Sound interference using Asus Xonar Phoebus Solo

BuffetSlayer · 13 Jan 2014 at 08:38

Hi all

I recently built a brand new system from scratch but I am having issues with sound interference on my headphones, particularly when using the mic.

My sound card is an Asus Xonar Phoebus Solo ( https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-017-AS )

My headphones are Qpad QH-90's ( http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-005-QP&groupid=702&catid=1058 )

Motherboard is an Asus Maximus VI Hero ( http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-563-AS&groupid=701&catid=5 )

Now I have uninstalled all motherboard sound drivers, and I am connecting my headphones into the back of the soundcard using 3.5mm jacks, one for headphones, one for the built in mic.

When using the headphones when the mic is enabled I can hear feint interference in the background, and also a buzzing noise that corresponds with my mouse movements. If I select to monitor the mic - these sounds become more prominent, but are still relatively acceptable, although not ideal when talking to people on Mumble.

I use Mumble to talk to team mates whilst playing the game Tribes Ascend. As soon as I load Tribes, The interference boosts up to a level that sounds like there is a food blender in the background. As soon as I quit Tribes - the interference drops back down again and is still audiable to my team mates but is a lot quieter.

I have made sure mic boost is off, and disabled all environmental sound effects, and disabled dolby sound too. The sound card is situated pretty much in the middle of the case between the PSU in the bottom and my R9 290 GPU in the master PCI-e slot.

I have checked game settings and made sure mic boost effects are off in game too.

I am very disappointed considering the price point of this card and the spec of the system it is in. Does anyone know what the problem may be? I really dont want to have to shell out on some USB headphones as the QH-90's are great when there is no mic being used.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Cheers

Buff

Timber · 13 Jan 2014 at 12:02

I'm afraid I can't help a great deal other than to post my own experience.

I bought the ROG Phoebus (with the breakout box) in summer of 2012. I found it to be a massive upgrade on the old Creative X-fi it replaced and even posted mainly positive experiences on this forums. For whatever reason I didn't take it into online games with friends until a year later (that's what a new baby does!).

Anyway in L4D2 (or other games we tried) my friends were saying they could barely hear me because of a 'lawnmower sound' in the background. I could replicate this under the Steam mic test. If I was talking whilst idling the clarity was fine but the minute I went into a game....boom; lawnmower-like sound interference making the game unplayable for all.

I tried a number of things including an Astro A40 headset or Sennheiser 598's with the breakout mic, reinstalling drivers, relocating the card in different PCI-E slot, changing the PCI-E 6-pin power lead for another and a number of software settings including reducing gain etc. I tried everything but reinstalling Windows 7 or trying the card in my HTPC. But to be honest I had enough at this point and went out and bought a Creative ZxR Soundcard and sold the Phoebus.

That said you should read this thread on the official Asus ROG forums: http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?18211-Noise-humming-in-microphone-while-playing-games

There are some workarounds in that thread though and whilst not everyone has solved their issues some claim to have reduced the issue or resolved it. I tried the suggestion to enable noise cancellation and that definitely didn't work for me, irrespective of microphone.

It was clearly something in my configuration and whilst I don't think the product is inherently faulty I suspect the requirement to use a PCI-E 6-pin power lead increases the risk of sound interference. There's a number of people who have suffered this problem if you search including at least one on this forum.

As mentioned I used it as an opportunity to cut-my losses and buy the ZxR which feels like an upgrade and is a better card for gaming. Personally I'd return the card to the retailer and swap for a Creative Z-series card.

Good luck with it and hope the information proves useful.

BuffetSlayer · 14 Jan 2014 at 19:46

Hi mate

Thanks for the information. I have tried every work around and fix I can find and nothing is fixing this problem.

Getting huge interference. I am recording examples in Mumble of the different issues when using the mic.

The only thing I have not tried it to attach a couple of ground loop isolators to the headphone lines. But to be fair I should not need to do that on a sound card at this price point.

I am considering returning this card as nothing is working.

TwsT · 14 Jan 2014 at 23:32

as with anything update the firmware get latest drivers.

Timber · 15 Jan 2014 at 11:28

BuffetSlayer said:
Hi mate

Thanks for the information. I have tried every work around and fix I can find and nothing is fixing this problem.

Getting huge interference. I am recording examples in Mumble of the different issues when using the mic.

The only thing I have not tried it to attach a couple of ground loop isolators to the headphone lines. But to be fair I should not need to do that on a sound card at this price point.

I am considering returning this card as nothing is working.

Sorry to hear that and your experience mirrors mine if that's case. As mentioned I have my (unfounded) suspicions the PCI-E 6-pin power requirement introduces more chance of interference that you are less likely to experience on other sound cards.

TwsT said:
as with anything update the firmware get latest drivers.

I know this is great advice that should ALWAYS be followed for any PC Component.

I can't remember (or see) a firmware update for the Phoebus. However there are some very recent drivers for this card, for example fixing the issue with Netflix protected audio in windows 8 along with WHQL certification. And to be fair there's always been regular drivers releases for this card (it got a bad reputation after the PunkBuster issues).

I assume the OP has tried these.

BuffetSlayer · 15 Jan 2014 at 11:33

Timber said:
Sorry to hear that and your experience mirrors mine if that's case. As mentioned I have my (unfounded) suspicions the PCI-E 6-pin power requirement introduces more chance of interference that you are less likely to experience on other sound cards.

I know this is great advice that should ALWAYS be followed for any PC Component.

I can't remember (or see) a firmware update for the Phoebus. However there are some very recent drivers for this card, for example fixing the issue with Netflix protected audio in windows 8 along with WHQL certification. And to be fair there's always been regular drivers releases for this card (it got a bad reputation after the PunkBuster issues).

I assume the OP has tried these.

You assumed correctly