Auzentech Prelude 7.1 is better than X-Plosion. But if you can wait, Auzentech Home Theater 7.1 1.3 HDMI card will be a killer. Here's the specs:
Audio Interface Creative PCI Express X-Fi audio processor
HDMI Inteface Silicon Image HDMI 1.3 chipset
PC Interface PCI Express 1.1 Compliant Interface
Supported audio resolution 16/24-bit / up to 192kHz (Stereo playback)
and sampling rate 16/24-bit / up to 96.0khz (Multi channel playback)
16/24-bit / up to 96kHz (Recording)
OS Supports Microsoft® Windows Vista™ or Windows XP
Audio
Level 3.0Vrms, +12.0dBu max, deviation +/- 0.1dB
Dynamic Range 114.0 dB A-weighted (1kHz @ -60dBFS, 24-bit/48kHz) for Analog outputs
102.0 dB A-weighted (1kHz @ -60dBFS, 24-bit/48kHz) for Analog inputs
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise 0.001% A-weighted (@ -3dBFS) for Analog outputs
0.003% A-weighted (@ -3dBFS) for Analog inputs
Frequency Response 10Hz to 22kHz, +/- 0.02 dB @ 48kHz
10Hz to 42kHz, +/- 0.02 dB @ 96kHz
10Hz to 94kHz, +/- 3dB @ 192kHz, Stereo
Impedance Headphone load impedance 16Ω~ 600Ω
Line output impedance 330Ω
Line/Aux input impedance 10KΩ
Microphone Supports Stereo and Balanced Mode
Connectivity
HDMI 1 x HDMI Type A output connector
1 x HDMI Type A input connector
1 x Internal Video connection
Analog Multi I/O Cable 4 x 1/8" Stereo mini phone jack for Line outputs
(D-SUB) 1 x 1/8" TRS mini phone jack for MIC input
1 x 1/8" Stereo mini phone jack for Line input
Headphone 1 x 1/8" Stereo mini Phone jack for Headphone output
Front Audio1 x 10-pin (5x2) Header with Intel HD Audio Compatible
Digital I/O 1 x RCA/TOSLINK Combo jack for S/PDIF transmission
1 x 2-pin S/PDIF input connector
Extension40-pin Extension Header (for certain Creative product extension)
HDMI
HDMI HDMI 1.3, HDCP1.1
VIDEO- Supports deep color 30/36-bit color depth
- Resolutions up to 1080p @ 60Hz or 720p/1080i @ 120Hz
- Color space conversion between RGB, YCbCr 4:4:4 and 4:2:2
- CEA-861D video resolutions
- Standard PC resolutions
AUDIO- Supports IEC60958 2-channel PCM or IEC61937 compressed audio
(Dolby® Digital, DTS, etc.)
- Supports 8 channels, 192 kHz PCM or High bit rate audio
(Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby® Digital TrueHD, DTS-HD)
http://www.auzentech.com/site/company/press.phpBased on the articles I read, you couldn't hear much difference between flac and quality encoded mp3s unless you have a high end pair of speakers and power amps.
As an alternative, you may want to consider Logitech Transporter or Logitech Squeezebox+Musical Fidelity external DACs. Links:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/3163&cl=us,enhttp://www.stereophile.com/mediaservers/207slim/