Source
r/SoundBlasterOfficial•
kujuXI

Creative Sound Blaster X4 Sound problems

bought X4. i like it. but there are some problems with the sound. it's like lags or stuttering or something like that. sometimes hiss and distortion.

it's bad, i hear it every 3-5 minutes

i found the problem by disabling all unnecessary accessories and reinstalling Windows

with monitoring the installation results of each program and driver

so without installing latest USB Audio Driver 2.0.2.10

C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\Creative Sound Blaster (CT)USB Audio Drivers

(see screenshot)

the card doesnt have these problems! but without this driver doesnt have full functionality!

i can't record audio

but i tried to record a video with one of the problems:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IHd4-958HWk

there is a metallic resonating sound on any notifications in windows! (in headphones same!)

i dont want to return it. i like it (except for this driver problems).

Creative please fix the driver!

​

windows 11, latest updates, aorus z690 elite ddr4, 12900k, no gpu, psu corsair rm1000i

https://preview.redd.it/rmyjkr4v96691.jpg?width=1067&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=88f692affdd0e9eb013646a06d5e3b26a57b1ab5

Posted Jun 17, 2022, 11:56 AM UTC · edited

28
gcheaters•
  1. USB Audio Connectivity: PC/Mac only (X3 has that)
  2. Try with configuration: 24bit / 96khz
  3. Try old driver: 1.18.01.04 (remove current via Device Manager)
    https://www.reddit.com/r/SoundBlasterOfficial/comments/u0w3lj/for_those_who_wants_direct_driver_links_i_got/
1
kujuXIOP•

tried everything

doesn't work for me

1
PerformerIndividual3•

the drivers and software for x4 on my windows10 is extremely buggy. i already give up on it

1
kujuXIOP•

i agree soft is bad. but do you have sound problems like me (stuttering/crackling or metallic resonating sound on any notifications in windows)?

1
gcheaters•

resonating sound on any notifications in windows)

x3 also don't like "pop"/"notification" sounds , happens only first few seconds with right frequency or sxfi on.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SoundBlasterOfficial/comments/ufglqm/x3_audio_crackling_problem_after_being_idle/

2
PerformerIndividual3•

i get crackling noise when i shutdown the pc and when i turn on sxfi. previously also crackling noise when i use the button on the device to turn on 'direct mode'. now those button simply doesnt work anymore in the latest software, also the software setting for direct mode also stop working. piece of shit

0
PerformerIndividual3•

the drivers and software for x4 on my windows10 is extremely buggy. i already give up on it

1
Raytech555•

My X3 works and sounds better without creative software.

1
M4STER_ROOT•

I sadly didn't see this post before ordering an X4.

I already have the G6, but it sometimes drops out so I have to unplug the cable. The microphone also sometimes turns VERY metallic. It quite often drops the connection while I'm using Discord and Teams through the Edge browser (Work calls!)
Whenever I start a game it seems to be stable, then when I close the game, bam within a few minutes the connections starts dropping again.

I don't know if Creative in general have issues whenever Windows starts streaming audio.
With the X4 we hear this metallic sound, with the G6 I sometimes hear a small pop, and well, then the connection drops all the time...

I have had no issues with my X4 except the first few seconds of audio playback sounds metallic, then it stabilizes. It's like whenever Windows begins streaming audio to the device, the first few seconds have this issue.
u/Creative_Colin is this something you guys are aware of?

I guess this is sadly my last Creative sound card.
I do not expect drivers to work day one of a Windows Update, but I do expect a quick response. Especially considering that Creative could have been hard at work with a Technical Preview of Windows, but it doesn't seem like they're doing anything.

And yes I've tried multiple machines, all three machines have a metallic resonating sound the first few seconds of any audio playback while using the X4, and all three machines have the G6 randomly dropping connectivity with the latest version of Windows 11. If I install an earlier version of Windows, the issue is not there, but I have no intention of doing that.

Maybe I should check the X4 on an earlier Version of Windows 11...

My G6 is more stable when Sound Blaster Command is not running, and based on this post, it seems like the X4 might be better without the Creative App.

It's rather sad, because I really liked my G6 and I hoped that the X4 would at least work as it's newer. Seems like Creative's good days are behind them.

1
Creative_Colin•

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your experience. I will put forward your feedback to the team and hope the information will be useful for them.

There will always be different experience for different people. That said, your feedback is always appreciated.

​

EDIT: @ u/M4STER_ROOT, is the encoder turned on?

​

- Creative_Colin

1