2 Audio Problems

[Chubs]

Ok I have 2 audio problems I need solutions too. First I am in no way and audiophile I have horrible hearing from so many years doing metal work so studio quality audio is not the goal here. And I have zero experience with sound cards.

Problem 1
Bought a new 55" LG LED TV and the speakers sound like a 1950s radio lol. Now I have a set of Logitech X550 speakers whose sound quality is fine for me but they do not have digital audio optical inputs. What I want to do (if possible) is buy a sub $100 sound card for my HTPC that I can send the digital optical out from the TV, which is variable, and then out to the Logitech speakers anything more than $100 and I figure I would be better off getting a cheap soundbar. Is that possible and what card should I be getting?


Problem 2
I have always used a set of gaming headphones, which I find are never loud enough when listening to music and then this weekend my dog decided my Plantronics needed a face lift and well they are no more. So from what I have read I may be better off with an amplified sound card and audio headphones with a separate mic. Thus what is the best choice for a sub 100$ sound card, sub $150 headphones and cheap ass mic?

Thanks

[xilocient]

For the TV, have you considered plugging in the Logitechs to the audio out of the TV? It could be that it's just the TV speakers that are crap.

[Chubs]

Yeah I know it is just that the TV speakers are crappy which is expected as the case for the TV is extremely thin so they can only put so much in there for a speaker, problem is the audio out on the TV is optical and there is no input on the Logitech's for optical. Thus I am basically looking to see if I can use a sound card on my HTPC to convert the optical out from the TV to analog out then out put to the speakers.