whats your price range? i'll recommend some based off it.

Auzentech Forte

Could you name some of the best ones in different price ranges? I'm pretty open.

ASUS XONAR DG

i personally run my audio through a motu interface, but for just gaming this should be fine

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Audiophile-Digital-Recording-Interface/dp/B00006I5H5

seriously avoid brands like creative soundblaster, i never used asus but they aren't known for audio...i have a mobo from them but thats about it

any audiophile soundcard will do over just some random gaming soundcard. even if its meant for recording you can still run headphones through it or speakers and it will sound worlds better than crap you'll find on newegg

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-US41750-Audiophile-Hi-def-Card/dp/B00064ABSG/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1363997553&sr=1-1&keywords=m-audio+sound+card

m-audio is good starter audiophile gear, it isn't overpriced and it will get the job done. when you wanna dabble in something more high end check out motu

audiophiles generally don't use internal soundcards

Do amps outperform cards? Or do people mostly use them for versatility?

Well there's greater flexibility in design in terms of space as well as less interference.

The most recommended soundcard on head-fi for gaming is the Creative Platinum HD for its CMSS-3D ability.

i don't think he would wanna pay for an interface, they're typically more expensive so those sound cards would be a better start

Get a USB dac.

HELPPPPPPPPP!

i have a creative soundblaster i got for $50 and it works just fine

yeah this is seriously confusing but i'm totally interested in learning more as long as it is in english...
can you guys agree on something? :>

internal v external
brand
maybe a link to amazon/newegg

<3 ty

Are you pro musician, needs top quality stuff or just a casual/competitive gamer? What do you intend to do with a soundcard?

You're still going to need good speakers/headphones to make use of a high quality soundcard....

Brands mean nothing in the audiophile world. Every company makes at least one bad product so suggestions need to go on a case by case basis.

Unless space is limited, or you find a really good deal, external will always be better for the price simply because there is more space and the electronics are more isolated.

However, with that said, the Asus Xonar DG is probably the best bang for your buck on the cheap end ($30). Above that, external options are better choices (from strictly an audio quality position). I personally am a fan of the FiiO E17 ($140) and it has a bonus of being portable. Above that, for Americans the Schiit Magni+Modi ($200) are a great option and for slightly more (and available for the globe) is the measurement proven O2+ODAC combo ($300). Still have more to spend Mr. Moneybags? Why not check out the Diamond DAC IV+Woo Audio WA5?

However, with all the options out there you really need to ask yourself why you need a sound card in the first place. Are your headphones not sensitive, and no matter how loud you turn your computer volume they never get loud enough? Does a certain part of the headphone sound off (muddy bass, etc.) when you know that they shouldn't sound like that. If you can answer yes to this then you might need a headphone amplifier. Do you constantly hear interference when listening to music? Do you sometimes hear pops and cracks that definitely don't belong. Does the audio cut out? Then you might need a DAC.

As a heads up, some sound cards are a combination Amp+DAC (like the Xonar DG) while others can be one or the other. The same thing goes with external options.

The main reason why you might want a soundcard lies in Dolby Headphones, an effect that while I personally dislike you may prefer. Example can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pVdgMQC2rYM

A very good beginners guide to all of this can be found here: http://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/15wunp/guide_dacs_and_amps/

I have solid headphones (hd558s, foam modded). I just don't feel like I'm getting the most out of them with my stock audio.

Price really isn't all that much of an issue to me. It's not that I'd be willing to buy a 1000 dollar sound card/amp, it's more that I'm just interested in the bang:buck ratio, and I'd like to see what other people use.

Were I interested in tech specs and performance in multimedia apps/music, I'd ask on headfi.

I'm more interested in knowing things like: Hey, this douchebag prefires a rocket because he hears my spawn every time in MGE, I wonder what sound card he uses.

Thanks for all of the info so far.

Unless Dolby Headphone appeals to you then you really don't need a sound card. And unless you hear constant buzzing you really don't need a DAC. And unless you find the volume not satisfactory you don't need an amp, because afaik the hd558's are able to be driven fairly well without an amp.

Having a amp, dac, or both doesn't really help in positional audio, they generally help with the clarity of the audio. If you want better positioning then either try out Dolby Headphone and see if it is for you (requires you buy a soundcard like the Asus Xonar DG) or upgrade from what you currently have. However, using the hd558's as a starting point I don't think you are going to see drastic changes in the positional audio unless you spend significantly more for something like the ATH-AD900 or the AKG K702/701/Q701.

What I do hear is very precise, I just thought I could be hearing more.