[Impression] ASUS Xonar Essence STU - Yet Another Swiss Knife of an DAC/amp

ASUS ventures into the sound card business in 2008 and released their first audiophiles targeted Xonar Essence series in mid-2009. The STU is the latest addition to the line-up. According to ASUS’s press release, the STU is intent to be an USB version of the PCI-e based ST/STX models, with extra features no less. Price wise, the US$399 price tag places it right in the middle of the Essence family, doubling from ST/STX, but half of the flagship One MUSES edition. But the real question, how does it stand on itself?

[Impression] FireStone Audio Custom Cute and Fubar HD

Recently I have looked into two of FireStone portable amps, but the company’s core business is really in their compact desktop rig. Here we have two more FireStone products waiting for assessment: The Custom Cute is a USB DAC that supports up to 24bit / 192kbps in resolution, priced around US$299. The Fubar HD is an all-in-one DAC + headphone amp that also supports up to 24/192 with S/PDIF input or 24/96 with USB, priced around $400 but can be found for half as much if you look around.

Another Budget Tri-brid

DUNU is about ready to release its own dual BA + single dynamic hybrid IEM, called DN-1000. It will be around US$250, which is right in the same price bucket as T-PEOS H-200. Hopefully around the same level of SQ as well.

[REVIEW] T-PEOS D-202, H-100 and H-200 - Stuff of Dream

Originally named ‘SWP Shinwoo Electronics’, T-PEOS begins as an OEM company supplying audio parts to major cellphone brands almost 30 years ago. I guess it is not hard to see why the company have decided to put their experience as audio parts supplier into good use and venture into the earphone market mid last year. Their first model, the single BA + dynamic dual drivers hybrid H-100 series, takes the world by storm as the first IEM that is co-developed and certified by Golden Ears (*a well-known S.Korea headphone review site). Then they follow with the D-200 series, aiming for ‘low price, high value’. Lastly, it is the latest H-200, a dual BA + single dynamic triple drivers hybrid that, again, brings quite a bit of attention to this new comer in the IEM world.