This whole thread reinforces why troubleshooting digital audio can be challenging. SoundBlasters do get a bad rap, but for playback only, I believe that bad rap is undeserved.

The most interesting thing about the solution is that most advice now suggests to not use ASIO4ALL. ASIO4AlL is not ASIO; it is a utility that fools the system into thinking it is ASIO when it really uses WDM. Although it rarely solves problems and often causes them with other soundcards, perhaps it is a better match with the SoundBlaster.

Always fun, isn't it?


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.