Annoying static like "pop" from speakers

[unclepine]

This is driving me NUTS...! I have an Asus P7P55D MoBo, Windows 7 of course, all updates, Intel i5 2.7 CPU, 8gb ram, 5770 GPU, 5.1 surround, 128SSD, 500GbHDD, Antec 900 case/4 fans, sound card is onboard. Whenever I click on a page and read for a bit then click back there is a "pop" from the speakers...! It doesn't seem to happen if you click pages quickly, only if you stay on the page for a few minutes...?

The "pop" is even audible with the sound muted via the speaker icon at bottom of screen. I checked all the cables, plugs and seem solid. The power bar has a pretty hefty surge circuit in it and the volume on the powered sub is set to 1/4 volume. The only thing that I have done recently is upgrade the video/audio drivers when I installed Rage from Steam.

Any thoughts on what I might try to alleviate this problem...?

Regards,

unclepine

 

[fireberd]

I wonder if its static electricity cause the problem? Is everything grounded properly? As it does it with the speakers muted (on the PC) leads me to static or something external or in the speaker system.

For testing, disconnect the speakers and plug a headset into either the front panel headphone jack or into the rear GREEN speaker jack and see if you get this with the headphones. If you do or don't will help in problem isolation.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
If you are connecting to internet via Wi-Fi check you don't have a mobile phone on near the computer -- mobile phones can cause a lot of interference -- you don't have to be on a mobile phone but anybody near who has one on - or simply the mobile could just be scanning from time to time -- it IS a radio receiver after all !!.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[unclepine]

"Popping" speakers

Hey Fireberd, you aced it man...!! I turned off the powered sub that all the speakers are plugged into, and popped in a set of hedphones on the tower front panel, cranked up the volume and opened up a bunch of web pages back and forth a few dozen times...NO POP...!!! So, seems you are on to sumthin my friend. This 5.1 is a VERY old system that I got as a gift some 6-8 yrs ago, so maybe some of the on-board components are getting weak...?

Oh BTW, I do get thar annoying Windows "click" when you open a new page. How can I turn that off...?

Regards, and THANKS again

Unc

 

[Anak]

Oh BTW, I do get thar annoying Windows "click" when you open a new page. How can I turn that off...?

See: How to Turn Off Sounds in Your Browser - Turn Off Browser Sounds in Windows
Make your selection, click on Apply then OK.


If by opening a new page you mean a new program.

Follow this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/285-sounds-change.html, then go to step #7A.

Scroll down to "open program" and left click on it to highlight it.
Then click on the down arrow at Sounds and select (None).

We don't like all those sounds either, so I have Sound Schemes set to no sounds; click on the down arrow at Sound Scheme and select No Sounds.

You will have to experiment with Program Sounds to find what suites you best then you can save it, how to do that is shown in step #10.

 

[unclepine]

Ya, I found the area for turning off those annoying Windows sounds. Thanks. The funny part about these crazy "pops" is that they don't seem to happen if I click quickly back and forth between different screens/pages/sites, but if I sit on a page and read a bit, the "pop" will happen when I jump back to the previous page..???

and so it goes...AAARRRGGHHHH...!!!

Unc

 

[Anak]

What you're describing is a Latency problem, and you should update any old drivers especially the audio and video.

Go to: DPC Latency Checker read through the site to learn about "Drop-Outs" and how to use it then download, and run it. Installation is not required. The program will give you tips on what to check to fix the problem.

Here's another site that offers tips on how to find, isolate, and fix drop-outs: Windows 7 Tuning Tips for Audio Processing It also has another program that:

If DPC Latency Checker (see last section) shows any yellow or red spikes, run LatencyMon to identify the exact cause of the problem. The LatencyMon installer can be downloaded from here:

Resplendence Software - LatencyMon: suitability checker for real-time audio and other tasks

Source: Windows 7 Tuning Tips for Audio Processing

Troubleshooting for latency can be a difficult process so take your time and gather your patience, we'll be here to offer assistance. I can remember fireberd and me working with other members to fix latency.

It would be a good thing to brush up on http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html It would give everyone a visual to see the results of DPC Checker, LatencyMon, and offer suggestions.

 

[fireberd]

The problem, as he has reported, is (apparently) in the speaker system as headphones do not get the pops.

 

[unclepine]

...and so it goes...the pops that is...!

THANK YOU very much for the informative info anak. I will take off to these sites and delve in to all the suggestions. I will reply when I have tried out the tips. Hope to be able to post screen shots also. Have never really gotten into doing that sort of thing, being an 'ol fart you know, but I will give it the ol school try...!

Regards,

Unc

 

[unclepine]

Here is a screen shot of the DPC Latency test I just ran...

 

[unclepine]

screen shot of DPC checker




Don't know if this is gonna work...!!

Unv

 

[Anak]

The problem, as he has reported, is (apparently) in the speaker system as headphones do not get the pops.

My apologies, I mis-read the thread starter.

THANK YOU very much for the informative info anak. I will take off to these sites and delve in to all the suggestions. I will reply when I have tried out the tips. Hope to be able to post screen shots also. Have never really gotten into doing that sort of thing, being an 'ol fart you know, but I will give it the ol school try...!

Regards,

Unc

Your welcome, one is never too old to learn.

Here is a screen shot of the DPC Latency test I just ran...
View attachment 296351
View attachment 296351

Well, that's one way to flatten out those latency spikes!

View attachment 296352


Don't know if this is gonna work...!!

Unv

At least we have confirmation that your system is okay.

On the off-chance if the new game and steam might be a problem I found this: Anyone else getting horrible static? [Archive] - Steam Users' Forums most of the users complain about headphone static, but there are a few that it affects their speakers.

There are some tips in there about changing the audio.scr by adding different variables like EAX to the audio.scr file and changing the digital output properties to 2channel 16bit, looks like you'll be experimenting.

This might be helpful: Rage Crashes, Textures Fix, FOV, FPS, Freezes, Errors, and Graphics Fixes

Found this

Problem 3: How To Fix Audio Crackling/Static Sound

Solution: Go to the directory: \Documents\Rage\out\Settings, Open: "Audio.scr" with a text editor and Change: API("XAudio2") to API("aOpenAL"). According to my experience, choose a new driver for your audio card will be helpful. Realtek HD audio 2.64 is a good option.

here: Rage Black Screen, Lag and Cracking Sound Issues Fix

You may find more by searching for: "Rage" static/crackling sound problem.

 

[unclepine]

Well guys...

...I took the system downstairs to the shop and blasted out the tower. LOTS of dust...! Pulledout ALL the plugs, cleaned 'em and plugged 'em all back in. Che+










...I dragged the tower downstairs to the workshop and took the air gun to it. LOTS o dust...! Unplugged ALL the connections, cleaned the jacks etc., plugged 'em all back in...SAME THING...!!

The "pops" definitely DO NOT happen when using headphones right off the MoBo output at the back. The thing that stands out is that the "pops" ONLY happen when on the web, jumping from site to site, page to page. I'm thinking this narrows it down to the speaker power system in the woofer OR the router..!!??

It's a D-Link DI-604. Rather old I know but still seems to work fine. It's a hard wired style, no need for wireless as all the 'puter equipment is on 2 desks in the corner of the room.

I'm stumped. Next up is to try just 2 speakers off the Mobo WITHOUT the powered sub in line. After that, I guess a different(read new) router as the old 604 is no longer supported.

...and so it goes.....

Unc

 

[unclepine]

Sorry about the above pics...! Hit the wrong upload...DUUHHH. Well, it looks like the sub woofer that has the control curcuits in it for all the other speakers was the issue. I unplugged the entire system and ran a couple of different speakers off the main outputs on the audio out jacks on back of MoBo. No pops at all. BUT...I cannot seem to get much volume outa these speakers even with the volume slider in the lower right taskbar icon...? Cranked all the way to the top and the sound is just normal, not loud at all...? NOW WHAT...??!?!?!

 

[N00berG00ber]

Run DPC Latency checker and see if its a driver issue. Dpc latency would cause that too.

 

[Anak]

Sorry about the above pics...! Hit the wrong upload...DUUHHH. Well, it looks like the sub woofer that has the control curcuits in it for all the other speakers was the issue. I unplugged the entire system and ran a couple of different speakers off the main outputs on the audio out jacks on back of MoBo. No pops at all. BUT...I cannot seem to get much volume outa these speakers even with the volume slider in the lower right taskbar icon...?

Cranked all the way to the top and the sound is just normal, not loud at all...? NOW WHAT...??!?!?!

It might be a Loudness Equalization setting. See one of my posts from earlier this year: http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/277690-vmware-player-windows-8-demo.html#post2287596

The Loudness Equalization setting would be found on the Enhancement tab of Speaker properties.