DIGITAL (TM) Sound? (Score 1)

The vital peice to the puzzle for an OSS/Free set top media box is digital surround sound. I don't think I've ever heard of any freespeech software driver that can output audio using Sony's Digital 5.1/7.1/9.1 format that everybody's reciever/amps use these days. You'd think that some sound card must support it under Linux unless there were patent issues. I wouldn't be surprised if there are patent issues.

As far as I know, Linux is stuck with Hi-Fi analog and that doesn't cut it for the audiophile. In fact, once the NWN Linux client is released, digital surround sound will be the only thing keeping me from booting back to M$.

Please, somebody, prove me wrong and post a link to some sound card that can send Digital (TM) 5.1 audio data to a Digital reciever/amp under Linux.

The other alternative would be to create an alternative open standard for digital surround sound interfaces between PCs, Reciever/Amps, DVD players, and the like. Such a thing would be a great triumph for geekdom over the likes of Sony and M$ in one crushing blow.