Which soundcard should I buy?

[Jelvis]

M-audio Audiophile 2496 or Emu0404.
The price difference is £10 and I will be using it for a computer based hi-fi. I will connect the souncard to an integrated amp to some bookshelf speakers. I found out that the signal however from the soundcard will be analog because amplifiers dont have a DAC in them-is this true?
So listening to music is what Ill primary be using the card for as you'd guess, but also to record directly from my guitar amplifier.
Which would you recommend from experience?
Thanks in advance.

 

[compguy]

sound card

Here are a couple of really good soundcards:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102179

and here is another good one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178

 

[heli0s2003]

Checkout EchoAudio.com also. The Audiophile is really nice though too.

 

[young&wild]

well I dont have experience with high quality soundcards. From what I have read from Headphone forums, it seems that some people prefer Audiophile and others prefer EMU 0404 based on their sound characteristics. Of course both will blow away Audigy 2 cards in terms of sound quality. I would probably choose Audiophile over EMU based on the following reasons:

1) Sometimes dodgy drivers from EMU, bear in mind they are creative cards as well.
2) No Linux/ MAC OS support for EMU