Question Audio crackle from all USB audio devices ?

[Spartan1986]

Hi

I have an audio output crackle issue on my Win11 PC. All USB audio devices that are plugged in have the crackle and I've tried them individually to see if i could isolate the issue. However, if i run the audio through the front audio 1.5 jack, it's completely clean. Also I've been able to record audio (guitar using a usb interface) and if i play that via usb I get cracle, but again clean via the audio jack. I can also get clean audio from my monitor feed from the graphics card. Seems to be a USB issue but not sure what to try next.

BIOS upgraded to latest
Chipset updated to latest
Sound drivers updated to latest
Sound settings changed on all audio devices. Sample rate, enhancements disabled etc.
DPC latency not the cause, mine is low

There are many examples of this issue online, but mine seems slightly different as i can achieve clean audio, just not via USB. I feel I'm tying myself in knots so reaching out to see if anyone can suggest something I've not tried

 

[Lutfij]

Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

For this thread, add your USB driven peripherals as well. I also recall seeing a thread of yours with issues on the OS itself. Where did you source the installer for the OS? Did you let the OS install drivers automatically?

 

[Spartan1986]

Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

For this thread, add your USB driven peripherals as well. I also recall seeing a thread of yours with issues on the OS itself. Where did you source the installer for the OS? Did you let the OS install drivers automatically?

@Lutfij

• Intel Core i9-13900K 3 GHz 24-Core Processor
• Asus PRIME Z790-P WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
• Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL40 Memory
• MSI GAMING X TRIO GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB Video Card
• Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

This was a new build in September last year so all components are the same age.

BIOS Version is the latest from the ASUS website
PRIME Z790-P WIFI BIOS 1641 - Version 1641 - 2024/02/29

The only USB Devices plugged in at this time are as follows

• Behringer XENYX X1204USB 8 Channel Analog Mixer
• KORP Thallium wired headset
• Redragon M686 VAMPIRE ELITE
• Corsair K55 wired Keyboard

For testing, I've run combinations of the above devices plugged in or not and the crackle persists with the Headset above. I've tried two other USB headsets and they crackle too.

OS Installer was obtained from Microsoft via their Media Creation Tool, and drivers were obtained from the ASUS website and installed manually.

The issue in my previous post was due to a faulty processor, the replacement has worked fine since installation. Apart from the audio issue, the PC is running brilliantly and whilst I can bypass the issue running line-in with headphones, it's a shame not to be able to use the headset.

Regards
Tom

 

[Spartan1986]

@Lutfij

Not sure if you would have received my last update as I forgot to tag you in it before I posted it. I tried to retrospectively add it but I'm guessing that doesn't work to then notify you.

Regards
Tom

 

[Satan-IR]

When a user replies to a thread it automatically becomes 'watched' so they'd be notified about likes and replies and quotes and such.

If the issue happens on all USB ports makes me think maybe the problem is with the USB cable? Have you tried another cable? Also test the USB headset on another device/PC with same cable?

 

[Spartan1986]

When a user replies to a thread it automatically becomes 'watched' so they'd be notified about likes and replies and quotes and such.

If the issue happens on all USB ports makes me think maybe the problem is with the USB cable? Have you tried another cable? Also test the USB headset on another device/PC with same cable?

@Satan-IR

I've tried a few different USB headsets and all of them crackle, however I've confirmed via recordings and video chats that the microphone input is always clear. I've tried each headset in all available USB ports (front and back panel), even using a USB-A to USB C adapter to test the USB-C port on the computer which was scraping the barrel a bit but a worthwhile test.

I've run a clean startup to rule out a non-Microsoft service causing the issue, but the problem persists, so if it is service related it must be an MS service (I'm running the most up to date version of 11).

Regards
Tom

 

[Satan-IR]

the PC is running brilliantly and whilst I can bypass the issue running line-in with headphones, it's a shame not to be able to use the headset.

This makes it less likely for it to be because of faulty hardware (motherboard or sound chip). Also a good idea that you have updated sound drivers to latest, also using latest chipset and BIOS.

Various headsets all have this issue so it's most probably not a single faulty headset/cable either. Have you tried the headset (or other ones) in other USB ports? Or does this happen when you connect to a certain USB port? Front of chassis maybe?

If you connect them to the front USB ports of your case (if any) the cable between the case front panel and the motherboard maybe faulty to not-shielded properly and it picks up some noise somehow.

I would also closely check the USB port where you plug in the headset and also inside all other USB ports for that matter. Some piece of metal from the port casing or sometimes even from other sources might be shorting the port or shorting the port to the chassis.

This also happens sometimes with motherboard back panel I/O shileds which are usually made of metal or have metal pin/prongs. Sometimes during installation a prong gets bent and touches/shorts the chassis or a port.

 

[Spartan1986]

This makes it less likely for it to be because of faulty hardware (motherboard or sound chip). Also a good idea that you have updated sound drivers to latest, also using latest chipset and BIOS.

Various headsets all have this issue so it's most probably not a single faulty headset/cable either. Have you tried the headset (or other ones) in other USB ports? Or does this happen when you connect to a certain USB port? Front of chassis maybe?

If you connect them to the front USB ports of your case (if any) the cable between the case front panel and the motherboard maybe faulty to not-shielded properly and it picks up some noise somehow.

I would also closely check the USB port where you plug in the headset and also inside all other USB ports for that matter. Some piece of metal from the port casing or sometimes even from other sources might be shorting the port or shorting the port to the chassis.

This also happens sometimes with motherboard back panel I/O shileds which are usually made of metal or have metal pin/prongs. Sometimes during installation a prong gets bent and touches/shorts the chassis or a port.

@Satan-IR

Last night I re-tested all the headsets on all ports front and back and the crackle is consistent. I removed all other USB devices except my keyboard and mouse, though this audio problem was occurring before I got these devices so I've ruled them out as culprits. As I had the PC out, I checked each of the ports for damage and also the IO shield and all seems well. I re-seated the USB header cables for the front ports and repeated the above tests and the crackle was still there.

I'm guessing this is driver related but I can't see anything noticeably wrong in device manager.

I also tested the back panel 1.5mm jack audio ports with with the same pair of headphones I've been getting clean audio with on the front panel. I got clean audio out from the speaker out and tested the line in and mic inputs and they are all producing clean audio.

 

[Satan-IR]

@Satan-IR

Last night I re-tested all the headsets on all ports front and back and the crackle is consistent. I removed all other USB devices except my keyboard and mouse, though this audio problem was occurring before I got these devices so I've ruled them out as culprits. As I had the PC out, I checked each of the ports for damage and also the IO shield and all seems well. I re-seated the USB header cables for the front ports and repeated the above tests and the crackle was still there.

I'm guessing this is driver related but I can't see anything noticeably wrong in device manager.

I also tested the back panel 1.5mm jack audio ports with with the same pair of headphones I've been getting clean audio with on the front panel. I got clean audio out from the speaker out and tested the line in and mic inputs and they are all producing clean audio.

If the sound driver has issues I think it could also affect the line-in with headphones. But you said you have clear audio then.

Chipset driver and BIOS might affect USB too (in terms of power delivery to ports and so on). You said you have latest chipset driver and BIOS installed though. Could be USB (power delivery), driver controling this, the motherboard itself.

You said above you tried a combination of devices connected nd unplugged. I'm guessing you did test with the XENYX X1204USB unplugged as well? Also the mixer comes with it's own power source, right? An adapter or with a built-in PSU just a plug to the outlet?

Does the PC output to the mixer go through USB? And more than one port from PC to mixer? (Guessing as it has USB in its model name.)

Is that mouse wireless with a USB dongle? Have you tried with a wired mouse or this one if it has the 'wired' option? Or move dongle to other port?

I personally would breadboard the system too. Take everything out of the chassis/case. Connect power to the board and device audio to USB ports and start up and see if the problem persists. That way any short or interference/noise from case and anything shorting with it would be kind of eliminated. Also when your playing sound/music and hearing crackles I'd disconnect the the mouse keyboard and see if that makes a change (still ouside the case).

What brand/model is your chassis/case? How is the cable management inside the case. If you like you can take photos from inside the case with side panel open, upload photos to imgur.com and post links here.

Also what do you have for storage? An M.2 SSD in the slot 1 between CPU and graphics card?