Skip to main content

Sound Test

SolvedVerified By Sound TestVerified By Sound Test

speakers crackle when i turn the volume up

Ask By Brandon H.1,962 views

my desktop speakers sound fine until like 60 percent and then they start crackling on bass. is it blown? should i just buy new ones

Brand
Logitech
Model
Z313
Connection
Wired 3.5mm Jack
System
Windows 10/11
Browser
Chrome 130
Sample Rate
48 kHz
Output Channels
2 channels
Crackling And Buzzing SoundsDesktop Speakers
Tool used in this discussionFrequency SweepGlide 20Hz to 20kHz to find buzzes and dead spots
Open Free Tool
Short Answer

Crackle that starts as volume rises is usually clipping, not a blown speaker. Lower the PC volume, raise the speaker volume and test with a sweep to find the damage.

Verified By Sound TestVerified By Sound Test
Amit Malhotra
Amit MalhotraAudio Team
Bass Performance Validator · 7+ years experience · Answered Sep 30, 2026

Crackle that appears only at higher volume and mostly on bass is usually clipping: the signal or the small amplifier is being pushed past what it can cleanly deliver. A speaker that is truly damaged crackles at every volume.

A frequency sweep helps because a damaged cone buzzes at the same pitch every time, while clipping changes with level.

Step By Step Fix
  1. Set the PC volume to about 70 to 80% and use the speaker's own knob for loudness
  2. Turn off any bass boost or loudness enhancement in your sound driver
  3. Run the Frequency Sweep at low volume and note whether a buzz appears at one specific pitch
  4. Try a different cable or the speakers on a phone to rule out the PC output
  5. If it buzzes at one pitch even at low volume, the cone or voice coil is damaged and the speaker needs replacing
Sources
  1. W3C Web Audio API

Checked by Xavier Cruz on . How we verify answers

Did this fix your problem?
Was this answer helpful?
Share this discussion

Community Replies 4

  • Josh PetersonCommunity Member

    usually means youre clipping the amp or the source is already maxed. try keeping the pc volume around 70 and use the speaker knob instead

  • Rachel TurnerCommunity Member

    check the cable too, loose rca ones crackle for me all the time

  • George FletcherCommunity Member

    Mine crackled because my PC volume was at 100 while the speaker knob was low. Setting the PC to about 70 cleaned it up.

  • Vikram SinghCommunity Member

    Cheap 3.5mm cable for me. New cable, no more crackle.

Add Your Reply

Add screenshots, a short recording or filesDrag here, paste a screenshot, or tap to choose. Up to 2 files, 8 MB each. JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, TXT, LOG, PDF, MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, MP4, WEBM

Similar Discussions Other Listeners Started

Tools Mentioned In The Answer

Audio ToolsBass TestFind how deep your woofer or subwoofer can play
Open Free Tool
Amit Malhotra
Written and tested by

Amit Malhotra

Bass Performance Validator at Sound Test

Amit Malhotra is the Bass Performance Validator on the Sound Tester Audio Team. Focuses on sub-bass rattling diagnostics, low-end frequency drops, and harmonic distortion at high volume. Active across Discord and X (Twitter) troubleshooting amplifier signatures. On Sound Tester he answers subwoofer, crackle and hum discussions, and checks whether a fault is clipping, a ground loop or a damaged speaker.

Sub-bass diagnosticsharmonic distortionamplifier checks
  • 9 answers on Sound Test
  • 7+ years experience
  • Reviewed by Xavier Cruz
View full profile au.linkedin.com

The Audio Team Behind These Answers

All 38 specialists
Brandon VanceBrandon VanceAudio & Acoustic Performance LeadXavier CruzXavier CruzFrequency Sweep SpecialistDiana ChenDiana ChenHearing Test ArchitectAlistair CrossAlistair CrossHeadphone Benchmark LeadImogen BlakeImogen BlakeBinaural Beats EngineerCallum SterlingCallum SterlingSurround Sound AuditorGemma GallagherGemma GallagherTone Generator ValidatorHarvey FinchHarvey FinchSpectrum Analyzer Lead

Each answer is written by the specialist closest to the topic and checked by a second team member. How we verify answers

Answers are free general guidance from the Sound Tester Audio Team and community. They are not medical advice. For hearing loss, ringing or ear pain, see a doctor or audiologist. Opening a device can void its warranty, so check the maker's support first for hardware faults.

Free Sound Testers

Every tool runs in your browser. No sign up, no download, nothing uploaded.

All tools

Read Next On The Sound Tester Blog

All articles

Community Discussions

The newest replies from listeners and the Audio Team.

All discussions