Anyone else uses Win Media player to copy/burn cd? Help..

I finally got around to burn some cds using the Window Media program that came with XP since I don't have anything like Nero. Anyway, after burning a couple of cds, the quality on the cdrs isn't too good...it has some static and the volume is low. I've tried raising the sound quality to the highest setting and use a lower recording speed at X2. There isn't really a whole lot of setting to mess around with as far as I know. Anyone else is having this problem or am I missing something. I've tried the Nero software at a friends house and the cdr quality has always comes out sounding exactly like the original cd.