Slight audio crackling/static

[Stanley]

Happens with anything. Headphones, the speakers and earbuds. (Just to be clear this got fixed after like a few days after because of an update)

[Spacejaws]

Messaggio originale di JulesWayne:

- Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250ohm: the only pair which completely hides the issue for me. Not noticeable in-game or in menus. It's a studio pair with higher impedance and lower sensitivity but it is not representative of a typical consumer-oriented product that most people will be using to play portably.

My DT 770s are the 80ohm version. I've only tested on the library but it was completely gone for me there with this pair.

I have also noticed that I can ramp up the Steam Deck audio way higher than any other device I have with a 3.5mm jack without some kind of amp. Not sure if this is some kind of driver configuration issue but I was suprised how loud I could push it.

[brichardsonii7]

Messaggio originale di Spacejaws:

Messaggio originale di JulesWayne:

- Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250ohm: the only pair which completely hides the issue for me. Not noticeable in-game or in menus. It's a studio pair with higher impedance and lower sensitivity but it is not representative of a typical consumer-oriented product that most people will be using to play portably.

My DT 770s are the 80ohm version. I've only tested on the library but it was completely gone for me there with this pair.

I have also noticed that I can ramp up the Steam Deck audio way higher than any other device I have with a 3.5mm jack without some kind of amp. Not sure if this is some kind of driver configuration issue but I was suprised how loud I could push it.

That last comment is also something I've thought about and commented at home. It does seem like the pre-amping is way too high, which could theoretically be fixed with a patch and explain why sensitive gear picks up all the interference. My DT-770 seem to be the only model which actually requires that level of current to run without added floor noise.

I submitted a ticket to Valve detailing the situation and am hoping to hear back from them ASAP. I need to know if they are planning to fix this or if I should just give up on the SD. Audio is way too important for immersion for me.

[Feral Walrus]

I learned that by switching the DRD USB setting in the bios to XHCI USB C DACs function as expected. This is a pretty good workaround to clean up the audio.

That said, I hope Valve can do something in software about this.

[JulesWayne]

Interesting findings here people, for the moment I'll be using my HD558 that make the noise bearable, but I just can't do with any in ear monitors.

Totally want this to be a driver issue, I really like the device but sound is too important.

[artofwot]

For those interested these are the questions Steam Support sent back as a reply. You might speed up the support process if you include answers to these in your support ticket:

- Have you installed any third party tools, plugins, emulators on your Deck?
- Does the crackling/buzzing/distortion of sound happen when you use headphones/headset with the system (let us know if you tested with the 3.5mm jack, USB-C, or Bluetooth)
- Is this happening in all games or just a specific one? If only a specific game, can you tell us the name of it too.
- Does this happen while you are out of game in Steam?
- Does this happen while you are in Desktop mode? (Steam button > Power > Switch to Desktop)
- Does this happen if you lower the volume (does it only happen at or near max volume, or at all volume levels)?
- Does this only happen when you come back to play the Deck after putting it to sleep? Try shutting down the system and retesting to see if it occurs still.

[Spacejaws]

Thanks I submitted a ticket now with those questions answered and quoted this discussion and the reddit thread.

[brichardsonii7]

Messaggio originale di artofwot:

For those interested these are the questions Steam Support sent back as a reply. You might speed up the support process if you include answers to these in your support ticket:

- Have you installed any third party tools, plugins, emulators on your Deck?
- Does the crackling/buzzing/distortion of sound happen when you use headphones/headset with the system (let us know if you tested with the 3.5mm jack, USB-C, or Bluetooth)
- Is this happening in all games or just a specific one? If only a specific game, can you tell us the name of it too.
- Does this happen while you are out of game in Steam?
- Does this happen while you are in Desktop mode? (Steam button > Power > Switch to Desktop)
- Does this happen if you lower the volume (does it only happen at or near max volume, or at all volume levels)?
- Does this only happen when you come back to play the Deck after putting it to sleep? Try shutting down the system and retesting to see if it occurs still.

Good stuff. In my case, if the question starts with "Does it happen when", the answer is yes. I'll be ready for that follow up when it comes. Let us know if they add something to the conversation!

[Slacker101]

Messaggio originale di brichardsonii7:

Messaggio originale di JulesWayne:

Either this or GitHub? There's an open thread here: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1235

If it's a hardware issue, then it's a problem, would ask for a replacement but my guess is every unit will have the issue. If that's the case I might just wait for a Deck 2. But I like this one.

This is very disappointing, as it's currently my only issue with the system so far. My unit doesn't have any problems with the screen, buttons, etc.

I just ran a few comparative tests this morning using different headphones to see how bad it is:

- Hyperx Cloud II: the ground noise is very noticeable at all times. It's even more prevalent in the Steam Library than in-game but it never goes away.

- Moondrop Quarks (IEM): the most noticeable of all, given the higher sensitivity. Unusable for anyone who cares even a little bit about clean audio.

- Sennheiser HD 598SR: my oldest and most-used pair, usually slightly sensitive. The SD's ground noise is a little less intense VS the previous two but still very noticeable and not acceptable. Once again, menus somehow show it the worst.

- Sennheiser HD 560S: slightly less noticeable than with the 598. During gameplay in Prey (2017) I can almost forget about it, although it's still there. Becomes noticeable yet again in menus.

- Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 250ohm: the only pair which completely hides the issue for me. Not noticeable in-game or in menus. It's a studio pair with higher impedance and lower sensitivity but it is not representative of a typical consumer-oriented product that most people will be using to play portably.


I am somewhat hopeful that this issue can be mitigated through software. Maybe it's a voltage control issue with the internal DAC or something of the sort. My LG G7 ThinQ smartphone had a dedicated Quad-DAC with purpose-built "audiophile" internals and it read some audio inputs completely wrong, creating lots of distortion with some headphones and none with others. I am bringing this issue up with Valve because I need to know if they plan to address the problem. I am not about to keep an almost 600€ portable device which can't play well with portable headphones and IEMs.

I noticed similar. I tested on Windows with an unofficial audio driver and found it's there but significantly reduced. If you're interested in testing that as well given the extent you went through here, lmk and I can give you details. Really curious to see another person try.

It gave me some hope.

[Nuanulla]

I requested a replacement and sent mine to Valve HQ since I additionally had some dead pixels/sub-pixels. Hopefully Valve can diagnose the issue themselves.

[brichardsonii7]

Messaggio originale di Nuanulla:

I requested a replacement and sent mine to Valve HQ since I additionally had some dead pixels/sub-pixels. Hopefully Valve can diagnose the issue themselves.

I hope you have better luck with the next unit. Let us know how the new one works out in terms of the audio. There's starting to be more reports of folks having the exact same issue with replacement Decks. I don't know if that's a good or bad indication anymore in terms of it being software.

[windwalker]

After I notice this issue on Reddit and here.
I also did some test with my headphone / iems , and here is some result.

Most loudness static noise
TRN V80 / 24 ohms / 108 dB/mW

Sightly static noise in background
ATH ESW-W10JPN / 45 ohms / 102 dB/mW

Barely hear the static noise
Etymotic Research ER-4S / 100 ohms / 96 dB/mW
Audeze iSine 20 / 24 ohms / 112 dB/mW
Sennheiser SC 45 / Unknow / 118 dB/mW

It look like not 100% related to the impedance or sensitivity....

[brichardsonii7]

Messaggio originale di windwalker:

After I notice this issue on Reddit and here.
I also did some test with my headphone / iems , and here is some result.

Most loudness static noise
TRN V80 / 24 ohms / 108 dB/mW

Sightly static noise in background
ATH ESW-W10JPN / 45 ohms / 102 dB/mW

Barely hear the static noise
Etymotic Research ER-4S / 100 ohms / 96 dB/mW
Audeze iSine 20 / 24 ohms / 112 dB/mW
Sennheiser SC 45 / Unknow / 118 dB/mW

It look like not 100% related to the impedance or sensitivity....

Thanks for the info. This makes it even less clear what the actual root cause is. What a weird and specific oversight by Valve.

[Alex Atkin UK]

I just checked with my EPOS H6Pro and they sound amazing, I did seem to notice some sort of hiss in game on my AKG K92 but not sure if its part of the game as it disappeared on the menu.

[brichardsonii7]

Messaggio originale di Alex Atkin UK:

I just checked with my EPOS H6Pro and they sound amazing, I did seem to notice some sort of hiss in game on my AKG K92 but not sure if its part of the game as it disappeared on the menu.

Interesting. The H6Pro seem to be 28ohm. Did you check if you hear any floor noise in the Steam library, quick settings, desktop mode, etc.? The K92 are probably just more sensitive I guess. That's at least another pair added to the list with no major issues on the Deck.

[Smart]

Messaggio originale di brichardsonii7:

Messaggio originale di windwalker:

After I notice this issue on Reddit and here.
I also did some test with my headphone / iems , and here is some result.

Most loudness static noise
TRN V80 / 24 ohms / 108 dB/mW

Sightly static noise in background
ATH ESW-W10JPN / 45 ohms / 102 dB/mW

Barely hear the static noise
Etymotic Research ER-4S / 100 ohms / 96 dB/mW
Audeze iSine 20 / 24 ohms / 112 dB/mW
Sennheiser SC 45 / Unknow / 118 dB/mW

It look like not 100% related to the impedance or sensitivity....

Thanks for the info. This makes it even less clear what the actual root cause is. What a weird and specific oversight by Valve.

It´s not a weird issue. I predicted it. How do i do this? Simple: I know how cpus works. And they aren´t magic.

You have a mobile cpu sir. And mobile cpus aren´t magic. You have the same issues, which other Laptop/Notebook-users with the same kind of mobile-cpu have. Not magic.
mobile cpus are having tremendously lower bandwidth.

See? There are good reasons people in the past warned other people to buy laptops. But they didn´t want to listen. It´s true though. Laptop-issues such as this cannot be fixed either. A laptop cpu will allways be a lot slower than the same desktop-model consuming like 5x more energy.

This issue has nothing to do with Ohm/ear-buds,impedance, bluetooth or something like that.