Asus (TPE:2357) is well-known for its Xonar range of DACs, and while most solutions that the vendor offers are aimed at enthusiast users, it is now looking to target a more mainstream audience with the Xonar U3 Plus.
The Xonar U3 Plus is a USB powered DAC that comes with a suite of audio enhancements as well as a 150-ohm headphone amplifier and studio-grade vocal effects. Aimed at delivering an enhanced audio experience for PC and notebook users, the sound card — which is slightly larger in size than a standard USB drive — offers the ability to easily adjust audio quality and settings.
Thanks to a dedicated digital signal processor that provides low latency while recording, users can record using a microphone in real-time. Other vocal-based enhancements include a 10-band equalizer, precision low- and high-frequency filters, and a reverb adjustment filter.
This isn’t the first portable DAC from Asus, as the Taiwanese vendor launched the Xonar U3 with Dolby Home Theater technology in 2011. This time around, there are new features being added to the mix. Asus also mentions that utilities like Stereo Mix allow users to mix vocals with a backing track with ease, while DJ Mix automatically reduces the volume of background audio as soon as a vocal track is detected.
If you’re looking to buy the Xonar U3 Plus to listen to high-fidelity audio, the DAC offers five preset modes: Rock, Rock Pro, Ballad, Ballad Pro, and Special. The price tag has not been announced yet by Asus, but if you’re looking for an easy-to-use solution that delivers great audio on the go, the Xonar U3 Plus should be high on your list.
