For a good number of years I have been using Microsoft Soundsystem speakers in USB mode to listen to audio on my PC. One of the things that has annoyed me over this time is that the volume produced by these speakers is evry limited. Certainly it cannot fill my fairly small study. I have tried the same speakers attached to the built-in soundcard, AC 97, on my motherboard, but the result is pretty much the same. However when I connect the speakers to my iBook there is a huge difference in potential volume available. ( I am as sure as I can be that i have done everything with the volume control, mixer etc)

Firstly, I wonder if anyone can explain to me why this might be so?

Secondly, I am looking forward to upgrading, I assume, to a new soundcard and speakers system for the PC. Could anyone recommend a combination to me?

Most of my music collection is encoded in Flac. I listen to both classical and rock music. I'm hoping to find something that will certainly give me greater overall volume, but will also give greater quality of audio reproduction. I am not interested in surround sound so 2:1 speaker system is preferable. Really just looking for quality and decent volume.

What do you guys use that you know well and has worked in these areas for you?

Thanks

Tourmalet

Well, there's no reason why soundcards should have the same volumes of output. As far as I know there are no decent quality speakers and sound cards that don't produce decent volume.
How much do you want to pay? You could try a Griffin powerwave which is a sound card and amplifier, and you can connect speakers directly.
http://www.computersandmusic.com/xcgi/Soft...html?E+mystore1
I go the sound card->dac->amplifer route, which is more expensive.