audio drop outs/skipping caused by 802.11n wireless network card?

[thedoc735]

I have had my old pentium 4, for years.

I put windows 7 on it with more memory, upgraded GPU & added a wireless 802.11n network card.

I have tried the on board P4C8000 (asus) audio as well as 2 different sound cards from 'creative', but no matter what I do I get this audio interference and I suppose it resembles the popping and cracking of the static on a vinyl LP record when the styli hits the deck and spins!

I have tried several different tracks with different headphones and it is always the same!

Anyone got any ideas please?

PS: On any given recording, the sound is distorted, like if you record a cassette tape with the volume right up high causing saturation. However, all the faders (in windows) are set to about 50% max. as is my headset volume.

I've just noticed that when I play a high quality audio CD ROM (purchased, not downloaded poor quality internet junk) the interference seems to be in time with the transmission LED on the 802.11n network card. There are about six PCI slots on the back of the case but even when I put the network card at the very bottom and the sound card at the very top (slot) the network cards aerials are always within 6 inches of the headset cable and are often right between the aerials. Does anyone know if a local network can cause this to happen and is there a solution please? i.e. drop outs/skipping/stuttering etc?

 

[fireberd]

Wi-Fi is a known cause of popping and crackling. If you must have a wireless connection have you tried disabling the wireless controller when you play audio? to verify that is the problem. That would be the first step in trying to resolve the problem.

 

[thedoc735]

When the tenda W322P is disabled in windows 7 device manager the problem disappears completely

I don't think "ASIO4ALL" is any good for my Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (don't think ASIO is supported)?

 

[fireberd]

ASIO4ALL can have mixed results. Works on some sound devices and not others, and can even cause problems with some. All the SoundBlaster's that I've seen have ASIO drivers so ASIO4ALL is not needed with them.