HD595's into Z-5500 console or sound card directly?

[Smartazz]

I have Logitech Z5500 speakers that has a center console that has the volume control and a socket for headphones. It is connected to an X-Fi Fatality sound card. Should I plug my Sennheiser HD595's into the console or into the sound card itself? Thanks.

 

[John]

Not to be a smartazz, but you have the ability to try both so let your ears be the judge. FWIW I plug my HD595's directly into the soundcard to avoid degrading the signal. Since you have an X-Fi front panel you can plug your 595's into the 1/4" headphone jack and your speakers can use the outs on the card.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: John
Not to be a smartazz, but you have the ability to try both so let your ears be the judge. FWIW I plug my HD595's directly into the soundcard to avoid degrading the signal. Since you have an X-Fi front panel you can plug your 595's into the 1/4" headphone jack and your speakers can use the outs on the card.

Unfortunatly the fatality edition does not have the front panel. Thanks for the advice, I'll try both, so far through the center console everything sounds amazing, I never noticed a lot of these sounds before.

 

[John]

Doh, I didn't realize that there was a new variety of the x-fi fatal1ty bundle. You must have the Xtreme gamer pro series because the original x-fi fatal1ty has the front panel kit. Usually you'll get a little degredation in sound if you go thru your speaker headphone out, but since you want to use both speakers + headphones you're limited on the configuration.

 

[Smartazz]

I just tried plugging the headphones directly into the sound card and it sounds better that way. I can't use a remote to control the volume which gets annoying though so it's a toss up.