When I try "alsaplayer sound.wav", I get the following errors: Failed to load output plugin "alsa". Trying defaults. error opening /dev/dsp Failed to initialize plugin! /usr/lib/alsaplayer/output/liboss_out.so failed to load NOTE: THIS IS THE NULL PLUGIN. YOU WILL NOT HEAR SOUND!!
On IRC LSorensen suggested I add my username to the audio group. He also informed me that the alsaplayer-alsa package exists. I installed the other package and added the audio group and now both programs produce sound. I cannot get sound out of XMMS yet but I will play with it when I get more time. Richard