W10 sound extremely low volume

I removed and installed my MB into my wife's tower. I finally have it all setup, EXCEPT, I have extremely low volume from my external speakers connected to line out and from headphones connected to the HD Audio front panel jack. Sound is the same with or without the HD audio jack plugged into the MB. The volume indicators in the speaker test windows looks normal. Speaker tests give proper output right & left except for volume level. I ran the wizard and it tried updating the drivers. no go. At full volume, what sound I do get sounds distorted. I would expect that since all volume indicators say it is pumping out signal therefore overloading the preamps. I downloaded Realtech drivers and installed them. No go.The headphones work in my computer. That eliminates speakers, headphones, drivers, HD audio cable and circuitry up to the point of volume level indicator takeoff.

One "fix" said to turn up volume on the keyboard first, then use the app volume or sound icon, however, my keyboard does not have volume buttons. I connected a USB-audio adapter and that works fine with the speakers. This worked fine while in my tower. At this point I am assuming this process somehow blew the audio amp for the line out. What are your thoughts? Anything else I can try?

winver 19042.928
MB = Asus P8Z77-V-LE Plus

Ghot said:

@ruggb

All I can add is check the Volume Mixer (right click the speaker icon) by the clock.
And check the overall volume (left click the speaker icon) by the clock.
Motherboard screw by the audio chip loose?? Not getting ground?

If worse comes to worst...
Choose A Sound Card - PCPartPicker

Thanks, I did check the volume mixer also - I left that out.
Pretty sure all the screws are tight, but I guess I will check that
worst case I will just leave the USB-audio adapter. We are not looking for music or gaming sound here.
It is just aggravating that it stopped working.