• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Poor audio quality/crackling and popping in Windows

R

rmh636

Junior Member
Hi all,

I've run into a strange audio problem suddenly after a system restart. The audio quality in Windows 8.1 seems to have dropped considerably out of nowhere. Very little to zero bass, a hissing after any instance of audio stops playing (most noticeable with system sounds), and crackling. I've tried everything I can think of: clean installs of both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, switching between the onboard Realtek sound and an Asus Xonar DG sound card, removing and reinstalling the newest drivers for both in every possible order, disabling sound enhancements, changing Default Format sample rate and bit depth, etc...nothing seems to be doing the trick.

Here are my current system specs:
Windows 8.1 Pro (though as noted, tried in Windows 7 with same results)
i5-4690K 3.50GHz
8GB ram
GTX 970
Asus Xonar DG sound card

I recorded a video showing some hissing after system sounds play. Rapidly changing the volume leads to crackling and popping, hopefully it's audible enough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMbWjAZA3UY

This is a new build and the sound was perfectly fine (I've been up and running with it for a few days)...until it suddenly wasn't after a restart - so I find it hard to believe it's a hardware issue but anything's possible. Does this problem sound familiar to anyone? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 
Are your speakers fully plugged into the soundcard? Almost exhibits the behavior of a plug that has partially come out.
 
Smoove910 said:
Are your speakers fully plugged into the soundcard? Almost exhibits the behavior of a plug that has partially come out.
Click to expand...

Yes, fully plugged in and I've tried swapping out with different speakers and different pairs of headphones, same problem.
 
Have you tried headphones or another set of speakers? Seems like you have ruled almost everything else out, and the speakers are the common element in your tests.

Edit: Was a few seconds too late with that one...
 
rmh636 said:
Yes, fully plugged in and I've tried swapping out with different speakers and different pairs of headphones, same problem.
Click to expand...

Dusting the motherboard/ inputs perhaps.

Does everything look good in device manager?

Where are you getting your drivers?
 
Does the motherboard also have onboard sound? You might try that if it does.

If not, and if not the speakers, possibly a faulty fan motor - any of the system's fans including those in the power supply. I'm not talking about the noise coming directly from the fan, rather the noise is being induced by the fan motor. I have seen something similar exactly one time. 🙂
 
ketchup79 said:
Dusting the motherboard/ inputs perhaps.

Does everything look good in device manager?

Where are you getting your drivers?
Click to expand...

I've tried dusting everything out to no avail.

Everything looks good in Device Manager.

And I'm getting the newest drivers directly from the Asus and Realtek sites (I've also tried the Gigabyte downloads section for the motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-SLI LGA).
 
Underclocked said:
Does the motherboard also have onboard sound? You might try that if it does.

If not, and if not the speakers, possibly a faulty fan motor - any of the system's fans including those in the power supply. I'm not talking about the noise coming directly from the fan, rather the noise is being induced by the fan motor. I have seen something similar exactly one time. 🙂
Click to expand...

This really seems to me like more a software issue and the audio just sounds sort of glitchy for lack of a better term. The hiss and crackle isn't constantly coming through the speakers (if it was that would suggest to me something like fan induced noise).
 
Is there a difference if the onboard audio is disabled while using the Asus card, or removing the Asus card and software to test the Realtek audio?
 
Remember it is the colder months so cold dry air increases static discharge.

Might just solve the problem by buying anti static spray and spray the carpeted area.
If you have no carpet then make sure you are grounded before touching the pc.

I have the opposite issue and just hear the crackle when turning off the pc and leaving the speakers on you then hear the discharge into the speakers.
 
ketchup79 said:
Is there a difference if the onboard audio is disabled while using the Asus card, or removing the Asus card and software to test the Realtek audio?
Click to expand...

No difference. I've tried completely uninstalling each and using one at a time, I've tried disabling one or the other, I've tried with both installed simultaneously, and I've tried completely removing the Asus card from the board.
 
rmh636 said:
No difference. I've tried completely uninstalling each and using one at a time, I've tried disabling one or the other, I've tried with both installed simultaneously, and I've tried completely removing the Asus card from the board.
Click to expand...

That makes me wonder if there is something else on the board causing the issue. I mean, these are separate cards with separate connections, having the same sound problem?

I would start looking at things that are not changing - cards in expension slots, other onboard devices such as network, USB. Attached devices like external USB connections, etc.
 
ketchup79 said:
That makes me wonder if there is something else on the board causing the issue. I mean, these are separate cards with separate connections, having the same sound problem?

I would start looking at things that are not changing - cards in expension slots, other onboard devices such as network, USB. Attached devices like external USB connections, etc.
Click to expand...
Yep, separate cards with separate connections. The only constant is the power supply. I've taken everything else out. I guess the next step would be to replace that.
 
do you use PWM from your mobo to control any fan? in my experience that might introduce some interference- hissing in some configurations. ( that and or sucking power from the mobo with some cheap rheostat like a zalman fan mate )
 
Silly question: Do you have cats or dogs in the house? knocking over the speakers all the time or using old wires on new speakers.

Stressed out wires break over time on the inside. Also once I had the walkman type plug in that was different metal from the female output and the plug would get all green but thats on a very old pc and builders today are smart enough to use same metal.

Cheapest next route would be to replace the wires if you can.

If it is the system is giving the output of static then it would be the same when connecting a usb blue tooth transceiver and then hearing the static through bluetooth speakers....
 
Last edited:
Sorry, yes, checked for DPC latency and there are no problems there.

I've tried disconnecting both fans in my case and the issue persisted. I also just tried swapping out the power supply - no change.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top