guide · static export
Audio

Fix Audio Crackling and Dropouts With LatencyMon

Clicks and pops under load are usually a driver holding the CPU too long, not a broken sound card. LatencyMon names the offender in minutes.

by@guidox updated:10/30/26 time:30 min level:Intermediate tested on:Windows 11 24H2, USB audio interface works on:Windows 10, Windows 11 tools:LatencyMon
TL;DR

Run **LatencyMon** for ten minutes with audio playing, then look at the **highest DPC execution time**. Anything above about **1 ms** causes dropouts - the driver at the top of the list is the one to update or remove.

Before you start

Requirements

  • LatencyMon from resplendence.com
  • A minute of audio playing during the test
  • Admin rights to see driver details
Step by step

Instructions

01

Reproduce the problem while measuring

Start LatencyMon, then play audio and do whatever triggers the crackling - a game, a browser with twenty tabs, a USB drive copy. Measuring an idle machine proves nothing.

⚠ warningClose everything you do not need first. Each open app adds its own driver to the measurement.
02

Read the two numbers

The **highest measured interrupt to process latency** is the main figure; values under 500 microseconds are healthy. The **highest DPC execution time** shows which driver blocks the CPU longest.

03

Find the driver

Open the **Drivers** tab and sort by highest execution. The .sys name tells you the vendor: ndis.sys is networking, nvlddmkm.sys is the GPU driver, Wdf01000.sys is a framework shared by many.

tipA framework driver at the top usually means the device behind it is the real cause - check the processes tab as well.
04

Fix the usual suspects

Update the chipset, network and GPU drivers from the vendor, not from Windows Update. Then disable power saving on the network adapter and the USB hubs.

powercfg /setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_PCIEXPRESS ASPM 0
05

Check the audio path

Set the Windows sound format to 24 bit / 48000 Hz and raise the buffer in the audio software. A tiny buffer on a busy machine produces clicks that no driver update fixes.

mmsys.cpl > Properties > Advanced > 24 bit, 48000 Hz
06

Re-measure after each change

Change one thing, run another ten-minute test and compare the worst latency. Without a second measurement you cannot tell whether the change helped or the machine was quieter.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

Latency is high but audio is fine

LatencyMon measures worst cases. If nothing is audible during your normal workload, leave it alone.

The top driver is Wdf01000.sys

A framework, not a device. Sort the processes tab and look at the driver underneath it in the report.

Crackling only on Bluetooth

A different codec or a crowded 2.4 GHz band. Test with a cable to confirm the rest of the system is clean.

Crackling only in one app

That app's buffer or sample rate is wrong. Fix the app, not the driver stack.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Is LatencyMon safe to leave running?

It only reads counters. Run it for the test and close it afterwards.

Do I need a dedicated sound card?

Rarely. Most dropouts are driver and power-management issues, not the codec.

How to undo this

Uninstall LatencyMon and set the sound format back if you changed it. Driver updates can be rolled back in Device Manager under Properties > Driver.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-30
    First version
Interactive version: checklist, feedback, related guides →

Free · no account needed · tracks your progress