Sorry if wrong place to post, but need your feedback as some of you do have HTPC + AVR, so here goes...

Connection/setup:
HTPC using onboard MoBo chipset, digital out to SR-875.

By right, HTPC feeds digital signal to AVR, which only then gets converted to analog.
Technically, the sound should be clean from source (FLAC, foobar2k, Mobo, 'digital' cable) to AVR, as it's all digital.
However, my FLAC sounds 'strained', like speaker gonna pecah.... ??

1. Do I need a good soundcard like SoundBlaster X-fi Xtreme Audio? But shouldn't the result be the same as I will still tap the signal from digital out of the soundcard to my AVR? (I know the sound will be better if you connect speakers directly to the soundcard, compared to Mobo)
2. I'm using RCA cable instead of proper Digital Coax, which will have to wait for now (ok, being el cheapo here...). Again, shouldn't result be the same as it's Digital signal being transmitted? (similar principal in other thread comparing CapAyam HDMI against super expensive HDMI).

Anyone experienced this? Suggestion?
Thanks.

RCA cables and digital RCA coax cables are different.

coax cables have a 75ohm impedance which is supposed to be used with SPDIF.

dont be cheap. go get urself a proper cable. it could solve ur problems

someone poisoned me b4

he told me since u gave so much money into your whatever system. why dont just give it an a least proper cable. u nid them to full utilize your expensive systems

I know...
Ok, let me try to connect using optical out from HTPC to AVR tonight with my QED Optical.
If it works, then for sure the cable.

practice makes perfect!!

Just to update that I've solved the distortion problem, learned from head-fi.org, and here's how....

Downloaded WASAPI.dll for foobar and install in the 'Component' directory.
In foobar 'Preference', go to 'Playback', under 'Ouput' set Output Device to WASAPI xxxxxxx. In my case, it's WASAPI : Realtek Digtal Output (Realtek High Definition Audio).

I've lost the thread, but it's something about Windows Audio Sesion API (WASAPI), a new feature of Vista, allowing unaltered playback from source (in this case my FLAC) straight to the defined Output Device (example above) via foobar, without passing though the Window Mixer.

Case close for me.