Crackling and Popping Sounds from 4.1 Creative Lab Speakers

[ManDeJapan]

I have the platinum ex audigy soundcard and and the fps2000 4.1 creative labs speakers. Almost everytime I listen to music a popping/crackling noise comes from all four speakers. I have Windows XP Pro. I've never had this problem with these speakers when I had windows 2000 and a soundblaster platinum soundcard. Does anyone have any suggestions as what I could do to get rid of this. I have the Epox 8k7a+ motherboard. Is there something that I can change in the bios maybe? One a soundblaster techie recommended I disable/enable something there, but I'm not sure what it was. I appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[sandorski]

It's likely to be coming from the soundcard. CL Lives/Audigy's have a reputation of doing that.

 

[Mavrick007]

It probably is the sound card, but I would try some other speakers on it and see if that is still the case of the crackling. Try headphones even. I don't know of any setting in the bios that would affect your soundcard settings.

 

[kgraeme]

Give this a try: Use the analog cables instead of the one digital.

I had the exact same problem with my 2000's and the Live! card a few years ago. The concensus in all the support forums back then was that the digital connector on the sound card and the cable used for the speakers are just crap. Too susceptable to interference, static in the air (particularly in winter), etc. All I know is that after I went to the analog connectors, the problems vanished. And I've been good ever since.

 

[ManDeJapan]

Thanks for the advice. I'l try that. It's just weird because the crackling noise comes and goes and I haven't heard it for the past few hours...I'll wait until it happens again, and then try the cable switch.

 

[ManDeJapan]

The sound came again. Can someone help me? I can try and do the cable switch, but I'm not sure exactly which cables kgraeme is talking about? The soundcard cables or the speaker cables? And if the soundcard speakers, which ones in particular?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[NukemAll]

<< It probably is the sound card, but I would try some other speakers on it and see if that is still the case of the crackling. Try headphones even. I don't know of any setting in the bios that would affect your soundcard settings. >>



LOL, Like analog signals aren't just as susceptible to electromagnetic interference. Who cares what a forum concensus is or was. Can't really count on them to actually own the cards. What matters is what the user's consensus was after switching from digital to analog. Keep in mind, though, that the cables are the same, just more of them for analog. But even then, could still be the sound cards themselves causing the noise. They do not merely pass thru digital signals, unfortunately. If it is the cable picking up the noise, try a better quality cable.

 

[kgraeme]

<< LOL, Like analog signals aren't just as susceptible to electromagnetic interference. Who cares what a forum concensus is or was. Can't really count on them to actually own the cards. What matters is what the user's consensus was after switching from digital to analog. Keep in mind, though, that the cables are the same, just more of them for analog. But even then, could still be the sound cards themselves causing the noise. They do not merely pass thru digital signals, unfortunately. If it is the cable picking up the noise, try a better quality cable. >>



First off, this was in the Creative support forums for users of these parts. Second, the consensus was based on opinions after switching to analog. Third, the interference symptoms and susceptability are different for analog and digital signals. Fourth, the cable in question uses mini-din connectors with who-knows-what pinouts, not something you can just replace at Radio Shack.

 

[ManDeJapan]

I switched to the analog cables, and it seemed to have fixed the problem. Thanks kgraeme, and everyone else for their help.