Hi all,

If there is one major problem I have come across in Linux, it is most definitely sound support. I have tried everything to get more than 2.1 sound out of my Terratec DMX X-Fire 1024 sound card. Googled my arse off, asked questions. No one knows or no one bothers to reply (same on this forum), so probably it's just that no one knows. And I'm not alone. I guess it's fair to say... if you don't own a Sound Blaster Audigy (or 2 or 2 ZS) you are f*cked. And I am. I had a great sound system and eventhough I have become quite attached to Linux, it is still tempting to dump it. No music really gets on your nerves. Either way it is a major sacrifice... give up Linux or give up music.

So, before I waste a 100 euros on a sound card that really doesn't (shouldn't) need replacing... I am very curious to know what your experiences are with the Audigy 1, Audigy 2 or Audigy 2 ZS. Does sound support work out of the box (I run Mandrake 10 btw) and more importantly: does it play over all your speakers (I have a 4.1 system) without you having to jump through hoops and burp the national anthem? I don't ask much, I just want my mp3s to come from all corners of my room. And sounding great (I have perfect quality mp3s).

Please let me know about your issues or lack thereof. It would also be nice to know if it pays to have an Audigy 2 (or 2 ZS) or if it doesn't improve sound quality over the Audigy 1 at all in Linux.

Thanks,
Willem

This box has an Audigy ES and Mandrake 10.0 Official detected it without
me doing anything other than installing. It gives better sound with my 5.1
speakers than RedHat, Debian, Slackware, Windoze 2000, or Windoze XP.

You should check www.alsa-project.org before buying a sound card, and
see if it's supported. There is one Audigy that is NOT supported, and I
believe it is the ZS - but check, I'm not sure. You should also check the
LQ HCL and see what's posted in there. And then, of course you've already
searched at www.google.com/linux too.