Sound card.

[#1]

Anyone got rcomendations for a reasonably priced sound card with good quality powerful output on the analogue line out?
I have always used a fairly good pair of corded headphones for my computer connected to the line out. I never use speakers. My old motherboard (Abit NF7) had onboard NVIDIA audio and it was very good for this purpose. My new motherboard (Asus M3N78) has VIA HD Audio onboard. I find the sound to be lacking bass, and overall quality when using the headphones in the line out. Any recomendations?

[#2]

How about using (powered) speakers and plugging your headphones into the speakers?
This seems to give O.K. sound - although obviously not hifi quality!

[#3]

I like using headphones directly into the line out cos it gives me the best possible quality. Running through another amplifer (in powered speakers) will only make the poor quality worse.

[#4]

Quote from: Sean

Anyone got rcomendations for a reasonably priced sound card with good quality powerful output on the analogue line out? I have always used a fairly good pair of corded headphones for my computer connected to the line out. I never use speakers.

But aren't the lineout's just 600 ohm circuits with a nominal 0dBm output , maybe 6dBm at most?.
have you tried http://www.maplin.co.uk/ - they have a store in Belfast too. ?

[#5]

saw a USB device in Aldi today, didnt pay to much attention to it £14.95.  had switchable out put for speaker or Earphone with a Vol control and looked like two other USB out, hadnt seen it on there fliers

[#6]

Quote from: mal0z

have you tried http://www.maplin.co.uk/ - they have a store in Belfast too. ?

Used to be a manager in one of the Belfast stores.
I know what different cards are available. Just trying to find out if anyone has had good or bad experiences with different cards using them the same way I do.

[#7]

Quote from: Sean

Used to be a manager in one of the Belfast stores.

Oh well - we know who to ask now then 

[#8]

I'm currently using a Creative Audigy 4 Gold card. A nice rich sound from them. But there's a rather annoying problem with them. Only happens once in a blue moon, but when it does it's still annoying. Windows tends to kick it out of action, requiring me to pull the drivers and re-install them to get it working again.
The media-player that you use could make a big difference to the quality of sound you get as well.
Also bearing in mind that headphones are generally a non-amplified output, being so close to the ear they don't need it, so the quality of those can make a difference also.