Sound Card Problem

[heyyoudvd]

I built a new PC (for my first time) a few days ago with an Audigy 2 (OEM) and today I just picked up a set of Logitech Z-5300's.
Anyways, from the start, I wasn't too impressed with the sound quality (I just used headphones) and now with my 5300's, I'm even less impressed. Things tend to sound very muffled and static-y, and not nearly as good as I believe they should.

Is there any way for me too test to see if my sound card is working properly, or if I maybe don't have the most up-to-date drivers? I downloaded some drivers from Creative when I first build the computer, but I don't remember what they were or if they were up to date.

So, what do you suggest I do to improve sound quality?

Thanks.


*Edit*

Actually scratch all that. I went around wiggling all the cords, turning things off and on again and such, and now things sound fantastic. It's funny (and a bit frustrating) when things seem to solve themselves without you knowing why.

 

[heyyoudvd]

Actually I think I want to bring this topic back.

When listening through the headphone jack on the controller with my Grado SR60s, things sound great but the 5300's themselves still seem to sound a little muffled with a bit of a hiss sound. Should they not sound like that, or am I just expecting too much out of them since I'm used to listening to my music through a set of SR60's, which obviously have superior sound to any speakers in the $200CDN price range?

Because I definitely hear a little bit of a static-y hiss/muffled sound.

Thanks.

 

[MrChad]

How do you have your volume levels set? Often there are three different sets of volumes to worry about: application volume, Windows master volume, speaker volume. Does your problem get better or worse if you lower your windows volume and raise your speaker volume (or vice versa)?

 

[heyyoudvd]

I just turned the speaker volume (the one in Sound and Audio Device Properties) all the way up and things got ten times worse. How high should I set it?

 

[MrChad]

Try turning the speaker volume down in Windows and using your speakers' volume control. Also, try muting your microphone to see if that makes a difference.

 

[heyyoudvd]

I don't have a mic but it looks like the high Windows speaker volume was the source of all my problems. Things sound a lot better now but I'll have to test things out more just to confirm that everything is sounding nice.

 

[heyyoudvd]

I've got another speaker-related question.
Can excess nearby dust affect sound quality (ie. can it create a static sound)?

Because my pc is in a room that tends to get dusty very fast.