We don't have any of those kind of giant super music stores in OZ. As far as music stores go it is more of a bunch of little stores scattered around.They don't have the buying power or the turnover to compete like that.
WoW!! $199 for a Delta 44. I was quoted $700 last week here in OZ!!... I'm still not sure, the lynx 4 in 4 out looks really nice with up to 200MHz sampling rate and apogee type converters. But you can imagine what that would cost over here!!
Sorry for not getting back Frank.. I seem to have missed this thread. But I would look at wavelab if I was you as it is the best ripper (would do 15X with that 56x CDrom you have. It also has the best MP3 algorithms.
I can vouch for the need to go from SB to a real card... My delta 66 sounds great... and the Omni I/O is real cool too.... Check out my tune in the mixing clinic....