From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Jan 24 21:45:41 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3EDE21065670; Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:45:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mavbsd@gmail.com) Received: from mail-fx0-f226.google.com (mail-fx0-f226.google.com [209.85.220.226]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9C5188FC08; Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:45:40 +0000 (UTC) Received: by fxm26 with SMTP id 26so486385fxm.13 for ; Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:45:39 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:sender:message-id:date:from :user-agent:mime-version:to:cc:subject:references:in-reply-to :content-type:content-transfer-encoding; bh=rcYHoSN/Vq+P+c3cBbd6bi+yJGrFxh5AL3C0k4y/TNE=; b=pstD0Yxa9mWFHNKBZp5lqwxaHArmN/Liig+gQqRORlws/GolG/Xsm7+/Yj0MRNhgi7 iV5HosqcsUIWlmIoFvo7Zk1B84AACKP3V1Zu8MOYCGnWmfv24CekFVI8pLF6/VCFBjpo HFP4BZFnEscNHP4/NZwk3pwjaFG4P3Xh3YiuE= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=sender:message-id:date:from:user-agent:mime-version:to:cc:subject :references:in-reply-to:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=vRg9UNIANKibgAXXT63R5GHchzTVxU7DMU45OWlqw9N4NujSJ1khjqbz61mwLkLnbC e/DH3flJkR5Lodk5fbBKb4AkEZOshlSQGJMucPkoifm5y94Q3Emrys9mtvjnBk8YZMuA jQ6XwzqowTfH2L+Ml6UCrW0tXRqKkqOPdjrRY= Received: by 10.223.75.66 with SMTP id x2mr4175164faj.7.1264369539445; Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:45:39 -0800 (PST) Received: from mavbook.mavhome.dp.ua (pc.mavhome.dp.ua [212.86.226.226]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id 15sm2407944fxm.14.2010.01.24.13.45.38 (version=SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:45:38 -0800 (PST) Sender: Alexander Motin Message-ID: <4B5CBF4B.2040205@FreeBSD.org> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:44:43 +0200 From: Alexander Motin User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.23 (X11/20091212) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "O. Hartmann" References: <1264364581.00211056.1264351201@10.7.7.3> In-Reply-To: <1264364581.00211056.1264351201@10.7.7.3> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: PCIe audio cards: what is tob be preferred with FreeBSD 8.0/9-CURRENT? X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:45:41 -0000 O. Hartmann wrote: > Well, > At this very moment I utilise a M-Audio 5.1 PCI-audio board with which > I'm really satisfied. My next box doesn't have PCI slots at all (ASUS > P6T6-WS Revolution) and due to the fact I'm using Windows 7 sometimes > for recreational gaming, I'd like to have a moderate expensive audio > board with the workstation which is supported by FreeBSD 8/9. In the > past - means two or three ywars ago, I had problems with Soundblaster > PCIe boards, so I was recommended avoiding those and choosing the more > elabotrated M-Audio cards for the PCI bus. > At this moment, I look for the Soundblaster X-Fi range of PCIe cards, > but I'm not sure whether they are supported by FreeBSd 8/9. Any > suggestions? I would first test on-board HDA codec, placed on that motherboard. They are free and usually work with FreeBSD just out of the box, using snd_hda driver. Now snd_hda and snd_uaudio are only two drivers supporting multichannel playback. If you need analog connection, snd_hda can usually provide multichannel 24bit/192kHz playback. But also it supports digital SPDIF I/O, including AC3/DTS pass-through. Together with SPDIF-connected external audio receiver, even simple HDA codec could become very interesting high-quality choice. Personally I am completely fulfilled with combination of simple Realtek HDA codec, digitally connected via SPDIF to Marantz SR4001 receiver, loaded to the full-sized Eltax 7.1 speaker set. Previously I was using Creative Audigy2 ZS, but now it just collecting dust in my table. It works, but I really don't need it. PS: If you want to look cool, you may use optical SPDIF connection. :) -- Alexander Motin