First, be sure to blacklist any other sound sources such as HDMI:
Next dump pulse audio by creating a 'pulse off' folder in /etc and moving 'pulse audio' into it - pulse will then never launch! - as stated here - scroll down to last answer that got a -1 vote - it worked great for me:
Use synaptic Package Manager to install the SoundBlaster emu10k files and all the apps starting with QAS: QasTools, QasConfig and QasMixer and all ALSA sound packages, plus 'apulse'.
The only issue I have got with surround sound (I have Logitech Surround Sound System) is that in all current Linux Distros I get the 5.1 Suround sound but right front is churning out subwoofer and subwoofer front right - plus front left is centre speakers and centre is left speaker!