I've had an Auzentech Forte in my system since some time in 2009. Recently, I began experiencing issues with the sound cutting out and "going robotic" at random. Looking around, I can see that I'm not alone and that these are generally signs of the card's demise.
That being the case, I need something to replace it. My outputs are a set of Klipsch iFi and a pair of 250-ohm 2003 edition Beyerdynamic DT880s. I estimate my budget to be somewhere around $300. I no longer play games, so this will be used exclusively for listening to lossless classical music.
1) I have an old X-Fi Xtrememusic sitting around. I could perform some of the modifications on the "Hotrodding the X-Fi" thread on Head-Fi on the cheap and get an amplifier for the Beyers.
2) I could pick up an HT Omega Claro Halo, which seems to get high marks all-around. It's $200 on Newegg and comes with a free left-handed mouse. Being that I'm left handed, that would be a nice deal.
3) I could buy an external DAC. I really don't know a great deal about these, but the nuForce uDAC-2 has come up in many places.
4) I could get a dirt cheap sound card with optical out and a receiver from Craigslist.
My motherboard's integrated sound is busted, so that can't factor into the equation (for optical out, etc).
That being the case, I need something to replace it. My outputs are a set of Klipsch iFi and a pair of 250-ohm 2003 edition Beyerdynamic DT880s. I estimate my budget to be somewhere around $300. I no longer play games, so this will be used exclusively for listening to lossless classical music.
1) I have an old X-Fi Xtrememusic sitting around. I could perform some of the modifications on the "Hotrodding the X-Fi" thread on Head-Fi on the cheap and get an amplifier for the Beyers.
2) I could pick up an HT Omega Claro Halo, which seems to get high marks all-around. It's $200 on Newegg and comes with a free left-handed mouse. Being that I'm left handed, that would be a nice deal.
3) I could buy an external DAC. I really don't know a great deal about these, but the nuForce uDAC-2 has come up in many places.
4) I could get a dirt cheap sound card with optical out and a receiver from Craigslist.
My motherboard's integrated sound is busted, so that can't factor into the equation (for optical out, etc).