SoundBlaster Z card and Windows 11

Question

SoundBlaster Z card and Windows 11

Anonymous

I have a Dell Dimension XPS8940 with 64 GB of Ram and an Intel i9 11th Gen 16 core CPU running Windows 11 Pro with all updates installed.

I installed a SoundBlaster Z card using the latest Creative driver v6.0.102.78 dated 1/17/22. It is driving an On 2.1 soundbar.

The audio from the built-in sound card is clean on both Bluetooth and Aux inputs, but the SoundBlaster card sound is full of crackling on both the Optical and Aux outputs.

I have seen posts on Reddit about this, and the general consensus seems to be that the problem lies with Windows 11, with all sorts of suggestions about fixes, but what seems to work for one person doesn't work for the next. Does anyone in the Community have any light to shed on this?

Moderator note < added space , made few words are bold for clarity , better visibility>

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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8 answers

Answer 1

Now the drivers I am running are SoundBlaster Z 6.0.102.78 and SoundBlaster Audio Controller 6.0.105.8. They work fine most of the time on an optical input to my soundbar. There is no more crackling problem, however sometimes the audio will develop noticeable distortion (which is not present when I Bluetooth connect to the soundbar with the built-in audio on the motherboard. If I restart Windows 11 Pro, the SoundBlaster audio distortion is gone, and the SoundBlaster audio will stay clean for extended periods of time (hours long) until it distorts again- but it always comes back clean after a restart.

Answer 2

By default Windows only offers the CREATIVE - MEDIA - 6.0.102.75 version for installation, never the 6.0.102.78 which is a Creative update for the Z/XR/SE series only. Version 6.0.105.58, I don't know how you managed to install it, is for AE range!!!

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=sound+blaster+audio+controller

Answer 3

Anonymous

Keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until the case is resolved.

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Answer 4

Well, I tried all the suggestions in the articles you gave me links for. If anything, they made the problem worse. I am waiting for Creative to answer my support request now. I will see what they come up with. Meanwhile, sound works just fine with the built-in sound card and Bluetooth.

Answer 5

Hi Martin. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

There are fixes reported by others here for Windows 11 crackling sound problem :

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

(Avoid ad links which intrude into editorial copy, especially avoid Restoro, PC Repair Tool and Reimage ads)

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq1DkIL25XU

If the Creative sound card is less than a year old, you can also contact their Support which must get it working properly under warranty or repair or replace it. Start here;

https://support.creative.com/Products/Products....

Creative cards have a lot of problems so there may even be a known issue in this case.

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

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SoundBlaster Z card and Windows 11

8 answers