Windows 7: Older Realtek Drivers (R2.3x) sound better than current ones?

I have a GA-EP45-UD3R mobo. The drivers that I got with the mobo about 2 years ago were the R2.37 for audio. I have used that all the way until I updated them today. There are a few things I notice.

-R2.37 lacks some bass. Its more punch than boom.
-R2.37 has more clarity, don't think its only because lower bass either.
-R2.37 has a much larger soundstage for some reason.

Current drivers:
-Have a ton of bass. VERY boomy.
-Not very clear. Almost muffled at that. Think a lot of bass and high mids too.
-Lack a decent soundstage, not broad at all.



To sum it up, newer drivers sound like SHIT to me. I don't know if there's a problem with one of the drivers I had or its just how it is. It almost sounds as if Realtek has an EQ already on it (a bad one), with out even selecting it in the control panel it has.

What I usually do is set an EQ in iTunes, and then set it to "Powerful" in Realtek, compensating where I need to. On the new Realtek drivers this is just a mess. It sounds horrible like that. I can't replicate the old sound if I tried.

Just wondering is there anybody else that uses old drivers?