[dsr_]

Let's be fair: PulseAudio is the way to go if you have to have a partitioned audio system because you are using a multiheaded multiuser system where each seat has a monitor and keyboard and mouse and mic and speakers, and each user needs to be able to control their own volume mixing without root privileges.

For every other case I've seen, ALSA is better and causes fewer problems.

[reacweb]

I have already encountered the need for multiheaded system. I wanted to run a second X server on my third screen in order to have a separate mouse. I have not found any website explaining this kind of setup. I have never succeeded: the mouses were active on both X servers.

[dsr_]

You need to have a separate xorg.conf for your separate X instance. (Edit) and you need to hardcode each device, not allow autodiscovery.