Soundcard advice

[Stephen]

I'm looking for some soundcard advice. I have the Audioengine A5+ speakers with my desktop. For purposes of the soundcard, I use the computer for video editing and listening to music ( a wide variety - source being iTunes, various CDs, and internet (radio, Utube, etc.) about 80% of the time, and gaming about 20% of the time. Most of the time I listen to the speakers, though occasional I do use headphones.

I'm currently looking at the Asus Essence STX II and the HT Claro Halo, though I'm open to other soundcards. Advice?

[CA_Steve]

If you are looking to spend $150-$200, why not avoid the internal soundcard and get an external DAC? Run optical from your mobo to the DAC and then line out from the DAC to your speakers and/or use the DAC's headphone jack.