I am currently using usb as output, but have also found a HDMI switch on the net with a tos-link digital sound out.
I have not seen any soundcards yet with HDMI output. There are video cards coming out now with HDMI output, and I've read that they're supposed to be able to intercept the S/PDIF output (from the motherboard or soundcard) and send that audio through the HDMI. But I wonder if anyone has actually gotten this to work.
Can you be more specific as to what devices you've found using HDMI.
Thanks.