i got it figured out, found adjustmen from the start menu -utilitys-sound-clicked on the sound symbol. the volume control was not even adjused. its the santa cruz card. i get a tad better sound with my creative labs live.after i made some adjustments to the eqaulizer, and speaker controls, i get satisfactory sound from my santa cruz. happy, i have 3 computers, 3 sound cards, did,nt want to have to buy another sound card..i,ve got to much money invested now in my home computer network later ronss