Sound Cracking (Z77-D3H)

fireberd · 12 Oct 2012

The issue on this thread turned out to be the USB headset and not something with the PC hardware or Windows.

Pops and crackles, or either one by itself, is a common complaint. If you scan through the many posts here you will see you are not alone. Problem is, there is no "one fix" for the problem. The DPC latency tester on both of my new systems consistently runs under 100usec. One is a Gigabyte Z77X UD5H with an i7 3770 CPU that I use in my recording studio system and the other is an ASRock Z77 Professional motherboard and an i5 3550 CPU. Both have RealTek integrated sound for PC audio applications (I don't use the RealTek when the PC is used for my recording studio) and I don't have the pops/crackles problem.

BogusBoo · 16 Oct 2012

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply guys, i switched ISPs, had net problems :/

Solace, It does sound somewhat like that, i have isolated the problem to my headphones (Plantronics 780). I found something that works for now, but causes a new problem:

- Uninstall All Headphone Drivers (Plantronics 780)

- Insert USB Headphones into USB 3.0 Slot

- Sound crackling should be gone, but you can not use 7.1 Surround (which comes with headphones).

- Introduces a new problem. Sound will randomly cut out.

fireberd, will not close the thread yet. I have requested a warranty replacement, i still wish to find if it is my paticular set of Headphones or if it's the brand/drivers.

fireberd · 16 Oct 2012

I'll keep this on my open watch list until you get the final resolution (bad headset or compatibility issue).

BogusBoo · 21 Oct 2012

Hi,

The sound crackling disappears when i use USB 3, it reappears with usb 2 though. I have a new problem, which is, of course, bearable but extremely annoying.

My sound randomly cuts out (with USB 3.0, not 2.0 but 2.0 has crackling) after some time, reinserting the usb of the headphones back into the socket fixes it temporarily, but it comes back in a short course of time. Disabling and Re-Enabling in device manager also does the same, temporary fix. I have done everything i can think of, including reinstalling the headset drivers, keeping them uninstalled, installed etc to no avail.

Any ideas what is happening now? Thanks

fireberd · 21 Oct 2012

This now sounds like some type of possible hardware or USB driver issue rather than an actual "sound" issue.

The problem has manifested itself as some type of sound issue but in fact it is not "sound".

My Gigabyte Z77X UD5H USB 3.0 controller has an Intel driver. The other USB have the built in Microsoft drivers. If you haven't installed any driver updates, including the Intel motherboard chipset drivers, that would be a good place to start. Check the Gigabyte downloads for your specific motherboard.

BogusBoo · 21 Oct 2012

Hey,

I have installed and reinstalled all the USB Drivers i can find (Etron USB 3.0 and Intel 3.0), the problem is still here, even when using the latest from the website or DVD.

fireberd · 21 Oct 2012

I don't remember, but does audio either to the PC speakers or a regular headset do this? Also, without looking back over this thread, did I have you try the DPC latency checker to see if shows up anything? DPC Latency Checker

We are basically back at square one.

BogusBoo · 21 Oct 2012

Hi,

I'll track my next sound cutoff with the DPC Latency Checker. It does not happen with speakers, only with my USB Connection. It does not happen with my keyboard or mouse which are USB.

EDIT: Cutoff was not recorded in DPC latency checker

fireberd · 21 Oct 2012

You probably would not notice the apparent problem with many USB devices such as the keyboard and mouse.

BogusBoo · 22 Oct 2012

Yeah.

I left my PC on for around 10 Hours, with my pc playing music (headphones muted), no disconnection.

I have also noticed this hardly happens when i'm not playing a game.