Consistant sound errors are usually caused by old sound drivers. I haven't seen any sound related bugs in a long time otherwise. Have you updated your sound card drivers? (This may require updating your motherboard as well, since many soundcards are now integrated)
I have the most up to date for my soundcard (Audigy SE).
I had to use that because the onboard stereo plug on my old headset shattered in the actual plug area. So I HAD to get another card so I could have sound and that was all I could afford.
If anybody could give me techniques for getting broken off stereo jacks out of my onboard's plugin slot, be my guest.