An ugly tweeting sound is bothering me!

[blueznl]

well, if it's not any giant miniature space hamster munching away, it could be your soundcard that gave up... these things do happen, you know... if one of the output capacitors gave up something like this can happen... try another soundcard

[Doobrey]

But when I listen to loud music with lots of BASS, the noise is also very loud and a real pain in the ass.

Something just popped into that vacant space between my ears...
Does it only happen on MP3s?
I remember reading a while back that some MP3 encoders produced similar noises. Can`t remember what ones did it though.
Anyway, try playing a CD thru the soundcard or try playing a ripped .wav from one to see if it goes away.

[traumatic]

If there are any cold joints on my soundcard, I would become seriously angry, as it's a Creative Audigy 2, which cost about 80 Euros - I think this is not a cheap sound card .

Creative Audigy is considered a "cheap soundcard" - well, at least where I come from...

...but you're right, I never heard or read about noise issues with these cards
(apart from an overall poor signal-to-noise-ratio - the audigy just isn't professional).

Maybe you could try one of your friends cards (known to work for them) so you could isolate the problem step by step.

[Karbon]

I've *heard* from people that unless you are dropping $400+ on a sound card they are all pretty much the same..

I admit I've never been into audio so I really don't know what is good or bad. I've been using the on-board sound on my last 3 PCs..

Someone educate me as to what is better (and why!)

[Dreglor]

well you don't need a 5.1 optical out sound card to play mp3s...
so a cheap one should suffice
i have a sb live which is 5.1 cable and has digital out and it only $60 compared to the $100 of those nifty new audigys

and i don't have an problems