crackling with SB X-Fi

[imported_burble]

purchased the 'budget' (using that term loosely) x-fi model last week, after getting tired of low-end sound cards. it think it sounds pretty good, BF2 is definately improved.

but, today, i sat down for the first time to listen to some music. and, even on my budget AKG cans (they were about $40 a few years ago), i can hear noticeable crackling popping up in the background every five to ten seconds or so.

it's less crackling than you would hear with poopy onboard sound, but it's enough to be quite an annoyance to anyone discerning enough to notice it (and it's fairly obvious).

what would cause this? i'd really like to get the most out of my overpriced sound card. i certainly wouldn't call this 'xtreme fidelity'.

system specs, if needed:

Athlon 64 3000+ Venice @ ~2Ghz
Epox 9NDA3J nForce3
1GB PC3200
Radeon 9800
Creative SB X-Fi 'Xtreme Music'

thanks guys.

 

[Ricemarine]

CMSS 3D., if you don't have that on. Lower the wav volume setting.

Have you tried the crystalizer settings?

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

No disrespect, but I would take it back and go with a BlueGears X-Mystique sound card. It's $99, offers Dolby Digital Live, sounds amazing (better than an Audigy 2 imo), and MOST importantly for me, it has an optical out connection. That's important to me because I use my home theatre surround sound for my computer as well. Creative only has optical out's on their front panels which is useless, unless you don't mind a cable coming into the front of your computer.
-Pix3lDezigner

 

[DaveSimmons]

Your CPU is a little RF generator, if you try running a digital cable to a receiver and plugging the phones in there you can see if that's the issue

 

[Paludis]

What on earth is the point of an X-fi if you have 3 year old $40 speakers? of course you're not going to get "extreme fidelity" out of low-fidelity speakers

 

[AnImuS]

Originally posted by: Paludis
What on earth is the point of an X-fi if you have 3 year old $40 speakers? of course you're not going to get "extreme fidelity" out of low-fidelity speakers

 

[imported_g33k]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Your CPU is a little RF generator, if you try running a digital cable to a receiver and plugging the phones in there you can see if that's the issue

Hmm interesting. I get the same thing on my Audigy 2zs. I've tried just about everything else. What if it is the cpu causing the popping sounds, how can fix it?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Pix3lDezigner
No disrespect, but I would take it back and go with a BlueGears X-Mystique sound card. It's $99, offers Dolby Digital Live, sounds amazing (better than an Audigy 2 imo), and MOST importantly for me, it has an optical out connection. That's important to me because I use my home theatre surround sound for my computer as well. Creative only has optical out's on their front panels which is useless, unless you don't mind a cable coming into the front of your computer.
-Pix3lDezigner

The audigy has a digital out, no its not optical, but doesn't really matter. Granted no DDL, but just thought you should know that there is one on the card

 

[BFG10K]

Just to confirm you aren't overclocking anything?

Also do you have the latest BIOS and chipset drivers for your system?

 

[imported_burble]

my athlon is overclocked a bit. i set it back to default, with no change.

volume outputs are not at max, and i'd fiddled with the CMSS, crystallizer, and all that other software stuff. nada.

and i don't even have any speakers hooked up to my computer at the moment. did i not say 'AKG cans?' while they are a fairly inexpensive set of headphones, they're pretty much better than anything you can find at best buy, circuit city, or other mass electronics retailers. unless, of course, you think just because you pay $100 for some POS sonys or something, it makes them better. please actually read the post before attempting to flame me, 'kay?

not the mention the fact that i'm about to get some new cans, anyway. it's between grados, AKG studios, or audio technicas. but, whats the point in higher end 'phones if i can already hear flaws with my cheap ones?

 

[MobiusPizza]

Mute all your mic channels, including the "Auxilliary" Inputs in the Creative Mixer.
Try not only lower windows volume, but also on music player's volume setting

Reinstall the drivers
Check any RF interference in proximity of your speakers, e.g. mobile phones.

 

[Brian48]

I'm using the X-Fi Musicextreme with the same motherboard. Sounds great for me, no crackling, hiss, or otherwise. Using analog out to my Klipsch 4.1.

 

[imported_g33k]

Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
Mute all your mic channels, including the "Auxilliary" Inputs in the Creative Mixer.
Try not only lower windows volume, but also on music player's volume setting

Reinstall the drivers
Check any RF interference in proximity of your speakers, e.g. mobile phones.

Beautiful answer! By muting the mic inputs, this just seemingly solved all my annoying crackling sounds. Thank you!