I have a bulk Sound blaster sound card connected to a high quality stereo amplifier. My problem is a low rumbling noise that can be heard even at low volume levels. The system has gone through some hard times lately, I think something must have been broken. It is not the cables however, I checked those.
My best bet is the sound card output jack, it may have been under improper tension(cable pulling it sideways) for several weeks.
My question is, how do I verify and/or fix the damage? Should I solder something or what? Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation?
You said you've got a cheap soundcard. Maybe thats the simple answer. What kind of 'rough times' has your computer been through. You've got to remember that the soundcard is bit like a pre-amp only it doesn't actually amplify. It allows sound to run through with its full uncompressed quality. If the soundcard is messing the signal up, then i feel sorry for your high quality amplifier. What soundcard do you have?