Crackling Audio

[Christoph9]

So I have an intermittent crackling through any device that seems to really show on quick changes from low to high volume in any content (youtube, gaming, netflix) and can't seem to figure out the cause. I used to think it was the optical cable to my soundbar but am now using a different soundbar with hdmi. Crackle also comes through tv and even headphones over bluetooth. The issue has persisted over multiple gpus as well. I assume it has to be motherboard or software such as drivers but I have tried everything google has recommended on that front.  Did clean install of nvidia video/audio drivers.  Changed sound quality and disabled audio enhancements.

Specs: asus z270a, rtx 3070 (previously 1070 and 1060), i5 7600k.

 

Update: "solved".  Nvidia driver related troubleshooting went like this.  Tried clean install of latest driver after using ddu to uninstall. Didn't work.  Reverted to earliest drive available for 3070's.  Didn't work. Updated to most current driver again.  Worked.

Edited February 13, 2021 by Christoph9
Update

[fuzz0r]

Is your PC grounded?

[Christoph9]

1 hour ago, fuzz0r said:

Is your PC grounded?

Not sure I understand.  The power supply (power cables 3rd prong) grounds the PC does it not?

[Zom.byte]

You try making sure your intel audio drivers are the right ones or uninstalling them and reinstalling them? And also do you have the asus audio driver installed for your motherboard from their website? With my asus board, I have something called Realtek HD audio manager, that I had to get from their website. Maybe a few things to look at.

[Christoph9]

19 hours ago, Zom.byte said:

You try making sure your intel audio drivers are the right ones or uninstalling them and reinstalling them? And also do you have the asus audio driver installed for your motherboard from their website? With my asus board, I have something called Realtek HD audio manager, that I had to get from their website. Maybe a few things to look at.

My audio drivers are from nvidia as my video card is driving the audio (I believe, right?).  I did a clean install of those drivers.  Just remembered my mobo has an optical out and decided it was worth a shot.  Optical to my sound bar and so far so good.  Fingers crossed.  Doesn't solve issue but does work around it.

 

Update: Issue still present over optical.  Also tried removing m.2 nvms ssd as it was my last install.  Issue still present.

[Paolo Pandas]

I have similar issue. Solve it (somewhat) by connecting the audio device to USB 2.0 port instead of to USB 3.0 port. Read somewhere that USB 3.0 tends to be "noisy". 

 

This issue popped up after Microsoft updated the Windows some time in early or mid 2020. Some said the USB driver had some issues with audio.

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Troubleshooting

[Christoph9]

On 2/6/2021 at 4:41 AM, Paolo Pandas said:

I have similar issue. Solve it (somewhat) by connecting the audio device to USB 2.0 port instead of to USB 3.0 port. Read somewhere that USB 3.0 tends to be "noisy". 

 

This issue popped up after Microsoft updated the Windows some time in early or mid 2020. Some said the USB driver had some issues with audio.

The audio is through the gpu by hdmi. Nothing to do with usb.

[Christoph9]

On 2/7/2021 at 12:25 PM, SGT-AMD said:

Is your outlet grounded? If not, the pc is not grounded.

 

Yup.