Since the title to this thread was "Let's talk pc-audio", I'd like to remark on what I've found so far in my search for better sound via my PC.
I'm a retiree and an avid PC gamer. For years I was quite happy with the very inexpensive Logitech 5.1 powered speaker system. Then, after upgrading to a 680ftw GPU, I decided that I missed my past audio obsessions, so I started shopping. First, I got lucky twice on the first day, finding a refurbished Sony 7.1ch receiver, and a Polk Audio 12", 300watt powered subwoofer, both of them for $300 delivered-and an added 3year warrantee on the receiver included! Then I hit Craigslist looking for used speakers and again got very lucky. The ad was for a pair of vintage KEF dual-8"driver mini-towers. When I arrived, I found out that the gentleman was an amateur speaker repair guy, and regularly sold repaired speakers. So, I left his house with the pair of KEFs and a pair of B&W 601 se's for $400 total. So, I'm now sitting in front of both sets sitting on my very large desktop, and all for less than $800 for cables, speaker wire,etc.
What is curious, to me anyway, is that I couldn't find much of anyone who replaced their sound card/PC speakers with a receiver/bookshelf speakers. And old receiver will work, as long as you're happy with stereo only. This Sony is HDMI-capable, but since I'm only interested in stereo, SPDIF works fine, as would RCA jacks.
Another thing I learned was that today's digital receivers pretty much all have great sound, because they all use the same circuit boards. The price differences between my $150 refurb.($230 regular price) and a $600 Denon or Yamaha or...is the added features for HT use, primarily. Some of the higher-end receivers/amplifiers have separate mono-amps for each channel, so upping the price, but from what I've read at many HT/music enthusiast websites, you'd be hard-pressed to actually hear the difference. So, rather than spending more for a receiver when the cheaper one has the features you want, I would heartily recommend you look at better speakers, because they definitely do NOT sound the same. hehe.
Here's a pic of the setup. Sub and receiver under the desk.