diff --git a/src/simpleaudio-alsa.c b/src/simpleaudio-alsa.c
index 8f1182a..7e87c7e 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio-alsa.c
+++ b/src/simpleaudio-alsa.c
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ sa_alsa_close( simpleaudio *sa )
 static int
 sa_alsa_open_stream(
 		simpleaudio *sa,
+		const char *backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,
@@ -106,8 +107,11 @@ sa_alsa_open_stream(
     snd_pcm_t *pcm;
     int error;
 
+    if ( ! backend_device )
+	backend_device = "default";
+
     error = snd_pcm_open(&pcm,
-		"plughw:0,0",
+		backend_device,
 		sa_stream_direction == SA_STREAM_RECORD ? SND_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE : SND_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK,
 		0 /*mode*/);
     if (error) {
diff --git a/src/simpleaudio-benchmark.c b/src/simpleaudio-benchmark.c
index 769ef9f..7571391 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio-benchmark.c
+++ b/src/simpleaudio-benchmark.c
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ sa_benchmark_close( simpleaudio *sa )
 static int
 sa_benchmark_open_stream(
 		simpleaudio *sa,
+		const char *backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,
diff --git a/src/simpleaudio-pulse.c b/src/simpleaudio-pulse.c
index 6196bb6..25941c1 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio-pulse.c
+++ b/src/simpleaudio-pulse.c
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ sa_pulse_close( simpleaudio *sa )
 static int
 sa_pulse_open_stream(
 		simpleaudio *sa,
+		const char *backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,
diff --git a/src/simpleaudio-sndfile.c b/src/simpleaudio-sndfile.c
index 3520ac4..4403679 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio-sndfile.c
+++ b/src/simpleaudio-sndfile.c
@@ -160,12 +160,13 @@ sndfile_format_from_path( const char *path )
 static int
 sa_sndfile_open_stream(
 		simpleaudio *sa,
+		const char *backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,
 		char *app_name, char *stream_name )
 {
-    const char *path = stream_name;
+    const char *path = backend_device;
 
     int sf_format;
     switch ( sa->format ) {
diff --git a/src/simpleaudio.c b/src/simpleaudio.c
index 8db30f2..e50228f 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio.c
+++ b/src/simpleaudio.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 simpleaudio *
 simpleaudio_open_stream(
 		sa_backend_t	sa_backend,
+		const char	*backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t	sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ simpleaudio_open_stream(
     }
 
     int ok = sa->backend->simpleaudio_open_stream(sa,
-		sa_stream_direction, sa_format,
+		backend_device, sa_stream_direction, sa_format,
 		rate, channels, app_name, stream_name);
 
     if ( ok ) {
diff --git a/src/simpleaudio.h b/src/simpleaudio.h
index d9d329e..675796c 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio.h
+++ b/src/simpleaudio.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ typedef enum {
 simpleaudio *
 simpleaudio_open_stream(
 		sa_backend_t	sa_backend,
+		const char	*backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t	sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t	sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,
diff --git a/src/simpleaudio_internal.h b/src/simpleaudio_internal.h
index 1613aca..6928a51 100644
--- a/src/simpleaudio_internal.h
+++ b/src/simpleaudio_internal.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ struct simpleaudio_backend {
 	int /* boolean 'ok' value */
 	(*simpleaudio_open_stream)(
 		simpleaudio *	sa,
+		const char	*backend_device,
 		sa_direction_t	sa_stream_direction,
 		sa_format_t sa_format,
 		unsigned int rate, unsigned int channels,