Sound card making strange clicking noise

Souness · 23 Apr 2009 at 00:15

Just installed a xonar dx, now whenever my pc starts up the sound card itself (not my speakers) will click quite loudly a couple of times, and then again intermittently when my pc is running (although not enough to be bothersome). The card itself is working fine, and the noise is not annoying me, it just doesn't seem like it should be happening at all so I'm worried it might be damaging my pc or something.

ANy insight would be much appreciated..
Thx

diverse180 · 23 Apr 2009 at 00:33

My Xonar DX does the same thing...two clicks on power up and two on shut down.

I have a feeling it's nothing to be worried about, but it would be nice to know for sure that its nothing serious

...Nice card though huh!

aardvark · 23 Apr 2009 at 09:53

its supposed to do that - all good modern amps do it as well to protect from voltage surges or something - i don't know the technical reason but its fine.

HeX · 23 Apr 2009 at 10:16

Yup it is meant to do that don't worry, it is just the relays on the card

bledd · 23 Apr 2009 at 10:52

Yup, supposed to..

Mine never does it in windows..

gaara · 23 Apr 2009 at 15:59

mine does it as well, should be normal

MikeHunt79 · 23 Apr 2009 at 16:05

It sounds like the card has relays on board, they click so nothing to worry about.

james.miller · 23 Apr 2009 at 18:01

MikeHunt79 said:
It sounds like the card has relays on board, they click so nothing to worry about.

indeed they do and this is the reason. the noise are the relays clicking when the audio stream is changed, or when the card powers up or down. its perfectly normal operation and nothing to worry about.

diverse180 · 23 Apr 2009 at 18:04

Although I didn't start the thread, I'd just like to say thanks for the replies!

It's good to know that it's nothing to worry about

MikeHunt79 · 23 Apr 2009 at 18:07

james.miller said:
indeed they do and this is the reason. the noise are the relays clicking when the audio stream is changed, or when the card powers up or down. its perfectly normal operation and nothing to worry about.

Out of interest, is this to prevent DC offset on the soundcards outputs?

Greenlizard0 · 24 Apr 2009 at 05:32

The Essence clicks when changing output, perfectly normal.