Sound Clip/Distortion

“What gives the best playback on your computer:

1) Media player wide open, with computer's master and wave volume set down so your ears don't bleed?

2) Media player and wave volume set fairly low, with master volume set wide open?

3) All set about medium.

I ask, knowing that overdriving the pre-amp signal to my speakers/headphones can cause clipping and distortion is set improperly -- and I'd like to achieve the best playback possible.”

“i've always left media player to max volume and NEVER touch the equalizer. Controll all of that through the mixer software for my card. That way you are delivering pure undistorted audio to you card for processing. I've never had problems with overdriving the preamp signal unless it was just a stupid loud video or something like that.”