I’ve been trying to figure out this audio issue for days. Whenever I start a song or watch a video, there’s a popping sound at the start, and it happens again if the video cuts or randomly during playback. I’ve tested multiple headphones, tried different jacks (front and DAC), and reinstalled drivers, but nothing has worked. I even stripped down to the bare minimum of connected devices. I suspect it’s a software issue, but I’m not sure what to try next. Any help would be appreciated!
3.5mm audio can be prone to interference on modern PCs. If possible, use a USB device for better audio quality.
My DAC/amp also uses USB and has the same popping issue.
Is it powered by USB or an external source? USB-powered devices can still face interference.
If your DAC is externally powered, interference might not be the issue. This popping noise usually relates to power issues or a low-quality audio card/DAC.
I’ve tried Bluetooth headphones too, and the problem persists, so it seems to be software-related. Apart from the driver, I’m not sure what else to adjust.
Testing on another computer could help you determine if the issue lies with your DAC or the computer itself.