upgrade soundcard

[sioux]

I want to upgrade my old Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
The main reason : / better sound quality / only for gaming
What would you recommend ? Asus ? Creative SB ? Or something like this :

http://www.trustedreviews.com/fiio-e09k_Portable-Audio_review

I'm using for gaming the headset Sennheiser HD 429
In case i go for FiiO E09K, i won't have anymore EAX effects / Crystalizer and many other SB functions.
Any ideas / advices are welcome.
Thank you.

 

[moonbogg]

I use beyerdynamic DT770's with a sound blaster zxr. Sound great with surround effects. I think you'd like it. Make sure it will work with your headset.

 

[dma0991]

A DAC won't usually change the way a sound should be as it aims to be as accurate as the source. Effects are nice but it depends on your use case as it alters the source. If its mainly music, a DAC will do better. If its games or movies, something with effects will enhance the experience, although a good DAC paired with a good headphones will do the same.

If you prefer a good sound card with the option of having effects, Asus Xonar Essence STX. If you want a simple DAC that performs well without the bells and whistles, Fiio E10.

 

[giantpandaman2]

For gaming, the ZXR is top flight. It's expensive, but if you're going to upgrade rather than sidegrade, it's perfect.

I have a Fiio and it's perfect for my laptop, but it doesn't sound any better than my ZXR on my desktop. The advantage is it's half the price. I use ATH-M50's for headphones (closed design is good for music, not so good for games) and Jamo's for speakers.