I get really bad audio interference randomly, had the problem for years.

[drambit]

I've seen a lot of these kinds of posts before, and even I have made one (albeit 2 years ago,) so I'm going to get straight to the point of the problem and explain what's happening.

I get the infamous snap crackle and pop coming from my speakers sometimes when I'm listening to audio. Anybody who can solve this problem already understands what the problem is probably so I'll just list the specifics:

• 
  -It is only audible when audio is coming out of my speakers, meaning that if I mute my speakers there is no static.
  
  -I am on Windows 7.
  
  -I know it isn't my speakers because I can plug my headphones into the jack and the crackle remains.
  
  -I just recently bought a new computer with an MSI-Z97S-SLI motherboard, and a Realtec ALC892 audio chip.
  
  -I had the same problem on my old computer with a different motherboard and a different audio chip.
  
  -I also had the same problem when I switched from on board to a Creative SB Audigy SE sound card.
  
  -All audio effects are turned off in the Windows volume mixer.
  
  -All drivers are up to date.
  
  -It seems to show up completely randomly, meaning sometimes I can have my computer under intense load for 12 hours with perfect audio, and sometimes my computer will only be on for 1 hour and the sound quality will shit the bed.

I've been struggling with occasional sound interference for years and it gets very frustrating at times because the only solution I know how to use is temporary and it is simply resetting my computer. Other than that I have absolutely no clue what is causing this problem.

 

[makkem]

Hi
Since your problem appears to be independant of the computer (I assume your old and new computers had different power supplies) then all that leaves is the electricity supply to the computer.
Make sure your computer is properly grounded .
Consider getting a power conditioner.
http://

 

[adamjosiah]

The wires that your audio signal travel through can very easily act like an antenna picking up any electric noise nearby. Are you using front or rear audio jacks in your PC? Try removing any and all electronic devices away from your computer - modems, routers, cell phones, etc. Try moving your computer to another room completely. Good audio hardware and wires are shielded, but really a number of things could be generating interference.

 

[drambit]

Hi
Since your problem appears to be independant of the computer (I assume your old and new computers had different power supplies) then all that leaves is the electricity supply to the computer.
Make sure your computer is properly grounded .
Consider getting a power conditioner.
http://

I don't think that is the case. I don't have any evidence to back that up, but I'm pretty confident that if it was interference or ground looping caused by the power going to my computer I think it would be more common, right now I only hear static about 2 times a week. I guess power supply could in theory be causing the issue but I remember having static once in a while before I got my new power supply so I don't think that is it either.

Is there any way to rule things out so I can find out what the real problem is? Like a way to check if it is ground looping or electrical interference?

 

[makkem]

Its not a ground loop as that would manifest as a low frequency hum.
If your computer however is not grounded then any interference does not get grounded out and the result is noise in the audio.
Could also be a noisy ground line which can be caused by faulty suppression circuitry on refrigerators and air con units and sometimes by microwave ovens.
If you are near to some water pipes you could try connecting a wire between your computer case and a metal water pipe.

 

[drambit]

Its not a ground loop as that would manifest as a low frequency hum.
If your computer however is not grounded then any interference does not get grounded out and the result is noise in the audio.
Could also be a noisy ground line which can be caused by faulty suppression circuitry on refrigerators and air con units and sometimes by microwave ovens.
If you are near to some water pipes you could try connecting a wire between your computer case and a metal water pipe.

That doesn't sound like it would be the issue, my computer is brand new, plugged into a power bar with a 3 prong grounded cable, which is plugged into a 3 prong grounded wall socket, which isn't on the same circuit as my kitchen. Also, I would imagine that if it was something like ground noise, it would likely be more common than it is.

If I had to guess I would say that the most likely cause is either software related (same operating system for the last 4 years,) or something that only shows up occasionally like radio interference, I just don't actually know how to find out exactly what is causing it. It is additionally challenging because as long as I don't know what is causing it, I can't force the problem to happen, and thus I only have the opportunity to troubleshoot it once or twice a week, but I still want to try.

 

[makkem]

When you say you have had this problem with two different computers,were they totally different with no components from one used in the other one ?
This is especially relevant to the PSU.
For noise to be introduced into the mains power line the cause does not have to be on the same circuit as all the circuits are tied together at the breaker box,in fact noise could even be generated by one of your neighbours .
The cause of this can be very difficult to isolate ,you could maybe try the PC in a different room in your house or in a friends house.
I doubt it is a software issue,though you could try installing Linux and seeing what happens.

 

[drambit]

When you say you have had this problem with two different computers,were they totally different with no components from one used in the other one ?
This is especially relevant to the PSU.
For noise to be introduced into the mains power line the cause does not have to be on the same circuit as all the circuits are tied together at the breaker box,in fact noise could even be generated by one of your neighbours .
The cause of this can be very difficult to isolate ,you could maybe try the PC in a different room in your house or in a friends house.
I doubt it is a software issue,though you could try installing Linux and seeing what happens.

I didn't switch PSU when upgrading my computer, however I did upgrade the PSU in my old computer about a year ago, and I had the audio noise before the upgrade anyway. I distinctly remember hoping that getting a new PSU might make the interference go away (although that's not why I bought it. On that basis I'm certain it's not the PSU. I don't think it's psu, motherboard, audio chip, speakers or sound card. All of those things have basically been ruled out (buying a new sound card actually made the problem far worse.) Maybe that would indicate something. (haven't tried it in my new case yet though so the sound card making things worse could have been a grounding issue.)

Really though it is indeed extremely difficult to isolate, as it only shows up occasionally, and for apparently no reason when it does show up. It's just that it is so frustrating when it does show up that it's worth it for me to go out of my way to find it.

 

[adamjosiah]

It makes sense that a sound card would make it worse. More often than not sound cards have insufficient shielding or are completely unshielded. This makes the "antenna" in your computer even larger for picking up more external noise. Like I said before, I would try moving your computer to another room. Something in that area must be generating large amounts of noise at seemingly random times

 

[makkem]

Things I would try.
Turn the PC 90 degrees then if it still occurs 180 degrees.(RFI can be directional and if you have a gap in the shielding of the case like a side window then this can reduce the problem)
Try PC in a different room.
Connect wire from PC case to a ground point (water pipes),if it still occurs ;
Remove temporarily ground from power cable,if it still occurs;
Remove wire from PC case to ground point,if it still occurs;
Problem not noisy ground so reconnect ground in power cable.