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The Fun is in the Discovery! Xonar Essence STU Tweaking kit Please note: all images (excluding Essence STU product photos) and icons require written permission from ASUS before public use or reproduction...
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Disassemble and assemble the cover Remove the 6 underside Push against the front panel Remove the top cover from screws and insert your nails to the the front using both hands side, to lift the top cover Remove the top cover Gently push down on the When putting everything top cover, you will hear a back, align the front side of click if it’s fastened the top cover with the inner side of the front panel ...
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Swappable Op‐Amps Convenient tonal tuning Download our Op‐Amp swap guide from ASUS support site: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/Audio_Car d/Xonar_Essence_STU/E8333_Xonar_Essence_ STU_Op_amp.pdf ※ To avoid reversion, ensure that the circle pin (upper left corner) on the Op‐ Amp facings the same direction of the socket opening...
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Thanks to ClieOS for detailed combination testing Rolling fun! on Head‐Fi review: http://www.head‐fi.org/products/asus‐xonar‐ essence‐stu/reviews/9307 I/V rolling (Stock LPF: LM4562) LM49720 Stock– well balanced, clean, airy and open but slightly to the warm side. LM49720 ‘Metal Can’– almost identical to stock, but just a tap fuller in body. OPA2604 – denser, not as airy and open as stock. OPA2209 – bass note is a little lean, good height. OP270 – Also dense, but a little better soundstage than OPA2604. OP275 – Leaner and brighter than stock, almost grainy. Good soundstage. AD8066 – Even brighter than OP275, but without the graininess. Slightly flat in soundstage but good width. OPA2227 – Forward, full and bright, slightly grainy. OPA2134 – More mid centric, lack soundstage. MUSES01 – Similar to Stock, with better dynamic and impressive soundstage. MUSES920 – full and forward, like smoother OPA2227. LPF rolling ( Stock I/V: LM49720) LM4562 – stock, again: well balanced, clean, airy and open but slightly to the warm side. LM49720 ‘Metal Can’ – Similar to stock, slightly less dense and more open in the mid. OPA2604 – thick and slow, grainy. OPA2209 – Full, similar to OPA2604 but without being overly thick and slow. OP270 – Lean, slightly lacking in bass, slightly bright.
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DC servo headphone output Filters out unwanted pop noise Many music enthusiasts choose to solder a DC servo on their DAC to minimize power‐up pop noise on the renowned TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier. The dedicated DC servo on Xonar Essence STU offers a convenient and solder‐ free alternative. Jumper switch DC servo ※ How to switch to DC servo headphone output mode? Default setting: Remove four Place jumpers back on non‐DC servo mode jumpers pins as shown below ● ●○ ○ ● ● ●○● ●○● ● ●○ ○ ● ● ●○● ●○●...
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Volume bypass mode Ease of use The jumper switch re‐routes sound and allows Xonar Essence STU to be used as a pre‐amplifier in conjunction with a dedicated power amplifier. You can opt to adjust master volume directly on the power amplifier without having to reach Xonar Essence STU controls. ※ How to switch to the volume bypass mode? Default setting: Remove two Place jumpers back non‐bypass mode jumpers on pins as shown below ● ●○ ○ ● ● ● ●○ ○ ● ●...
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Variable resistor calibration Variable resistor for RCA‐ Convenient tool for checking right/left balance out (right channel) Dedicated variable resistors are designed for left/right channel calibration of speakers or headphones. Users can tune them to find balance levels they prefer. Variable resistor for HP‐out (left channel) ※ How to calibrate resistors and check balance? Turn the screw Post‐calibration, ◣ ◣ on the resistor by you can use a using a flathead multimeter to screwdriver. check if the output voltage of the right/left channels is balanced. Clockwise rotation: higher volume Counter clockwise rotation: lower volume...