Hmm.. Just using my mobo's sound... Maybe I'll actually pick up a sound card. Are there any recommended that aren't ridiculously expensive like the X-Fi?
Well, I have a X-Fi Extreme Music, those are the cheapest X-Fi cards I believe. But I'm having those problems you described, a vehicle that is far away sounds like it's right on top of you for instance. I read somewhere that integrated soundcards do not have these problems, but apparently you do. So I don't know what is causing it really...