You are right Peter - I have not been able to find anyone with the same problem - which I find quite puzzling.
Neither have I managed to find anyone using the same combination (Hiface/Stello) - in order to verify that it (the combination) could work successfully.
I could try what you suggest going direct from motherboard to Stello. It accepts up to 96khz on RCA - but I
don't think I can set it hard to 96khz in anyway(?).
I have tried though, and succeeded, playing hirez (ks) (88,2 and 96) by firewire to an external M-Audio Firewire 410 and then to the
Stello RCA. I can see from the FW410 that the correct sample rate is going through. But that might not prove that the hiface is the one to blame?
Also note: When using hiface/Stello - with all media players, I see that the files are being played and there are no error messages, just no sound.
/Jon