[mythtv-users] What should I look for in a soundcard?

[cromworshipper-mythtvlist at yahoo.com]

Thanks for the insight, Brad.  The reviewers on newegg.com like the M-Audio
cards too.

Hopefully I'm not too far off-topic by bringing up loudspeakers.  But what
connector standards should I be looking for to connect one of these M-Audio
cards to speakers?  Do the standard gamer/computer speakers have the right
connectors (optical? spdif?) for an enthusiast's sound card such as this? 
Does it make sense to connect standard speakers that are advertised for
gamers to one of these cards?

Do you have any thoughts on whether a PCI card or a USB audio device will
result in a better (or at least cleaner) sound?  From what I hear
anecdotally, moving the sound hardware outside of the computer case makes for
much better audio quality.

Based on the ALSA docs, I'm not quite sure if this device:
http://www.krunker.com/2006/02/02/turtle-beach-audio-advantage-roadie/#more-2798
is supported by ALSA:
http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/index.php?vendor=vendor-Turtle_Beach#matrix

John


--- Brad Fuller <bradallenfuller at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 
> Check out: http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/
> for cards that work (or don't work) on ALSA.
> 
> I've always had good luck with cards that use the ICE1712 chip. You
> really won't have problems with noise with cards "in" the computer. At
> least, you shouldn't if it's setup right.  The Delta 66
> (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta66-main.html) has a breakout
> box (uses ICE1712) and I have no problems. I also have a Digital Audio
> Labs CardDeluxe
>
(http://www.digitalaudio.com/DIGITALAUDIO/myarticles.asp?P=5210&S=75&PubID=4401)
> which does not have a breakout box and it's very clean (if you're really
> worried)
> 
> You probably don't want to spend that much, so look at the other M-Audio
> cards here (with suggested pricing):
> http://www.midiman.net/index.php?do=products.list&ID=pciinterfaces.
> The Delta Audiophile 2496 is supported by alsa. You can search the
> linux-audio-user mailing list
> (http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user/) for other
> cards (like Revolution) to see comments on their usage.
> 
> All M-Audio cards are very good. I recommend them.
> 
> brad