Upgrading from Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic

So the XtremeMusic sound card has lasted me many years and it's finally starting to go out.  I was just wondering what would be a good worthy upgrade from this card?

I was looking at the Creative Sound Blaster Z SBX and it seems like it would be a good card, but I wanted some other people's recommendations.

Yeah I was looking at that too and it seems it has a better DAC than Z and ZX, but it looks like you need high quality headphones in order to really appreciate it.  I own the ATH-M50 headphones so I don't know how much of a benefit I would get, and $250 is a lot of money for a sound card.

i always was an creative fan. but then i got in a sound studio and was wondering what kind of card they used, turns out that its was an ''asus essence STX card''...

so i bought one, and creative holds no candle to it... I've bin buying creative cards for 15 years or so... but this is probably the best stereo sound i've ever heard, on any system for that mater. it is ridicules, especially listening to ''flac'' files, provided you have a good headphone :) i got the card for 170,- or so, so not that expencive.

i always was an creative fan. but then i got in a sound studio and was wondering what kind of card they used, turns out that its was an ''asus essence STX card''...

so i bought one, and creative holds no candle to it... I've bin buying creative cards for 15 years or so... but this is probably the best stereo sound i've ever heard, on any system for that mater. it is ridicules, especially listening to ''flac'' files, provided you have a good headphone :) i got the card for 170,- or so, so not that expencive.

thundercave01

[QUOTE="thundercave01"]

i always was an creative fan. but then i got in a sound studio and was wondering what kind of card they used, turns out that its was an ''asus essence STX card''...

so i bought one, and creative holds no candle to it... I've bin buying creative cards for 15 years or so... but this is probably the best stereo sound i've ever heard, on any system for that mater. it is ridicules, especially listening to ''flac'' files, provided you have a good headphone :) i got the card for 170,- or so, so not that expencive.

THGarrett

I still have my Creative Audigy Sound Blaster Platinum Ex from 2002 I believe. serves me well to this day. Creative or go home!!!