I much prefer the AKG K701s to the Senns. I drive mine with a Woo Audio WA6 headphone amp. That's a very synergistic combination that lots of people over at www.head-fi.org use.
You may not like them direct out of your computer as they'll reveal ALL of the weakness of that Soundblaster card. The Senns are probably a better choice for that use. However, if you want a headphone rig that rivals you main two-channel system in transparency, resolution and timbral accuracy then the 701/Woo combination is hard to beat.
In contrast, with a good headphone amp, the Senns will seem thick and euphonically warm through the midrange.
Roll around at head-fi a little. The most popular rigs include the Senns, AKG, Beyer 880 or 990 and Grado.
The Woo is an incredible deal. You get a single-ended, class A tube design that really revealing yet with no edgyness, all for under $600.
Dave
You may not like them direct out of your computer as they'll reveal ALL of the weakness of that Soundblaster card. The Senns are probably a better choice for that use. However, if you want a headphone rig that rivals you main two-channel system in transparency, resolution and timbral accuracy then the 701/Woo combination is hard to beat.
In contrast, with a good headphone amp, the Senns will seem thick and euphonically warm through the midrange.
Roll around at head-fi a little. The most popular rigs include the Senns, AKG, Beyer 880 or 990 and Grado.
The Woo is an incredible deal. You get a single-ended, class A tube design that really revealing yet with no edgyness, all for under $600.
Dave