Noisy sound bursts or crackling noises from headphones and earbuds
Noisy sound bursts or crackling noises from headphones and earbuds
I've tested around five different headsets in just two years, trying to figure out the problem with my audio. I initially suspected it might be limited to a few Logitech models, but I've switched to three other brands. Even after purchasing a Raycons set just to avoid the issue, they're still experiencing the same problems.
When my audio is above 50 percent volume, both my SteelSeries headset and raycon earbuds (along with four other headsets I've used, including various Logitech and Razer models) produce loud crackling or popping sounds. I'm particularly sensitive to sudden, high-pitched noises, which often make me physically want to vomit.
Even when I lower the volume to 30 percent, the popping continues randomly. Occasionally, certain actions resolve the issue—like disabling and re-enabling the device in Sound settings, turning it on and off, unplugging and plugging it back in, swapping devices, restarting my PC, or waiting a few hours without audio. Sometimes the speakers will pop loudly again, then power back on. The Steelseries automatically reconnects to its wireless USB, while the Raycons require me to re-pair via Bluetooth.
I'm exhausted by this ongoing problem. I've spent hundreds of dollars trying to fix it, but I still don't understand what's causing the issue. I've updated my sound drivers, but I'm unsure if that's the problem or how to replace the card.
Your sound card is already integrated into your motherboard, so it can't be replaced. But you might consider purchasing a PCIe sound card and testing it, or trying inexpensive USB sound cards to see if they function.
I maintain Rainmeter to monitor my RAM and CPU usage, but they stay within safe limits—no more than 60% RAM and 70% CPU. If the issue lies with my sound card, I’m unsure if adjustments can help or if replacement is necessary, and I’d like to understand what that process would involve.
Your sound card is already integrated into your motherboard, making replacement impossible. But you can explore PCIe soundcards or test inexpensive USB options to see what works best.
I'm trying to find a wireless Raycons that works with USB, since the Steelseries headset connects via USB and the Raycons connect through Bluetooth. I have a separate Bluetooth USB dongle, but I'm unsure how to redirect the Raycons connection to that instead of my PC's Bluetooth. Is there a method to force-connect it to the dongle?
You might attempt to turn off Bluetooth on your PC by opening Device Manager and choosing the built-in Bluetooth option, then disabling it. However, if this doesn't resolve the issue, consider using a spare USB stick or hard drive to install Linux and boot from there. If problems persist, the motherboard could be faulty; if not, it may point to an issue with Windows software or drivers, possibly requiring a software investigation or a fresh installation.
Does this occur with wired headphones? It's almost certain there will be interference, as Bluetooth shares frequencies with many devices. To link the headphones to another Bluetooth transmitter, follow the same steps you used when pairing them initially; they should all go through the pairing process. You mentioned the headset is also wireless, so it doesn't use Bluetooth but instead relies on its own radio signal?
The wireless headset links to a wireless USB transmitter rather than using Bluetooth.