Can anyone rec a sound card with optical output ?

Search the archive. Also search under USB interfaces.

M-Audio makes a card called the Audiophile 2496 which has spdif digital I/O as a feature. It's a PCI interface and is around $150 online. You can see it on their site here. No experience with it to speak of. No knowledge of cards with an optical output either.

Good luck.

Marco

Hoontech makes add-on daughterboards for the ubiquitous and cheap Soundblaster LIVE series of cards. It's what I use in my computer - SB Live to CI Audio VDA1 DAC via toslink. Soundcard + daughter board should set you back no more than $70 total. It's not a Cadillac solution, but I'm very happy with it. It adds both toslink + coaxial ins and outs.

Just get an MAudio Sonica. Heck, you want one, email me. I'll ship you the one I have for $20. Its a USB Audio device that has an connection for a toslink out. The software is a bit buggy on my XP box (system sounds don't always play). Once in a hundred times on MM I have to hit play twice to get sound.