Hi, ORAC and thank you very much for your help.
I've tried running CDAs in WMPplayer and Real Player and the quality is still awful. Basically, it sounds like I'm playing a track at maximum volume - distorted and scrathcy - even though all the volume indicators are set to medium. To clarify - the sound from the speakers isn't loud, it just sounds as though it would if it were really "turned up to 11".
Shafted if I can work it out!
Yours aye,
PSP