Crackling audio when streaming music/vids on Chrome & MS Edge browsers

[Nikevic]

Crackling/popping audio on both Chrome & MS Edge browsers when streaming videos/music on Facebook and YouTube. Crackling sounds can be heard when using B&O inbuilt speakers and when headphones are plugged in. Started noticing about a week ago, hoping it would go away. Realtek HD Audio (SST) drivers all up-to-date. Noticed sometimes the crackling would become more prominent when scrolling a web page or moving the mouse cursor around on both open web pages and on desktop. No crackling/popping heard when playing audio on Groove Music.

[The_Fossette]

Hi @Nikevic,

Welcome to the HP Forums!

I appreciate you taking the time to share your concern and thank you for using this forum, it is a great place to find answers.

I reviewed your post and I understand that you are having issues with the audio when playing online videos.

I’d love to help!

In order that I may provide you with an accurate solution, I will need a few more details.

• When was the last time the computer was working fine?
• Have you made any software or hardware changes on the computer?
• Have you performed any troubleshooting steps before posting?

Meanwhile, I recommend you update the bios and the chipset driver from the below link and test.

http://hp.care/2nikIQ9

If the issue persists, I recommend you try using a different browser and check. Also, make sure that the browser you are using is up to date.

If you are using google chrome browser follow below steps.

Step 1: Go to Chrome Plugin Settings

In the address bar type "chrome://plugins" without quotes.

Click on the "+" beside Details, this will show all components of each plugin.

Step 2: Disable PPAPI

Locate "Type: PPAPI (out-of-process)" under the Adobe Flash Player plugin. Click the Disable link.

Close your browser, and re open it.

Let me know how it goes and you have a good day ahead.

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. Take care now and have a splendid week ahead.

Take care!

Cheers!

[Nikevic]

Hi @The_Fossette,

My audio was working fine about 1-2 weeks ago.

The only software changes I made were updating my Nvidia Graphics Driver to the latest driver (was updated when I was aware of the crackling) and updating/rolling back Realtek drivers to try and solve the crackling sound - to no avail.

The first thing I did when I noticed the crackling was to troubleshoot the problem, which did not present any working solutions which is why I turned to the forums. 

I updated my BIOS and the chipset drivers. Crackling is still present when pressing the play/pause button on Facebook and YouTube videos and now my B&O speakers intermittently emit a pop sound every 7 seconds for around a minute when no browsers or video/audio is playing - also happens when my earphones are plugged into the jack.

I could not do your Chrome fix, because Google Chrome had removed plugin controls in January this year: https://www.ghacks.net/2017/01/29/google-removes-plugin-controls-from-chrome/

so I could not disable PPAPI in chrome. 

Both Chrome and Edge claim to be up-to-date.

Also what other browsers should I use? How many do I need to go through whilst I forego Edge which is meant to be custom built and designed for Win 10 which came pre-installed on this computer and Chrome which is perfectly reliable and non-faulty on my 4 year old Lenovo computer, which also runs on Win 10 and Realtek drivers?

[Nikevic]

Sorry for my outburst at the end of my last post. As you can see I'm getting quite frustrated...

[The_Fossette]

Hi @Nikevic,

I recommend you to uninstall chrome browser and restart the computer. Then install the Chrome browser again and test.

Let me know how it goes.

[Nikevic]

Hi, I've tried playing videos and audio on Firefox, Opera, Chrome (reinstalled) and Edge. All have crackling and popping audio whilst watching online videos on Facebook and Youtube. Still no issue with Groove music.  

[Nikevic]

Well... I did a computer reset without deleting my files, updated my audio drivers again and the audio crackling seems to have gone.

For those of you who were looking for a solution like me, this is what I went through:

Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC (click Get Started) > Choose option: Keep My Files. 

After Windows was reinstalled, I used HP Recovery Manager (Start Button > HP Help and Support folder > HP Recovery Manager) and I went to Reinstall drivers and/or applications. Under Drivers, I  selected Realtek High-Definition (HD) Audio Driver and clicked Install.

Let HP Support Assistant download and update things by clicking Check for updates and messages. And let Windows update (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates).

Restarted computer.

Went to Device Manager (right-click on Start Button > Device Manager) and under Sound, video and game controllers, I selected Realtek High Definition Audio(SST) > right-click and select Update Driver.  

Not sure this will help anyone else, this is just what I did to fix my crackling audio on all my browsers. 

[The_Fossette]

Hi @Nikevic,

Perfect, I am really glad to hear that!

If any other questions arise, please feel free to write back to me.

Take care.

Cheers!