M-Audio 2496 on Windows 7 ... Anybody Running This?

I just got a new machine running 64-bit Windows 7.  I transferred by sound card from my old XP machine and got the latest drivers.  It's working fine except in one area.  There are no issues with monitor playback.  There may be issues with SPDIF output.
 
I also have a VRM Box (with latest drivers).  I have gotten it to work exactly one time.  The rest of the time it won't sync to SPDIF when the machine boots up, or it does sync but there's no sound in the headphones.  I've swapped cables, USB ports and headphones but no success.
 
I don't know whether the problem lies with my cable connections (probably not as it did work one time), config. settings, with the M-Audio card or with the VRM Box.  I don't know of anyway to validate the SPDIF output is fully functional, so if anyone can suggest a validation test on that, that would be great.  My sound card properties window shows SPDIF output happening, or at least the meter levels are bouncing up and down.
 
So, I thought I'd ask here in case anyone else has seen a problem on W7 with the M-Audio card.  It's probably too much to hope that someone else is using that and a VRM Box, but one never knows.

jbow

BTW, I read through a couple of those online magazines. Thanks for posting that! I'll be watching this thread.
 

My pleasure.  Glad you liked them.

codamedia

dmbaer: I will bet this is a cable issue. Are you using the same cable to connect to the SPDIF that you used when it worked? (worked for a while, not just an instance). This needs to be 75ohm (I believe that is correct, but will not guarantee it) and it is not a standard RCA cable. Until I purchased a high quality cable just for the SPDIF I always had problems and/or it never worked. Other than that - I don't have any suggestions for testing. 
 
 

I don't think it's a cable issue.  I'm beginning to suspect the VRM Box 64-bit drivers.  The last several times I booted, the VRM box did not get a sync lock with SPDIF.  I unplugged the USB cable on the VRM Box and plugged it back in.  Sync was acheived and I actually got sound out of the headphones.  I've tried two different USB cables, both with very little wear and tear on them.  Problems are experienced with both cables.
 
Nevertheless, I will check the specifics of the SPDIF cable and report back if that turns out to be the cause.  It is the cable that has successfully worked for 8 months, however.  Thanks for the suggestion.