Oh, God... I just got an Asus Essence STX...

[fuzzybaffy]

And... the sound quality is AMAZING. Or... so I think. I'm using a pair of ****ty $20 Sony headphones, and could the sound from those have gotten better because of the sound card???

Just for full disclosure, I DO have experience with audiophile equipment. I have owned Sennheiser HD-580's, Grado RS-1's, and even the holy grail Grado HP-1. But financial circumstances, and with me going to college and graduating, I just had to let them go. I honestly have no idea where they went (I just left them with my dad, and I'm not sure if he sold them or not).

And, my dad did have expensive audiophile equipment back in the day. He had a pair of these Sony SS-M7's: https://www.google.com/search?q=Sony+SS-M7&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=5nV&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsfd&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bf2WUPCcI6Ow2wXIoYHYAg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=728

I know they only go for around $500 a pair these days, but he's had them since around 1997, and I'm sure they cost a lot more back then... (Not bragging, but I'm just saying... I have at least a little bit of audiophile experience, so I'm not trolling, nor I'm talking out of my ass).

But, yes... am I just dreaming, or are these headphones sounding better because of the sound card??? I'm beginning to think DAC's are more important than speakers/headphones, now. I understand that's going to start another can of worms, and I understand the importance of speakers (I've mentioned before I've owned pretty decent headphones myself), but I'm thinking speakers/headphones become absolutely nothing without a decent DAC. So in an upgrade path, it's better to improve the DAC first, and then the speakers. True?

[fuzzybaffy]

Heh. Nevermind. I just returned the sound card. LOL! I'm going to opt for the HT Claro Halo instead.

[thegunner100]

Headphone/speakers are always the best improvement, then amp, then usually dac afterwards. Of course if you're using onboard sound and then witching to a soundcard or dac, it will make a huge difference.

[Larken]

what thegunner100 said. As far as upgrades go, headphone/speakers offer the most discernable improvment, although its best to make both upgrades in tandem. There are a few speakers in the market which do fine with their internal dac without the need for a good soundcard - two I can think of offhand are the focal xs and the bowers and wilkins mm-1, which sounds phenomenal imo. Though both carries a pretty hefty price tag.

I have the essence stx, and have been using it for the last two years. It's a decent card to use in a PC, and it made quite a difference upgrading from a creative audigy 2zs when I first got it. I pair it with a set of aego ms, which is adequate for my needs, although I'd admit I have heard better (which often comes at a much high pricetag).