QT supports multichannel, but how do we output it?(Recommend Firewire/USB2)

Question

I want to output QT multichannel sound from my Intel Mini and G5 to my stereo while playing back H.264 movie trailers and anything I convert from OTA HDTV broadcasts.
I know I need up to 7.1 analog output for QT AAC multichannel and digital spdif passthru for DVD/EyeTV/VLC since there are no DTS/DD decoding solutions for OS X. The problem is that there are zero recommendations for firwire/usb2 devices that work.
The M-Audio Firewire 410 doesn't appear to have rca output jacks for all 10 channels it claims to put out. There's a discontinued Terratec Firewire sound card that does 7.1 analog and digital output, but it's not really available and does it work?? There's the Griffin firewave that still isn't available for purported 5.1 analog out.
What are we supposed to use? and Why aren't there recommendations plastered on the QT pages?
It's one thing to offer multichannel output, but most of us are clueless as to how to get it from anything that isn't an $800+ pro recording device designed for far more than what consumers need.

Answer 1

Surely when you set the audio track's channel position you are telling the system which of the surround channels to go via? The list to choose from includes Left, Right, Center, LFE Screen, Left Surround, Right Surround, Left Center, Right Center, Center Surround, Rear Surround Left, and Rear Surround Right, as well as many Discreet options.
As an example setup, the Superman Returns trailer has its multichanel AAC set to Center, Leeft, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround, and LFE Screen, which is the typical Dolby Digital 5.1 arrangement.
I just found this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=421483
which does suggest that without special software or hardware the audio in Apple's own trailers cannot be heard in surround. I'll check with the authorities and post back in a while!