Sound card advice needed

[Rhodan]

Getting my new rig soon, and I'm picking up a pair of Sennheiser HD555's.

I was just wondering whether it would be a good idea / worthwhile to get a sound card, instead of using the onboard sound with the HD555's?

If so, what I can afford is probably one of these:

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channel
ASUS Xonar D1
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer

I'd be primarily using it for gaming, with the HD555's.

Thoughts?

 

[Forceman]

I'd suggest getting a stand-alone sound card for use with the HD555 and gaming (better sound along with features like CMSS / Dolby Headphone). Consider the Auzentech Forte (if you can find one) since it is relatively cheap and has a built-in headphone amp.

 

[Rhodan]

The Auzentech's are unfortunately just a little too much out of my price range.

Which of the cards in my OP would you recommend? Someone said I should get a card that supports CMSS for the HD555's instead of Dolby Headphone.

 

[Snufykat]

Your pick of the asus cards

 

[NaturalViolence]

You can pick up an X-FI titanium on newegg for $80, that's an amazing price considering what you get.

 

[Forceman]

The Auzentech's are unfortunately just a little too much out of my price range.

Which of the cards in my OP would you recommend? Someone said I should get a card that supports CMSS for the HD555's instead of Dolby Headphone.

If you are willing to buy used/eBay, you should be able to find a Forte for the same price as a Xonar DX - the Essence is way more expensive.

Of the cards you listed, I'd go with the Xonar, it has good performance and has the benefit of not being from Creative.

 

[Gmok Bonecrusha]

Xi-Fi Titanium IMO. I have used the HD555's with that card for a couple years, was pretty damn good.