Bizarre, Discrepancies in Sound Quality Audio issues are appearing unexpectedly.
Bizarre, Discrepancies in Sound Quality Audio issues are appearing unexpectedly.
My computer audio will sometimes randomly make a faint cracking/popping/peaking sound while it is on. It is very inconsistent and I am sure others would barely notice it if they got on my computer but to me it is very prominent and annoying. While I am watching youtube, playing games, in a discord, or whatever, a very faint cracking sound in the audio will happen then it will go back to normal. I also noticed while changing the volume on different websites such as twitch and youtube there will be a consistent crack when the volume is changed and the volume knob is slid up and down. It is most prominent with the windows volume overall. I am unsure if this is a part of the problem or just something that has happened and I have never noticed it. It began when I first plugged in a new headset on the back audio jacks (mic in/line in). I was testing the quality of said headset and went back to compare it to my old one. This is when I first noticed the very faint cracking sound inconsistently while my friends in discord were talking. Then, with the old headset on, I played Warzone with them and noticed the cracking sound even more and even noticed that loud sounds (car music, jets flying overhead, a nearby contract beeping) would sound like they were peaking my headset. It got very annoying very fast and went on a hunting spree to try and fix it. Preface: - 64 Bit Windows - Did not happen (or did not notice) until new headset was plugged in 3/17 - Original audio drivers when old headset was in use: AMD High Definition Audio, High Definition Audio (Devices) - It is VERY inconsistent, and annoying. Could not reliably recreate it in games, but could, however; recreate it by replaying certain parts of videos (this may just be part of said videos) - Mic sounds the same - Don't remember my exact bit rate and sample rate I used with my old headset - The crack/pop isn't very loud, could almost be described as a small skip/break in the audio Things I have Done: - Tried reinstalling audio drivers - Tried changing audio drivers to Realtek High Definition Audio (Via updating [Realtek] back to High Definition Audio) - Tried using 5 different headsets to test if the problems still persisted - Tried using 5 different connectors/splitters to connect the headsets to the computer - Changed to almost all sample rates and bit rates for all the headset speakers - Tried most enhancements both Realtek and regular High Definition Audio - Disabled and enabled exclusive mode for each headset - Tried turning down volume - Tried turning up volume - Shutting down computer - Restarting computer - Turning on computer with no sound drivers available, then enabled them - Tested front and back 3.5mm jacks - Tried using a G432 jack to USB connector (Variety of results from this) - Tried only having the headphones jack connected while leaving the mic unconnected - Tried ditching the 1 to 2 jack splitter (splits one jack to have a mic in / line in) and plugged the headset itself into the line/audio in (front and back) - Tried using my monitor's speakers (They are quiet but the problem doesn't seem to happen there) - Listened to a long consistent pitch through my headset but couldn't consistently notice if the crack/pop was happening - Checked the jacks to make sure they didn't look damaged or loose - Uninstalled Discord to see if it was just a discord problem Things I Haven't Done: - Using an actual USB headset (I'd have to buy one) - Fully wiped all my files and apps - Using a Bluetooth headset - Fresh Windows Restart - Attempt to record the crack/pop/skip/break Weird Notes: - When a headset is plugged into the front or back line in jacks on my computer, and Realtek High Definition Audio is being used, the volume cracking sound is prominent ON BOTH JACKS when sliding the windows volume up and down. - When a headset is plugged into the line in jacks on my computer, and High Definition Audio Device is being used, the cracking sound is prominent ONLY ON THE BACK JACK when sliding the windows volume up and down. - With that said, whether High Definition Audio Device or Realtek High Definition Audio is being used, the inconsistent, may or may not be correlated random cracking sound while playing games and at a fixed volume is STILL PRESENT. - Front Mic In jack has never worked and creates a loud screeching sound in my mic Headsets Used: - HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro --- HEADSET THAT (POSSIBLY) CAUSED PROBLEM - TBI Imba Pro V8 --- ORIGINAL HEADSET - Logitech G432 - TBI Imba Pro V8 --- Used another one I found - Kotion Each Headset --- Unsure of Model Specs ASUS Rog Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-FI Gigabyte AMD 5700XT AMD Ryzen 3700X Vengeance Corsair Pro 2x8 16GB RAM Coolermaster H500 ARGB Samsung 970 NVME 1TB SSD EVGA 80+ Gold Certified 850 Watt PSU Conclusions - I could be crazy and this might all be in my head (I don't think this is) - Likely an audio driver problem I need help solving - Very faint cracking sound every once in awhile that is hard to recreate - Audio does however; crack consistently when volume sliders are moved up and down - The cracking sound doesn't just happen when loud sounds are being played, my friends could be talking in discord and it would crack/pop
Possible issues may stem from interference (cell phones, power supply, poor grounding and other external/internal factors). Competing audio devices could be vying for bandwidth in the background. Your built-in microphone connection might be malfunctioning. The front mic jack is designed for a standard mic; using combo plugs can cause short circuits, leading to squealing sounds.
This raises some questions. The front audio connections seem to silence the rear jack when headphones are attached. It’s conceivable that inserting a jack into the front port might have caused damage, leading to unintended signals affecting the rear jack. You could test by disconnecting the front port audio at the motherboard connectors.
I’ve fully reinitialized the system, refreshed the BIOS, and installed audio drivers straight from the ASUS site. I’m nearly certain the SupremeFX Audio Chip is malfunctioning, so you might need to purchase a dedicated PCIe sound card or a replacement motherboard.
I observed an unusual occurrence where a buzzing noise emanates from the motherboard or nearby when I move the mouse across the screen.
Hey there, I noticed we might face the same problem. I also experience crackling or popping when tweaking volume sliders, something that began just a year ago. After spending a few months fixing this, I’ve realized that whenever audio abruptly stops or changes, certain frequencies cause a harsh popping noise. Long, drawn-out sounds tend to produce the worst effect. Here are some examples: the first 30 seconds of this track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5s-BnOeS4Y and this low-frequency tone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslHKEh7oZk Adjusting the volume leads to a crackling sound, while muting or unmuting causes popping. Skipping through the video also triggers the noise. As you go higher in frequency, the popping becomes less noticeable—around 5000Hz it’s much quieter. On Spotify, if I only change volume there, no crackle appears, but with Windows volume it does appear, though not as severe as on YouTube. I’ve tested three different headphones and can recreate these issues using a USB DAC, so I’m running out of ideas. I plan to buy a sound card soon, but I’m unsure if that would solve the issue if the USB DAC isn’t working. Have a good try!
While adjusting the volume on Windows 10 or YouTube, a subtle buzzing noise becomes audible. Raising the volume triggers a distinct pop that stands out. I experimented with five different headphones per port, but the issue persisted. I adjusted settings like enhancements, bit depth, and sample rate without success. Switching drivers from Realtek didn’t resolve it either. A full restart and Windows reset had no impact. I used an outdated $40 sound card via PCIe, which bypassed all built-in audio because it was disabled—it didn’t help. The problem doesn’t occur on another laptop, and both devices run the latest Windows updates. Your system specs include: ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (Wi-Fi) GIGABYTE 5700XT AMD RYZEN 3700X ASUS Xonar Sound Card Vengeance Corsair 2x8 16GB RAM Samsung 970 EVO 1TB NVME SSD EVGA 850WATT 80+ Gold Certified PSU.
Residing in a vintage apartment I faced comparable issues with the power outlet for my PC... apparently, electrical complications affected the audio output. Or perhaps it happens even when operating on battery power? In that case, considering an external sound card or audio interface might be a viable solution.