XPS

[VinBoi]

So I just got my XPS 15 delivered to me on 30/8/2018 and upon receiving it everything seems fine until my speakers started showing issues like static and crackling sounds coming out of it. I then proceed to install the latest Realtek audio drivers and everything seems fine for now. Did anyone also once face (or currently facing) this issue? I hope it is just a software issue and not a hardware issue because I need to use it for my classes in college and I have no alternate laptop or device to substitute it.

I will update on my status if I encounter this issue again.

[DELL-Jesse L]

VinBoi,

Below is a link with information to resolve the speaker issues if you encounter them again.

Speakers and Headphones

[AaplSlushi]

My XPS 9570 was delivered 07/27/2018 and I have the same sound issues, random crackling that occurs whether you're playing sound through headphones or the laptop's speakers. I put in a service request a month ago and Dell updated my firmware/Realtek drivers and the problems seemed to go away, but today the sound crackling resurfaced...not sure what to do ;(

[VinBoi]

The problem doesn't seem to be solvable. There are people who tried updating the drivers and even chanhe their hardware but the problem is there. What bums me out is that when I was researching for the XPS, no reviewers or customers even mentioned this at all. My speakers occasionally cracks now. Compared to last time, it cracks everytime I turn on my laptop.

[DELL-Jesse L]

AaplSlushi,

Click the link below for resolving audio cracking.

How to Troubleshoot Audio or Sound Playback Issues

[DELL-Jesse L]

VinBoi,

Click the link below for resolving audio cracking

How to Troubleshoot Audio or Sound Playback Issues

[Dell user 1]

Nothing seems to be working to resolve this issue.

[DELL-Jesse L]

Dell user 1,

Update the system bios for your system.

1. When the following steps do not resolve the issue, disable SmartByte and then test network or audio performance.
   To Disable SmartByte perform the following steps:
   1. Press and hold the Windows () key, and then press the q key.
   2. In the Search box, type smartbyte.
   3. Touch or click SmartByte (Trusted Microsoft Store app).
   4. Touch or click the slider to the right of SmartByte to turn the SmartByte application off or on.

How to Troubleshoot Audio or Sound Playback Issues

Click the link below to choose your computer model to update the bios.

https://dell.to/2AMPAME

[_1992 · Accepted solution]

I had very similar problem to yours the way i fixed it was very simple, try to see if it will work for you. My XPS came with this program called MaxxAudioPro and all I did was to lower the MaxxBass levels. It definitely sounds more flat without the base but the distortion from the speakers is gone. The popping and cracking noises are gone all together.  

[Erik_B · Accepted solution]

Did the same and it worked for me. :Yes: My guess is that with software updates some MaxBass values are reset to factory defaults which causes the abominable bad speaker sound quality.

Dell please verify this each time you release a new version of your software.