Quick Start Guide

®

Essence 3Hi-Fi USB DAC(Digital-to-Analog Converter)

Package Contents

System Requirements

Driver Installation

1. Readandkeeptheseinstructionsforfuturereference.2. Followallinstructionsandtakenoteofallwarnings.3. Donotusethisapparatusnearwaterorexposethedevicetomoisture.4. Cleanmachinesurfacewithacloth.Avoidusingdetergentorcleaningfluid.5. Donotblockanyventilationopenings.Installinaccordancewiththemanufacturer’sinstructions.6. Donot install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves,orotherapparatus (including

amplifiers)thatproduceheat.7. Thepolarizedorgrounding-typeplugisforusersafety.Apolarizedplughastwobladeswithonewiderthan

theother.Agroundingtypeplughastwobladesandathirdgroundingprong.Thewidebladeorthethirdprongisprovidedforyoursafety.Iftheprovidedplugdoesnotfitintoyouroutlet,consultanelectricianforreplacementoftheoutlet.

8. Protectthepowercordfrombeingsteppedonorcompressedparticularlyatthepointwhereitexitsfromtheapparatus.

9. Onlyuseattachments/accessoriesapprovedbythemanufacturer.10. Useonly with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or tablespecified by themanufacturer,or soldwith the

apparatus.Whenusingacart,takecaretoavoidtippingovertheloadwhenmovingthedevice.11. Unplugthisapparatusduringlightningstormsorwhennotinuseforalongperiodoftime.

12. Referallrepairstoqualifiedservicepersonnel.Servicingisrequiredwhentheapparatushasbeendamagedinanyway,suchaswhenthepower-supplycordorplugisdamaged,liquidhasbeenspilledorobjectshavefallenintotheapparatus,theapparatushasbeenexposed torainormoisture,doesnotoperatenormally,orhasbeendropped.

Safety Information

Additional Safety InformationForyour own safetyplease read the following important instructionscarefullybeforeattemptingtoconnectthisunittothemainpowersupply.Theinstructionsprovidedwillhelpyougetthebestperformancefromthisdeviceandprolongthelifeofthisproduct.

RepairsDonotattempttorepairordisassemblethisproduct.Consultaqualifiedtechnicianorprofessionalforserviceorrepairs. Use tools to replace the fuse.

To ensurea successful installationof theASUSEssence3 USBDAC,yourcomputermustmeetthefollowingrequirements:• IBMcompatiblePCwithoneUSB2.0(orhigher)compatibleportfortheUSBaudiodevice• MacOSX10.6/Microsoft®Windows®8(32/64bit)/7(32/64bit)/XP(32/64bit)• Intel®Pentium®41.4GHzorAMDAthlon1400CPUorfasterCPU• 256MBDRAMsystemmemory• 200MBavailableHDDspacefordriverinstallation• CD-ROMdrive(orDVD-ROMdrive)forsoftwareinstallation• High-qualityheadphonesorpoweredanalogspeakers

Thispackageshouldcontainthefollowing:• ASUSEssence3Hi-FiUSBDACx1• USBcable(‘B-A’type)x1• Powercordx1(maycontaintwopowercordsdependingonregion/country)• 6.3mmto3.5mmadapterx1• Multi-languageQSGx1• Audio-Precision(AP)testreportx1• InstallationdriverCDx1• Sparefuse• Remotecontrolx1• IRReceiverCablex1• XLRtominiXLRx2• XLRtoRCAx1• RCAtoRCAx1

AfterconnectingtheASUSEssence3toyourcomputerusingthebundledUSBcable,installthedevicedriverusingtheprovidedCD.

NOTES:• DriverinstallationisonlyrequiredifyouplantoconnecttheASUSEssence3toa

PCornotebook.• DriverversionandthecontentsofthesupportCDaresubjecttochangewithout

notice.

To install the device driver:1. Insert the ASUS Essence 3 Support CD into your optical drive.Proceed toStep5, if

Autorunisenabledonyourcomputerandthedriversetupscreenappears.IfAutorunisnotenabledonyourcomputer,performstep2.

2. OnyourWindowsdesktop,launchFile Explorer.•Windows®7SP1 ClickStartthenComputer.•Windows®8 Click + E

3. InFile Explorer,double-clicktheopticaldriveicon.4. Double-clickSetup.exe.5. Read throughthe End User License Agreement andclick Accept whenprompted.

Followtheon-screeninstructionstocompletedriverinstallation.6. Whendriverinstallationiscomplete,youwillbepromptedtorestartyourcomputer.

Functionality

USB Digital-to-Analog Converter

Standalone Digital-to-Analog Converter

High-end Headphonesand Headsets

- DVD Players- AV Receivers- Home Theatre Systems- Speakers and amplifiers

iPhone / iPad / iPod

- Laptops- Desktops

Edit

Hardware Features

Front panel

Rear panel

POWER INPUT USB COA TOS AUXAES BIT PERFECT Balanced Single End

HEADPHONE8

765

AC IN

7 1011

8

65

USB

VOLTAGECOAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

9

1- Balanced XLR Output (Line-Out)The ASUS Essence 3 features true balanced (XLR) output and supports balanced XLR audiospeakersetsandaudioreceivers.2 - Unbalanced RCA Output (Line-Out)Thisport supports conventional stereooutput for connection to line-level phono/RCAspeakersystemsoraudioreceivers.3 - AUX InputThisportsupportsAppleiPod,iPad,andiPhonedevicesaswellasotheraudiosourcesusinga3.5mmstereoconnector.4 - Ex-IrDAConnectan IRreceivertothisport if theEssence3doesnothavedirect lineofsighttotheremotecontrol.5 - USB Audio 1.0/2.0UsethisswitchtotogglebetweenUSB1.0andUSB2.0audiosupport.SelectUSBaudio1.0forPlug-and-Playdevices.SelectUSB2.0onAppleMaccomputers.6 - EBU/AES InputThisport isused for connecting external digital decoders or digital speaker systems,hometheatersystems,AVreceivers,andTVsets.7 - TOSLINK Optical InputThisportisusedtosupportTOSLINKinputaudiosources.8 - Coaxial (COA) S/PDIF InputThisportisforconnectingexternaldigitaldecodersordigitalspeakersystems,hometheatersets,andAV receivers for outputting digital audio.This connection produces loop orpass-throughunprocesseddigitalaudio.9 - USB portThisUSBportcanbeusedtoconnectadesktopPCor laptopusingaTypeBtoTypeAUSBcable.10 - Power connectorPlugthesuppliedpoweradaptorintotheEssence3afterconnectingallaudiodevices.11 - VR Bypass (Volume Control Selection Bypass)UsethisswitchtobypassvolumecontrolonLine-Out.12 - XLR VR Calibration (R1, R2, R5)TurntocalibrateXLRvolumecontrol.13 - AUX IN VR Calibration (R3)TurntocalibrateAUXINvolumecontrol.14 - RCA VR Calibration (R4)TurntocalibrateRCAvolumecontrol.15 - Voltage SelectorUsethisswitchtochangevoltagefrom230Vto115V.

12

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

1413 1511

VOLTAGE

Hardware Features

繁體中文

簡體中文

日本語

한국어 Bahasa Indonesia

1 - Power On/OffPresstopoweroff/ontheEssence3.2 - Input selectionPress to select audio input source:USB,TOSLINK,Coaxial (COA),AES/EBU (AES3),orAUXaudioinput.3 - Input selection/Bit perfect indicatorThecorrespondingLEDwilllightuptoshowwhichaudiosourcehasbeenselected.4 - Speaker volume controlThevolumecontroladjuststheoutput levelofunbalancedRCAandbalancedXLRanalogoutput.5 - Headphone volume controlThevolumecontroladjuststheoutputlevelsoftheheadphonejack.6 - Headphone output (Balanced)Connectyourhigh-qualityheadphones/headsetswithmini-XLRleftandrightconnectors.7 - Headphone output (Single connector)Connectyourhigh-qualityheadphones/headsetswitha6.3mmconnector.8 - IR sensorPointyourremotecontrolinthisareatoremotelyadjustinputandvolume.

FuseThefuseholderislocatednexttothepowerconnectorattherearpanelofthedevice.

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English

1- �� XLR ����效���2 - 非�� Phono/RCA ����效���3 - AUX ��4 - Ex-IrDA5 - USB �效 1.0/2.06 - EBU/AES ��7 - TOSLINK 光纖��8 - 同軸�COA�S/PDIF ��9 - USB 連�埠10 - ��插槽11 - VR 旁路�������旁路�12 - XLR VR 校準�R1, R2, R5�13 - AUX IN VR 校準�R3�14 - RCA VR 校準�R4�15 - �壓����

Remote Control

Input

Output

power

1 - 電源ボタン2 - ソース切り替えボタン3 - 入力ソース / Bit Perfect インジケーター4 - スピーカー音量ダイヤル5 - ヘッドホン音量ダイヤル6 - バランスヘッドホン出力ポート（mini XLR)7 - ステレオヘッドホン出力ポート（6.3mm)8 - 赤外線センサー

1 - ��������2 - ��������3 - ��������������4 - ��������������5 - ������������6 - ����������������7 - ������������������8 - IR ������

1 - 전원 켜기 / 끄기2 - 입력 선택3 - 입력 선택 / 비트 퍼펙트 표시기4 - 스피커 볼륨 제어5 - 헤드폰 볼륨 제어6 - 헤드폰 출력 ( 균형 )7 - 헤드폰 출력 ( 단일 커넥터 )8 - IR 센서

1-DayaHidup/Mati2-Pilihaninput3-Pilihaninput/Indikatorbitsempurna4-Kontrolvolumesuaraspeaker5-Kontrolvolumesuaraheadphone6-Outputheadphone(Imbang)7-Outputheadphone(Konektortunggal)8-SensorIR

繁體中文 日本語

簡體中文

한국어 Bahasa Indonesia

1- Power On/OffPressthisbuttontoswitchoff/ontheEssence3.2-Speaker VolumePressthebuttontoadjustspeakervolume.3 - Output SelectPress this button to switch audio outputsource.4 - Input SelectPressthisbuttontoswitchaudioinputsource.

1- ����2- ����3 - ����4 - ����

繁體中文

1- ����2- �����3 - ����4 - ����

簡體中文

1- 電源 ON/OFF2- スピーカー音量3 - 出力ソース切り替え4 - 入力ソース切り替え

日本語

1- 전원 켜기 / 끄기2- 스피커 볼륨3 - 출력 선택4 - 입력 선택

한국어

1-DayaHidup/Mati2-VolumeSuaraSpeaker3-PilihanOutput4-PilihanInput

Bahasa Indonesia

1- バランス出力ポート（XLR）2 - アンバランス出力ポート (RCA / フォノ )3 - AUX 入力ポート4 - Ex-IrDA ポート5 - USB Audio Class スイッチ6 - AES/EBU 入力ポート7 - TOSLINK 光デジタル入力ポート（オプティカル )8 - 同軸デジタル入力ポート（コアキシャル）9 - USB ポート（B タイプ）10 - 電源コネクター11 - VR バイパススイッチ（出力切り替えスイッチ）12 - XLR VR 調整ダイヤル（R1、R2、R5）13 - AUX IN VR 調整ダイヤル（R3）14 - RCA VR 調整ダイヤル（R4）15 - 電圧切替スイッチ

1- �� XLR ����頻���2 - 非�� Phono/RCA ����頻���3 - AUX ��4 - Ex-IrDA5 - USB �效 1.0/2.06 - EBU/AES ��7 - TOSLINK 光纖��8 - 同軸�COA�S/PDIF ��9 - USB ��10 - ��插槽11 - VR 旁路�������旁路�12 - XLR VR 校準�R1, R2, R5�13 - AUX IN VR 校準�R3�14 - RCA VR 校準�R4�15 - �壓����

1- 균형 XLR 출력 (Line-Out)2 - 불균형 RCA 출력 (Line-Out)3 - AUX 입력4 - Ex-IrDA5 - USB 오디오 1.0/2.06 - EBU/AES 입력7 - TOSLINK 광학 입력8 - 동축 (COA) S/PDIF 입력9 - USB 포트10 - 전원 커넥터11 - VR 바이패스 ( 볼륨 제어 선택 바이패스 )12 - XLR VR 보정 (R1, R2, R5)13 - AUX IN VR 보정 (R3)14 - RCA VR 보정 (R4)15 - 전압 선택기 .

1-OutputXLRImbang(Line-Out)2-OutputRCATidakImbang(Line-Out)3-InputAUX4-Ex-IrDA5-USBAudio1.0/2.06-InputEBU/AES7-InputOptikTOSLINK8-InputKoaksial(COA)S/PDIF9-PortUSB10-Konektordaya11-BypassVR(BypassPilihanKontrolVolume

Suara)12-KalibrasiVRXLR(R1,R2,R5)13-KalibrasiVRAUXIN(R3)14-KalibrasiVRRCA(R4)15-Pengatur Tegangan

A7908 / Second Edition / March 2013

Connectivity Options

1. Connect theamplifier to theEssence3usingeither theunbalanced (RCA/Phono)orbalanced(XLR)outputconnectors.

2. Connecttheamplifertoapassivespeakersystem.

POWER INPUT USB COA TOS AUXAES BIT PERFECT Balanced Single End

HEADPHONE

Option #1 Left and right mini-XLR connector

Option #2 6.3mm connector

High-endheadphones/headsets

Connecting an iPhone / iPad / iPhone (Smart Device) using AUX IN

Connecting an EX-IrDA receiver

Connecting an amplifier and passive speaker setup

Connecting high-end headphones/headsets

Connecting an active speaker set directly

Connecting digital audio input devices using AES/EBU/TOSLINK/COAConnecting a desktop PC or laptop using USB

1. ConnectaUSBB-AtypecabletotheEssence3'srearUSBconnectortooneoftheUSBportsonthedesktopPCorlaptop.

2. Poweron the Essence 3and select USB input using the frontpanel or remote control.EnsurethattheUSBLEDison.

3. InstalldevicedriversfromthesupportCD.PleaserefertothesectionDriver Installation.

VOLTAGE

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

Mini-USB B-A type connector

Desktop PC Laptop/Portable

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

TOSLINK audio cable

AV Receiver/Amplifier

Coaxial audio connector (COA)

AES/EBUconnector

CD/DVD PlayerAudio Receiver

Digital Outputs

Edit

VOLTAGE

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

Option #2: XLR connection

Option #1: RCA connection

Amplifier

Passive Speaker System

LR

L

R

UnbalancedInput

BalancedInput

VOLTAGE

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

iPhone / iPad / iPod

VOLTAGE

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

IR Receiver

VOLTAGE

AC IN

USB

COAEBUAESR5R2 R4RR

R3VRBypass

R1 LL

EX-IrDAAUX IN

1.0

2.0USBAudio

Active Speaker System

VOLTAGE