improving sounds

The Sonys are a good choice but I think you need both monitors and headphones. I use headphones mainly for tracking. I don't know if you would get a good mix on headphones alone. Start with the phones and save up for some monitors. About your first question, You should probably disable or uninstall the other sound card. Maybe someone else will chime in on that. The M-box will act as your sound card. And it may cause trouble with ptle.

Yeah I've noticed that reason adapted is a little bit touchy and I have to switch the specified sound cards to get any sound from it. But so far (thankfully) nothing affecting protools.

instead of the Sony's check out the Sennhieser HD280's

Nah Sony's WOO HOO!

everyone i've heard talk about the sony's say that they are really bright and you have to get used to them.

when i bought my 002 last year, I couldn't afford monitors right off, so I bought a pair of sennheiser hd280's to hold me over. granted i was doing very simple projects (acoustic guitars, vocals, keyboards, just enough to learn how to use pro tools) and my mixes came out quite amazing, i must say. i would never do a full-band mix on them, but they definitely held me over till i could afford my monitors. a damn fine set of headphones. if i could afford it, i'd outfit my studio with nothing but those.

Another vote for the HD280 Pro's. I have 2 pair and use one pair in the various studios I work in. They are well worth the money. I let the chief engineer at a radio chain (50+ stations) audition them. He liked them so much, he bought 2 pair for his own personal use. As always, YMMV. Cheers,

Alright awesome thanks guys, atleast now I have options. For future reference, how much would a not bad set of monitors cost?