ESD loads the system on idle

Hi, The following problem started to pop up recently, though I am not sure what I did (probably upgraded the outdated packages including some GNOME ones): ESD launches fine, plays the sounds fine, but during idle moments it doesn't just sit there, but sits there loading the system (to 99% or thereabouts). Interestingly enough, the load goes down when ESD actually play sounds, the load is high only when idle. Is there any known cause of this, or any way of debugging the matter further. Thanks in advance, Stefan -- If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass