Using Mac as Entertainment Center

I posted this question before, but not only did nobody respond, it appears that nobody even looked at the thread. And, since I really couldn't find a relevant prior thread on the board, well... here I go again.

I am interested in setting up a 5.1 system on my iMac G4 15" and/or my PowerBook G4. I am looking for experience-based information on doing this, including relevant 3rd party hardware solutions, etc.

I really have no idea if USB 1.1's 12 Mbps is adequate to push 5-, 6-, or 7.1 and/or AC3 audio data to an external box. My gut instinct is that isn't quite up to the task. And since that's what my iMac G4 has (and it will be my primary machine, since it's right now set up in my bedroom as an over-glorified DVD player), I'm guessing a FireWire product would be the better solution.

Thoughts? Opinions? Slings and Arrows?

Anybody?


Thanks in advance!