[CentOS] Slightly broken audio on USB headset?

I have a Logitech USB headset which I have used very successfully on Windows for a long time.

The other day I thought I would try it out on my CentOS 5 server, which doesn't have its own sound hardware (HP ML110).

On plugging it in, all the required modules magically got loaded, and the "play" command would play sound files as expected.

However, at all times when playing a sound file there was a ticking sound two or three times a second, as if there were regular discontinuities in the audio. Apart from the ticking, the sound quality was fine.

Can anyone suggest what I should look at to start diagnosing and fixing this issue?

Thanks Tony