Hi!

My Sennheiser HD 570 are directly attached to my onboard SB PCI128 output on my Gigabyte GA-8IRXP motherboard running Windows 2000.

This output seems to work OK if i connect it to my Pioneer Amplifier and then to either headphones or speakers - i cannot hear any artifacts, errors, shortcuts or other things ... it´s just a bit lower volume when i use the computer instead of a CD.

But when i connect my Sennheiser directly to the soundcard, i get strange effects!

Sometimes i think, that the headphones are broken - or will break on that - it just sounds like a crackling shortcut somewhere.

Both the Sennheiser´s and the computer´s audio cable and connector seem to be OK, when i test this in different versions. Only headphones directly to soundcard just does not work ...

I tried to check "digital output" for both of my CD-players in the computer - but i´m not sure about the effect. I just don´t know for what that setting is. Cannot find any documentation ... (Preferences, Systemcontrol, System, Sound and Multimedia, Hardware, then the CD-player, and then some panel about oter preferences). The tooltip there talks about digital output for some codecs, but those codecs are not shown and cannot be configured somewhere. So i dont know if this has something to do with my problem ...

I checked, that Windows is set to Stereo Headphones when i test this - although no difference between 5.1 system and headhpones settings.

Audio preferences for performance are on standard-settings ...
Audio-output is always to Analog, not Autosense or Digital.

I notice that the problems get less, when i close some of the audio drivers like CD, micro, modem, AUX, etc. in the Creative PCI Audio Mixer.
Also, it get´s better, when i just use low-level volume of output - but that is too low-volume for me too hear.

So, i´m in need of help

Does anybody know what´s up with my computer?
Does the SB PCI128 have problems?
Does the Senneheiser just don´t work with that setup?
Do i need other drivers or patches?
Other ideas?

Thanx for any input!!!

Maybe if your headphones are very sensitive you are hearing interference when plugged directly, more if you are reducing volume with the card mixer volume control, but when using the amp this interference is reduced in level and is not heard. Try repeating the test, but not touching your soundcard volume controls, just the amp volume controls.

Must be a problem with the bass/treble settings clipping, that occurs when you crank up the wav channel volume slider.

Set the bass/treble control to the middle position, the wave channel to the max, and set the outpout volume with the master volume control.

Thanx for the replies ...

I tested that the Creative PCI Audio Mixer basically uses the Windows Audio Mixed with the addition of chorus and echo to MIDI (both in the middle, which seems to be the default) and stereo/3D effect for general volume (disabled this, which seems to be the default).

I have all volumes, including any input, at level zero and disabled, only general Volume and Wave enabled. Wave is at full volume and Volume (the same as the shortcut from the toolbar) exactly in the middle.

Even then, when i use WinAmp´s volume control, i need to use it in the middle position or better lower as well! But this way, it is way to silent ...
As i crank up the volume (which does not affect the general volume!), i get those crackling shortcut sounds again

I was already thinking about getting a real soundcard instead of my onboard PCi128 - but read that some other people seem to live with a similar setup (Garf, i think) ...

Edited: My software does not provide bass/tremble settings (see my description of that Creative PCI Audio Mixer), the only way i can do that is the WinAmp equalizer which i dont like to use ...

As you crank up the volume - almost every sound card has this issue... or you get the sounds AFTER you crank up the volume?

Ups, i was not clear in what i wrote ...

That problem *begins* with a certain volume or i can start to hear it from a certain volume on.
So, it is not the effect of changing the volume itself
Sadly ...

I had an indentical setup but never experienced the problems you describe. A faulty card? Interference?

Personally I have yet to see good onboard sound, so your best bet would be getting a new sound card. I'd stay away from SB128, although I like the way it sounds better than the SB Live! series...

One potential reason is your headphones present a lot lower impedance load (64 ohm according to
the Sennheiser web site) than a stereo input (typically 600 ohm). THe phones may be
more of a complex load as well.

On the human engineering side, is the plug more likely to be jostled on the phones because they
are attached to your head compared to the stereo which is pretty stable?

A line input is much higher : 47,000 Ohm.
Check in the board manual if there is not a jumper that would allow to switch between line out/speakers out.

In this case, set it to speaker out in order to get enough power.

Thanx for your answers!

I checked everything again (no, cables will not be moved by my movements

My onboard sound exactly is an

Creative CT5880 Sound Chipset + Sigmatel 9708T CODEC
Line In/Line Out/Mic In/CD In/AUX_IN/TELE/Game Port

(directly from the manual)

It supports SPDIF Output, which should be autosensing when a connected digital receiver supports that.
It seems, that my Pioneer VSXC300 does not support it, because i get white noise when i go from Analog or Autosensing to Digital Output (in the soundcard settings), so i used Autosensing/Analog again.

It can only connect to 2 Speakers or 4 Speakers (Line In will then be Line Out) and 5.1 setup with a digital receiver ... (ideal with SPDIF and digital output - need to check if that cable is used internally)
The board supports "Front_Audio" ... but not my chasis.

I could not find any information of the soundcard supporting headphones!
Edited: It does NOT! It´s a "either Speaker Out or SPDIF Out" in addition to regular Line Out chip ... and my version is just SPDIF Out.

I doadloaded every driver and software i could find for motherboard and soundcard, installed that and need to reboot now - if i do not come back, that destroyed my computer

Thanx for your hints!

It seems, i need a real soundcard
Any recommendation? (want to play as well ...)