I don't really know much about this subject, or the original price, but it's a little over $200 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Sound-Essence-STX-II/dp/B00ONSBF4K
No problem, keep in mind that black friday will fall into that time as well. So there would be a good opportunity to make some very good deals.
Soundcards would be the Asus Essence STX or Sound BlasterX AE-5
My bro has: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Sound-Essence-STX-II/dp/B00ONSBF4K along with the Schiit 2 Modi/Magni Uber, and using spdif out gets a magical sound in that stack.