Audio

Typically with our audio testing I am able to compare the performance numbers between each motherboard to have a non-subjective way to compare them. Sadly my testing cables were both damaged and I wasn’t able to get a replacement in time for this review. I did have a chance to give the Z97-A’s built in sound card a listen both in game and with music. My initial impressions weren’t all that amazing but after finding the amplifier setting that allowed me to move the headphone amp to the rear connection that I was using for my headset I was happy with the overall performance. Another peak at Asus’s audio configuration on the Z97-A did show that they isolated the audio on the Z97-A just like we have seen on higher end Asus boards for the past few years. Considering this is a mainstream motherboard I don’t think you could ask for better, especially at this price point.