In the XBMC git the channels map are not set when using pulseaudio. Therefore multi channel sound like 5.1 surround is in wrong speaker layout. There is a patch available: http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/13211 This one is working perfect for me, perhaps it could be included into portage.
Created attachment 324266 [details, diff] Pulseaudio patch The patch taken from http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/13211
Created attachment 324268 [details] Ebuild with added patch The ebuild which is using the patch
Comment on attachment 324268 [details] Ebuild with added patch --- xbmc-9999.ebuild 2012-09-18 17:57:19.000000000 +0200 +++ - 2012-09-19 14:45:53.347695710 +0200 @@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ src_prepare() { epatch "${FILESDIR}"/${PN}-9999-nomythtv.patch epatch "${FILESDIR}"/${PN}-9999-no-arm-flags.patch #400617 + epatch "${FILESDIR}"/${PN}-pulseae.patch # The mythtv patch touches configure.ac, so force a regen rm -f configure
there's very little patching that we're doing to the live code for now. we'd rather let upstream sort things out. you can use /etc/portage/patches in the mean time.