Windows 10: Recent sound issues

[Chaotic42]

So my current system has the following sound systems:

Asus Xonar DG Optical Out
GTX 980Ti Sound over DP to LG Monitor 1
GTX 980Ti Sound over DP to LG Monitor 2

I normally use the Optical Out, but the other day it just stopped working. I fiddled with it and couldn't get anything going, so I switched the sound over to LG Monitor 1. That worked for about a day, then I tried the Optical Out again and it worked until about halfway through a video when it stopped. Now only LG Monitor 2's sound works.

I've rebooted several times, wiped and reinstalled my Nvidia and Xonar drivers, swapped out cables, and I just have no idea what's going on. It seems like it has to be software. I've never really run into anything like this. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Ketchup]

Are you letting Windows 10 install new drivers as it finds them? It is set to by default. I had a similar issue a few weeks ago (audio went out). Turned out to be an Nvidia driver problem. My fix was uninstalling video drivers through device manager. It re-installed the last version that worked correctly automatically. For some reason, the uninstall through programs and features didn't make a difference.

 

[fleshconsumed]

I've had similar issue twice with my HTPC. My HTPC runs video from intel IGPU and it runs sound through Asus Xonar DX. My Asus Xonar DX will not pass audio through unless I disable intel igpu audio interface in the device manager. Simply setting Asus Xonar DX as default audio output in the sound panel is not enough, it just won't work. I have to disable intel iGPU audio interface through device manager. So perhaps try disabling nvidia audio interface in the device manager?

 

[Chaotic42]

I've had similar issue twice with my HTPC. My HTPC runs video from intel IGPU and it runs sound through Asus Xonar DX. My Asus Xonar DX will not pass audio through unless I disable intel igpu audio interface in the device manager. Simply setting Asus Xonar DX as default audio output in the sound panel is not enough, it just won't work. I have to disable intel iGPU audio interface through device manager. So perhaps try disabling nvidia audio interface in the device manager?

Well, that worked until I rebooted and now the sound won't come over the SPDIF any more. Even if I enable and then disable another audio output. Sounds like I need to go get another sound card (or a motherboard with optical out).

 

[fleshconsumed]

Not sure what to suggest then. It really does sound like a software/OS issue. Clean OS reinstall? Pain in the ass to do though.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Does he have two 980's or one? How does that work? I would only connect audio through the master SLI card.

Otherwise, there are other questions to ask. For instance, why use the Optical audio connection when you're using the HDMI from the VGA cards for the monitors?

I believe there is probably software that allows switching between sound outputs. There is a plug-in for Windows Media Center, but the OP more than likely doesn't use WMC, or can't -- because this is Windows 10.

Otherwise, my post here is crippled by the thought that I cannot wrap my brain around his problem.