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Horrible Crackling from Topping E1x2

Helloface

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Dec 23, 2024
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Hi! I lurked on this forum a lot when deciding on which interface to buy, and I ended up deciding on "upgrading" from my rudimentary Behringer UM-2 to a Topping E1x2. The first day, it worked great! The next day however, I noticed a horrible crackling noise when I was playing a game and listening to music. The noise got worse when I did things such as scroll through task manager. It's unfortunately terrible to the point that it has become completely unusable.

I've tried updating drivers, changing sample rates (in Windows settings/Topping's software), changing the buffer size, using different apps, disabling unused audio drivers, moving the interface to different areas of the room, changing the USB ports and cables, changing the output jack adapter, unplugging the input, and more.

Am I going to need to return this, or is there something I'm missing here? I'm very disappointed, I was looking forward to using my purchase and it worked great the first day, but sadly the very next day I suddenly found it in an unusable state.

tl;dr How do I stop the Topping E1x2 interface from loud crackling while listening to music?
 
Hi! I lurked on this forum a lot when deciding on which interface to buy, and I ended up deciding on "upgrading" from my rudimentary Behringer UM-2 to a Topping E1x2. The first day, it worked great! The next day however, I noticed a horrible crackling noise when I was playing a game and listening to music. The noise got worse when I did things such as scroll through task manager. It's unfortunately terrible to the point that it has become completely unusable.

I've tried updating drivers, changing sample rates (in Windows settings/Topping's software), changing the buffer size, using different apps, disabling unused audio drivers, moving the interface to different areas of the room, changing the USB ports and cables, changing the output jack adapter, unplugging the input, and more.

Am I going to need to return this, or is there something I'm missing here? I'm very disappointed, I was looking forward to using my purchase and it worked great the first day, but sadly the very next day I suddenly found it in an unusable state.

tl;dr How do I stop the Topping E1x2 interface from loud crackling while listening to music?
Do you know how to measure it for DC?Do you have a DMM?
I wouldn't trust to leave it connected with other gear at this state.
 
Do you know how to measure it for DC?Do you have a DMM?
I wouldn't trust to leave it connected with other gear at this state.
I don't have a DMM or a way (to my knowledge) to measure it for DC. After everything I've tried, the only thing left I could think of doing was ordering a ferrite cable, but I doubt that'll do the trick.

After more testing, upon opening or closing a program, sometimes it will crackle loudly and outright cut out the audio until I restart the interface.
 
I don't have a DMM or a way (to my knowledge) to measure it for DC. After everything I've tried, the only thing left I could think of doing was ordering a ferrite cable, but I doubt that'll do the trick.

After more testing, upon opening or closing a program, sometimes it will crackle loudly and outright cut out the audio until I restart the interface.
You could use a loopback and REW to see if there's something going wrong down there I guess.You'll only need a cable from the crackling output to line-in.
Let me know if you want to try it,I'll show you the settings.
 
You could use a loopback and REW to see if there's something going wrong down there I guess.You'll only need a cable from the crackling output to line-in.
Let me know if you want to try it,I'll show you the settings.
Not a clue what that is, but point me in the right direction and I'll give it a try.
 
Not a clue what that is, but point me in the right direction and I'll give it a try.
Ok,first find,dowload and install Room EQ Wizard.
I'll make a little guide for you while doing that.
 
Ok,first find,dowload and install Room EQ Wizard.
I'll make a little guide for you while doing that.
Got it, I've downloaded the program now. Thanks for the help, I'll keep an eye on the thread.

I'm not sure if I mentioned before but I'm using Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones, if that is at all relevant.
 
Ok:


Set1.PNG


Hit preferences (red) and set the correct input and output of the EX (blue).Use the WASAPI exclusive option.

Then...

set2.PNG


Then hit RTA (red) and at the window that opens hit settings (blue) and set them as I have.

Hit start (yellow) and shows us a screen shot.

It's better to get into the distortion settings and choose 0 instead of 20Hz for high pass and adjust the window at the left to show that as well.
 
This doesn't mean anything to me but I followed your instructions as closely as I could.
 

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It seems more than ok,no DC danger.
You can use it as is along with the Generator (set 1000Hz,-1dB or lower) to get nice measurements,just hit the "show distortion" tab up-left to show you results.

You're good,it's rare that you succeed at first try !

Edit:you forgot averages,use 8,at the blue settings RTA tab,it will look better.
 
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Thank you, I have no idea what I did but I am glad I somehow did it right hahah, and am certainly relieved it poses no threat to my other connected devices.

Referring to the Generator, did you want to see this page?

1734944437257.png
 
Thank you, I have no idea what I did but I am glad I somehow did it right hahah, and am certainly relieved it poses no threat to my other connected devices.

Referring to the Generator, did you want to see this page?

View attachment 415895
Yes,that's the generator and if you hit play (the green down-right) you'll see the tone played at the RTA window and its THD+N,noise,etc.
You can explore all range this way to see what it does.

I think it's rated for -100dB THD+N,see if you can get that (you may need to change percentage to dB at the distortion settings little window)
 
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The noise got worse when I did things such as scroll through task manager. It's unfortunately terrible to the point that it has become completely unusable.
So the noise gets worse the more you do with the PC. This may be either noise injection from the PC or a ground loop involving the PC. What's not clear is why the Behringer UM-2 didn't behave the same. Did you change anything else, or just unplug the UM-2 and plug the Topping in on the same cable? I presume you are using USB to connect it. You could try a different USB port or search here for discussions about USB isolators.
 
1734945564973.png

This is what I got while playing the tone. This time my microphone and headphones were plugged in, if that matters.
 
View attachment 415902
This is what I got while playing the tone. This time my microphone and headphones were plugged in, if that matters.
That's pretty much exemplary. I'm not convinced the device is faulty, more that there's an unfortunate interaction with your PC.
 
View attachment 415902
This is what I got while playing the tone. This time my microphone and headphones were plugged in, if that matters.
If that's what you get you must change the input (very first window,blue) to the next until you see the tone played.
What you see now is some unconnected input,no the one with the loopback cable.
And you better unplug everything else while doing it!
 
So the noise gets worse the more you do with the PC. This may be either noise injection from the PC or a ground loop involving the PC. What's not clear is why the Behringer UM-2 didn't behave the same. Did you change anything else, or just unplug the UM-2 and plug the Topping in on the same cable? I presume you are using USB to connect it. You could try a different USB port or search here for discussions about USB isolators.
The UM-2 and E1X2 use different connections. The UM-2 comes with a USB-A to USB-(B?) cable with a ferrite choke. The E1X2 comes with USB-A to USB-C and a USB-C to USB-C. I've tried multiple different ports with both, including a thicker A to C cable I had laying around with the E1X2, but nothing really made a difference.

I believe my setup probably runs some pretty bad interference, living in an apartment with the router directly next to my computer. When I plug my guitar into the UM-2, I certainly notice differences in feedback based on how close the guitar, router, and interfaces are to each other. Unfortunately, nowhere I move the E1X2 to makes a difference. I've also tried shutting off my PC's Wifi/Bluetooth card, but again, no difference.

I know my PC has had some slight GPU coil whine before. My only conclusion from my limited knowledge is that there's some sort of interference from my computer affecting the E1X2, compounded by interference from other signals around my room. Maybe the UM-2 doesn't have those issues because of the ferrite?
 
That's how it must look like in general


Tone.PNG
 
Are both usb ports connected to your PC?

If not, connect both usb ports (the one marked power, and the one marked usb-c) to your pc.

See if the above helps or not.


(For me it helped stabilise the power to my E2x2.)
 
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