Crackling/Popping noise coming from every ROG audio USB devices.

[PWN3D_]

As I'm not sure if this issue concern Armoury Crate or simply Asus audio drivers, I also want to post this here:

There is something wrong going on with how all ROG audio USB devices a process their audio. It sound like a driver issue but I can't find the culprit: Every ROG sounds devices are producing random poping/crackling noise (Tested a ROG Delta S Animate/Wireless/ ROG Throne Qi).

This kind of crackling noise are happening only when a sound is produced (watching video, playing...)

This crackling are way more noticeable and going really insane when using Elgato Wave Link and while routing a game or a browser to the game chanel and using their low latency mode. This crackling occurs every 45mins ish and the only way I find to stop them is to unplug/replug OR dissable/enable device from Control Panel>Sound of one of the Headsets or Rog Throne, even though their are not in use.

Here is an example of crackling that can be heard captured using nvidia replay feature:

Crackling happens @14s , I made them stop @35s by simply dissabling my Delta S wireless even though my Delta S Animate is the one in use (not showing on the video capture): the crackling usually come back after 30-45min.


I also want to add that this is also happening with only one ROG audio devices connected, meaning that I have to unplug and replug the audio device in use to stop the crackling.

I tried to see with Elgato Support but this crackling happen even when Wave link is not installed. This kind of extreme crackling only happen with the Low latency mode on ROG devices, It doesn't happen when an Headset is plugged to inboard audio OR at the back of an Wave XLR.

Log link since Google doesn't take file more than 10mb : Log_20240306.txt

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @PWN3D_ ,

based on your issue, do you have the Armoury Crate software installed? 

Does the problem occur only with ROG headphones? Do other brands of headphones experience the same issue with loud noises? 

Have you made any configurations for these ROG headphone devices in Armoury Crate? 

We recommend trying to set the sample rate to 48K and disabling the reverb function to see if the problem persists. 

Please provide a screenshot of the headphone settings page in Armoury Crate. 

When did this issue start occurring? Did it start after any updates or changes? 

Are you currently using a laptop or a motherboard? 

Please provide the model.

Thank you.

[PWN3D_]

Hi @Aureliannn_ROG 
Yes Armoury Crate is installed and fully updated: 5.8.6.0

So far yes, the problem only occur on ROG Headphones connected via USB. Like i've said I've tested a Delta S Animate, two pair of Delta S Wireless and a ROG Throne using the jack 3.5mm output. So far the problem didn't occurs with the Jack 3.5mm output from an Elgato Wave XLR, from an astro A50 Gen 1 or from my motherboard audio outputs. I also want to point out that I've teste a Delta core to all the 3.5mm plug mentioned earlier and did not see the problem occur either, confirming that it only happens on USB.

All devices have been set to 48Khz (except the Delta Wireless that is limited to 44100Hz) no differences.

Here are the screenshots of the heaphone settings but I want to mention that even with stock settings or all settings turned off, the crackling also happen:



I don't really know for sure when the problem start occurring or rather when I noticed it in the first place. Those crackling are really rare (1 maybe every 2-3hours). The heavy crackling that can be heard in the video capture on OP is an extreme case that so far only occurs when using Wave Link and turning Low Latency Mode on a Game channel. This extreme crackling once again only happens on ROG USB audio devices and Wave link Low latency Mode is the only way I've find to highlight this audio issue.

I'm using a custom PC, I had a X570 Dark Hero, but I'm currently using a B550 F-Gaming to try if it change anything but it didn't. I also tried two different 5800x3D to no avail. Aslo tried different ram kit, with and without DOCP, no difference. Had an oportunity to try and change my 2080TI for a 4090 (the video capture was made with the 4090) and stil no differences.

Here is my current config:

B550 F-Gaming
32Gb corsair dominator ram at 3600 CL16
2080Ti Strix
WD SN850X 1Tb
Thor PII 1000W
Ryujin 360

I also want to mention that no matter the game, heavy or light, the browser or the programs, the crackling will occurs. It doesn't seems to be a ressources problem and look, at least to me , like a driver issue since that all ROG USB audio seems to use the same one.

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @PWN3D_ ,

thank you for providing this information. 

It's helpful to know that the issue with popping noises only occurs when using wired connections, and not with Bluetooth or wireless 2.4G connections?

To further assist you, could you please record the logs for the backend team to review? 

Additionally, please provide a screenshot of the Armoury Crate update center page and product serial number.

Please ensure that the logs accurately capture the issue when it occurs. 

For instructions on logging operations, please refer to Q5: What is App Diagnostics? (New Feature) at the following link: https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1043747/#a14

Once you've recorded the logs, please upload them to the cloud, grant access, and PM me the link. 

Thank you.

[PWN3D_]

Hello @Aureliannn_ROG 

Well this issue happens with both my Delta S Animate and my Delta S Wireless, so one wired and the other wireless with the 2.4Ghz dongle (I did not tried with bluetooth since I can't use Armoury crate to EQ my audio with this mode).

I recorded a log of it , and stoped right after the crackling happens (got like 10 crackling on a short 20 seconds period), I will PM you the log.

Here is a screenshot of Armoury Crate update center:

Thanks

[Oxizee]

I have this crackling noise also when i plug my external speakers on headphone input on my Rog Flow X16. So now and then you hear a crackle in my speakers. 

[Kerimm]

Hey, buddy. Yeah, I got the same problem. I thought it was something wrong with my motherboard, but when I wanted to do some research, I read what you wrote. I have the same problem. Even one day when I was playing a game, the buzzing sound got too loud and 2 of my USBs stopped working. After 2 days my USBs started working again. I think there is a software problem. When I checked my computer, I noticed that a sound device called AI noise cancelling was installed. I have disabled it for now. I will use it this way and share my experiences again.

I use ROG Delta S 

[Kerimm]

My action did not provide a solution. I am still experiencing the same problem and the recent updates from Armoury Create did not provide a solution either. The problem still persists. Really annoying problem :@

[PWN3D_]

@Kerimm @Aureliannn_ROG 

Hey I just want to give you some progress I made with this problem.
What a did was, I had a PCIe USB extension laying around that I decided to give a shot (it's a Startech PEXUSB3S44V, probably overkill since it have 1 controller per USB port and require SATA power).

And to my suprise after pluging in both my Delta S Animate and my Wireless on this extension, I am free of those pop/crackling for a week now. Even while using Wavelink Low latency mode, I can't get those crackling to trigger anymore. I need more time to test to be 100% sure of it, but it looks really promising 

Now it doesn't explain anything since I have RMA my motherboard ( X570 Dark hero) 2 weeks ago (to be sure it's not my motherboard acting up) that the reseller had to send 2 times to ASUS. The first it came back without a problem being detected, but the reseller did heard the crackling after testing it, so they decided to send it again a second time, but again it came back from ASUS once again with a report saying that everything was working fine.

So there is something going on with USB of the motherboard, enough for it to distort audio when using some USB devices. I will understand something sketchy if it would disturb all my USB devices, like if I was getting disconnect or other hiccup on all of my devices, but the problem is only audio on ROG devices so far.

Now is this specific to my motherboard or something that an update/driver could fix? I don't really know.

Edit: I also want to add that I also had those pop/crackling on an other motherboard, a B550-F gaming that I had when my X570 Dark Hero was in RMA, that what make me think that  this problem is larger than my specific motherboard.

[Triarith]

What do you think an equivalent solution will be with a laptop? What would I need to get that the same as connecting a PCIe usb extension. I used a ugreen usb c hub before and it made no difference.