Why is Sound Blaster so damn loud?

[Barks]

Just upgraded from my laptop's built in audio to an external Creative Sound Blaster 5.1 Card. I've turned off all the X-Fi enhancements as they're awful when you've got it hooked up to a Hi-Fi and a 200W RMS subwoofer. However, it's obscenely loud. Even when the volume is on 20% it's ridiculously loud. Is there an option to stop this, is this another Creative bass-boost gimmick in action?

Cheers

 

[Alexrose1uk]

The likelyhood is the mw output from the seperate sound card is far higher than your laptops original output (most basic onboard sound is really only designed for the internal speakers, and cheap headphones) and thus you are over amplifying the signal, hence it is so loud. Turn the hi-fi down!

Also double check what outputs you have, some external cards have amped and unamped outs.