It seems we have a winner. I moved /etc/modprobe.conf to
/etc/modprobe.d/snd-nm256.modprobe and switched gstreamer to use esd instead of
alsa. Then I removed snd-nm256 from /etc/hotplug/blacklist again and rebooted.
System comes up, loads snd-nm256 and has clear sound.
I currently have reset_workaround=1 force_ac97=1 in snd-nm256.modprobe, will try
to get rid of them and see if this works, too.
It seems we have a winner. I moved /etc/modprobe.conf to d/snd-nm256. modprobe and switched gstreamer to use esd instead of blacklist again and rebooted.
/etc/modprobe.
alsa. Then I removed snd-nm256 from /etc/hotplug/
System comes up, loads snd-nm256 and has clear sound.
I currently have reset_workaround=1 force_ac97=1 in snd-nm256.modprobe, will try
to get rid of them and see if this works, too.