Need Sound Card Suggestions!

[Vicious]

Hi guys!
I recently got my hands on some niche audio equipments:
Swan M10 and Audio Technica M50x

I am using the onboard audio solution provided on Gigabyte B75MD3H currently mostly for Music.

I would like to go for an upgrade so please:
1.> Suggest a sound card within 10k
2.> What's the difference between a sound card and an external amplifier? Which one should i prefer?

3.> As an another querry, One of my friends needs a soundcard for his Logitech z906 5.1 speaker set. Should he opt for a soundcard or an External Amplifier? Please suggest one for him within 10k

Thanks in advance!

 

[The Incinerator]

For yourself get the Asus Xonar DX for the Swans and the Fiio E11K2 for the AudioTechnicas! So now you got both and you have saved yourself Rs 1000.

Don't spend more on the soundcard since you don't have monitors or very high end speakers that will reveal any deficiencies in your system. DX and E11K2 is the wises thing to do.