Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 Slim PCIe

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 5 expert reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

4
Average:

0
Bad:

0

Pros:

Delivers HD audio from a home theater PC without down sampling.
Low-profile design.
Small form factor size will fit in just any type of chassis.

Cons:

There's no PCI Express version.
Compatible only with ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theatre.

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Last revision on December 2, 2015

Reviewers Liked

Delivers HD audio from a home theater PC without down sampling
Low-profile design
Small form factor size will fit in just any type of chassis
Excellent audio quality
Easy to use and read control panel
Simple enough to hook up to your HTPC and be up and running in a few minutes
No external power source required
Currently the least expensive HTPC bit streaming option
Includes HDMI and DVI cables
Installation was relatively straight forward

Reviewers Didn't Like

There's no PCI Express version
Compatible only with ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theatre
Expensive
Beta software required to make it work properly
No apparent integration with Windows Media Center
Early adopters may have purchased TotalMedia Theatre Player 3 needlessly
Poor DVD playback

Expert reviews and ratings

A very necessary evil There’s no good reason for the existence of Asus’s Xonar HDAV 1.3 Slim soundcard, and yet it’s a godsend for those of us who want to hear the high-definition soundtracks on so many of the Hollywood movies released...

By Maximum PC on November 02, 2009

The ASUS Xonar HDAV 1.3 Slim might not be a card that fits everyone. If you only going to use it on a TV with stereospeakers or headphones you probably will be satisfied with on-board audio. The price tag of around 150$ will also see to that. However...

By Bjorn3D on September 22, 2009

The Asus HDAV 1.3 Slim has been an eagerly awaited sound card in the world of Audio-visual enthusiasts. Having one sound card that can process your HD Audio and your HD video and output over one HDMI connection is a true step forward for PC sound...

By Overclock3D on September 04, 2009

This compact incarnation of Asus’ home theatre sound card retains its most important selling point: the ability to output perfect, unadulterated HD audio, just as it’s recorded on the disc. You’ll only be able to harness this clean...

By Bit-tech.net on August 22, 2009

100

Verdict: With no analogue outputs, this PCI sound card is designed for just one thing - sending high-definition audio to an AV receiver. Asuss Xonar HDAV series is the only range of sound cards capable of sending digital HD audio from your PC to...

By Expert Reviews on June 01, 2009

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed my time with this card. It does (for the most part) exactly what it is supposed to do. It is able to bitstream HD audio from Blu-rays without issue. It is also a fully functional sound card for any other...

By PCPer on November 02, 2009

Over the course of this review, my opinion of this card has gradually improved alongside the software and drivers. Initially I wasn't very impressed, but could see the potential. With each updated version of the drivers and player I've become...

By Bigbruin on August 28, 2009

Given the subjective matter of products which cannot be precisely measured, we decided to split the conclusion in the three parts.What They did wrong;The HDAV 1.3 Slim would probably work better in a PCIe x1 format. I also feel that this version of...

By Bright Side of News on August 14, 2009