I have a soundblaster live! value card in my RedHat 9.0 linux server (an ALR evolution 6x6). The soundcard is currently working just fine, but this particular version of the SB live! doesn't have digital coax outputs. I would really like this output option so that I can connection the server digitally to my home stereo for a cleaner sound and normalized volume level (with respect to other sources on the home stereo).

I've found the Hoontech SB DB-III sound card add-on for the Soundblaster Live! It adds toslink optical and digital coax I/O to the soundblaster card. It is a cheap fix for my needs at only $34.

However, I'm not sure if the digitial output will be enabled by default in my version of linux, or if I can even enable it. I'd like to KNOW it will work before I buy it... because there may be other supported options for a soundcard with digital coax output that are supported by defult.

Any feedback you may have on this configuration or other supported soundcards with digital coax outputs would be appreciated.

Thanks
-Russ