Listening Tests

Listening Tests

We performed dedicated listening tests for each audio task but the card was also used for day to day system audio.  The card was allowed to burn-in or settle for about a week prior to any dedicated listening tests.  Disclaimer: Describing audio in words is very difficult.  Your experience may differ based on personal tastes, audio tracks and personal listening system components and configuration. 

Test System:

Stereo:

• Headphones: PC350s & HD595s
• Speakers: ELT525m Monitors
• Amplifier: TCA Gizmo Class D
• Cables: JPS Ultraconductor2

 Multi-Channel:

• FR: ELT525m Monitors
• RE: Edifier S series
• CE: Edifier S series
• Sub: Edifier S series
• Amps: Class D for FR, CE, RE
• Cables: JPS Ultraconductor 2

Gaming

Yes, finally the gaming tests.  Since the Xense is boasted as being designed and tuned for gaming we figured we would see or rather hear exactly what this card has to offer.  The Xonar Xense 7.1 has two new presets for specific gaming genres, namely racing and First Person Shooters.  So lets pull out some titles and see if these new presets are useful.

FPS: Battlefield - Bad Company 2

Many have suggested this game has some of the best audio in FPS gaming, so we decided to use this one for our FPS testing.  We used the FPS preset and noted the reverb and Equalizer settings were modified when this setting was enabled.  This game and the Xense bundle produced excellent, immersive sound quality.  The weapons all sounded very unique and layered in presentation.  We noticed excellent environment effect when moving from on firing position to another.  When moving from the outside of a structure to inside, the system produced accurate changes in the reverb effects.  The game was played, using the PC350s, stereo speakers and a multi channel system

Racing: Live for Speed

We pulled out our wheel and pedal and started the Live for Speed racing simulator.  The card was set on the racing preset to hear what it has to offer us for our racing experience.  We immediately noticed the environment seemed to shrink producing a box type effect.  Again, we noticed the reverb setting and Equalizer settings changed.  We ran a few cars around a couple of tracks and the preset sounded really good for this game.  The engine, brakes, shifting, tires screeches all sounded very accurate and no sounds were washed out in big races. 

FPS: Medal of Honor

We had to wait to release the review until we could test this game out!  This game has an excellent audio engine and the Xense Bundle did an excellent job of providing accurate, immersive audio.  The directional audio presented was razor sharp with directional cues and localization.  It was easy to pinpoint exactly where and enemy was in the 3d surround soundscape.  We tried the built in preset for FPS but found we tuned our settings based on personal preference.  Weapons all sounded very authentic and realistic instead of just the same old stock gun sounds.  Explosions rocked our test bench without bottoming out our subwoofer or headphones.  Bullets whizzing by your head could be easily heard we found this game and system so immersive that we played many levels before we realized it.

Music

We tested many different genres of music from blue to classical and everything in between.

The Xense sounds similar to cards in the Essence Series but there are some differences as the Xense offers a warmer, more balanced tone.  You have a great deal of detail but still have analog warmth.  The card has a very "analog" type of signature usually heard on tube based audio components.  The soundstage produced is exceedingly wide and deep.  The card produced a very clear, articulate sound with no smearing of details or clarity.  The signature of the Xense bundle sounds very clear but not cold or shrill and provides you with great music to get your head bopping and immersed in your music. 

Movies

We tested movies on both a surround sound system and the PC350s just to give us an accurate idea of the sounds quality this card is capable of reproducing.  We tested both the movies preset and our personal settings.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

This movie produced excellent testing material, the Xonar produced crisp clear dialog and fast clear directional audio.  This movie is full of subtle sounds that were produced clearly by the Xense 7.1. During high action scenes such as the bender battles, we noticed no distortion or blurring of sounds.  Just excellent layered surround sound audio reproduction.  Bass reproduction went from null to full very fast and the card produced bass effects with articulation and detail.  We noticed no tubbiness or bloated signature.  We very much enjoyed testing this movie on the surround system and headphone system.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

This movie goes from quiet dialog to fast explosions and actions very quickly.  The bundle did an excellent job of producing everything from small details to the largest explosions easily with no blurring of details or bottoming out or mushing.  Dolby Headphone goes a long way to making movies very enjoyable on headphones.  The heavy actions scenes were very enjoyable and immersive.  We pumped the volume up on the PC350s and noticed no bleed through to other people in the room.  This type of headphone is a definite plus if your game system is in the same room as the family TV.