M2N32 SLI Sound issues

[Tsjoert]

I recently upgraded to a dual core system (from an Athlon XP running on an A7N8X Deluxe nforce 2 board). My new board is an Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe. One of the major reasons for choosing this board was the ADI 1988 High Definition audio chip with support for DTS interactive (my home cinema system only has a 2 channel analog input, 5.1 sound requires the optical input to be used), which I thought would be a good alternative to Soundstorm's dolby digital live.

However, running the latest SoundMAX ADI1988 Audio Driver (V5.10.1.4530), my audio system 'crashes' when playing audio with DTS interactive enabled: e.g. Winamp crashes when playing an mp3 file, it's impossible to kill the winamp process, it's impossible to reboot the system without using the reset button, but all other (non audio related) applications seem to continue working.

When disabling DTS interactive and only using 2 speakers, audio quality is really bad (cracking sound), both on the analog and digital input of my receiver.

Anybody else had similar issues and found a solution?

Other system specs: AM2 4200+, Corsair TWIN2X1024 DDR2-800 C5, XFX 7900GT Xtreme Edition. The optional fan on the heatpipes is not installed, but with 4 80mm case fans the southbridge chip is quite cool.

Thanks in advance,
Tsjoert

[Jolo_CL]

I got the same motherboard.

I decided to drop the onboard sound and go for a Sound Blaster X-Fi.

The M2N32-SLI Deluxe onboard sound is absolutely awful.

I think it's a drivers problem.

Anyway, the rest of the board is nothing but excelent.

Cheers.

[Tsjoert]

If the X-Fi cards supported DTS interactive or Dolby Digital Live i would buy one... Unfortunately they don't

I surely hope it's a driver problem... Found some new drivers on the asus ftp today: AD1988B_2KXP_510014570_DTS at ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/misc/audio/ad1988/
Will try them tonight...

[CycInertia]

So what was the result after trying the new driver?

[Tsjoert]

DTS performance seems better. At least it doesn't crash my system anymore. But I still get crackling audio. Keeping the volume level below 66% improves audio quality.

[Doug3377]

Greetings Gentleman

I purchased the Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe a little over a week ago and have been all over Analog Devices web site trying to figure out why I don't have the equalizer on my Sound Max control panel. Did it show up on your installs?

Thanks
Doug

[Toropop]

This was obtained directly from the SoundMAX support site:

"There is a bug on some computers where there is a faint clicking or crackling sound when playing audio. This can often be fixed by going into the mixer and muting the Bass Boost (or just turn the volume of Bass Boost all the way down). If you don't see Bass Boost in the mixer, look at the Properties area of the mixer and make sure the checkbox is checked for Bass Boost.

Another possible fix for this problem is to go into the mixer and lower the volume of the "wave" slider. You can then increase the volume on your speakers to bring the listening volume back up again."

It's also important to note two things:

1. You MUST have DirectX 9.0c installed on your system;

2. Make sure that the Microsoft High Definition Audio Driver Package 1.0a is installed on your system (Release bulletin: KB888111 for 32-bit systems)

[recklessftw]

anyone know the difference between the 1988 & 1988a and 1988b drivers??

[Toropop]

anyone know the difference between the 1988 & 1988a and 1988b drivers??

Hopefully, you still have the box that your motherboard came in. If so, on the "features" list, it'll tell you which version of SoundMax you have. For example, mine says that I have 1988b DTS. So, that's what I downloaded.

To be honest, though, I'm still having problems with the bass creating popping and snapping.

Good luck.

[CFF]

Hey guys,

I have the M2N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard and have had nothing but problems with the onboard HD audio. Basically if any sound played, the stupid windows loading sound even, then my system would lockup hard and instantly blue-screen. I tried every version of drivers I could find and nothing helped. Basically the onboard sound was totally and completly useless...until now!

I just updated to the latest motherboard bios that I came across today (version 0706). Upon getting into windows I thought I'd try the onboard audio again to see if it actually worked (...and wouldnt cause my system to blue-screen). I randomly chose this driver "1988b_32bit_510014560" that I found on Asus' FTP site, "ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/misc/audio/ad1988/", and sound is working completly fine now.

I am only using standard analog 2.1 speakers but its working so I am happy.

Just thought I'd share my experiences and what I have found to work.