[MPlayer-users] Significant CPU utilization with >2 channels?

[Derek]

On Wednesday 03 May 2006 12:11, Eric Brundick wrote:
> I use the following command to play mp3s:
> alias mp3='mplayer -channels 4 -ac mad -af
> equalizer=1:2:1:0:0:0:0:1:2:4,channels=4:2:0:2:1:3,volume=30:-1'
>
> Problem is, this ends up using around 60-90% CPU on an AMD Athlon64
> 3000+.
>
> If I subtract "-channels 4" and the channels= piece of -af, it uses more
> like 0.1% CPU, and plays out of the headphones.  Note that this behavior
> persists whether I'm using Skype in parallel or not, so I am fairly
> certain Skype has nothing to do with it.
>
> If I subtract "-channels 4" but keep the channels= piece in place, it
> still only uses ~0.1-0.4% CPU, but I get no sound.
>
> I noticed an older thread mentioning this:
> http://www1.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2003-October/039180.html
>
> For the record, this is my ~/.mplayer/config:
> vo=xv
> fs=1
> ao=alsa
> monitoraspect=16:10

Have you tried using a different -ao?  -ao oss would probably be the first 
thing to try, or do an -ao help to see what's available to you.