M-Audio + DAC, is it a good purchase? (for Sennheiser HD800)

[ducks_quack]

I'm thinking of buying a M-Audio 2496 and a good DAC, but as I was reading some guys just stick with their onboard audiocard and purchase an external DAC, thus it makes me wonder whether or not I need an audiophile audiocard to get the best sound since I'd have a DAC, would it sound any better with audiophile soundcard?

I'm an audio lover, but I could never afford buying good equipament cuz I had no money :| now I'm able to do so but unfortunately I know no sh** about audio equipament

 

[MEgamer]

dont get m-audio, there driver are now poor, and are supported little, or none.
id only get m-audio, fo recording purposes, for playback, NO. i suggest getting HT omega striker, or other.

 

[astrallite]

There's no point getting an external DAC and getting a high end sound card at the same time since sound processing is just bypassing the sound card since you are using coaxial or optical, might as well just use onboard.

 

[ducks_quack]

thank you guys very much unfortunately I can't choose 2 best answers

 

[ducks_quack]

Best answer selected by ducks_quack.

 

[MEgamer]

no prob, astallite was more helpful on this thread

 

[outlw6669]

Instead of getting a dedicated DAC and amp, why not just pick up a Xonar Essence?
The quality of it's onboard DAC is top notch and the onboard amp is more than capiable of driving your Senn's...