Dell G5 5590 External audio port issues

I have a 5577 gaming laptop, that I use in my recording studio.  

I use the audio port for "line out" mostly but have used it for headphones too.  I'm using the Dell supplied Realtek driver and associated audio software and no problems.  I would suggest uninstalling whatever you have now (restart the PC) and then install the Dell listed Realtek driver and Realtek Audio Console from the Dell downloads for your PC (linked below) as a first step.

Also, have you changed any power plan or plan settings?

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/g-series-15-5590-laptop/drivers

Thanks for suggestions.  I uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers and console.  No change in the behavior.  Still get the speaker disconnects and reconnects pops.   I have not make any power or performance changes.  I did reset them just in case, using Dell suggestion profile. I tried turning off "Jack detection" in Realtek Audio Console, but that made no difference.  I have noticed the "pop" when the laptop processor/fan speed changes... 

I do notice a odd lag in the Windows volume control on the task bar.  When the speaker is "disconnected", and  I attempt to change the volume, the slider will not move for a second, the pop occurs and then the slider control will move freely.  Very odd.   The slider issue happens both when using either the internal speakers or external speakers.  I just do not hear the "pop" when using the internal speakers. Probably some Microsoft OS issue or interaction with the RealTek drivers.  Working with Dell support, but no resolution yet. 

I do a lot of audio and video work.  Using Adobe Creative Master Suite.  And this audio pop is huge nuisance when using headphones or external speakers.  I have Amazon Music and iTunes installed as well.

With the pop happening when the fan changes speeds, it would appear to be some other problem (maybe some power issue) rather than a sound problem. The external sound is popping but its just a result of whatever else the problem is and not a sound software problem.

My "wild guess" is something in the power section, maybe a bad capacitor.  If you want to take the back off or maybe the front to examine the motherboard, I would look for a puffed up capacitor.  Bad capacitors has been problem on many PC's and not just Dell.

Interesting idea.  I have not smelled any capacitor that has popped, but will look that laptop a bit closer.

What drives me crazy is that the external speaker port disconnects after about 20 seconds of no sound going through it.  I have a stock monitor software that will alert me of an event, and that will cause the a audio alert, and cause the speaker to connect, "pop", then sound the alert. 

I can see the hardware angle on the problem. It is puzzling.   I do not see how the Windows volume slider "stickingness" plays into that, but maybe...  When using my Onyx Blackjack (USB) audio device as my audio out, I do not have Windows slider issues or popping noise; when using the Onyx Drivers.

So I am thinking Realtek driver or hardware possibly.

Thank you for your suggests, it helps to work thru the problem.

When you use the Mackie Onyx Blackjack, it becomes the audio device.  Same way my MOTU 4Pre USB recording interface works.

Its back to a potential hardware issue with the Realtek.  Capacitors that are bulged is what to look for, I don't recall one popping (and I'm a former guitar amp tech). 

Thanks for trying the suggested steps.

Could you please confirm the below:

• Have you tried the speakers on another device to see if it works?
• Does an alternate speaker/headphone work?
• Could you share a video with the exact issue so that we can get this checked further?

Best.

Arnab

Yes,  I have tried multiple speakers and headphones.  All demonstrate the same problem when connected to the Dell laptop audio out port.

Yes. I have tried the speakers via another device (Onyx BlackJack) and the speakers work fine.

I made video, but it too large to attach. 

Thanks for that confirmation.

I am afraid I couldn’t access that link.

Could you email this at sos@dell.com with Case 1001124083 in the subject?

Arnab

Hi!

Unfortunately, we do not have access to google drive. Do let me know once you email it.

Dell-Deept

Links to file - are removed.

I will email as well.

I email SOS a compressed video of the problem...

Any ideas based on the video emailed to you?

Thanks

Great trick! It solved pops and crackling noise with my brand new Inspiron 14 5490. Thanks for posting.

There's a more elegant, registry-based solution for this problem,

Basically Windows has an aggressive power saving behavior that "shuts down" the audio device when there's no audio signal, to save power. This can be annoying because when you play something, the device takes a while to start up and there's a pop noise and a delay before the audio is played.

Fortunatelly, there's a simple solution for that by disabling this power saving behavior for the audio device:

1. Open RegEdit;
2. Navigate to the following key: "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\"
3. Right-click on "Class", then "Find", then search for: "PerformanceIdleTime"
4. The first result will be inside a node with the following structure "000X/PowerSettings" where X is a decimal number (0, 1,  2...). Find the node that corresponds to the audio driver, in my case it was the "0001/PowerSettings" node. May vary from computer to computer. In the "000X" node you can find information about which driver that node represents.
5. Once you find the correct node for the audio driver, set the following keys inside the "PowerSettings" node to: 

ConservationIdleTime = ff ff ff ff
IdlePowerState = 00 00 00 00
PerformanceIdleTime = ff ff ff ff

     6. Reboot;

Enjoy. No more popping or sound delay.