Dedicated Sound Card VS AVR via HDMI

[scoyne88]

I can't seem to find any direct comparison, and the difference in audio quality may be so small that it doesnt even matter, but anyway:
What will provide better audio quality for stereo music, a dedicated stereo sound card (such as the Audiotrak Prodigy HD2) or the HDMI out on my video card ran to my Onkyo TX-SR608 (has Burr-Brown DACs (PCM1690))?? Im building a new HTPC, is it even going to make a difference?

If it matters for two channel listening I have the TX-SR608 Bi-Amped to two Polk Monitor 70s.

 

[sholling]

For my home office I go optical out from my computer to my receiver. For my HTPC I use HDMI but that motherboard has decent on-board audio.

 

[jinjuku]

With your setup you can do well with the HDMI <> AVR. You have a few speaker upgrade cycles before the AVR becomes the weakest link.

My Sig has my 2.0 setup if you want to take a look.