HP dv1130 sound dificulties
 

I've just installed suse pro 9.2 on the above listed laptop. Using gnome for a change. The problem I'm having is that certain applications aren't handling sound files well. In particular xmms, and also whatever the gnome desktop itself uses to play system sounds. The effect is bad sound quality, as though its cheap speakers turned up too loud or blown speakers, (which I guess technically is the case, but it doesn't happen with all applications). It happens with the built-in harmon / kardon speakers or headphones. Other applications, such as Grip or AlsaPlayer play the same files (mp3 usually) fine. Hardware and driver info:

Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03)

snd-intel8x0 as module, as well as a bunch of other sound modules:

snd_pcm_oss 57896 0
snd_mixer_oss 19200 3 snd_pcm_oss
snd_intel8x0 31268 4
snd_ac97_codec 69728 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm 96776 4 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer 24708 1 snd_pcm
snd 60164 9 snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 9056 3 snd
snd_page_alloc 10248 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm

Nothing done with alsa mixer is helping, and since its not universal across apps, I'm hesitant to attempt hardware tweaks just yet.

So, my question is: what do gnome (1.6) and xmms use that grip, alsaplayer, mplayer do not (or vice versa)? (Strangely enough, the gnome cd player doesn't do it either, just the desktop system when it plays sounds, like startup, shutdown, and evolution app functions.)

Thanks in advance.