Question on slowing down audio

Is there any way to slow down an audio file, say, by two, while keeping the same pitch, AND retaining the sound clarity?

Whenever I do it (be it Audacity, QuickTime or any random DVD player software), the sound gets all electronic and distorted, and basically incomprehensible.

The way it sounds, the sound is split into a kind of grid - all the little "particles" retain their pitch, and are dragged apart, leaving gaps between them.

If you have a short strike on a snare drum, for example, the resonance ends up sounding like a buzz roll.
And if someone happens to sing on the original, the slowed down version will remind you of Neo enjoying his glass of liquid mirror (maybe that's how they got the sound?).


Is that a demerit of my soundcard, or the particular software, so that it's possible to listen to an audio file at half speed at unaltered pitch while retain the sound clarity, or is it an absolutely inherent issue?

Thanks in advance!