DAC vs Decoder vs External Audio Card (?)

[Midevil Chaos]

LET ME EXPLAIN  MY INITIAL QUERY
Is there a difference between "DAC vs Decoder vs External Audio Card"? I need an actual external audio card, but I don't know enough to make an informed decision when I search Amazon.ca. For example, is a DAC converter OR a decoder actually the same as an external audio card? I am looking at different models, but am not 100% if they are external audio cards or just "converters / decoders", whatever that would mean. Also, how much CAD$ should I spend to get a decent external audio card that goes from toslink to usb?

I was thinking about buying this one here, so I could use the toslink ports on my mobo and soundbar:
eSynic Digital to Analog Audio Decoder 3 Port Optical SPDIF Toslink to L/R RCA 3.5mm Stereo Audio with Toslink Optical Switcher Splitter with 6.5ft OD 4.0 Cable Support DTS Dolby-AC3


LET ME EXPLAIN  MY PROBLEM IN FULLER DETAIL
See, for some reason, when I install Windows 10 on whatever device I own, the sound ends up getting out of sync with the video after 6 months or so (and re-installing Windows just for that is a REAL pain. Nor am I trying to figure out why. I am pretty sure the issue is the integrated sound card. Realtek, I heard, is a pain (laptop). Not sure about SupremeFX in my mobo though). Doesn't matter the medium. Youtube, Vimeo, Dailymotion. You name it, it gets out of sync - often after 10 minutes or so. For my laptop, I bought this one:

TROND Aluminum External USB Sound Card Audio Adapter with 3.5mm Stereo Headphone and Mono Microphone Jacks, C-Media CM100B Chipset, Black

Anyhow. It works flawlessly, and my videos never lag on my laptop anymore. That being said, I need something for my computer, as I use a toslink from my soundbar. I already fiddled and made some modifications, to no avail thus far. I know enough to know this should have worked (in theory - but hey, if you have other ideas so I don't waste money, I am open to them):

Switch off HPET 
> Device Manager > System Devices > High Precision Event Timer

Disable secondary audio driver if there is one 
Windows Key > Device Manager > Audio Inputs and Outputs > Speakers etc.

Windows Key > Sound > Properties (Playback Tab) 
(Disable) > Allow application to take exclusive control of this device
(Disable) > Give exclusive mode applications priority

Windows Key > Sound > Properties (Playback Tab)
> Right Click (properties) > Advanced
> Change Default Format to 16 bit, 192000 Hz (Studio Quality)

[rice guru]

1 hour ago, Midevil Chaos said:

That being said, I need something for my computer, as I use a toslink from my soundbar.

So right now all you need is a digital (usb) to digital (toslink) converter?

[Midevil Chaos]

7 hours ago, rice guru said:

So right now all you need is a digital (usb) to digital (toslink) converter?

I think so? I am not sure. Basically, an external audio card, so I don't need to use the onboard audio which causes lag.

[geo3]

12 hours ago, rice guru said:

So right now all you need is a digital (usb) to digital (toslink) converter?

If that's all he needs than this works well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085XPRSGM I have one in it does it's job perfectly.  However this is just digital to digital, it doesn't have a DAC in it. So if you need to hook up analogue speakers or headphones then get something else. 

[Midevil Chaos]

8 hours ago, geo3 said:

If that's all he needs than this works well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085XPRSGM I have one in it does it's job perfectly.  However this is just digital to digital, it doesn't have a DAC in it. So if you need to hook up analogue speakers or headphones then get something else. 

It's out of stock and more expensive than the one I am looking at. I realized that when my AV runs, it starts lagging. Issue could be AV, but at this point, not trying to fix that lol. Need my AV. So, hopefully the device I will buy should fix the issue altogether.
 

[Midevil Chaos]

Going with this one: USB DAC - DigitalLife External 7.1 USB Sound Box with Dual-Mic and S/PDIF IN x 1/ OUT x 1 For PC Gaming and Home Entertainment

More than what I wanted to pay. But, if it's from a semi-known company (and has good reviews), I assume it should perform better than the Chinese knockoffs I saw on Amazon.