Windows 10 Headphones Echo Issue - alternate solution

Question

I resolved an issue where the sound coming through any headphones plugged into my headphone jack would have a persistent echo. It sounded like every thing was being played inside of a cave.

While researching for solutions, I saw several different suggestions:

• Swapping headsets
• Going to the Playback devices, speaker Properties menu and turning off all Enhancements
• Going through the Troubleshoot sound problems process
• reinstalling sound drivers
• restoring windows to a previous state

If you haven't tried any of these methods, let me refer you to a post that addresses these in more detail:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/audio-plays-serious-echo-effect-after-windows/5b1b42ee-32cc-4bb5-bc0a-0b8fae133273

If none of those solutions work for you, try this, because you may have the same issue I did. 

My issue was in the Recording devices menu. The shortcut to this menu is to right click on the speaker icon in the task bar and click on the Recording devices tab. **** Once in that menu, select the Stereo Mix device and click Properties.

Once in the Properties menu, click on the Listen tab and make sure the option Listen to this device is not checked.

I did this prior to reinstalling drivers or restoring, but I did try the other suggestions. I don't know how common this particular problem is, but this solution worked for me.

Hope it helps.

Here are my specs if that helps in any way**:**

Acer Predator - G9-591-70XR - Windows 10

2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

16 GB DDR SDRAM

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M

Answer 1

well you are on wrong tab. Recording is for MIC and not playback. Only a plugged in playback device like a MP3 Player. This is not what you are using so disable it.

select the playback tab>>select speakers>>Properties>>Enhancements

some of these will make echo sounds and such, disable them

maybe disable these.

Now back to your post. You are selecting record and not playback for headphones.

Your jack may be a dual MIC Headphone jack, like an ASUS laptop I have and when plugging in an app pops up to select when you want to do.

But you may need to disable the MIC or configure it anyways

select the recording as you have shown, then select the MIC not that stereo mix that is for recording and then select properties and configure your MIC like Disable it if need be

Now I believe that there is stereo mix in  the playback settings also, I would like to see that. Set those for mixer in playback.

But back to MIC, the image you show to "listen to this device" in recording, stereo mix and mic, you need to disable it and I believe your issue will be gone.

and disable the MIC and MIXER enhancements for recording

Answer 2

Forgive me if I wasn't clear, but I resolved my issue using the method I posted.

I tried your method and it didn't work for me. The issue persisted, and this was my solution. The only reason I posted this was in case someone else had the same issue, if it was resolvable with the method you're suggesting, I would've left it to the other posts I found.

I will post an edit to the original post to show the box as unchecked, because that's what my instructions were stating. I was worried that may be confusing.

Thanks anyway.

Answer 3

Forgive me if I wasn't clear, but I resolved my issue using the method I posted.

I tried your method and it didn't work for me. The issue persisted, and this was my solution. The only reason I posted this was in case someone else had the same issue, if it was resolvable with the method you're suggesting, I would've left it to the other posts I found.

I will post an edit to the original post to show the box as unchecked, because that's what my instructions were stating. I was worried that may be confusing.

Thanks anyway.

Well bud, I do not know how it is possible to resolve feedback in the headphone on a playback device using the recording settings. I find that Impossible, especially when that setting is only for MICS  and plugged in media devices such as a MP3 player. Then no settings were shown for playback. Anyways have a good one.

I also see that you edited it after my posts and now shows in photo, the box unchecked in yellow circle as it was checked and circled before.

Answer 4

And just to be polite,

Recording is input, MIC, MP3 player, audio in

Playback is output, speakers, headphones audio out

Only if you had MIC plugged in would you possibly get feedback in the speakers or headphones. You would then just disable or unplug the MIC.

Answer 5

I appreciate the reply. Thanks again.