Sound card suggestion

[Rideauman]

Hello:

I currently have an older model Dell computer hooked up to my AVR (Yamaha RXV459) to play music only - no video requirement at all. The existing sound card is a SB Live! Value model. Needless to say, the sound quality is pretty crappy. I have it hooked up with an analogue connection (split for left and right).

What is your suggestion for a better sound card? If I change the connection to digital (i.e. coax - the only open digital connection I have left on the AVR), will I get better sound quality? Note that I'm playing 2-channel music only - I don't have a requirement for 5.1 playback. I've seen the suggestions for the Chaintech AV-710 - however, the issues surrounding the driver availability and only an optical connection (see comment above) concern me.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.