soundcards that can produce decent headphone music

[The PIT]

I've decided Creative can't do it the latest drivers make the output even worse. SO over to you Guys and Girls.

[Ribbit]

I don't plug my headphones directly into it, but my (obsolete now) Hoontech 4DWave sounds just great, thank you. Their current hardware is Yamaha-based, and should be as good or better (their roots are in pro sound hardware).

http://www.hoontech.co.uk/ or http://www.hoontech.com/

I'm sure Az and/or SpiralDragon are going to chime in here soon enough too...

[MultimediaMan]

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

[The PIT]

Originally posted by MultimediaMan
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

I don't think so.

I was thinking something along the lines of Terrac models.

[Jammrock]

Echo Indigo ... unfortunately it's for laptops only. Has built-in headphone amp and it's fantastic. Only sound card with one that I know of.

Other options, get an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 and a headphone amp, like the ones from [url-www.headphone.com]Headroom[/url]. Other people make headphone amps, no one makes low price ones:

http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=27

If you want some really nice headphones for not a lot, pick up some Grado SR-60:

http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr60.htm

They are about $60 USD and are incredible sounding.

Jammrock

[3dfx]

My aging Sound Blaster Live 5.1 still works wonders for me

[The PIT]

Headphones sounded fine until last creative update. Thank god I didn't update my other system. Jeeze have they really heard good hi fi not crappy computer speakers. We're not talking ut2k3 and big bangs here. I reckon they've been sat in too many cars.

[DentyCracker]

I use 2/2.1 mode to listen to headpones on every Creative card I've owned. Headphone Mode has always sucked.

[Zao]

I gotta say the Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 or the 6fire LT if you can live without the drive module.

The M-Audio are kinda good to since it's based on the Envy24 too.

[az]

Terratec 6fire 24/96 has a headphone jack with amp and pot, and sounds great.

The Aureon 7.1 universe is the successor, also offering a headphone jack, amp, and pot in the drive bay.

Both cost about 200 EUR, unfortunately.

AZ

[daemorok]

Originally posted by Jammrock
Echo Indigo ... unfortunately it's for laptops only. Has built-in headphone amp and it's fantastic. Only sound card with one that I know of.

Other options, get an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 and a headphone amp, like the ones from [url-www.headphone.com]Headroom[/url]. Other people make headphone amps, no one makes low price ones:

http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=27

If you want some really nice headphones for not a lot, pick up some Grado SR-60:

http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr60.htm

They are about $60 USD and are incredible sounding.

Jammrock

Is it just me or does teh M-aduio revolution 7.1 look EXACTLY liek the hercules fortissimo III 7.1... do they use the same chop?

[dZeus]

M-Audio Revo = VIA/ICE Envy24
Herc Fort III = Cirrus Logic CS4624

the only way they look alike to me is that they both have a small, blue PCB, and a few ICs, Capicitors and about the same amount of IO connectors on the bracket.

[Taz]

Originally posted by az
Terratec 6fire 24/96 has a headphone jack with amp and pot, and sounds great.

Sure does

£150 is a lot of money for a sound card though, specially if you don't need all the conections provided on the breakout box. The M-Audio Revolution is about half the price and should sound just as good.

[K6-III]

I also vote for the MAudio Revolution coupled with a headphone amp...

[Spire]

Originally posted by The PIT
I don't think so.

Why not? What's wrong with the Santa Cruz?