InfiniteBiscuits wrote:The recommendation for the HT Omega Striker is a bit confusing, if I am going for a 2.1 or 2.0 system, why choose a 7.1 card over a 5.1 if I just have to adaptor it down? ( I ask this because I do not know)
If you are referring to my recommendation, then I suggested the striker as a possible sound card option for sub $100 so you can meet your budget if spending $300-$350 on powered studio monitors (such as the krk Rokit 6s if you can find them on sale). However, if you were willing to spend twice that on a sound card, I would recommend the
HT Omega Claro Halo or the
Asus Xonar Essence ST. The HT Omega Claro Halo is the best sounding consumer sound card I've come across for analog stereo playback (haven't heard the Asus). Both have dedicated RCA outs which are perfect for connecting to studio monitors (though the ones on the HT Omega are a bit better quality in terms of durability anyway). Both include an on board headphone amp chip so you can easily drive more demanding headphones if you've got any.
The HT Omega also has socketed op amps (the chips that amplify the analog signal produced by the DAC). This way, you can spend a few $$ on aftermarket op amps and tailor the sound a bit to your preference. Some companies, like National Semiconductor will actually send you sample op amps for a small shipping charge (~$10). But there is nothing wrong with the op amps that come stock.