Need help fixing distorted audio

[FluxCube]

It's not a constant issue. It only occurs when there is lots of noise? bass? (i'm not really sure as i'm not an audiophile.)

For a specific example, I was watching Lord of the Rings, and in this scene: LotR clip at about 0:20 where the horses ride over the hill, the audio is very distorted.

 

I am aware my setup isn't conventional:

I watch movies on my Series X (as that's the only way for me to watch disney+/prime video in 4K), but I hear my audio through my PC. I originally did this by running a 3.5mm aux cable from my monitor to the line-in port on my motherboard, but in an attempt to fix the audio issues I purchased an HDMI audio extractor (still going in to the line-in), but I am still facing the same distortion.

 

I've tried the line-in port and mic ports on the motherboard, and the microphone port on the front IO too.

My headphones are not the issue as the attached YouTube clip sounds fine, and the audio is fine when plugging my headphones directly into my controller.

 

I've looked at DACs like this one: SteelSeries DAC but they only appear to support wired headphones and mine are wireless.

Is there another solution? Would a dedicated sound card work instead of the motherboard? Is there a way for me to use a DAC and wireless headphones?

Ideally I don't want to give up being able to hear both my PC and Xbox at the same time as I like listening to podcasts and YouTube and stuff when playing games.

 

Thank you for any help

[saintlouisbagels]

Does the HDMI extractor have a S/PDIF output? Typically labeled as "optical" on device.

You can buy a USB DAC for the computer that has an S/PDIF input.

 

You could use something like this if you're determined to listen through your PC.
https://www.amazon.com/Cubilux-Adapter-Recording-Optical-Receiver/dp/B0BQR2YZPT/

Xbox Series X -> HDMI Extractor -> Cubilix adapter -> PC -> headphones

 

Otherwise, I would just get a normal DAC/amp and listen straight from the DAC/amp.

FiiO K11 is a cool little device.

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-K11-Headphone-Amplifier-Balanced/dp/B0CJFG3DC7/
 

Xbox Series X -> HDMI Extractor -> FiiO K11 -> headphones

PC -> FiiO K11 -> headphones

There is also the Schiit Fulla if you're a gamer with a microphone.
https://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-2?srsltid=AfmBOooyqYpAFkOKPbcl6edQFWNbw9aCs04b_aptYyb_Mt0HQo7D5QO5

 

Xbox Series X -> HDMI Extractor -> Schiit Fulla -> headphones

PC -> Schiit Fulla -> headphones

3.5mm Microphone -> Schiit Fulla -> PC

 

edit: honestly did not read your entire post and did not realize you're using wireless headphones. Well, the first solution still works.

Edited October 30, 2024 by saintlouisbagels

[FluxCube]

32 minutes ago, saintlouisbagels said:

Does the HDMI extractor have a S/PDIF output? Typically labeled as "optical" on device.

You can buy a USB DAC for the computer that has an S/PDIF input.

 

You could use something like this if you're determined to listen through your PC.
https://www.amazon.com/Cubilux-Adapter-Recording-Optical-Receiver/dp/B0BQR2YZPT/

Xbox Series X -> HDMI Extractor -> Cubilix adapter -> PC -> headphones

 

Otherwise, I would just get a normal DAC/amp and listen straight from the DAC/amp.

FiiO K11 is a cool little device.

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-K11-Headphone-Amplifier-Balanced/dp/B0CJFG3DC7/
 

Xbox Series X -> HDMI Extractor -> FiiO K11 -> headphones

PC -> FiiO K11 -> headphones

There is also the Schiit Fulla if you're a gamer with a microphone.
https://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-2?srsltid=AfmBOooyqYpAFkOKPbcl6edQFWNbw9aCs04b_aptYyb_Mt0HQo7D5QO5

 

Xbox Series X -> HDMI Extractor -> Schiit Fulla -> headphones

PC -> Schiit Fulla -> headphones

3.5mm Microphone -> Schiit Fulla -> PC

 

edit: honestly did not read your entire post and did not realize you're using wireless headphones. Well, the first solution still works.

Would a 3.5mm to USB-C achieve the same thing as the Cubilix adapter? If so I could maybe return the HDMI extractor and save some money as I could go back to using the 3.5mm out on the monitor

[saintlouisbagels]

Monitors have really bad, noisy soundcards so I wouldn't even recommend using the monitor 3.5mm output.

However this guy had no problem with the noisy output from his television after daisy-chaining isolators.

 

I imagine the way the extractor or the Xbox is decoding the audio is causing issues.

Can you go into your Xbox settings and make sure everything is only set to Stereo and PCM? This way we don't deal with proprietary Dolby and DTS.

 

[FluxCube]

1 hour ago, saintlouisbagels said:

Monitors have really bad, noisy soundcards so I wouldn't even recommend using the monitor 3.5mm output.

However this guy had no problem with the noisy output from his television after daisy-chaining isolators.

 

I imagine the way the extractor or the Xbox is decoding the audio is causing issues.

Can you go into your Xbox settings and make sure everything is only set to Stereo and PCM? This way we don't deal with proprietary Dolby and DTS.

 

Both HDMI audio and headset audio are set to stereo uncompressed on my Xbox and the audio is still distorted.

 

Really appreciate your help btw