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Just use the equalizer in the Creative Console Launcher, there's a slider labeled "Level" all the way over to the right that can turn everything down.
When your speaker and headphone volumes get mixed up, does the creative software switch your speaker setting to headphones like it's supposed...
There were two drivers on the download page for the Platinum with the same version number, the first one supporting Vista/XP, and the second supporting 7. My guess is you downloaded the first one, because without clicking "show details" it doesn't say what's different about them. Anyways, here...
No need to get such an expensive soundcard if you're not going to be using its analog outputs. Get yourself a Xonar DG.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020
I don't have much experience with Xonar cards, but I've heard they're able to pass Dolby Headphone thru...
Not familiar with the HS1 or Dolby Headphone, but I've used a C-Media based sound card in the past. In that third picture you've got an environmental DSP turned on, that "Cinema" button. That's adding a ton of reverb to make it sound like you're in a big echo-y room, which is why it "Feels...
They changed the way audio works in Vista and 7, so any older apps that use DirectSound will only do stereo. Creative and Asus cards (and Auzentech cards that use an X-fi chipset) come with a wrapper that will let them use OpenAL instead so they can retain surround sound and eax effects.
Where are you getting that information from? Auzentech claims it can drive 600 ohms. You can certainly get better sound from an external dac, but the forte should drive the HD650 just fine.
Do you have Comodo firewall or internet security installed? Recent versions of Comodo have a bug that makes DPC latency skyrocket after the computer's been on for several hours. Even if you don't have Comodo, you should try DCP Latency Checker to see if that's your problem.