dell/win 7/soundblaster x-fi mb software... i know, but now what?

any recommendations on how to improve sound? its a studio 1558 with windows 7, sb x-fi mb software and the intel idt panels and volume. adequate for home use, but blasting through a radio station console, for instance, sucks. have to disable all enhancements on anything, like windows or creative media player, sb x-fi sound enhancements, etc, or sound is all distorted; or turn the volume down, but then super crank up the gain on the console module. any suggestions as to audio interface, internal cards, etc?
and was just on dell's site, 23 minutes justifying even wanting to know.