SoundBlaster Audigy FX crackle

I see that the Audigy FX is ancient (2013).

Here's a suggestion to use the Microsoft High Definition Audio Device driver instead.

(I gave up on add-in audio cards years ago. My current speakers are Kef Eggs, and I use a USB interface. No soundcard at all.)

You shouldn't be using an internal sound card anymore; too much electrical interference. An external D/A converter is the modern choice. The Modi+ is inexpensive and good.

Victek said:

I recently installed a SoundBlaster Audigy FX card on a Dell running Windows 11 23H2 using the latest driver from the Creative Labs site (6.0.103.30). The sound quality is good most of the time, but occasionally on YouTube it starts crackling for no obvious reason. I have to restart the browser to clear it up. I turned off the RealTek sound feature in the BIOS, but that didn't help. Any suggestions as to how to address this? The driver is dated 6/2/2015 which seems quite old, and I wonder if there's a newer driver that would help?

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There's zero wrong with using dedicated soundcards, I've used them (Creative) for years. And still find them better than onboard solutions. That said, because I myself run a dedicated DAC, I have no need for a soundcard, dedicated or onboard as my DAC connects to PC via USB.

Anyway, have you checked to any driver updates for the card - https://support.creative.com/downloads/welcome.aspx?nLanguageLocale=1033&nOS=72&nDriverType=0#type_0

Also, if restarting the browser clears the issue, and the issue is nowhere else, it may not be the card but soothing else. What, I have no idea as I don't listen to a lot of YouTube music, but when I do, I have zero issues, but my setup is different.

Lastly, if you've got a SoundBlaster soundcard, there's zero need for ReaTek as Creative has their own software for their cards.

TonyCzar said:

An external D/A converter is the modern choice. The Modi+ is inexpensive and good.

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Shiit is a very good company with some very good DACs, at very affordable prices.

BTW, if you want to talk hi-fi see this thread - AUDIRVĀNA (and other audio related chitchat).

Since 2021 I am using exactly the same Soundblaster Audigy Fx in a Windows 10 (originally Windwos 7, updated to Windows 10) and later on in a (different) and much moderner/faster Windows 11 system.
I have never experienced any problems, the sound is very clear. No problems with listening to a Youtube channel as well (I like classic music and listen often to Youtube classic music channels).

But the driver I use is not the driver you mentioned (6.0.103.30)!
The driver I used in both systems is SBAF_CD_L13_1_00_07.exe.
Because (on a German site) I once read about problems when you install that driver and that the solution would be to install the driver SBAF_CD_L13_1_00_06.exe first and after that the driver SBAF_CD_L13_1_00_07.exe over that, I did so when I installed the system.

Both drivers can be downloaded from Soundblaster Audigy Fx at theofficial Creative site.
"Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Software Pack for Windows" 12 Aug 15 Filesize 116.89 MB contains the driver SBAF_CD_L13_1_00_07.exe.
"Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Fx Software Update Web Release" 20 Dec 13 Filesize: 115.7 MB contains the driver SBAF_CD_L13_1_00_06.exe.

When I bought the card, I had read that the driver only supported Windows systems until 8.1 and sent a mail to Creative asking if those drivers were suitable for Windows 10 as well, the system that i was going to use it on. The answer came quite soon and they wrote: "Please be informed that we do not have any reported issues on Audigy Fx not working on Windows 10 OS. The driver posted in our support site works without any issues on Windows 10 OS. Just ensure that your PC meets the system requirements of the sound card." Followed by specs that my PC easily complied with.

After that PC was replaced by a much faster PC with Windows 11 Pro (see my specs clicking My Computer below this answer) I moved the board to that PC. And did the same with the drivers (first the _06 version, followed by the _07 version). And that was and is succesful until this moment!

Maybe it would have been enough to install the _07 version directly, but I did not ever try that.

Dru2 said:

Shiit is a very good company with some very good DACs, at very affordable prices.

BTW, if you want to talk hi-fi see this thread - AUDIRVĀNA (and other audio related chitchat).

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Nice thread. Beautiful equipment and presentation. Thanks for the call out.

TonyCzar said:

Nice thread. Beautiful equipment and presentation. Thanks for the call out.

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Thanks.

Also, the link was just FYI if you wanted to share ideas. I actually spend most of my time here now - Head-Fi.org Forums Plenty of Shiit threads here - Dedicated Source Components (also Head-Fi)

TonyCzar said:

You shouldn't be using an internal sound card anymore; too much electrical interference. An external D/A converter is the modern choice. The Modi+ is inexpensive and good.

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If "Vicktek" is looking for 5.1 channel sound (like the Audigy FX), that's not an appropriate device. Stereo only, with no subwoofer output. It looks like all of the Schiit DACs are stereo. (I presume that they can downmix multichannel.)

I suppose that "Vicktek" added the soundcard to the Inspiron 3910 because it has a single line-out port. Audiophile gear may not be what's wanted.

Sorry about sometimes misspelling your handle.

I guess I'm not current with appliance PCs. I thought that any model for the consumer market would have some sort of Realtek chip onboard, with multichannel capabilities. (Which you don't need.)