Crackling

[seekermeister]

The audio on my HTPC has developed a very noticeable crackling sound, regardless which speakers that I use, and the connections are good. Am I correct in thinking that this is a sign of impending sound card failure?

If so, what is the least expensive card in which I can get an equivalent sound quality to the old Audigy 2 ZS Platinum which is in the machine now? Since it just connects to the TV/monitor's speakers and the Sennheiser headset, I think that I only need 2.1 capability, but would buy better...if the price difference wasn't too great___just for flexibility. Also, a regular PCI card would probably be best, because I don't think I have an extra PCIe slot on that board.

 

[fireberd]

Popping and Crackling is a common complaint on here. There are many posts about it and many potential causes/fixes. No "one fix" for the problem.

I see you have two sound cards listed. Two sound cards installed and enabled can cause conflicts and potentially the problem you have. Also, if you have Integrated Audio (on the motherboard) and it's not disabled in the BIOS that can also cause sound conflicts.

Two suggestions. One, reseat the SoundBlaster card and see if that helps with the problem. If your motherboard has Integrated audio (on the motherboard), uninstall (remove) the SoundBlaster and enable the Integrated audio in the BIOS and install the drivers and see if that has the noise problem.

 

[Sub Styler]

You can always try a contact spray on your connections and volume pots.

Such as this one (although i'm sure cheaper are available)

 

[seekermeister]

Popping and Crackling is a common complaint on here. There are many posts about it and many potential causes/fixes. No "one fix" for the problem.

I see you have two sound cards listed. Two sound cards installed and enabled can cause conflicts and potentially the problem you have. Also, if you have Integrated Audio (on the motherboard) and it's not disabled in the BIOS that can also cause sound conflicts.

Two suggestions. One, reseat the SoundBlaster card and see if that helps with the problem. If your motherboard has Integrated audio (on the motherboard), uninstall (remove) the SoundBlaster and enable the Integrated audio in the BIOS and install the drivers and see if that has the noise problem.

No, there is only one sound card installed. There reason that it appears otherwise, is because my specs lists both of my computers...for the desktop and after the ** the HTPC. Using the integrated audio would only be useful as a diagnostic step, because I would never use it on a permanent basis, however that would only crackle if their was a contact problem of some kind, or the speakers were bad, which I do not believe is the case. However, I will take the advise of the post after your's and try a contact spray.

 

[Wishmaster]

Theres a possibility Uninstalling the drivers, rebooting and reinstalling can resolve the issue.

Of, course, reseating the card is a good idea as well first.

 

[Sub Styler]

Yes drivers, and re-seating are good suggestions (also free) other possibilities include the induction of static into the audio loop somewhere, (do you still get a crackle using headphones on the soundcard) for test purposes.

 

[seekermeister]

Yes, it crackles whether I use the speakers or the headset.

 

[Sub Styler]

Then you can safely say it's an issue with your card or drivers,

You can get the latest driver here: Creative Worldwide Support > Audigy 2 ZS

Have you tried Wishmasters suggestion of re-seating the card (I always clean the contacts when doing this) I wont tell you what I use because it's probably not something to be recommended.

 

[seekermeister]

I'm going to wait until a can of cleaner that I ordered arrives to do much of anything else about this yet.

 

[seekermeister]

In my unique "speedy" fashion, I finally got around to trying to cleaning the sound card and the PCI slot it fits into, plus the sound cables to the speakers, but now instead of getting crackling, I get no sound at all. Well, that's not exactly true, if I turn the volume so high that the white noise is loud, I can barely hear the voices of a movie that I used to test with. It was kind of as though the sound was muted, but it wasn't.

Therefore, I guess the verdict is to buy a new sound card, but since it is on the HTPC on which all that I ever use is the monitor's speaker or the headset, all that I need is a good 2.1 card. I do not want a bottom line card, because the sound quality is noticeablly poorer, but I don't need a high end card either. Any suggestion as to a good candidate for the replacement?

 

[seekermeister]

I have never used onboard sound before, but under the circumstance it is the only option for the moment. It is surprisingly clear, but I can't get sufficient volume out of it to use the monitor's speakers as I have previously. It sounds good on my headset, but even with it, it doesn't exactly split the ear drums at maximum volume. It will hold me until I found the sound card that I want, but am still looking for suggestions.

 

[seekermeister]

Still trying to decide about which sound card to buy. I could get Audigy 2 ZS Gamer, which is supposed to be new, but since the card has been discontinued for quite a while, I would imagine that it would be sans a warranty. The reason that it caught my eye, is that it would be able to interface with the drive bay control box that I have. As far as I can tell, none of the XFI cards can do that...can they?

 

[michaelst]

Check out the Asus Xonar line. the ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Multimedia- ASUS Xonar D1 is the basic card, bout $100.

I've used mine for years. Excellent quality without the troublesome Sound Blaster drivers and software.

 

[seekermeister]

Hmm, I did glance at those cards on the Asus website, but just sort of brushed them off, on a purely gut feel due to their low profile appearance. I guess I equated them to Creative's old Audigy 2 ZS SE line, which is little better than onboard sound. The price is right, and doesn't use Creative drivers, so I may give one a try since using my old Creative drive bay box doesn't appear to be possible, without getting a used Audigy 2 ZS card. Thanks.

 

[seekermeister]

The sound card that I ordered just arrived, and while trying to verify that I got the right one, I went back to TigerDirect's website, and was irked to find that the card that I just ordered last week, now has a $20 rebate on it, however, that is not the reason for this post. When I ordered, there were two models of this card, which were significantly different in price and specs, in that they used different chips. When looking at the model number on the box and the card, it says Xonar D1/A, instead of just D1 as expected.

When I just checked the TD website, now I only find one version available, which is the one ordered, and when I checked on the Asus website, I can only find one, but when I Google the part#, I get no returns. Looking at the label on the back of the card, I find a number M18AV100-P R1.00, which differs from the part number on the box (90-YAAOBO-OUANOBZ). The V100 embedded in the first number makes it appear to be the right card, because as I remember, that is the chip ID that the card is supposed to have, but I would like to be certain. I find no specifications in the manual, so how can I pin this down?

EDIT: This is the card that I trying to match:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4196071&CatId=2771

As for the rebate, it appears that mine might qualify anyway, because when I checked the details, it says that it is valid on cards sold between 1-1-12 & 1-31-12. It would be nice to get a rebate that I didn't expect!