Sound card amp vs. speaker amps

[kajabla]

Do you think I'd get better sound by putting more of the amplification load on my sound card's amp or on the amps in my speakers?
I have a Xonar DG:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020
and M-Audio BX5a speakers:
http://m-audio.com/products/en_us/StudiophileBX5aDeluxe.html

To rephrase, would it be better to turn the sound card up and the speakers down or to turn the speakers up and the sound card down?

 

[clarkjd]

The amp on that card is for headphones. They generally have higher impedance than speakers. and therefore require less power. I would use the line out of the card to the input of the speakers and put the load on the speaker amps.

 

[kajabla]

So far, I've had the sound card around 10% and the speakers taking it up to fairly loud.

 

[clarkjd]

Do which ever gives you the best sound and control of that sound.

 

[kajabla]

Hm, no best answer option. Odd.

 

[kajabla]

Best answer selected by kajabla.