Headphone Amp sound card

[Rhezuss]

Yo, i'm looking to replace my Creative XtremeGamer PCI with first, a PCI-E sound card (freeing some space under my graphics card) and second a headphone amp since I got a nice headset last month and i'm gaming on it a lot.

I'm looking around 125CAD at max if it's possible.

I've been looking at some cards and would like to have your opinion on those cards and those brands. So, here it goes:

- Auzentech Bravura: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=49...ture=AuzenTech
- Auzentech Forte: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=35...ture=AuzenTech
- ASUS Zonar Essence STX: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=35...nufacture=ASUS

But there's this one, it's PCI though but it's dirt cheap:

- ASUS Xonar DG: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=56330&vpn=XONAR DG&manufacture=ASUS

By the way I have a really old (8-9 years) Creative Inspire 5.1 speakers set but they're still working great.

What would you recommend?

 

[Chapbass]

I know you're in canada, but a bud of mine has this, killer card, and gives you an amp!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-004-_-Product

I know its just PCI, but still.

EDIT: oh, 126CAD max....hmmm.

 

[Zap]

I'd say get the Bravura. It has more ports than the low profile Forte, plus is the cheapest. It supports user-upgradable OPAMPs for customizing output.

 

[mnewsham]

I'd say get the Bravura. It has more ports than the low profile Forte, plus is the cheapest. It supports user-upgradable OPAMPs for customizing output.

few people would bother changing OPAMPs and even fewer could tell the difference in sound

 

[mfenn]

I'd grab something outboard like the Total Bithead.

 

[Zap]

I'd grab something outboard

That's actually not a bad idea. Having any analog portion physically removed from the computer should make for less possibility of electrical noise.

In fact I was just looking at this device from Parts Express.