Ubuntu – How to enable 5.1 channel playback on a Realtek ALC887-VD chip

X-Fis (even the USB ones) work. They didn't used to but ALSA added drivers for them over a year ago and most people now don't seem to have an issue with them. I know the first review of one on Newegg complains about Linux support but seriously, there used to be threads complaining about them every day, that's fizzled off into nothing.

You'll find with most of the better consumer audio devices that a lot of the special hardware (read: CMSS-3D, EAX, etc) requires special Windows-only software. You'll be able to hear sound and you'll be able to hear it in 5.1 setups with DTS (if that applies) but you won't get some of the fancier effects.

Alternatively, you can use something as simple as a HDMI connection (if your Mini-ATX board has one, or through a graphics card) and port that into an AV receiver. Lots more money but much better sound and equaliser options (IMO).

To set up the correct mapping in HDMI 5.1 sound when the channels are configured incorrectly you should try the following in the command line

1. pulseaudio -k
2. gksu gedit /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/profile-sets/extra-hdmi.conf
3. Find the HDMI-surround section there in that file. Switch the incorrect speakers in channel-mapping and save the file.
4. Run speaker-test -c6 -twav
5. If it is still incorrect, go back to step 1.

Tested on Ubuntu 12.04 with an NVIDIA ION (zotac motherboard).