphone combinations before they finally settled on this match. Major assets include FPS (first-person shooter)-optimized surround sound, 6.5mm studio jacks instead of 3.5mm sockets, Dolby Headphone 5.1 and Xonar GX2.5 support.
“Gamers experienced in first person shooters know the importance of accuracy, as auditory cues are vital in getting the jump on opponents. This is something Xonar Xense addresses with first person shooter-optimized surround that amplifies even minor ambient effects. Xonar Xense provides listeners with excellent noise reduction and accurate positioning of audio, and these advantages can make or break a successful play session,” states the official release.
The companies assure that there is no quality gap between the audio card and headphones and, thus, no quality is lost during transition. The bundle will supposedly retail for about £210 ($320).