"Sputtery and fuzzy" is a good description for how my sound quality changed when I experimented with the Null2 Audio Driver 1.3. When I switched back to Eternal SPU 1.30, overall play was significantly better. The only thing is the absence of ingame music. RR, seriously, try the Eternal driver if you haven't already and see if things get better.
Yes, Butters, XA sound is checked off, if that question was meant for me. The only option I've left off in the sound config dialog (you know, the four options outside of the interior config menu?) is Enable SPU IRQ hack, which I understand only applies to a few games I don't have. My other config options for Eternal are:
Buffer size: 8
Audio out Method: Thread
Misc- Show Realtime config window: Off
Wait for XA buffer is free: On (I found that sound ran too fast in my ISOs until I checked this off)
Fine Tune [-360 - 360]: 0
Special Game Fix - Update before accessing register: Off
SPU IRQ- Wait CPU action: Off
SPU IRQ- Force interruption flag7: Off
I've played with various configs in here and had no luck. I hope someone out there knows what I'm doing wrong!