Question Garbage RealTek Audio From My New AsRock 870E Nova Motherboard. Why?

[catboy]

I just booted up my new AsRock 870E Nova motherboard today.

And I noticed that the integrated RealTek audio on it is absolute garbage for me.

Before making this thread, I already have installed all of the latest motherboard and RealTek drivers from the AsRock website.

I ran an optical cable from my SMSL SU-& DAC to the SPDIF connector of my on-board RealTek Audio.

Then when I played audio from my RealTek and through my DAC and outputting from my JBL studio monitors, and it did play, but every few seconds, the audio would fade/cut out/sound like it's crackling and/or skipping for a split second...maybe one syllable of a word would cut out every few seconds.

This makes listening to the audio unbearable.

I also have that same DAC plugged into a THX AAA 789 amp. So I tested that with headphones, and the exact same problem occurred.

I tried removing the RealTek USB Audio from my Device Manager, and then scanning to find it again, and that didn't solve the problem.

I tried reinstalling the latest RealTek driver, and that didn't solve the problem either.

I then extracted my beloved Creative Labs Soundblaster ZXR soundcard from my old computer, and transplanted it into my new computer.

Then I ran the exact same optical cable out of my ZXR, into the exact same DAC, and played the exact same videos as were giving me all those problems with my RealTek audio.

Instantly, all of the sound problems were gone. No more fading out, no more crackling, no more missed syllables...just perfect audio.

I have had similar problems with other onboard RealTek audio decades ago, until I finally stopped using RealTek (which is why I bought a ZXR and SMSL DAC, many years ago, in the first place...because I really hate RealTek based how much agony it's horrible audio has caused me over the course of many years and many different computer systems).

Can you please tell me your thoughts about this?

Do you think this is a hardware issue with my motherboard?

Or if not, what else could be causing the problem with my RealTek audio?

How can the problem be fixed? (I don't mean just bypassing the audio, which isn't a fix).

Even though I hate RealTek, it ticks me off that I have a brand new motherboard featuring unusable, garbage audio. And I might need that audio as a backup someday if my other audio devices fail.

I don't understand why the internet is full of comments saying how great RealTek is, when my experience with RealTek over many decades has always been a horrific nightmare, without exception.

Thank you for any feedback you can give me about this matter.

 

[Paperdoc]

As an info-gathering experiment, try connecting from computer to audio system via an ANALOG coaxial cable (must be 75 Ohm impedance, not just a common audio cable). Does that change anything? This could tell you whether it is the optical output particularly, or other components of the Realtek on-board system.

Another thing to check on the optical output connections. That can be used for 2-channel uncompressed audio OR for 5.1- or 7.1- channel compressed audio. Are BOTH the Realtek system and your audio system set to the same signal type?

 

[catboy]

Thanks for the feedback, Paperdock

Unfortunately, I don't have any spare coaxial cables laying around.

As for the optical output connections and signal type, I have no clue about that stuff. I don't know what the answer is.

I didn't set my Realtek to 5.1 or 7.1 or anything like that though.

Also it seems strange that Device Manager says that my Realtek is named "Realtek USB Audio."

Google AI says that my 870E Nova board is supposed to be using "Realtek High Definition Audio," but I do not have any device like that appearing in my Device Manager. The only Realtek device is "Realtek USB Audio."

 

[SlegoSAF]

I'm having this exact same issue, its been driving me crazy.

My motherboard is the ASROCK X870E TAICHI. I have the JDS Labs Atom AMP and DAC 2 that my SPDIF cable from the motherboard plugs into.

I tried using my headphones with just the 3.5mm audio port and that worked flawlessly.

I'm just going to remove my DAC for the time being since that's what requires the SPDIF port but I would like to try and find a fix if I can.

I was also curious why it shows up as Realtek USB Audio when on my previous PC it was SPDIF audio output.

I've swapped the cable twice with new ones, still the issue persists. Please update if you find anything out.

 

[Paperdoc]

OP, you say, "Device Manager says that my Realtek is named "Realtek USB Audio." And SlegoSAF makes a similar comment. You both may be looking in the wrong place, although Device Manager, I agree, seems like the right place.

In any computer system it is possible for there to be more than one Audio Output device and all should be recognized in Device Manager as valid functioning hardware. But Windows can use only ONE of these device s at a time, and there is a manual method for you to tell Windows which you want it to use. In the Search window at bottom left type Sound Output and hit Enter to get to a window for this. In its upper section you will see a list of all the possibilities, and ONE of them will be selected as the Default Sound Output Device. On mine, there are two choices involving the on--board Realtek system. Yours may have a third related to USB output. Note that, although there is one Realtek system on your mobo shown in Device Manager, this selection window treats that a two or three different choices you can choose. I use speakers connected to the 3.5 mm jacks on the mobo rear panel, so mine is set to Speakers. In your cases I would suggest you set it instead to Realtek Digital Output, which should send digital signals out on the optical port. A little further down, ensure that the option to Combine left and right audio... is NOT turned on. NOTE that you can come back to this panel at any time and change your settings.

You may note, also, that there is a related section below for Default Audio INPUT device selection.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Before making this thread, I already have installed all of the latest motherboard and RealTek drivers from the AsRock website.

Did you also try messing around with the Nahimic3 utility?

 

[DaaQ]

Did you both install the ASRock driver update utility? It's an option flashing BIOS I think But there were specific directions about something or other making a thumb drive look like a floppy. Might have been RAID drivers.

I have the NOVA, I bought it for the extra PCIE1 slot at bottom, was happy with my SBZ card, but went ahead and got the SB AE5 plus card.

I have 5.1, but looking at back of board, it has the Toslink port, plus 2 1/8 sized jacks. Along with the fancy WIFI ports up top, IDK if that could be causing interference. (had to spell that 10 times before typo was gone lol)

#ONE, it IS Realtek, not like some with Creative onboard. (No idea how their drivers are)

Have Y'all updated to newest BIOS release, along with checking either RT or AMD site for newer version drivers?

I had to Install Ryzen Master more than half a dozen times for it to actually open.

I also have an issue if I OC GPU, it blackscreens browsing, Play D4 all day, open ANAND oor OCN end up having to hit reset.

I would look into either trying if you have installed it, removing the motherboard auto update utility, or installing it if you have not.

BOL.

 

[igor_kavinski]

With Realtek, my experience is that if an issue develops (or was there from the start), it's faulty in hardware. I spent years listening to mono audio on my Z77 mobo, mostly out of laziness and because I used that PC mainly for internet browsing. I remember it was fine for a few months then suddenly stereo stopped working. I wasted some time trying to troubleshoot it but then gave up.