FC4 poor sound with gnome - kde ok

[mal]

I have a PC with an Intel High Defination Audio ( RealTek Azalia ) sound 
chip

If I use gnome the sound is very poor -  it  has clicks and crackles  
when ever there is sound
- it's not there when the sound is quiet or silent

If I start with KDE and use the control panel to set the kde sound 
system as OSS  the
sound is perfect

... the problems is I don't want to use kde
 

has anyone any ideas - is this an alsa problem  - I previous post 
suggested playing with the mixer
but I've tweaked every setting in the alsa mixer I can find to no avail

thanks

mal