Sound card only for headphones and digital coax output?

[kive]

I will only use this sound card for listening to the music -> 80% via headphones, 20% via receiver. So, gaming, recording or surround capabilities are not relevant.

Requirements:
1) PCI,
2) headphones output,
3) digital coax output, bit prefect,
4) $200 max.

I know that external DAC with integrated headphone amp will do the job better, but at this time I don't need more boxes and cables around the desk. I just need a solid upgrade from an onboard sound card.

Is there anything available that meets my requirements because most of the popular sound cards that are discussed here have 1/4" outputs?
Could a decent 1/4" -> 3,5mm adapter on E-mu 0404 or ESI Juli@ card be a satisfactory compromise?

Thanks!

 

[cconnaker]

With these tough requirements I am guessing something from Creative will have to do.

 

[Assorted]

I never thought a 1/4" to 1/8" adaptor on the level of soundcard headphones as a compromise, they generally just aren't resolute enough to reveal that kind of quality.

EMU 0404 headphone output isn't the best you're going to hear, but it is one of the better soundcard HP out if you're using something relatively easy to drive.

 

[IPodPJ]

Here's a silly question... Why the heck do you need it to have a headphone output if you are planning on using a coax output? Chances are your receiver will have a much easier time powering your headphones than the output of a soundcard, and with a lot less noise, too!

If you can do without the headphone output, get yourself an ESI Juli@. You can get them online for $130 now. And if the receiver is located too far away from your computer, you can always buy an inexpensive headphone amp/DAC combo in the future. I would just stay away from sound cards with headphone outputs if you want a high-quality sound card, as they typically tend to increase the overall noise level.

 

[alleyezon_d]

This might seem like a silly question, and I apologize if it is, but have you checked whether your onboard soundcard has bit perfect SPDIF out? I know mine does and its the Realtek ALC889A.

 

[kive]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alleyezon_d /img/forum/go_quote.gif This might seem like a silly question, and I apologize if it is, but have you checked whether your onboard soundcard has bit perfect SPDIF out? I know mine does and its the Realtek ALC889A.

Its the Realtek AC97 onboard card without any digital output.

 

[kive]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here's a silly question... Why the heck do you need it to have a headphone output if you are planning on using a coax output? Chances are your receiver will have a much easier time powering your headphones than the output of a soundcard, and with a lot less noise, too! If you can do without the headphone output, get yourself an ESI Juli@. You can get them online for $130 now. And if the receiver is located too far away from your computer, you can always buy an inexpensive headphone amp/DAC combo in the future. I would just stay away from sound cards with headphone outputs if you want a high-quality sound card, as they typically tend to increase the overall noise level.

Receiver is located across the room, 5m away from the computer, with the coax cable being in the wall.
I use headphones most of the time, almost always when I work on the computer, because they are closed and with high attenuation of background noise. Receiver is completely another story, mostly used when I'm not alone and always without headphones.

Anyway, thanks for your advice.

 

[kive]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assorted /img/forum/go_quote.gif EMU 0404 headphone output isn't the best you're going to hear, but it is one of the better soundcard HP out if you're using something relatively easy to drive.

How to connect EMU 0404 PCI to 1/8" stereo male plug on headphones? With something like this: LINK?

Possible lack of power to drive Sennheiser HD 2xx?

 

[joe_cool]

Please let us know which headphones you want to connect to the card.

M-Audio Revo 5.1 has 1/8" headphone jack and coax digital output. You can only use analog or digital, though, not both at the same time.

 

[Fungi]

The Revolution 5.1's drivers drove me nuts. I ended up returning it pretty quickly. Read more about it here.
M-Audio Revolution 5.1

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

X-Fi Prelude is a quality card, does not have a headphone out though (I hear it's analog outs run pretty hot however).

 

[kive]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_cool /img/forum/go_quote.gif Please let us know which headphones you want to connect to the card.

Currently sennheiser HD212, but very soon i'll upgrade to HD280 or HD25.