Recomendations on breakout-box cards

[skullone]

Im looking to replace my Gametheatre XP 5.1 soundcard / break out box setup.
The box doesn't pre-amp the headphone output very much, so turning up the volume just distorts it a lot vs. my Aiwa shelf system that does pre-amp the headphones.
Also, the headphone plug keeps coming loose, and I have to solder it back together all the time!

Does anyone have any recomendations on a sound card that comes with an breakout box, with at least volume controls for the headphone and line in on the box?
Would idealy have a nice headphone pre-amp, so I dont have to use another receiver to other device to amp the signal.

Im using a set of Sennheiser HD-580's, which sound immaculate on my Aiwa, but sound entirely underpowered on my computer.
Thanks!

 

[jpmkm]

ummm.. a preamp output is generally an unamplified signal that is meant to then be amplified. That's what pre(before)amp(lifier) means. I'm sure they exist, but I've never seen a sound card with an external box for volume control. I think your best option would be to get a headphone amp, especially for those headphones. That'll give you your little external box with a volume control that you want, and it'll probably cost about the same as a new soundcard.


edit: yeah so I had just woken up when I posted that and I was kinda out of it so just ignore a lot of that. I still say a headphone amp is your best bet.