[Techathy]

Could someone recommend a soundcard that will output with a reasonable analogue line level?

Right now I'm using an on-board intel HDA soundcard & the output level is very low in linux (-27db with all the volume sliders on max compared -3db in windows) & this is causing real issues with my amp.

[poofyhairguy]

Two things:

1. This is my favorite Linux sound card:

http://www.diamondmm.com/XS71.php

Buy it here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6829111001

The nicer one is nice too:

http://www.diamondmm.com/XS71DDL.php

2. Do you have everything cranked up in alsamixer?

[Techathy]

Any reason for using that particular brand of CMI8768(+) sound card? They seem to be rather hard/expensive to get in the UK & I can get alternatives for less than 1/2 the price.

[poofyhairguy]

Any reason for using that particular brand of CMI8768(+) sound card? They seem to be rather hard/expensive to get in the UK & I can get alternatives for less than 1/2 the price.

Because it works out of the box 100%- just select it as the output and go.

With other cards (if they work) you usually have to specify custom settings in Linux (aka difficult).

I wouldn't steer you wrong, I use that card in my own box. I am a big fan of paying extra for hardware for things to work properly (I have been a hackintosher for years).

If you can get a different CMI8768, then go for it. Might be under a different brand in Europe. A USB card would be another guaranteed plug and play option.

[Techathy]

poofyhairguy, thanks for the info. I picked up an unbranded CMI8768+ sound card & it worked out of the box with very good results & importantly a good analog signal level

[bobo1on1]

FYI cmedia sound chips are very well supported on linux.

[poofyhairguy]

poofyhairguy, thanks for the info. I picked up an unbranded CMI8768+ sound card & it worked out of the box with very good results & importantly a good analog signal level

Glad to hear.

You made me feel bad because of this thread, so I actually bought a cheap(er) Via card to see how well it works too.

[Techathy]

Don't feel bad & it wasn't the price of the card its self that made it expensive (it wasn't the cheapest but with 5 years warranty I'd not be to bothered about the additional cost) but rather the import tax on these items can be very harsh. As all venders I found were international it made a rather reasonable price at the the vender potentially silly expensive after import tax.