Comment 44 for bug 148097

although I am on a HP dv9000 series laptop, this is the only bug I've been able to find which matches my quest for HDMI Audio

Specs: Linux 2.6.27-7-generic (intrepid 8.10 Beta)
GPU : NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600

these are my aplay -L results

alejandro@alek-ubuntu:~$ aplay -L
front:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, CONEXANT Analog
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, CONEXANT Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, CONEXANT Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, CONEXANT Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, CONEXANT Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, CONEXANT Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia
    HDMI Audio Output
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)

and aplay -l

alejandro@alek-ubuntu:~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 1: Conexant Digital [Conexant Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

I'll try tinkering too and let you all know what I find out...

P.D. ... I agree with you tonym that this sounds promising.... I've been waiting so long for this