Having successfully made a single tubed stereo soundcard for computers (model AX4B-533), Aopen has announced a 5.1 channel suround sound, three tubed version. AOpen's VIA VT8188A motherboard is based on the VIA K8T400M chipset and is equipped with the VIA VT8235 Southbridge. While there are three memory slots that can be fitted with DDR333, the part more interesting to music lovers is in employing vacuum tube amplification for 5.1 surround sound. Like AOpen's hybrid AX4B-533 motherboard released in June of this year, the VIA VT8188A employs ELNA Capacitor for tube power supply, Cardas copper wires for analog output, REL MultiCap capacitors, Vishay resistors, and Sovtek 6922 dual triode tube. No pricing mentioned at this time.
