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Windows 7 Pro Sound / Popcorn Popping or Arcs
Posted on 2014-12-20
I have a Windows 7 Pro system that suddenly developed an annoying sound problem.
It's using a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 (WDM) PCI card which has been working fine for years.
Now, after listening to longer tracks of music or ... or just any old time ... the speakers start outputting loud snapping noises like popcorn popping. They sound a bit like arcs.
It's not the speakers unless two sets of speakers are putting out power line noises of this sort - which seems very unlikely.
Turning off any of the sources in software has no effect.
Uninstalling the sound card from the Device Manager seems to fix it - so it seems unlikely that the sound card itself is autonomously putting out these noises.
I have tried all of the things I could browse for on the web and nothing seems to help.
Theories include:
- bad PC power supply.
- bad sound card (nonetheless)
- Windows software somehow / reinstall Windows seems a bit drastic....
The noises don't happen all the time and seem to be variable in frequency and loudness.
There appear to be lots of people who have experienced this but no definitive cause is mentioned. "try this and try that" seems to be the best advice there's been and seems to have little success.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience and solid recommendations about this.
It's using a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 (WDM) PCI card which has been working fine for years.
Now, after listening to longer tracks of music or ... or just any old time ... the speakers start outputting loud snapping noises like popcorn popping. They sound a bit like arcs.
It's not the speakers unless two sets of speakers are putting out power line noises of this sort - which seems very unlikely.
Turning off any of the sources in software has no effect.
Uninstalling the sound card from the Device Manager seems to fix it - so it seems unlikely that the sound card itself is autonomously putting out these noises.
I have tried all of the things I could browse for on the web and nothing seems to help.
Theories include:
- bad PC power supply.
- bad sound card (nonetheless)
- Windows software somehow / reinstall Windows seems a bit drastic....
The noises don't happen all the time and seem to be variable in frequency and loudness.
There appear to be lots of people who have experienced this but no definitive cause is mentioned. "try this and try that" seems to be the best advice there's been and seems to have little success.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience and solid recommendations about this.
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14 Comments
Active today
Suggestions only.
1. Disable any sound enhancement.
2. Check latency.
See http://www.komku.org/2013/06/how-to-fix-crackling-popping-sound-problem.html for more information on both these (and fixes). Also see http://corey.degrandchamp.com/2010/11/25/fixed-windows-7-sound-popping-cracking-skipping/ as well.
I'd be tempted to test the card in another machine and see what it does there as well.
1. Disable any sound enhancement.
2. Check latency.
See http://www.komku.org/2013/06/how-to-fix-crackling-popping-sound-problem.html for more information on both these (and fixes). Also see http://corey.degrandchamp.com/2010/11/25/fixed-windows-7-sound-popping-cracking-skipping/ as well.
I'd be tempted to test the card in another machine and see what it does there as well.
Active today
Run the DirectX audio diagnostic while the system is idle and just after it has started up when nothing else is running.
Press the Windows key and R at the same time, then type "dxdiag" into the Run box and press enter. Select the DirectX audio diagnostics from the selection of tabs.
If the system passes the DirectX sound diagnostics, then there are two major possibilities:
1. There's a high-priority process periodically locking up the system which causing the process outputting to the sound card to miss sound blocks.
2. The card itself is at fault. Definitely a possibility on older cards due to the "capacitor plague" problem.
Press the Windows key and R at the same time, then type "dxdiag" into the Run box and press enter. Select the DirectX audio diagnostics from the selection of tabs.
If the system passes the DirectX sound diagnostics, then there are two major possibilities:
1. There's a high-priority process periodically locking up the system which causing the process outputting to the sound card to miss sound blocks.
2. The card itself is at fault. Definitely a possibility on older cards due to the "capacitor plague" problem.
Active today
can you test the card on another pc - that would eliminate a lot of causes
are you sure you don't have bad contacts in plugs, connectors, or cables? if possible, switch cables, and clean connectors with isopropyl alcohol, or a contact cleaner like CRC
>> It's not the speakers unless two sets of speakers are putting out power line noises of this sort - which seems very unlikely << i agree, but one may have power problems, and the other contact problems
can you post the PC model ?
are you sure you don't have bad contacts in plugs, connectors, or cables? if possible, switch cables, and clean connectors with isopropyl alcohol, or a contact cleaner like CRC
>> It's not the speakers unless two sets of speakers are putting out power line noises of this sort - which seems very unlikely << i agree, but one may have power problems, and the other contact problems
can you post the PC model ?
It could just as easily be the 3.5mm plug input jack on the card itself. over time of the plugging in, and pulling out, the hole can get warn out.. which will cause this popping to occur. It sounds like the speaker jack is not snugly connecting in the hole.. What happens if you hold it on a slight angle, does it stop popping?
If so, just replace the card, they are cheap..
If so, just replace the card, they are cheap..
Active 1 day ago
I'll check out some of the suggestions.
These aren't sound dropouts. The noise is superimposed on other intentional sounds and they appear to NOT be dropping out. The volume of the noise seems to not be changed by anything other than the external speaker volume control .. if that.
These aren't sound dropouts. The noise is superimposed on other intentional sounds and they appear to NOT be dropping out. The volume of the noise seems to not be changed by anything other than the external speaker volume control .. if that.
You know i was just thinking.. Does it happen in Safe mode?
I assume in safe mode you will get a boot with no additional drivers, this might be a good way to rule out the drivers. Another possible cause could be a bad Power Supply or a PSU that it on it's last leg, because it's an external card, maybe the PSU is just lagging out the power to the card and causing the popping.. This might help..
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
I assume in safe mode you will get a boot with no additional drivers, this might be a good way to rule out the drivers. Another possible cause could be a bad Power Supply or a PSU that it on it's last leg, because it's an external card, maybe the PSU is just lagging out the power to the card and causing the popping.. This might help..
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
Active 1 day ago
The model is "Model 3 by Coastal Computers & Networks" :-) That is, I built this one.
It appears the problem:
1) was not the sound card nor its connectors. As usual, the connectors aren't "exercised" often at all. One connection per year maybe? The sound card appeared to work OK in another computer.
2) WAS the power supply it appears. The original was a high quality PS. Putting in a new PS seems to have solved the problem.
Thanks to everyone who replied!!
It appears the problem:
1) was not the sound card nor its connectors. As usual, the connectors aren't "exercised" often at all. One connection per year maybe? The sound card appeared to work OK in another computer.
2) WAS the power supply it appears. The original was a high quality PS. Putting in a new PS seems to have solved the problem.
Thanks to everyone who replied!!
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