Help me choose a sound card

Hi all,

I'm new to head-fi and need some advice picking a sound card.  I just purchased a Xonar DX, but one channel has started cutting out, so I need to exchange it.  I'm trying to decide what I should replace it with, though.  Given that I only have HD555s, will I hear $150 worth of difference in a Xonar ST over the Xonar DX.  I think the HF setting on the DX sounds better than any creative card I've used,  and I hear the ST is amazing, but I realize these are entry level headphones and I don't want to waste money if they can't pick up the difference between the two cards.

Thanks for your help.

BackwardPawn

I know it would have better EAX support than Asus, but how does the CMSS-3d sound on the Forte?  On my old Audigy 2, I was never real happy with the CMSS in either games or movies.  I've been pretty pleased with the Dolby headphone, though.  Has the CMSS-3d gotten better with the X-Fi?

So...I've been thinking about this, and I really want the ST.  But being new to headphones and having had jaw problems, I really don't want to fork over $200 and find I can't use it.  I think I'll probably go with the $60 option for six months or so and then hook it up to my HTPC.  Or maybe just drop back to the Audigy and get used to the headphones.  And then when I know I won't have any issues with the cans, I'll upgrade.

On that note, though, whats the best way to loosen up the HD555s.  I read somewhere to put them over a tower case overnight.

I've looked at the STX, but the price is holding me back.  If I got one of those, I was looking at the ST from Amazon.  Its the same price as the STX from newegg and is supposed to be a little better SQ.

I've actually refined my requirements a bit, though.  I'm going to build a new computer to go with the Yamaha amp and plasma TV.  The system will be used for music, games, and movies and will be connected to the amp using SPDIF.  I'll use both speakers and headphones on this setup.

My other computer will be in my bedroom and will be what I'm currently using (I may eventually put some budget upgrades into it).  I plan to use this for work as well as older games.  I'll stream music to it while I work and may stream movies occasionally.

For the new build, since the DAC will be in the Yamaha, am I safe getting a budget card with SPDIF?  If so, the DX gives me Dolby Live and Dolby headphone, as well as some EAX 5 emulation.  Is there another card I should be looking at for this, or am I looking the right direction?

For the older build, I think I actually want a better sound card for this computer since I'd be using the headphone out for music.  The ST would give me good quality, but since I want to use older games with it, the EAX support isn't as good...plus its a budget computer.  I was thinking if I could find a refurbished Forte this might be a good compromise.

If anyone has any suggestions on what sound cards would be best for each purpose, I'd appreciate it.

I'm about to get the X-Fi Titanium HD for the computer in my room.  I figure it'll drive the HD555 headphones, sound decent for music, and sound good for games.  With my setup, is there any reason I should spend the extra $40 on the Xonar ST?  Plus are the drivers any better on the STs than the DXs.  I've been reading on other forums that the right channel thing is a common problem with DXs.  Thanks.

Awesome...I will buy that then.  Can the brightness that someone mentioned on the other thread be solved using different op-amps?

Thanks for the advice Raymond.  I've ordered the X-Fi through Amazon and should get it within a few days.  If all the new Intel motherboards hadn't been taken off the market, I'd be putting it in a new system.  As it is, I'll probably wait and see how Intel and AMD stack up and build something late spring or during the summer.

One last thing, can anyone recommend a pair of bookshelf speakers that I could pickup cheaply used.  Nothing high-end, just something to hook up to an old Yamaha amp I have here...the smaller the better.  I don't think the amp even has a digital input, so it would just be into the front connection.  I think anything will be better than the z-680s I've been using.