Originally Posted By: dga
Chain = Brand New Desktop PC > USB Cable > 2i4 > Headphone out from the 2i4 1) Distortion sometimes overwhelming, 2) sometimes faint, 3) sometimes OK.

Other setup PC > HDMI Cable > TV w/internal speakers. Works fine.

I have a 5 year old laptop > USB cable > 2i4 > Headphones. works fine.


Well, you seem to have not really located but narrowed down the problem. What I would look into now is the difference between your desktop and your laptop.

Since your desktop modifies the sound in an unwanted manner while the laptop does not there must be a difference that causes the distortion.

This can be
1) an internal problem of the desktop.
2) a difference in the OS (they are different because of different processors)
3) a difference in some driver settings. (Not necessarily the drivers of the 2i4.)

Sitting at my desk I only can ask questions -- not knowing if you alread have excluded the topic from these questions as being not relevant for a good reason.
I wish you good luck to find the source of that distortion soon. I suspect that you are not really different than me when it comes to achieve something: At least I do not want to spend precious time to search obscure errors. The system should work as intended. wink

Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build