Question about a curious sound (Audigy 2 ZS)

Nethan · Dec 6, 2006, 09:24 AM

Hi,

Habitually I use a SBLive! 5.1 Player with a standard headphone connected on the rear channel, since I use the kX driver.

I just bought a Audigy 2 ZS but an old one (eBay) and tried it yesterday.

The front connection don't have any problem but when I try the rear one like I use the SBLive, I hear nearly 2 times per minute a curious sound, a crackling...

Well, it is not easy to say this in english... It is like the sound we can hear in the small moment of the connection process, when I put the cable in the soundcard.

I don't know if it is driver related (3538l), and I can't test with my 5.1 system to see if the problem is not simply that the rear don't like headphones, since I don't take it with me in my actual location.

So question : Is this sound "normal", or is there an hardware problem ?

Cordialy,
Nethan

**dj_stick** · Dec 6, 2006, 10:25 AM

you mean you hear a bit of noise/hum?

Nethan · Dec 6, 2006, 11:20 AM

Sound, noise,... Time for me to relearn english, i don't know the difference

It is a small, crackling sound who occured 2 times per minute. Rest of time, there are nothing, this is not continous and this is not a parasiting noise (like we can expect with a DTT 2200 sound system or others).

Of course, it is not the habitual cracking sound of the plastic of my headphone

In fact, my problem is similar at this one :
http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/comm...l-crackle.html

I have also a VIA chipset on my motherboard, who seems give problems with Creative cards

**dj_stick** · Dec 6, 2006, 11:39 AM

ahh i think i know the sound you mean

does this happen with your speakers too? if not, it's possible the cable for your headphones is damaged

Nethan · Dec 6, 2006, 02:26 PM

As I said, I can't use my 5.1 sound system (200 KM of my real location

), but I have an another headphone and the problem occured too on the second one.

I know nothing about the 2 ZS, so I don't know if I can consider this problem as general or headphone only.

I tested the front and the rear channel only. The rear has the problem, not the other.

Oh, this happens at any time (same on the desktop, with no musics, no games, etc...)

Also, the VIA chipset seems be suspected in some websites when a Creative card is used. I will try to reduce the PCI latency timer and other things (Hardware acceleration, format, etc...)

I will try to loan a 2.1 speaker sets at someone.

Russ · Dec 6, 2006, 03:03 PM

You should also try and rule out any plugins/effects as the problem. For example, I have noticed that occasionally the reverb can act up, and every so often you will hear something that sounds like a stone being dropped into a well. In any case, to rule out such things, you should try connecting the audio source (from FxBus) that you want sent to your headphones, directly to the rear speaker connections on epilog, and then test to see if the problem persists.

Beyond the above, do the typical troubleshooting steps, such as moving the sound card to a different PCI slot, and routing all wiring (inside and outside of the PC) away from the sound card and speaker/headphone wires, etc.

Ultimately, if you want to determine if it is a hardware problem (and try to get you money back), the best bet would be to try the card in another PC.

Nethan · Dec 7, 2006, 09:18 AM

Hello,

I tried yesterday an another PCI slot and (try to, not easy) rout all wires far of the card, as I can.

Effectively, seems that the sound now happens only 1 time each minute, or 2 minutes, and less . It is better

.

But indeed, the better is the test in an another PC, but I don't have another :'( I probably have a solution to find a PC... I will try tomorrow

Thanks for your help.

Dec 6, 2006, 09:24 AM	#1
Nethan HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Question about a curious sound (Audigy 2 ZS) Hi, Habitually I use a SBLive! 5.1 Player with a standard headphone connected on the rear channel, since I use the kX driver. I just bought a Audigy 2 ZS but an old one (eBay) and tried it yesterday. The front connection don't have any problem but when I try the rear one like I use the SBLive, I hear nearly 2 times per minute a curious sound, a crackling... Well, it is not easy to say this in english... It is like the sound we can hear in the small moment of the connection process, when I put the cable in the soundcard. I don't know if it is driver related (3538l), and I can't test with my 5.1 system to see if the problem is not simply that the rear don't like headphones, since I don't take it with me in my actual location. So question : Is this sound "normal", or is there an hardware problem ? Cordialy, Nethan Last edited by Nethan; Dec 6, 2006 at 09:44 AM.

Dec 6, 2006, 02:26 PM	Thread Starter #5
Nethan HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	As I said, I can't use my 5.1 sound system (200 KM of my real location ), but I have an another headphone and the problem occured too on the second one. I know nothing about the 2 ZS, so I don't know if I can consider this problem as general or headphone only. I tested the front and the rear channel only. The rear has the problem, not the other. Oh, this happens at any time (same on the desktop, with no musics, no games, etc...) Also, the VIA chipset seems be suspected in some websites when a Creative card is used. I will try to reduce the PCI latency timer and other things (Hardware acceleration, format, etc...) I will try to loan a 2.1 speaker sets at someone. Last edited by Nethan; Dec 6, 2006 at 02:58 PM.

Dec 6, 2006, 03:03 PM	#6
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	You should also try and rule out any plugins/effects as the problem. For example, I have noticed that occasionally the reverb can act up, and every so often you will hear something that sounds like a stone being dropped into a well. In any case, to rule out such things, you should try connecting the audio source (from FxBus) that you want sent to your headphones, directly to the rear speaker connections on epilog, and then test to see if the problem persists. Beyond the above, do the typical troubleshooting steps, such as moving the sound card to a different PCI slot, and routing all wiring (inside and outside of the PC) away from the sound card and speaker/headphone wires, etc. Ultimately, if you want to determine if it is a hardware problem (and try to get you money back), the best bet would be to try the card in another PC. Last edited by Russ; Dec 6, 2006 at 03:23 PM.

Dec 6, 2006, 11:20 AM	Thread Starter #3
Nethan HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Sound, noise,... Time for me to relearn english, i don't know the difference It is a small, crackling sound who occured 2 times per minute. Rest of time, there are nothing, this is not continous and this is not a parasiting noise (like we can expect with a DTT 2200 sound system or others). Of course, it is not the habitual cracking sound of the plastic of my headphone In fact, my problem is similar at this one : http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/comm...l-crackle.html I have also a VIA chipset on my motherboard, who seems give problems with Creative cards

Dec 7, 2006, 09:18 AM	Thread Starter #7
Nethan HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Hello, I tried yesterday an another PCI slot and (try to, not easy) rout all wires far of the card, as I can. Effectively, seems that the sound now happens only 1 time each minute, or 2 minutes, and less . It is better . But indeed, the better is the test in an another PC, but I don't have another :'( I probably have a solution to find a PC... I will try tomorrow Thanks for your help.