[markjia]

The analog output from the Audiophile 2496 is good, but is subject to a lot of EMI, and really benefits from an external DAC. If you don't get a DI/O (or something else like it), then it's probably worthwhile to get a Terratec card with a good external DAC.

 

[Audio-Me]

You should get an ART DIO. Half the price of the sound card that I have, probably give you same performance...

 

[r4z0r]

Audio&Me, how would you rate the quality of sound coming straight out of your soundcard then to headamp vs. the sound coming from sound card to Art D/IO then headamp?

I'm curious because I fear that getting the Art D/IO hooked up to the DMX 6 Fire might be overkill and won't justify the total cost opposed to just using the souncard and headamp alone.

 

[Audio-Me]

I've never heard the art dio, sorry. If you're going to get an art dio, you should probably just get the M-Audio DiO 2448. But if the 5½" bay i/o board and 3d api support (useless feature IMO) intriegues you, guess I can't stop you.

I can tell you this though, Rega Planet 2000 or Arcam CD72 sounds much better.

 

[r4z0r]

I could imagine..

but the price of either one of those two units is also a whole lot higher