Audio Crackle Windows 10

[Darkethus]

Hello

A while back my audio on my computer started to crackle sometimes. This happened randomly and there was no pattern to when the crackle would happen. I started being annoyed by it after a while and started trying to figure it out myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87-D_zLr4CQ

Here's an example of how it sounds, but the pop is louder for me and doesn't happen frequently. Sometimes the computer can be turned on for hours without having any crackle. Sometimes I start the computer and there is audio popping right away.

I wanted this to stop, and so I decided to look it up myself! I checked google and found a couple of promising links to websites or youtube videos that told me what to do. I was often told to reinstall the audio drivers or to Disable All Enhancements.

I also read that I could try to download DPC Latency Checker and Disable one driver at the time to see if that would change something in the program. I never really understood the program too well. However, there was a lot of spikes in Red. As I said, I didn't understand this too well, and if this could be the source of my problem, guide me how to use it better please.

The article I am talking about is:
http://www.komku.org/2013/06/how-to-fix-crackling-popping-sound-problem.html


There was alöso an article with many more steps:
http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/fix-audio-staticcracklingpopping-with-realtek-sound-card/

Method 1 – BIOS, Video and Sound Card Drivers
Updated all these drivers. I've got a gtx 970, and i update the Nvidia Drivers. This can fix the problem for about a day, sometimes two, then the popping or crackle comes back.

When trying to update the Audio Drivers, and I go to the RealTek website, and downlaod the new dirver or even just the same one I have to reinstall, it can also fix the problem for about a week or something like that, and then the problem comes back.

Updating BIOS is not something I can do. I have a z77 Extreme4 motherboard from ASRock, and there are no updates to do to it.

I did try to Clear my CMOS. This fixed the problem for quite some time (about a week too). All the things I've done with my BIOS is to apply an overclock to my CPU to about 4.0GHz

Method 2 – Disable Digital Audio In/Line In
This didn't work either. I only have "Line In" on my Recordings Tab and disabling it does not fix the crackle.

Method 3 – DPC Latency¨
Again, I tried this a bit but I don't know how to really well. I disable a driver and see if the red spikes stop. Then I enable it again and try the next. I don't see the red spikes stopping ever

Method 4 – Disable ATI HDMI Audio
I don't have one, I can't disable it.


Method 5 – Realtek and ASUS
Don't have anything made by Asus

Method 6 – Turn Off Real Time Programs
Tried disabling my Anti-Virus for a while, didn't help. Got a program that helps me keep track of my internet usage. Disabled that for a while, didn't help either.

Method 7 – Try Different Audio Port on PC
Only have the ports on the back of the motherboard, can't mistake them for any others... (I think)

Method 8 – Disconnect Mouse/Keyboard
Didn't fix it either.


Aside from that article, I also dug up my old Driver disk from ASRock and installed the old drivers to see if it would work. It did for a little bit, but then the popping came back again.

I went to the ASRock website and downloaded their last updated Audio Drivers for my motherboard. Like everything else, this fixed the problem, possibly for a day or two. Can't be sure I wasn't just lucky.


As for when it happens, it happens both with my speakers and with my headphones on. With other computer both my speakers and my headphones work fine without any crackle.


I really wanted to try and fix this myself before writing here, therefore the long post. Anything else I could do that would make this damned crackle/popping go away?

If you have any questions whatsoever, just ask, I'll try to answer as fast as I can


Also thank you for helping.

 

[tsnor]

Do you have an HDMI attached monitor with built in speakers or a TV with an HDMI input? If so it would be interesting to see if the audio crackle goes away. Sound over HDMI would not be using the sound engine on your MB, it would instead be just sending bits that were converted at the TV or monitor. Guess: no crackle with HDMI.

Is you PC plugged into a properly grounded outlet ? Sounds like audio noise introduced inside the PC. Some PCs have special audio sections that are more heavily shielded to avoid noise.

Brute force solution: Stop using your MB's sound and use a USB attached sound card. Likely the sound chip on your MB cost less than $3, and the external usb attached sound will be the same or better.

1. cheap: A really cheap USB attached sound card is less than $10 https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1469916844&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+++sound+for+pc It is outside the PC and should not get the crackle noise.
2. good: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB162000001-Sound-Blaster/dp/B00JFRHLOM
3. Better: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Sound-Card-Xonar-U5/dp/B00MI8IDRE/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1469917163&sr=1-2&keywords=ASUS+Xonar+U7

I use a Headstreamer headphone amp. It sounds really good: https://www.amazon.com/HIGH-RESOLUTION-TECHNOLOGIES-355-HRT/dp/B0067Z6BNC/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1469917303&sr=1-11&keywords=hrt

 

[Darkethus]

tsnor, thank you for the answer! I do have a tv with an HDMI input and there is no popping when using that. That means the crackling is introduced inside the computer? The question is, can i get an internal sound card or would that also crackle? the three ones you linked, are they as good as the on-board sound or are they perhaps even better?

 

[tsnor]

tsnor, thank you for the answer! I do have a tv with an HDMI input and there is no popping when using that. That means the crackling is introduced inside the computer? The question is, can i get an internal sound card or would that also crackle? the three ones you linked, are they as good as the on-board sound or are they perhaps even better?

"...That means the crackling is introduced inside the computer? .." that's my guess. A cracked solder joint in the assembly where you plug in the headphones, or a component on the MB is throwing a lot of noise. Since it does not show up on HDMI it is not being created by the input source.

I was steering away from the internal sound card in case the noise was from components in your PC that could also effect the new card. A high end internal card will be shielded against just about anything. A cheap internal sound card likely won't pick up the same crackle as the MB sound components, but it might. Also, anyone can install a USB dongle, adding an internal card is harder (figure out PCI vs PCIe, low profile vs full size, etc. and the dreaded "it's a notebook"). Don't rule out a high end internal card vs. external USB - an internal cards is also a good answer if you are OK installing it.

Your MB uses a very decent Codec, the Realtek ALC898. At a guess the $30 soundblaster is the same and the ASUS Xonar is better than your MB. The amp chosen by Asrock will also strongly effect the sound produced by your MB, and the signal will pick up some noise inside your case once it's analog. I don't know if the list I roughed in are the current best parts. Googling "external USB DAC" and "USB SOUND CARD" will give you different options. Then read a few reviews on amazon. Googling found an older article comparing sound cards to the ALC898, you might find it interesting: http://techreport.com/review/23358/asus-budget-xonar-dgx-and-dsx-sound-cards-reviewed Or get an idea by looking in this table: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/audio-codec-comparison-table/2/


Update: Forgot to add an alternative solution: If you have a fairly modern audio receiver then it may have an optical input. You can run a cheap fiber optic cable (toslink) from your PC to the receiver then let the receiver decode the sound. That will be better than anything coming from your PC sound system. You can plug the headphone and the speakers into the receiver. https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Digital-Optical-Audio-Toslink/dp/B00NH11H38/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1469920676&sr=8-3&keywords=toslink+amazon+basics