I'm using Windows Media Player to play the recordings. I don't have the ability to set the board to digital out. I'm using the S/PDIF output from the board to the digital coax input on the receiver. I presume, therefore, that I'm always in the digital domain until I reach the DAC in the receiver. IOW, I opine that the signal is not suffering quality degradation in the computer, other than during the digitization of the original program material (CD). My bottom line is that despite the [presumed] compromised quality of the onboard audio circuitry, there's no need to upgrade to a high-end audio board as long as I stay in the digital domain. Do you concur, or am I missing something?