Sennheiser HD-595 (50ohm version)

[NKDietrich]

What sound card would you folks recommend for these cans? I'm looking to upgrade from my onboard Soundstorm setup to something perhaps a bit more suited to music and driving a decent set of headphones. I don't really have the time or inclination to game much anymore.

 

[Svperstar]

If you don't care about gaming then I recommend the EMU 0404 or 1212m. WIth the latest patch you can actually game with the 0404 just fine. Sounds great for the money.

Actually if I were you I would just buy a external DAC like a Channel Islands Audio VDA-1, I read he is coming out with a new better one for around the same price within a month too

www.ciaudio.com

 

[NKDietrich]

I'll look into that, thanks.

The only gaming I do is, for instance, World of Warcraft. And when I'm playing that, I have its sounds turned off, and music playing instead.

 

[Svperstar]

Oh yeah one thing I forgot to mention, the 0404 sounds absolutely horrible without an amp.

I ran the 595s for about 7 months on the 0404, but you NEED an amp with it. It is not amped at all, the signal sounds worse than onboard audio without an amp, it would be a complete waste of the 595s.

Even a $60 Pocket Amp V2 from www.electric-avenues.com makes a Night and Day difference on the EMU0404. So just a heads up, you may just want to get an X-Fi or something if you refuse to consider getting an amp, I know some do.