S/PDIF digital 5.1 sound card needed.

[roorooroo]

I'm building a HTPC at the moment and would like one of the above digital 5.1 sound cards i can connect via an optical cable.

I've seen a few around on fleabay for a few quid (sweex, trust etc). Money's tight at the moment so any cheapo recommendations that output 5.1 would be appreciated.

Cheers, Roo

[MadduckUK]

Asonic C-Media CMI8768+8CH Sound Card - Ebuyer

that one, seriously. been using one for about 14 months now and its great. does 5.1 through an optical cable which is what your after. cheap as chips too

[roorooroo]

Wow cheers MadduckUK, that looks good..and cheap
Works well with optical and proper 5.1 too going by the reviews too.

Nice one, Roo

[G0o5e]

Got one of those cards on order from ebuyer as well. You should be able to get bit-perfect audio using third party drivers available from here

cmediadrivers - Open Source WDM DriversÂrubbishfor C-Media 8738/8768 based soundcards

there discussed further here Homebrew CMI 8738 drivers - Hydrogenaudio Forums

[G0o5e]

Both the aureon cards from scan will do bit-perfect on the spdif if i'm not mistaken. The 7.1 uses a via chipset and should have better dacs than the cmedia 8738 /8768 cards.

[roorooroo]

Cheers GOo5e...most helpful. Think i will go for the cmedia and those homemade drivers