Im having a similar problem, but much more intense. Sometimes the sound fluctuates to intense loud volumes, and not even the lowest settings on the speaker's knob can quiet it. Other times it drops to near nothing. The problem is that it happens all the time, so I can't enjoy music or other sound, for fear of blowing out my eardrums. I have tried kucing13's suggestion before, and it did not solve the problem.
I think the sound fluctuations have something to do with my 5.1 surround sound system I have. Right now only two speakers and the bass work, even though in the testing all 5 speakers make the proper sound. I read somewhere else that the sound fluctuations are related to the sound trying to play in all 5 but unable to.
If anybody has a solution to this problem, please help! Its been a bother for over a year now.
Also, the problem was present when I was using my old system, a Dell Dimension 4700 Desktop from 2005. The problem has seemed to carry over to my whole new system (speakers, monitor, keyboard, and mouse are the only things from the previous system).
Here are the specs of my new system, hopefully somebody can point out a flaw somewhere:
Operating System
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.80GHz 45 °C
Lynnfield 45nm Technology
RAM
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 668MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P7P55D-E (LGA1156)
Graphics
VA1930wm @ 1440x900
ATI Radeon HD 5600 Series
Hard Drives
313GB Western Digital WDC WD3200AAKS-00M9A0 ATA Device (IDE) 40 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS40 ATA Device
Audio
ATI High Definition Audio Device