I have the m-audio 1010lt and I use the spdif out to my digital speakers. The m-audio out replicates the out to 1/2 and the spdif. I use the 1/2 out to my headphone rackmount which allows for monitoring what is going to the speakers.
Depends on the way your audio card is set up. I always open my audio card after loading Sonar to, as per somewhere I read on a sonar page, allow the interface to sync. Sync, probably isn't the right term, but it works for me. I have noticed, (since I switch around my audio specs every now and then. You know 44.1, 48, 96, and buffering) that my card will track audio specs to proper settings that sonar is set to.
I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO GET SONAR TO WORK THE WAY YOU WANT. Sometimes it requires a learning curve, sometimes it doesn't.
Happy Sonaring,
MJ