>> how good is PC audio?
An old message, but I'm just catching up on the thread.
PC audio is as good as you're willing to spend $$$ to make it.
A good sound card can provide as accurate a sound source as
any other digital source, such as a CD, limited only by
the quality of the sound source itself. You also need
good speakers AND a good external amplifier.
I would not expect better than so-so sound from any built-in sound card amplifier, and of course "powered" speakers have their own built-in amplifiers. Some of these can be very good, but none will match the sound from separate hi-quality components.
There's no rule against feeding the output of your sound card into a separate component stereo system of any quality you want to pay for. HOWEVER, good speakers have big magnets and must be located far away from magnetic media (hard disks, say <g>), monitors, etc. Shielded speakers suitable for sitting next to a PC box or monitor are just not going to deliver really hi-fidelity concert-hall sound.
That said, some of the shielded powered speaker sets can come very close, especially at the lower volumes your probably going to want to use at the PC where lower volume sounds loud because you're sitting closer. Cambridge Sound Works, Bose, and Yamaha come to mind.
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