Scratchy noise? About every ten seconds or so the sound comes in scratchy... I can't tell if this is due to the speakers or the computer messing up. I've checked the cords and they're all hooked up correctly. Do you think re-installing the sound software and drivers would help in this situation? I have no idea what is going on.

Jamie Harris Jun 21, 2007

i have no idea how old these speakers are... 5 years maybe? but i'm thinking it might be the sound card, which sucks for me. It makes the noise about every 10-15 seconds on any program that i use, it sometimes even does it at start up. I downloaded all the newest drivers for my sound card and it didn't change anything... the only way i can rule out the speakers is if i get some different ones, plug them in, and see if it does it with those ones. do you know anywhere i could get cheap sound cards or speakers? and will i have to send my computer into Dell to get another sound card installed? this is driving me crazy!

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Are the speakers old? The only thing that can make a random scratchy noise on the speakers as far as I know is a dirty volume knob. Try turning it all the way up and all the way down (with nothing playing) and see if that helps. If it does, blow them out with some compressed air. I'm thinking your issue is probably software / driver related though, does the scratchiness happen in other programs? WinAmp? Windows Media Player? .. if it does, you've narrowed it down to a driver-related issue, go to your sound hardware's manufacturer website and download the latest drivers.

Posted on Jun 21, 2007

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