Bad sound card? Bad speakers?

[plautus]

My speakers often pop and crackle (sometimes dramatically). Also, they often distort and buzz when playing. They are on the elderly side: a Logitech 5.1 system.

Also, I recently installed a new sound card: ASUS Xonar DG.

Do I need to get new speakers? Or has the sound card gone bad? Is there way to test (for example, can I disable the sound card and hook the speakers up to the onboard sound to see if the distortion continues? How can I do this?)

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[AnitaPeterson]

1) Try plugging in some headphones in the audio card's outlet currently connected to the speakers, and see if the noise continues.

2) Connect the Logitech system to another audio source, see if the noise is still there.

3) It could be also that the speaker wire is acting as an antenna for FM transmissions, and you inadvertently pick up s nearby radio station. Try coiling the length of wire not in use.