[SOLVED] Audio crackling and cutting out more often than not. FIX: I changed wireless channel in my router settings.

A

Atikan

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2020
Posts
7
Problem:
A few months ago the audio from my USB wireless headset would randomly cut out for a couple seconds every couple days, and it's progressively gotten worse. Over the past week it has gotten unusable. I hear more silence and crackles and pops than noise at this point. I hear maybe half a second of a 10 second segment of a youtube video. For maybe half an hour a day it will be fine and nothing will happen. My wireless headset appears to lose connection and beeps every time it reconnects, sometimes rapidly as it loses connection and regains it quickly. It gets worse and better randomly and nothing seems to fix it. I used LatencyMon and there has been insanely high latency spikes when the audio cuts out for the past few days that I have done tests, but I don't know what to do with the results.

Attempted solutions:
I have switched from the Arctis 7 wireless USB, to a Corsair Void Elite and both of them do the exact same thing. I have tried updating every single driver on my computer. I have switched my graphics card with my brother's temporarily and it did not fix anything so I switched them back. I have tried reinstalling windows, and uninstalling Realtek Audio driver. I have changed the power settings and disabled USB selective suspend. I updated the BIOS driver and changed BIOS settings from many different online solutions, including changing a PCIE setting from Auto to Gen3. I just received a new motherboard today and switched it out and it still has not fixed anything. I have tried so much more that I cannot remember. I have gone over hundreds of threads this past week and tried absolutely everything that could have been a fix and every single thread either dies or has a solution that doesn't fix my case. I'm feeling very tired of all of this and defeated and very close to just buying a new PC and throwing everything out.

If I use a speaker with a 3.5 mm line out cable I no longer hear crackles or pops, and the audio doesn't cut out. This is clearly not the solution I want to stick with. I feel absolutely defeated and would love if someone could help me fix my computer. I just want to be able to use it again without blaring speakers. Thank you in advance.



  • Laptop or Desktop? Desktop
  • OS ? Windows 10
  • x86 (32bit) or x64 (64bit)? 64bit
  • Service pack?
  • What was original installed OS on system? Windows 10
  • Is the OS an OEM version (came pre-installed on system) or full retail version (YOU purchased it from retailer)? Came pre-installed on pre-built.
  • Age of system? (hardware) Various ages on all parts. Oldest being GPU at about 5 or 6 years, newest being the motherboard I installed today.
  • Age of OS installation? A couple days
  • Have you re-installed the OS? Many times
  • CPU: Ryzen 7 2700X
  • RAM (brand, EXACT model, what slots are you using?) Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15, using the 2 slots the motherboard guide told me to
  • Video Card: MSI GTX 970 4GB
  • MotherBoard - (if NOT a laptop) MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX AM4 AMD B450 SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD Motherboard
  • Power Supply - brand & wattage (if laptop, skip this one) EVGA 600B 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
  • Is driver verifier enabled or disabled? Haven't touched it
  • What security software are you using? (Firewall, antivirus, antimalware, antispyware, and so forth) I believe the default windows defender is on now, but disabling it didn't fix my issue the other day.
  • Are you using proxy, vpn, ipfilters or similar software? No
  • Are you using Disk Image tools? (like daemon tools, alcohol 52% or 120%, virtual CloneDrive, roxio software) No
  • Are you currently under/overclocking? Are there overclocking software installed on your system? No to both
Speccy snapshot: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/3uMugZaaVJKr6FccD0gUYve

Snapshots of LatencyMon pages:
https://imgur.com/a/TzJuzNU
In the past few days latencymon has said my PC is not suitable and it has gone into the thousands in red bars, but today it shows it should be suitable, even though I can hardly hear audio due to CONSTANT disconnects, cut outs, and crackling.

The zip file was too large to upload but here is a dropbox link to it: trace.zip
 
I have tried many USB ports. I have tried on the panel on top of my case, as well as USB 3.0 ports, USB 2.0 ports, and a USB hub. None of my other USB peripherals disconnect or have any issues. It seems strictly USB audio based.
 
My router is on the top left of my desk while my PC is on the floor to the right of my desk. About 5 feet apart. I have tried changing the wifi channels through the webpage but it hasn't done anything.
 
so nothing else close by to interfere with the signal? about the only idea's i have at the moment. do they work on another computer without problems?
 
I don't have a way to test them on another computer right now, but nothing has changed recently that would cause more interference than in the past. My router has been in the same spot for years, and my PC and wireless transmitter have as well with no issues. But now recently I can't hear anything and it seems to get worse and worse every day. Also would interference cause so much DPC latency? I know it doesn't seem like I had much in the LatencyMon screenshots but yesterday and the day before it was FAR worse and the bars were in the red minutes after starting the monitor.
 
after re reading the thread you said you put new motherboard and new install of the OS. i would think the headphones are faulty or the transmitter is faulty.
 
I've tried two different headsets, one brand new, and they both do the exact same thing. While it's possible one headset could have issues, then I went out and bought a new headset and it had the same issues, it's insanely unlikely. I really think it's a driver issue but I've messed with the drivers so much and nothing has happened. I know realtek audio drivers are known for issues but even after I uninstall it or update it, nothing happens. I think maybe switching from the ASUS B450-F to the MSI B450 gaming plus max didn't fix anything because it's the same chipset? I think both motherboards would install and use the Realtek drivers. I just tried using my line out speakers again and those aren't working either anymore. I might try a fresh windows install tomorrow with the new motherboard but I'm ready to just give up. Nobody knows how to fix this.
 
Hi!

If possible, use an ethernet cable and disable the wifi signal.
Otherwise, try to switch the router wifi signal from 2.4GHz to 5GHz.
 
Last edited:
Hi! I have already done so, and my computer has been on an ethernet cable since I got it. I just received a brand new computer and haven't switched any hardware over from my previous PC and I'm getting the same issues but less frequently.
 
Try to enable spread spectrum in your BIOS.
Read the motherboard manual for additional warnings.
For example, in MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX manual, we can read:
  • If you do not have any EMI problem, leave the setting at [Disabled] for optimal system stability and performance. But if you are plagued by EMI, select the value of Spread Spectrum for EMI reduction.
  • The greater the Spread Spectrum value is, the greater the EMI is reduced, and the system will become less stable. For the most suitable Spread Spectrum value, please consult your local EMI regulation.
  • Remember to disable Spread Spectrum if you are overclocking because even a slight jitter can introduce a temporary boost in clock speed which may just cause your overclocked processor to lock up.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure where is the value they refers to, in the second point.
 
Last edited:
Hi, thanks everyone for your replies! I have definitely pinned it down to wireless interference. My brother had another wireless headset in the room beside mine and unplugging his transmitter helped a bit, but did not stop it. I noticed today during a particularly bad moment of cutting out that my router had switched itself back to 2.4 GHz. Switching to 5GHz did not help, but when I unplugged the router it immediately stopped the cutting out. I plugged it in and switched the channel from 6 to 1 and it hasn't cut out since. Hoping this fixes it, even though it doesn't really make much sense. I guess after 3 years of having my router in the same place, it eventually switched to the same channel as my wireless headsets? Regardless this seems to have fixed it for now.
 

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