[Adeptus]

Can anyone recommend a good, low cost USB soundcard (or a DAC would do the same, if I understand correctly?) to use with headphones?
 
Are any of these any good?
 
Muse PCM2704 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/180536957670
 
Winsound Mini TDA1305T http://cgi.ebay.com.au/320600359057
 
SMSL SD-108 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/280576094905
 
Soundblaster X-Fi Go!
 
Soundblaster X-Fi Surround
 
Xonar U1
 
Zalman ZM-RSSC
 
Steelseries Siberia 51001 / 51004

 

[J.Pocalypse]

If you want a PCI-E card ( to go on the inside of your computer case ), check out the Asus Xonar series. If you're wating a budget USB DAC, look into the NuForce uDAC - 2, FiiO E7, or Headroom Total Bithead.

 

[Saulot]

I have a similar, but more recent, product, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro.  I am pretty new to this, so I cannot compare it to more expensive or higher end products.  However, it sounds a lot clearer and better quality than my Realtek onboard audio.  In both cases, I am using the Sennheiser HD438 headphones, plugged into either the onboard or the Sound Blaster.
 
Quote:

Can anyone recommend a good, low cost USB soundcard (or a DAC would do the same, if I understand correctly?) to use with headphones?
 
Are any of these any good?
 
[...]
Soundblaster X-Fi Go! 
[...]

 

[Adeptus]

Quote:

If you want a PCI-E card ( to go on the inside of your computer case ), check out the Asus Xonar series. If you're wating a budget USB DAC, look into the NuForce uDAC - 2, FiiO E7, or Headroom Total Bithead.

I want USB, as my main PC is a laptop... also I might bring it to work, to improve the sound while listening to music on my work PC.
You say the PCI-E Xonar are good, do you know if the USB Xonar is too?

 

[bcwang]

The uDac-2 is a great budget USB DAC with a headphone amp built-in.  You can read my review of it.  http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/515155/incremental-review-completed-nuforce-udac-2
 

 

[Adeptus]

Well, I've just ordered the Xonar U1... reviews were mostly good, so here's hoping.