Turns out it was my soundcard

[Cyde Weys]

A week or two ago I posted in here saying that my speakers were going bad
and I asked for recommendations. Well, it turns out it's my sound card. I
bought a headset recently and I noticed the same audio problems with it.
Luckily, my mobo has an integrated sound card, so I swapped over to it and
the sound is much better now. I guess I'm happy ... it would've been a lot
more expensive to replace my Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system than my
Audigy 2 ZS. By the way, I don't know if I'm going to replace it. I have
a Realtek AC'97 on my mobo, which can output 5.1 sound ... I don't really
see the compelling reason to buy another dedicated sound card. Also, have
you guys heard of sound cards failing like this before? Might it be
fixable or should I just not bother?

The problem with the sound card is the horrendous hissing and popping that
gets even worse as the volume increases. Ohh yeah, and one of the channels
appears to be dead on the audio-in (external connector from my TV tuner).

 

[philo]

A week or two ago I posted in here saying that my speakers were going bad
and I asked for recommendations. Well, it turns out it's my sound card. I
bought a headset recently and I noticed the same audio problems with it.
Luckily, my mobo has an integrated sound card, so I swapped over to it and
the sound is much better now. I guess I'm happy ... it would've been a lot
more expensive to replace my Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system than my
Audigy 2 ZS. By the way, I don't know if I'm going to replace it. I have
a Realtek AC'97 on my mobo, which can output 5.1 sound ... I don't really
see the compelling reason to buy another dedicated sound card. Also, have
you guys heard of sound cards failing like this before? Might it be
fixable or should I just not bother?

The problem with the sound card is the horrendous hissing and popping that
gets even worse as the volume increases. Ohh yeah, and one of the channels
appears to be dead on the audio-in (external connector from my TV tuner).

If your on-board sound works Ok..
then you might as well just leave it at that...

You might was well toss your old sound card if it's bad...
they are impractical to fix *however* it might have just been a case of
the card being not seated properly....
so you may want to put it back in the machine and give it another try

 

[johnS]

Luckily, my mobo has an integrated sound card, so I swapped over to it and
the sound is much better now. I guess I'm happy ... it would've been a lot
more expensive to replace my Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system than my
Audigy 2 ZS. By the way, I don't know if I'm going to replace it. I have
a Realtek AC'97 on my mobo, which can output 5.1 sound ... I don't really
see the compelling reason to buy another dedicated sound card. Also, have
you guys heard of sound cards failing like this before? Might it be
fixable or should I just not bother?

I never have. However where I live theres been power surges and
lightening storms etc and it seems like after such an event theres
always a few components that dont work. I dont have proof its causing
it but usually right after an event I always have people I know
complaining about something. Last week it was a dead internal modem.

The problem with the sound card is the horrendous hissing and popping that
gets even worse as the volume increases. Ohh yeah, and one of the channels
appears to be dead on the audio-in (external connector from my TV tuner).

I forget how long the warranty is --- isnt it covered? I just bought
one - an audigy 2 cause it was on sale for 23 bucks after rebate. It
was supposed to be $15 ...... dont get me started on Amazon.com.
I see my audigy has a 1 year warranty pretty short. Junk like this
used to have fairly long warranties cause they tend to last far longer
that youd want to use it. The audigy 2s though they still sell for a
lot when not on sale are being blown out intermittently on big rebate
sales.

If you play games it might or might not be worth it. For $15-20 bucks
I d say go for it. I wouldnt pay 50-60 for one.

 

[~misfit~]

If your on-board sound works Ok..
then you might as well just leave it at that...

You might was well toss your old sound card if it's bad...
they are impractical to fix *however* it might have just been a case
of the card being not seated properly....
so you may want to put it back in the machine and give it another try

I was thinking this too. Especially as Cyde is having problems with his
tuner card as well. I've built a fair few PCs now and some of them just
don't allow the cards to seat properly and tighten the bracket screw. I've
even struck this with well-tought-of cases like Thermaltake. You tighten up
the bracket and the card slips out of the slot a bit.

My first action would be to check that all the cards are properly seated.
Look at them with a torch, as they are now, before moving them. Sometimes
it's obvious that they're actaully being pulled out by the very mechanisn
that's supposed to keep them in. Other times it's just that the mobo may be
thinner than the case manufacturer envisioned and the cards won't seat fully
*and* fit the backplane of the case. It can be really annoying. I've had to
bend the backplate of several cards to get good contact with various cases.

 

[kony]

A week or two ago I posted in here saying that my speakers were going bad
and I asked for recommendations. Well, it turns out it's my sound card. I
bought a headset recently and I noticed the same audio problems with it.
Luckily, my mobo has an integrated sound card, so I swapped over to it and
the sound is much better now. I guess I'm happy ... it would've been a lot
more expensive to replace my Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system than my
Audigy 2 ZS. By the way, I don't know if I'm going to replace it. I have
a Realtek AC'97 on my mobo, which can output 5.1 sound ... I don't really
see the compelling reason to buy another dedicated sound card. Also, have
you guys heard of sound cards failing like this before? Might it be
fixable or should I just not bother?

The problem with the sound card is the horrendous hissing and popping that
gets even worse as the volume increases. Ohh yeah, and one of the channels
appears to be dead on the audio-in (external connector from my TV tuner).

I don't recall all the details of your other post about
this, what were the symptoms again? I vaguely recall
something to the effect of having it cut out when you turn
up the volume, is that right?

I ask because one of the more common failings is just a
intermittent 3.5mm rear phone jack, the springy contacts in
it become a little less so. Wiggling the card around might
reveal that. Ripping the cotton off the tip of a cotton
swab then rotating around the tip inside (thinking of a
Q-Tip, not the generic ones with the plastic stick but
rather the paper stick) might clean off any residue, or most
3.5mm jacks have a non-essential end-cap on their rear, you
might try prying that off and using a pointed tool (needle
or jeweler's screwdriver, whatever really...) to pry the
contacts gently towards the center of the jack again, of
course without the plug, plugged in yet.

OOPS, it seems the Audigy2 zs has rather unique output
jacks,
http://images.europe.creative.com/iss/images/artwork/a5_rgb/SB_Audigy2_ZS_c.jpg
they don't have the rear end cap I described above but
rather a side cap that's not an optional part, likely the
contacts will work their way out of you took off the sides
of those.

 

[Chris H]

A hissing noise can sometimes be from the mic, try muting the mic in windows
(as apposed to the mic it self) and see if that works, sometimes I get a
noise from the mic

 

[philo]

My first action would be to check that all the cards are properly seated.
Look at them with a torch, as they are now, before moving them. Sometimes
it's obvious that they're actaully being pulled out by the very mechanisn
that's supposed to keep them in. Other times it's just that the mobo may be
thinner than the case manufacturer envisioned and the cards won't seat fully
*and* fit the backplane of the case. It can be really annoying. I've had to
bend the backplate of several cards to get good contact with various cases.

yep...i do that fairly often!!!