The newest discrete soundcard from ASUS is the Xonar HDAV 1.3 Deluxe, still based on the AV200 HD audio processor but with added support for formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.  This card goes far beyond what is required for an immersive gaming experience and heads deep into audiophile territory.  You can find out just how much ASUS packed into this card at Elite Bastards.

“Looking at the back plate of the Xonar HDAV 1.3, we can see that much of it is taken up with two HDMI connectors – One input and one output. The input takes in the video signal from your standard graphics board, be it NVIDIA, Intel or ATI, DVI or HDMI, while the output sends out the final HDMI signal containing both video and audio (if you select it to do so within the board’s driver) to your display device. Away from HDMI connectivity, the HDAV 1.3 itself features a digital SPDIF output (with support for both coaxial and optical connectivity), two analogue outputs for stereo speakers (front left and front right), and an input which can be configured as either an SPDIF in, line in or microphone port as required.”

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Audio Corner