help need: PC external Audio Recording card / headphone amp card with xlr mic input
 

I need an external sound card, and it needs to have these features:
XLR microphone input (for my shure 55s)
High quality Headphone output/amp 24bit dac+ (to power my Sennheiser hd 650's)
I prefer usb, but fire wire can be an option
Will be running on a windows 7/8 pc, 32bit for now, 64 bit in the future

Purpose for the card: Gaming, Music, Movies, Chatting with friends. I will not really being doing any recording with it other then Voice chatting online; Thus I value having the best Headphone signal possible over anything else, but it still needs an xlr input.

Budget: I'd like to stay in the $120ish range, but may consider up to $200. And I am talking ebay/used prices; feel free to suggest higher priced hardware, I may find a deal on it online.

I thought I could get something like an Avid Mbox 2 or even a Line 6 tone port to do this, but i really don't need to pay for extra recording software i'm not gonna use, I just need solid driver support... which Avid seems flaky with once a product gets a little older... Am i wrong?
any suggestions?

Thanks for your time.

go to Tom Lee .. they have a range with the prices u specified

presonus audiobox usb, good build quality, really good sound, cheap, and won't need to upgrade unless you're taking music production seriously and need more inputs for $160, but try waiting for holiday sales if you're looking for cheaper
http://www.long-mcquade.com/?page=pr...roductsID=5449

Sounds like you're looking for a Creative E-Mu 0404 USB

+1 for Presonus.
I bought a Firebox a few years ago, works great!
Not sure if it's been replaced by the 'Audio Box' or not, but here's the one I bought:
PreSonus

Will it have enough power to driver my 300ohm HD650's?