Pc sound system questions

Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

OK Ive been away from audio for a little while, I kind of got fed up and overwhelmed at all the choices there were for a PC based audio system and I needed a break. Well I'm ready to give it go now. I recently moved into a smaller apartment so the big system had to go anyways. And since i do 75% of my listening while at my computer it actually makes sense to put together a smaller system base around the PC. Heres the quick specs of my PC
AMD 4200x2 processor
DFI Lanparty NF4Ultra-d motherboard
2gigs OCZ Gold ddr500 ram
74gig WD Raptor system drive
300gig WD Caviar SE16 storage drive
ATI AIW 800xl video card
Creative XFI Extreme Music sound card
M-audio Studiopro 4 speakers
CoolerMaster Centurion5 case + SIlverstone ZUES Stf675 power supply
So its a pretty decent setup, but I'm looking for a much higher end sound. I just ordered a new pair of Mackie hr624 active monitors to replace the M-audios. So now what I need is a better source to replace the Creative XFI sound card, the Mackies deserve much better! My only requirement is that it sounds good doesn't cost more than around $500 or so and will let me control the volume from my PC otherwise I'm open to any suggestions. It seems theres a few different options, a pro-sumer sound card like an EMU 1820, M-audio 24/192...etc. A Usb dac such as the Scott Nixon USB tube dac, Apogee mini dac usb...etc or a usb> spdif converter feeding a regular dac. So any opinions on the best way to go for under $500? The sound card option seems like the easiest to implement and would have the right connections to connect up to my pro studio monitors, but it will probably give up sound quality to the other options since it has to use the noisy computer power supply and its inside the noisy case. Any opinions on my best course of action?
thanks

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Topic - Pc sound system questions - Frank25 09:48:46 11/10/06 (12)

Lynx 22 - Triodeuser 16:45:18 11/10/06 (7)

Re: Lynx 22 - Dawnrazor 10:52:53 11/12/06 (6)

That's gotta be a great price - please post back if you find a source - Triodeuser 17:27:47 11/12/06 (5)

Re: That's gotta be a great price - please post back if you find a source - Dawnrazor 18:57:08 11/12/06 (4)

Thanks - - Triodeuser 17:40:27 11/13/06 (3)

Re: Thanks - - Frank25 10:54:31 11/15/06 (2)

Re: Thanks - - Dawnrazor 08:26:27 11/16/06 (0)

I dunno - I'm tri-amping - Triodeuser 18:02:15 11/15/06 (0)

Re: Pc sound system questions - laznos 16:34:12 11/10/06 (0)

Re: Pc sound system questions - digepix 14:20:46 11/10/06 (0)

Fisher 500 reciever with AR ax speakers - eds65gto 13:48:05 11/10/06 (1)

Re: Fisher 500 reciever with AR 3 ax speakers - eds65gto 13:48:37 11/10/06 (0)

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