Overall Best 7.1 Sound Card

Side note, PCIE x1 interface is preferable, but not entirely required.

*sigh*

Surround headsets are a gimmick. Always were and always will be. Simply too many sacrifices in design to really warrent spending a lot on a soundcard.

The answer the OP though, the top 7.1 soundcards are the Auzentech Home Theater HD, and ASUS Xonar Phoebus.

There is no clear "best". If there was,it would hav no competition. But, check sound blaster or xonar cards.

Not completley true. The virtual 7.1 headsets offer some surround feeling without losing any quality. The ones with actual surround speakers often hav some quality sacrificed to keep the price low (which is why they are generally only available in 5.1), but some (usually a bit more expensive) still retain high quality and rarely audiophile quality (the latter extremely expensive).

I'm partial towards the Phoebus at this moment, simple plug an play versus the Auzentech I would need an adapter, although I have read about Battlefield 3 lag issues whilst using it. Now, Asus being a top brand and all I would assume these to be resolved, but does anyone know if they still have issues with it?