Hi,

I know this has been kicked around in some threads before but I wasn't able to find something that answered all of my questions.

I got tired of laptop speakers and decided to buy a good set, so I went with the Klipsh Pro-Media GMX 5.1 (realizing that while not the best in the world, they suit my needs). The speakers accept optical and coax digital signals, as well as analog (but surround only in digital). I would like to get an off-board sound card, since the on-board sound is crammed right between my hard drive and memory, so any time the hard drive searches I hear clicks and there are whines with every screen refresh.

I would really like to utilize the surround capabilities of the speakers (e.g. DVDs, certain games). However, I'm also looking for something harder to find: Linux compatibility (2.6 kernel). The machine that I'm intending to use dual-boots with Windows (where I would do all of the gaming) but being able to watch movies and listen to music while in Linux would be excellent. Recording is not an issue at all -- I am only looking for playback. (While I enjoy music, I am by no means an artist.)

So, with that in mind, does anyone have any recommendations? I've looked at the Soundblaster series (Extigy and Audigy 2 NX) but what I've read indicates that with their sampling rate fixed at 48kHz, it's not a great option for most listening (though drivers in Linux do appear to exist, at least for the Extigy and so probably for the NX). I also looked at the M-Audio Sonica Theater 7.1, which seems fine -- except for probable complete lack of Linux support (though it may work with the standard ALSA drivers and USB sound module -- that isn't entirely clear).

Thanks for your time and consideration!
--jmtuley

I got an M-Audio Ozone, which is basically a midi keyboard with an integrated usb sound card, and I had the good surprise to find it working in linux (Debian based UserLinux, kernel 2.6)
I also have a Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB, and I think I got it working in linux, I will have to double check.

mat

The Terratec looks like a pretty good option, if you got it working in Linux. How's the quality on it? While I would like the sound to be of the best quality I can get reasonably, I've spent some time around powertools and guns and have experienced minor hearing degredation. (Not serious, but just enough to be noticeable.) So while I can tell the difference between, eg. 128kbps MP3 vs 160kbps MP3 vs 160kbps (q6) Ogg Vorbis, the differences between various mid to mid-high range soundcards is likely to be lost on me.

Besides, I'm a college student. Money is not one of the things that I have in great quantities.

Thanks for your suggestions!!

--jmtuley