ASUS Releases The ROG Xonar Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set

[X-ROG]

ROG originally revealed the ROG Xonar Phoebus back at CES, and now after a few months of tweaking it's finally ready for your PCs!

The Xonar Phoebus is more than just a premium soundcard, with software specifically tweaked for gamers rather than the usual Xonar mix, and the bundled hardware control box combines volume control with environmental noise cancellation (ENC) microphones so it bridges the gap between a Vulcan headset and your PC. We'll be detailing the full product specs, its dseign and how to use it in the coming weeks, so please add us to your RSS feeder or bookmark list and keep an eye out!

Now for the official word from ASUS:

TAIPEI, TAIWAN—11 APRIL, 2012
ASUS Releases ROG Xonar Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set
ROG Command technology, extra-clear 118dB SNR sound, and a powerful headphone amplifier create the most refined audio product crafted especially for gaming action


Taipei, Taiwan (April 11, 2012) – entry by the Republic of Gamers into the dedicated sound product arena brings PC enthusiasts ROG Xonar Phoebus, a high fidelity audio component that directly addresses the needs and concerns of contemporary gamers. The Xonar Phoebus features the exclusive ROG Command technology which reduces up to 50% of ambient noise thus providing authoritative voice quality during online multiplayer gaming sessions. And with its clear 118dB SNR, and a powerful 600 ohm headphone amplifier, the Xonar Phoebus delivers precise positioning and lifelike immersion audio for a distinctly impactful gaming environment. Its dedicated control box extends convenience and puts more intuitive functions within easy reach for a more ergonomic desktop gaming environment.



Exclusive ROG Command technology for clean, seamless in-game communication

Gamers often face noisy conditions that drown out voices during online multiplayer gaming. This creates lack of clarity and confusion within squads, leading to lower win ratios. Exclusive ROG Command technology offers the world’s first design to specifically bring noise cancelation to a gaming soundcard set, as designed by the Xonar team. Intelligent sound detection algorithms and array microphones (two on the dedicated control box) enable up to 50% ambient noise reduction, effectively turning loud locations such as LAN parties into something as quiet as a lab. The technology works equally well whether using an external microphone or the microphones embedded into the ROG Xonar Phoebus control box. Gamers benefit from being able to communicate and coordinate with team members clearly and with greater precision, adding to enjoyment and win ratios.



Finest components and design for superior sound

ROG Xonar Phoebus utilizes a stylish and effective EMI shield and ASUS exclusive Hyper Grounding technology to ensure reduced electromagnetic interference. Based on the experience of Xonar professionals, Hyper Grounding technology brings ASUS motherboard expertise to audio products with a multi-layer PCB that helps block noise from nearby components and the power supply to render more lifelike and extra clear sound. The PCM1796 digital-to-analog converter on ROG Xonar Phoebus delivers clear and crisp 118dB SNR high fidelity audio. The new soundcard’s SNR profile therefore outperforms competing gaming audio products by a factor of four, and onboard audio by an impressive 32 times. It excels in total harmonic distortion (THD) performance, with a miniscule 0.00039% of sound output experiencing distortion.



Power for headphone users

Since many gamers choose headphones to refrain from disturbing others while insisting on the best sound quality and privacy, ROG and Xonar teams integrated the top-flight TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier on ROG Xonar Phoebus, driving up to 600 ohm impedance for genuinely impactful headphone output.



Dedicated control box

Clad in the trademark ROG red and black color scheme, the ROG Xonar Phoebus control box offers gamers improved response and convenience. Connected to the card via the back I/O, the control box can be placed on the desk so it remains within easy reach. Gamers can then adjust volume and mute quickly without bringing up game or operating system menus, or having to hunt around for display remote controls. The control box further offers microphone and headphone connectors, making connections easier.



The latest audio technologies

ROG Xonar Phoebus includes one-click activation of Dolby® Home Theater V4, helping enhance audio through complete compatibility with new sound processing technologies. The latest standard offers greatly improved surround, with smart sound enhancement and a more user-friendly approach to high end audio. The exclusive ASUS GX 3.0 game audio engine has also been integrated, offering EAX® compatibility to ensure boosted game sound, a wider range of simultaneous sound effects, and overall clearer sonic performance in every PC game.



Product crossover benefits consumers

ROG Xonar Phoebus presents the first soundcard set from ROG, the ASUS division entirely devoted to gaming as a lifestyle and branch of pioneering technology. This launch coincides with ROG’s fifth anniversary, and delivers the results of cooperation between ROG gaming philosophy and innovative Xonar PC audio experts. As such, ROG Xonar Phoebus offers gamers enhanced sound custom-tailored to improving in-game experiences.



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About ASUS

ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best-selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktops, Eee Box and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, tablet devices, servers, multimedia and wireless solutions, networking devices, and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,886 awards in 2011, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 11,000 and a world-class R&D team of 3,100 engineers, the company’s revenue for 2011 was around US$11.9 billion.


About ASUS ROG

The ASUS Republic of Gamers was created in 2006 in response to gamers and hardcore enthusiasts who requested more from their hardware. Since its creation, ROG has grown into a brand known for high quality and is an active participant in both gaming and overclocking events around the world, including QuakeCon, BlizzCon and Dreamhack. In the past five years, numerous overclocking records have been broken with ROG hardware and worldwide media have earned the brand over 1,200 awards and accolades. Adhering to the principle of “The Choice of Champions”, the ROG lineup includes motherboards, graphics cards, notebooks, desktops, mice and audio solutions, all designed to give gamers and enthusiasts the edge to win. To learn more, visit ROG at http://rog.asus.com.

[PALADiN]

I'm not missing much with the D2X compared with the Phoebus right?

[LoveRog]

I cannot find this card anywhere to buy it.

[dedaciai]

LoveRog wrote:
I cannot find this card anywhere to buy it.

Sometime in May. I am jonesing to get my hands on this too. I wonder if there will be some sort of preorder at some retailers.

[dedaciai]

Not fair! You guys do an unboxing of the card...with no release date. C'mon, out with some dates and pricing...:p

[PALADiN]

The ASUS Australia people on FB told me that it'll come to Australia sometime in May.

[dedaciai]

PALADiN wrote:
The ASUS Australia people on FB told me that it'll come to Australia sometime in May.

Yeah, I've heard May too but I lack patience 😉

[umurBEY]

Do not have DTS Connect or DDlive? DTS Neo, Dolby Prologic etc. Do you have properties. Or it would be pity. :mad:

[X-ROG]

umurBEY wrote:
Do not have DTS Connect or DDlive? DTS Neo, Dolby Prologic etc. Do you have properties. Or it would be pity. :mad:

No, only Dolby Home Theatre v4

http://www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/ROG_Xonar_Phoebus/#overview

These others are available on our normal Xonar range. The Phoebus is specifically tailored to gaming.