Hi folks,

My current setup is a Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD internal sound card, with a 5-year-old 1st gen Schiit Magni amp and Sennheiser HD 650 cans. I'm happy with this setup. I use it for PC gaming and listening to music (I listen to a wide variety of genres, classical, electronic, metal, trip-hop, classic rock...).

For various reasons, I'm thinking about getting rid of the Sound Blaster. At the time I got it, my mind was set on retaining access to Creative Labs' EAX technology, even though it was already on its way out back then. I believe this is truly dead tech now so I no longer care to keep the sound card.

I'm looking at replacing it with a Schiit Modi 3 and connecting it to my computer's onboard sound using an optical connection. Then it'll go into my Magni. I expect selling the sound card will pay for most of the DAC.

So I have a few questions stemming from this plan:

• I don't think I'll lose anything of value by replacing the Sound Blaster, but am I wrong?
• I guess I'll be able to run comparisons between an optical and USB connection to the Modi, but do you have recommendations or gotchas about that?
• Is there any reason to upgrade my Magni 1 to a Magni 3, bearing in mind I have no use currently for the preamp output or the hi/lo gain switch and have no problems with the old Magni 1?

Thanks!