What soundcard with front panel or seperate headphone socket for Vista?

[Technex]

Hey guys,

In the market for a new soundcard. It'll have to work with my dads 5.1 speakers. Instead of me having to get on my chest to go and plug/unplug my headphones in under the stupid cramped desk I would like a front panel, but I could always extend the lead at the back as a last resort.

A separate headphone socket is a must (which is made for headphones) this is the main reason for moving up from the MB crap soundcard.

I'm looking for sound positioning and pretty much only for gaming will be used with CS:S and other Valve games.

To be paired with my Audio Technica ATH-A900 headphones. Specs are all in sig.

Has to work flawlessly with Vista 64bit. This is what's putting me off the Creative ones...

Thank you in advance!

 

[Rastalovich]

Was going to suggest something, then I noticed Vista64bit and `flawlessly`.

I`d not like to stick my head out tbh.

 

[Diablo]

Yeah "flawlessly" I think is a bit optimistic...I've been very pleased with the xonar d2x but no front panel, so that won't work

 

[Rastalovich]

Some mobo front panel for onboard works well.

 

[Technex]

Well heard about all the software and files you have to add to every game to get the Creative ones to work correctly on Vista. If it wasn't for this I would most likely have one tomorrow!

Honestly, I don't mind if there is a front panel or not, as long as it has a seperate headphone port I'm good.

 

[Ham]

Throwing out a suggestion.

Can you use optical out to go the the amp for the speakers?

If so have it set up like mine. Optical out to the amp, 5.1 headset in the 3.5 jacks. The headset is always on, but I simply turn the amp on or off depending on what I want to use.

If optical or any other form of single out isn't available, maybe a speaker switch?

 

[doug2507]

Thumbs up for the D2x. Just use the optical out staight into your own dac if you have one, or reciever and plug the phones into the hifi. Or just plug them in the back of the Xonar.