Alternative to A2 ZS Platinum Pro?

[EasyRaider]

I've almost decided to get an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro. It's a bit pricey, but I really want the best this time. Besides, it should last longer than a video card. There are only 2 things I don't like about the ZS Platinum: It resamples 44.1 kHz to 48 (not so good for listening to CDs), and the software is Creative (yes, I hate it). It seems they have possibly gotten better at software, though.

Maybe there are some good alternatives I should look at first? It will be used for gaming, music listening, the odd movie and a little amateur music production. I have Logitech Z-560 speakers and some decent headphones. I'm also considering getting a headphone amp. (Hi-fi speaker system is on the wish list, but I don't have a suitable room currently.)

[LouIII]

I'm in the same boat. I'm tempted by the stellar reviews of the A2, but I don't like what I've read about Creative's drivers. The Revolution 7.1 sounds like a strong alternative, and the Hercules line is always worth a look. I'm not sure what's going on with the Philips line, but some people swear by them.

[V5500-StillGoing]

There's the Terratec DMX 6Fire soundcard, which has a breakout box just like the SB Plat, and is just about the closest thing to an alternative that I've seen. Don't know how good it is or anything, just seen it at various online stores while I've been browsing. Think it was around £30 (~$50) cheaper than the SB Plat.

[Motoman]

Check out the high-end Hercules unit...it's got the huge break-out box, et al...

[EasyRaider]

Thanks for the suggestions!

The DMX 6fire was really interesting, but it's apparently not as good as the A2 for gaming. I want the best from both worlds (music and gaming). So I've decided to go with a ZS non-platinum and an external sound card. The Total Bithead looks like the perfect match for me. The Z-560s aren't that great for music anyway, and with this combined USB soundcard / headphone amp, I can get nearly audiophile level sound from a laptop as well! (BTW, it's $269, not cheap, but cheaper than buying a surround speaker system with great music performance.)

HeadRoom amps

[LouIII]

The Total Bithead looks interesting, but I don't understand how it's connected to the computer. Does it go between the soundcard and the headphones?

[EasyRaider]

I'm not sure about the details myself, but I know it connects to the computer with a USB cable. It's basically a USB sound card with headphone amp. Your other sound card should be bypassed.

Anyway, check out the forum on head-fi.org for more info (specifically, the headroom forum).