There is no sound on the computer. What to do? What to do when the sound on your laptop crackles and wheezes
Good day!
I have an ASUSTeK P8H61-M LX3 R2.0 motherboard with a built-in VIA VT1708S sound card.
The sound from the speakers and previous simple headphones was normal from Logitech USB. But the headphones broke and, after studying the characteristics and reviews, I bought a Plantronics RIG 500HD USB headset with its own 24 bit 96000 Hz surround sound card.
After connecting the headset to the USB socket, the Windows 7 operating system downloaded three drivers from the Update Center and installed them. The sound is amazing, but in stereo mode. To use 7.1 sound, according to the instructions, I downloaded and installed the driver from the official website. As required, I rebooted the system. I was pleased with the clarity of the sound, but the sound in the headphones was intermittent. Every second stutter-interruption. The sound from the speakers is normal.
I removed the Plantronics RIG 500HD driver, rebooted the computer - the sound became normal, but from the modes, of course, only in stereo.
I took my time and re-installed a clean system. And immediately - the factory driver. The picture has not changed - as it was before. Without the factory drivers the sound is standard, but after installing it the sound is intermittent.
I installed all the ASUS drivers on a clean OS, then again the factory Plantronics driver. The same.
I installed clean Windows 8.1 with the necessary drivers from the motherboard, then the Plantronics driver. Still sad.
I checked the headset on another computer with Windows 7. After connecting and automatically loading and installing drivers from Windows Update, the headphones sound normal. Then I installed the factory Plantronics driver and rebooted the computer. I check - the sound of the headphones is excellent, stereo and surround 7.1 without the slightest distortion! This means the headset is working properly.
I returned to my place, removed the cover of the system unit and tried connecting the headset through all possible internal and external USB ports. I even tried without other USB devices connected at all. Without installing the Plantronics driver, the sound is normal. After installing the driver, the sound is interrupted. It turns out that the motherboard is also working.
I disabled the built-in audio in the BIOS - it was useless. I tried options with USB settings there - to no avail. Therefore, I left the BIOS settings at default.
Switching the power to maximum didn't help either.
Wrote to technical support. They advised me to update the BIOS (which I did, but to no avail). And also install updates:
KB2529073 - General USB driver update fix
KB2484031 - Audio stops playing
KB2122063 - No audio after sleep wake
KB2416007 - Intermittent connect/disconnect
KB2528984 - Hub issues on Atom CPU
KB2653312 - General Windows Audio - Sample rate converter error
KB981214 - There is high CPU usage when using a Full speed USB audio device connected to a USB 2.0 EHCI host controller. When the CPU reaches 100%, it can cause intermittent loss of audio, clicks and crackle sound.
KB2721341- Audio stops intermittently
I downloaded these updates, but only one was installed. The rest are either “not intended for this system” or gave an error during installation.
And the most annoying thing is that the response from Technical Support was that since my headset works on another computer, their support is limited. That is, you should go away, buddy.
From the tips you gave, I tried to perform operations with IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. But I didn’t find any, only 4 standard ones and 2 - Intel(R) 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 1C08.
It would be a pity to change the headset for another one, because it sounds great. But, alas, not on my computer.
All hope is on you, maybe you can advise?
Very often, Tens users are plagued by one problem, which is sound distortion. Very often this happens after reinstalling the operating system or updating it, however, other reasons are possible. Below we will describe several methods for troubleshooting these problems in the “ten”, which relate to the incorrect reproduction of sounds.
It’s worth noting right away that before you start looking for problems, it is advisable to check the reliability of the connection of the playback device. If third-party speakers are connected to your computer, you should disconnect them and connect them again. The same must be done with all cables that relate to the audio system. In addition, it is worth checking the functionality of the speakers on another device; if the sound is the same, then the problem lies in the wires or speakers.
Turn off audio effects and additional audio features
If such problems occur, then you should immediately try to turn off the effects for the sound, as they can distort it. You need to right-click on the speaker icon and select “Playback devices”.
Here you need to set the default equipment. It is also worth checking that the correct device is set and not some other one, as this may create sound distortion. In this case, you need to right-click on the required equipment and select the “Use as default” item. Maybe this will fix the problem.
If not, then you need to select “Properties” on the device. Then you need to find the item “Enable additional audio tools”. In addition, if there is a “Additional Features” section, then in it you need to find and highlight the “Disable all effects” item and save the changes. After this, you can check the audio quality.
Audio playback format
If the above did not help, then you should try this method. In it you also need to go to the “Advanced” item. In this case, you need to check the “Default format” item. Here you need to set 16 Bit and 44100 Hz, and then save the parameters. This format is supported by almost all audio cards. If this is precisely the problem, then adjusting this item will help eliminate it.
Disabling exclusive mode for an audio card in the “ten”
In some cases, incorrect sound reproduction may occur in the “ten” even with native “firewood”. This can happen when exclusive mode is activated. It's worth trying to turn off exclusive mode in the "Advanced" section of the hardware settings and check whether the problem is resolved or everything remains the same.
Tens communication properties - causes of sound problems
In the tenth version of the operating system, functions can be activated by default that automatically muffle any sounds played during conversations in instant messengers and other similar programs. In some cases, these settings do not function properly, so the sound is always quiet or distorted.
Here you should try to turn off the volume reduction during calls. To do this, select the “No action required” option and save the changes. You can do this in the “Communication” section of the audio properties. To get to this section, you need to go to the “Control Panel” and select “Sound”.
Setting up playback equipment
If you specify the default equipment in the list of playback devices, and then select “Settings”, a playback setup wizard will appear, where the properties may vary depending on the PC audio card.
Here you can try to configure it, depending on the device you are using. It is better to specify two-channel audio and remove additional processing tools. You can configure with different properties. In some cases, this can help to get the same sound as before the problem was identified.
Installing "tens" audio card drivers
In most cases, incorrectly functioning sound may be the result of incorrect audio card drivers for the “ten”. At the same time, almost all users are sure that they are not the cause of the problem, since the dispatcher writes that everything is working fine and there is no need to update the drivers. It indicates here that the “ten” did not find another driver, but this does not mean that it works perfectly.
Also, drivers can be installed using a special update utility, and everything will happen as in the case described above. In both cases, the user is mistaken, but standard manual installation of the official driver from the website of the laptop or motherboard manufacturer will help solve the problem. Surely many users know how to install the necessary driver.
Additional Information
In addition, there are several additional but rare scenarios for audio problems. They are mainly expressed in wheezing or intermittent playback.
If the “ten” not only reproduces sound incorrectly, but also slows down itself, the mouse cursor constantly freezes, or something similar happens, all this may be caused by viruses or incorrectly working programs, incorrect hardware drivers or defective hardware. It's worth checking all these reasons. It is worth noting that a couple of antiviruses can cause similar problems.
If problems with sound playback occur on a virtual computer or mobile platform emulator, then the problem cannot be solved here. This may be a feature of functioning in virtual environments on certain equipment and using certain virtual computers.
A very common problem with sound, after its absence, is distortion: hissing, whistling, crackling, etc. It arises, naturally, as a result of updating the operating system or drivers for the sound card. Less commonly, the culprit is a virtual audio device. Today we’ll look at what to do if the sound on your computer stutters in Windows 10.
Checking the health of the audio playback device is the first step towards finding the cause of the problem. If the sound reproduction is unusual, speakers, headphones or an audio system should be disconnected from the computer/laptop and then reconnected.
It is also strongly recommended to check the functionality of the device on another computer or phone. If crackling and other distortions occur in this case, the problem lies in the hardware. Otherwise, the proposed article will become a reliable assistant in correcting the situation.
Turn off sound effects
Audio effects may cause noticeable distortion in audio playback and should be disabled. Most likely, the audio stream passing through these filters turns out distorted.
1. Open the context menu of the “Speakers” icon located in the tray (through which we adjust the volume).
2. Select “Playback devices”.
3. Select speakers or an audio system, during playback on which the sound is interrupted or otherwise distorted.
4. Open the properties window by clicking on the button of the same name at the bottom of the window.
5. Go to the “Advanced” tab.
6. Uncheck the box next to the “Enable additional audio” option.
7. Go to “Advanced Features” and check the “Disable all effects” option.
The same is done through the “Realtek HD Manager” if you are using a Realtek sound card and this utility is installed.
1. Open the context menu of the effects manager through its icon in the taskbar.
2. Click on the “Sound Manager” item.
3. In the “Sound Effect” tab, be sure to remove the checkboxes next to the “Loudness” and “Voice Suppression” options.
This will help if the sound on Windows 10 wheezes and hisses, or the quality of human voice reproduction has decreased significantly.
4. In the last tab “Standard format”, select “DVD format”, corresponding to studio quality: 24-bit audio with a sampling frequency of 48,000 Hz.
If there is no Realtek Manager or a different sound card is used, the audio format can be changed in the properties of the device used as a device for audio playback. In the “Advanced” tab, select studio recording with the parameters 24 bit and 48 kHz.
If the sound continues to be interrupted, hissing and distorted, try selecting other parameters.
Deactivating exclusive mode
At times, even with the latest drivers downloaded from the official resource, sound on a PC can be interrupted at any time for a split second when exclusive mode is enabled.
Check to see if the checkbox next to “Allow programs to use the device exclusively...” is unchecked.
Other settings that may affect audio playback
There is a function in Windows 10 that mutes all sounds when making audio and video calls through a browser or instant messengers. If the function is active, the volume will be reduced during conversations, and as a result, poor-quality sound may be heard.
In the speaker properties, go to the “Communication” tab and move the trigger to the “No action required” position.
Configuring playback devices
In the list of devices detected on the computer for playing sound, select the default one and click “Configure”. After this, a wizard will open with the parameters of the selected audio device.
Select your equipment type and test the sound for each speaker.
Reinstalling sound card drivers
If none of the above methods help resolve the cause of the problem, there are still several methods to do so. One of them is reinstalling the drivers for the sound card.
If you don’t know its manufacturer, go to “Device Manager” and get this information in the “Sound, game, video devices” branch.
1. Go to the driver developer’s resource and download its latest version (for Realtek, follow the link http://www.realtek.com/downloads/).
2. Launch the installer and follow all instructions.
3. Once the installation is complete, restart the computer.
1. Call Device Manager via Win→X.
2. We expand the branch with sound and other gaming devices.
3. Using the device’s context menu, call the command to update its driver.
4. Specify the automatic type of search for the latest software versions on the Internet.
5. Upon completion of downloading, copying files and registering them, be sure to restart the computer
The second method, despite Microsoft's strong recommendation, is not recommended. Windows 10 loads drivers from the software giant's resources, and often such software is, if not outdated, then less suitable for the device than created by its developer. And using such software can bring a lot of problems.
additional information
Let's look at a couple of important aspects regarding sound problems in Windows 10.
- An installed program for capturing streaming audio or applying effects to sound can cause problems. If they appear after installing such applications, remove them from startup, or better yet, remove them altogether.
- Along with incorrect sound playback and slowdown, is Windows 10 itself buggy? Check the system for viruses, and through the Task Manager, make sure that no process is loading the CPU at 70 percent or more, and that the processor has free resources for normal audio decoding and OS operation.
- If the audio is distorted on a virtual machine or emulator, it is unlikely that the problem will be corrected. Like all software, emulators and virtualization tools are imperfect.
Not only the comfort of speakers, but also the degree of understanding of each other’s speech depends on the sound quality. If the interlocutor is heard clearly, then everything he says will be understandable. In the event of noise and wheezing, speech understanding is greatly reduced. For good hearing in Skype no expensive microphones, headphones or speakers required. Budget devices, a stable Internet connection and a not-so-old computer will be enough.
But sometimes, even with all of the above, the sound in Skype wheezes. How to fix this problem? Let's consider two options: the problem of the microphone and speakers. Each of them has an individual solution.
Microphone problem
Noise during audio transmission is most often associated with excessive microphone volume. You can lower it in the parameters of the program itself. Do not forget to uncheck the automatic configuration function. 
You can also configure the device using internal system tools. Open “Control Panel”, there find the “Sound” or “Sound Hardware” section. 
It needs a “Record” tab. The window will display all audio input devices. The one currently in use is marked with a checkmark in a green border. Open its properties. 
There you can turn on the noise reduction mode, as well as reduce the volume and gain levels. 
Also keep in mind that sometimes the problem is simply due to poor placement of the microphone in the space. Nothing should block him. Therefore, make free space for it, then audibility will become clearer and clearer.
Speaker problem
As with the microphone, the problem with Skype sound cracking may be that the volume level is too high. At the same time, many headphones and speakers begin to significantly distort the voice, and various noises arise. First of all, you need to disable automatic adjustment in Skype. This can be done in the program settings, “Sound Settings” tab. There you will need to uncheck the second item, and then reduce the volume of the speakers. 
It is almost impossible to imagine a computer working without sound. This is especially true for entertainment; video games without sound are not interesting, there is no point in watching movies with subtitles, and listening to music becomes impossible. Sound is necessary, so each user has a speaker or several, or headphones. These devices are necessary, but no one wants to shell out for expensive options; people buy cheap audio systems that eventually break down or start to act up. What can I say, crackling sounds in computer speakers and other extraneous sounds can appear even in expensive devices.
Noise can appear due to the operation of the computer, the operating system is loaded, information is processed, all this is accompanied by unpleasant crackling and squeaking. Fortunately, the problem can be solved, but first you need to find out what is causing the extra sounds.
Throwing away your old device and buying a new one is an extreme method of solving the problem. In fact, noise in headphones or speakers can occur due to damage or incorrect connection of wires, drivers, and even Windows settings.
PROBLEMS WITH CONNECTION CORDS
Often the hissing sound appears when the connection between the PC sound card and the device for sound reproduction is poor. There are three options:
- The connection wire is damaged. This not only causes interference in the computer speakers, but also a problem when only one of the speakers works. It is not always possible to determine the location of the cord fault by eye, so it is better to connect the device to another computer and check.
- The contact between the audio device wire and the network card is of poor quality.
- The wire is not secured. When a draft wags the cord, or children play with the wires, noise is generated in the speakers. In such a situation, you need to attach the wire to a solid base; tape is suitable for this purpose.
It also happens that the problem appears due to the use of a long cord; the crackling is not strong, but still causes inconvenience. Using a shorter wire will solve the problem.
TROUBLES DUE TO DRIVERS
The operation of the computer, including sound reproduction, depends on the drivers. When they are not installed, the user will not hear anything at all, and if a person has downloaded the wrong driver, then the operation of the device will be disrupted.
Such malfunctions appear after updating the drivers or installing a new package. This problem is reported by Windows OS.
To check whether these sounds in the headphones really appeared due to the drivers, we do the following manipulations:
- We go to the “Control Panel”, there we already click on the “Hardware and Sound” icon and click on the line “Task Manager”;
- If there is no yellow or red warning icon, then there are no problems with the sound drivers. When such signs are present, we correct the problems.
In any case, if updates are available, you should do so. Perhaps the extraneous noise will disappear.
SETTINGS AND CONFIGURATIONS
Two or three randomly placed checkboxes next to unknown options can degrade the sound quality. Hissing in headphones appears when PCBeep and line input are running. Other functions, depending on the computer settings, can also affect the volume and quality.
Fig.1. Go to the “Control Panel” menu, select the “Hardware and Sound” icon and then click on the “Volume Adjustment” function
Fig.2. At the second stage of work, click LMB on the “Speakers and headphones” icon
Fig.3. The Levels menu has settings for PcBeep, CD, etc.
- We set all these functions to the value 0, save the configurations and check whether this solves the problem.
In some situations, such simple manipulations actually improve the quality of reproduction.
OTHER REASONS
DEVICE QUALITY
Extraneous noise appears in the speakers when the volume is increased. When this figure exceeds 50%, noise, crackling and other unpleasant effects appear instead of music.
This problem plagues all owners of inexpensive devices; it is also called the “jitter” effect. Also, noise appears when the volume level of the speakers is set to maximum, and in the operating system, on the contrary, at minimum configurations.
In such a situation, we find a “golden mean”
It is almost impossible to solve the problem with “jitter” when the volume is increased. The only solution is to buy new speakers.
WEAK SOUND CARD
In most computers, this part is installed directly into the motherboard and is purchased all together. Purchasing a separate card costs money and is not a popular solution.
Increased frequencies of all kinds of boards create electromagnetic effects that do not interfere with the operation of the digital part of the device, but strongly affect the analog components, which is why the quality of reproduction decreases.
Inexpensive PCI options are a little better in this regard, but they also have this problem.
IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF PARTS
When the board is installed near the video card, the computer speakers begin to make noise. The fact is that the video card produces special signals that come to the sound card and create noise.
If this is not possible, then we create a special reflective screen from cardboard and foil.
NO GROUNDING
Therefore, a computer connected to a regular outlet will produce sound with noise and crackling. In laptops, this problem cannot be solved, because in such a situation the board will not be grounded.
Extraneous sound and noise in headphones and speakers must be eliminated.