Should I get a soundcard?

[xa376]

I recently got a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-A900x's. At first they sounded alright, but they didn't wow me. I then started looking and found out there's an equalizer setting in windows. I switched it around and found the "powerful" setting to be best. I was amazed at the difference between this setting and the standard, everything sounded so much better, the change was appalling.

So now i'm wondering just how good sound can get. Would there be a significant change if i got a sound card? I'm apprehensive after reading about people not hearing a difference, but they say if you have good headphones it will make a large difference. The sound I was listening to before equalization sounds so muffled and flat to me now, I refuse to be at that point again.So should I get soundcard?

After looking on google for awhile I think my best option would be this because it has a large SNR (whatever that is):
Creative Sound Blaster Z

Thanks for the help c:

 

[KiloWolf]

From what i've seen most of the time you'll only need a sound card if your motherboard does not have built in sound or if your using something that is not supported buy the build in sound card. Sound blaster has all ways been good to me and if your in the market for it then it's not going to hurt, but I can't say if it'll do much of anything for you.

 

[MagicPants]

You might prefer a sound card built for headphones, like the Asus Xonar Essence or Dgx. I've got no beef with creative labs, I have one of their cards in my gaming machine, and I really like the crystalizer (anyone know if Xonars have an equivalent?). I also have a Xonar Dsx in my work machine, and it's quite nice.

 

[americanaudiophile]

If the headphones are for music an outboard DAC/Headphone amp will give you the best result. You might loose the eq in window though. These can connect with USB so it bypasses the soundcard completely. This is one example
http/www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/dacmagic-xs-usb-dac-headphone-amp

 

[xa376]

So would getting these 2 be a good option? My motherboard has an optical out so I plan to run from that to the optical in on the DAC and then from there to the AMP.
http/www.amazon.com/D3-Digital-Converter-Optical-Toslink/dp/B005K2TXMO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1388944447&sr=1-1&keywords=dac
http/www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-07-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CICPMA6/ref=pd_sim_e_5