Sound Card for Home Theater

[voyagerfan99]

I'm converting my old desktop into a HTPC. I'm looking for a 7.1 card to use with my theater receiver. Which card should I get and how would I connect it to my receiver? A PCI card would be preferred, but PCI-e x1 is acceptable as well.

This is my receiver:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120133

 

[diduknowthat]

I suggest you use a either optical or digital coaxial to connect your computer to the receiver. This way you can take advantage of the built in DAC of your receiver. In that case if your motherboard onboard audio has digital out you can use that. If not then any sound card with digital output would do fine.

 

[yoyojoe]

well some people tend not to like the internal dacs in there receivers

well this is my favorite sound card the ASUS Xonar Essence STX