Audio popping? Is it the motherboard?

[Kentuckytech]

I purchased a new ASUS Z97-A motherboard recently and it's been good so far, but I've noticed what I think might be some kind of audio static at times. I'm not entirely sure. With a USB headset and a stereo headset, I've been listening to music or watching a video, then heard a small static noise. Rechecking the video and music, it wasn't part of them. This only happened once on both the USB headset and stereo headset.

In Audacity or in the volume control, if I click play multiple times or click the audio slider multiple times, I can at times hear a pop as the audio begins. Very quick, not loud, and only once, unless I keep pressing play/the audio slider. It happens much more rarely with my stereo headset, and usually only when I suddenly pause a video, but not always.

Overall, it happens very rarely, but I do notice it when it does.

I've not had to deal with audio crackling or static popping problems in a very long time, and I can't remember any unusual popping from my last computer months ago, so I'm not entirely sure what to do. Is it the motherboard? Is it the headset(s)? Is nothing wrong at all?

For reference, my motherboard is the USB 3.1 model. I plugged my USB headset into my case USB ports, not directly to the motherboard. Stereo headset was of course directly into the motherboard.

I've also noticed that there seems to be a very slight delay (half a second or less) between Audacity or Youtube playing an audio track/video.

Power supply is an EVGA 850w. USB Headset is a Sentey model.

 

[mamasan2000]

Probably motherboards onboard audio.

 

[Kentuckytech]

Are you sure?

 

[maarkr]

so, you are using your motherboard on-board sound correct? is that using like realtek drivers that you loaded for that mobo for your OS? some of those allow you to specify the default quality of sound, like 24 bit, 44.1 khz, but if it set for like higher bit rates, it wold affect the sound output... on higher end sound devices, you would increase your buffers, but mobo level systems don't allow it.

 

[Kentuckytech]

With the Stereo Headset, yes. The USB Headset has its own sound/audio driver.

 

[Kentuckytech]

A little bump. I also noticed with my USB Headset plugged in, there's some static and popping when I boot up. Once I'm just past the Windows 8 "spinning-wheel" screen, it stops. Not sure if this affects anything.

I still need to know if this could be caused by the motherboard's audio, or if it's just normal.

 

[imthebigchief]

Can you make the popping sound happen by touching the case with something metal, especially if it is on the area of the back connectors faceplate? Grounding issue on the computer or speakers?

 

[mamasan2000]

USB headsets tend to pick up fluctuations in the USB-bus. My USB Turtle Beach also make all kinds of noises at start. I connect them to a powered hub and have other stuff connected to it as well. Depending on what I connect, I can get static and other annoying sounds going. I avoid connecting straight to the back of the motherboard because of crosstalk.

Mobo onboard audio is usually the cheapest chip they could find so don't expect quality sounds. Need a dedicated sound card for that. I find onboard audio to be too low volume as well. Could use an amp or two, if that's even possible.