What is Windows7 doing to my sound?

Atilla · 30th May 2012, 10:34 AM

I've been using a Bantam DAC - BantamDAC Overview (PCM2702) for a while, to play music from my mac when I need to. It's a good enough and easily portable device and generally works just fine.

However, I recently used it on my Windows 7 machine. The amount of noise it produces is absolutely horrible. To be clear - it's a high-pitched, hissing noise which appears when there's sound output *only*. As when using it with the mac - there's no noise at all when I'm not playing anything.

What on earth is Windows 7 doing that messes the sound output out? Has anyone experienced similar problems? How do you deal with that?

marce · 12:03 PM

It sounds like the PC is noisy electronicly, nothing to do with Windows as such.

Atilla · 30th May 2012, 12:04 PM

Well, the Bantam has some reasonable filtering and my PSU is decent. We're talking use in conditions in which the power lines aren't under heavy struggle - no GPU activity, CPU in power-saving, underclocked mode, etc.

Furthermore, I've got an Auzentech Bravura card running as well and it doesn't seem to have any noise issues whatsoever.

SY · 30th May 2012, 12:06 PM

I'd look at the Bantam card since you say you have no issue with the Auzentech. I've been using a laptop with 7 and (once I figured out how to turn off the wireless card) and the combo with two different external DACs (one USB, one Firewire) has no noise problem at all.

Atilla · 30th May 2012, 12:15 PM

I might have another Bantam board somewhere, but I'll need to wire it up first.

I suspected it could software related somehow as it still works absolutely noise-free on the Macbook, when I connect it there.

marce · 30th May 2012, 12:31 PM

Software dosn't make noise hardware dose. It sounds like an EMC issue, either the PC or the wireless interface. Thesecond soundcards PSU may not filter out noise as well as the other one.

Atilla · 30th May 2012, 12:35 PM

I'm very sure I've had terrible results with sound cards with the wrong configuration/drivers in the past but this little dac doesn't require any, so it should have been fine.

I'll take it with me and test in on other systems to see how it behaves. That should identify the cause, I guess.

phofman · 30th May 2012, 12:52 PM

To rule out hardware issues you can boot a linux live cd (ubuntu, debian) and test your usb DAC in a different OS. It should run out of the box, no additional drivers required.

wazzy · 30th May 2012, 12:57 PM

Greetings, to be honest i have experienced the same kind of issues with certain machines as well, it is possible that there is an earth issue, is your laptop and the amp/ sound system you are connecting to all on the same power strip? I played around with the earthing scheme in my amp and now no longer experience the noise issue, sometimes plugging your laptop or what ever into a different power point than everything else is on makes a big difference. give it a go and let us know.

Atilla · 30th May 2012, 01:40 PM

All good ideas, thanks. I'll test it around and I'll let you know how it turns out.

30th May 2012, 10:34 AM	#1
Atilla diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	What is Windows7 doing to my sound? I've been using a Bantam DAC - BantamDAC Overview (PCM2702) for a while, to play music from my mac when I need to. It's a good enough and easily portable device and generally works just fine. However, I recently used it on my Windows 7 machine. The amount of noise it produces is absolutely horrible. To be clear - it's a high-pitched, hissing noise which appears when there's sound output only. As when using it with the mac - there's no noise at all when I'm not playing anything. What on earth is Windows 7 doing that messes the sound output out? Has anyone experienced similar problems? How do you deal with that?

30th May 2012, 11:59 AM	#2
marce diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blackburn, Lancs	It sounds like the PC is noisy electronicly, nothing to do with Windows as such. Last edited by marce; 30th May 2012 at 12:03 PM.

30th May 2012, 12:06 PM	#4
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	I'd look at the Bantam card since you say you have no issue with the Auzentech. I've been using a laptop with 7 and (once I figured out how to turn off the wireless card) and the combo with two different external DACs (one USB, one Firewire) has no noise problem at all. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

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30th May 2012, 12:04 PM	#3
Atilla diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	Well, the Bantam has some reasonable filtering and my PSU is decent. We're talking use in conditions in which the power lines aren't under heavy struggle - no GPU activity, CPU in power-saving, underclocked mode, etc. Furthermore, I've got an Auzentech Bravura card running as well and it doesn't seem to have any noise issues whatsoever.

30th May 2012, 12:15 PM	#5
Atilla diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	I might have another Bantam board somewhere, but I'll need to wire it up first. I suspected it could software related somehow as it still works absolutely noise-free on the Macbook, when I connect it there.

30th May 2012, 12:31 PM	#6
marce diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blackburn, Lancs	Software dosn't make noise hardware dose. It sounds like an EMC issue, either the PC or the wireless interface. Thesecond soundcards PSU may not filter out noise as well as the other one.

30th May 2012, 12:35 PM	#7
Atilla diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	I'm very sure I've had terrible results with sound cards with the wrong configuration/drivers in the past but this little dac doesn't require any, so it should have been fine. I'll take it with me and test in on other systems to see how it behaves. That should identify the cause, I guess.

30th May 2012, 12:52 PM	#8
phofman diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pilsen	To rule out hardware issues you can boot a linux live cd (ubuntu, debian) and test your usb DAC in a different OS. It should run out of the box, no additional drivers required.

30th May 2012, 12:57 PM	#9
wazzy diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2007	Greetings, to be honest i have experienced the same kind of issues with certain machines as well, it is possible that there is an earth issue, is your laptop and the amp/ sound system you are connecting to all on the same power strip? I played around with the earthing scheme in my amp and now no longer experience the noise issue, sometimes plugging your laptop or what ever into a different power point than everything else is on makes a big difference. give it a go and let us know.

30th May 2012, 01:40 PM	#10
Atilla diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2008	All good ideas, thanks. I'll test it around and I'll let you know how it turns out.

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