The beta of Flashplayer 9 for Linux seems to correct the libesd problem. I think it also has a lower latency, though I'm not sure.
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashplayer9/ -- Sound does not work properly in Flash in firefox https://launchpad.net/bugs/29760 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs