Summary

Device: Steelseries Arctis 5.

Sound is fine on any other device.

The Steelseries headphones doesn't affected by this issue on Windows 11.

Both Steelseries Game/Chat outputs are affected by this issue.

Doesn't matter if I play the sound is on the browser or download.

When you increase volume, the crackling is also became louder.

What have been done:

• Disabled the power saving extension in the pulseaudio config: commented load-module module-suspend-on-idle in this /etc/pulse/default.pa


• Turned off sound card power-saving capabilities: /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save and /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save_controller


• Updated load-module module-udev-detect to load-module module-udev-detect tsched=0 in /etc/pulse/default.pa


• Changed ; default-fragments and ; default-fragment-size-msec in /etc/pulse/daemon.conf to 3 and 5 accordingly (PulseAudio Troobleshooting)


• Changed default-sample-rate to 48000 in /etc/pulse/daemon.conf


• And some other tweaks that also had no effect

My current settings:

1. pactl list sinks (Sink 1 and Sink 2 affected):

Sink #0

    State: IDLE

    Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo

    Description: GM204 High Definition Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)

    Driver: module-alsa-card.c

    Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz

    Channel Map: front-left,front-right

    Owner Module: 6

    Mute: no

    Volume: front-left: 41944 /  64% / -11,63 dB,   front-right: 41944 /  64% / -11,63 dB

            balance 0,00

    Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB

    Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo.monitor

    Latency: 100134 usec, configured 100136 usec

    Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS 

    Properties:

        alsa.resolution_bits = "16"

        device.api = "alsa"

        device.class = "sound"

        alsa.class = "generic"

        alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"

        alsa.name = "HDMI 0"

        alsa.id = "HDMI 0"

        alsa.subdevice = "0"

        alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"

        alsa.device = "3"

        alsa.card = "2"

        alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"

        alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0x91080000 irq 17"

        alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"

        device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.1"

        sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.1/sound/card2"

        device.bus = "pci"

        device.vendor.id = "10de"

        device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"

        device.product.id = "0fbb"

        device.product.name = "GM204 High Definition Audio Controller"

        device.string = "hdmi:2"

        device.buffering.buffer_size = "17664"

        device.buffering.fragment_size = "2944"

        device.access_mode = "mmap"

        device.profile.name = "hdmi-stereo"

        device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (HDMI)"

        device.description = "GM204 High Definition Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)"

        module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"

        device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"

    Ports:

        hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority: 5900, available)

    Active Port: hdmi-output-0

    Formats:

        pcm



Sink #1

    State: IDLE

    Name: alsa_output.usb-SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000-00.analog-chat

    Description: SteelSeries Arctis 5 Chat

    Driver: module-alsa-card.c

    Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz

    Channel Map: front-left,front-right

    Owner Module: 7

    Mute: no

    Volume: front-left: 31609 /  48% / -19,00 dB,   front-right: 31609 /  48% / -19,00 dB

            balance 0,00

    Base Volume: 54094 /  83% / -5,00 dB

    Monitor Source: alsa_output.usb-SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000-00.analog-chat.monitor

    Latency: 105438 usec, configured 99954 usec

    Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 

    Properties:

        alsa.resolution_bits = "16"

        device.api = "alsa"

        device.class = "sound"

        alsa.class = "generic"

        alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"

        alsa.name = "USB Audio"

        alsa.id = "USB Audio"

        alsa.subdevice = "0"

        alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"

        alsa.device = "0"

        alsa.card = "1"

        alsa.card_name = "SteelSeries Arctis 5"

        alsa.long_card_name = "SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis 5 at usb-0000:00:14.0-10, full speed"

        alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"

        device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:10:1.0"

        sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-10/1-10:1.0/sound/card1"

        udev.id = "usb-SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000-00"

        device.bus = "usb"

        device.vendor.id = "1038"

        device.vendor.name = "SteelSeries ApS"

        device.product.id = "1250"

        device.product.name = "SteelSeries Arctis 5"

        device.serial = "SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000"

        device.string = "hw:1,0,0"

        device.buffering.buffer_size = "17632"

        device.buffering.fragment_size = "4408"

        device.access_mode = "mmap"

        device.profile.name = "analog-chat"

        device.profile.description = "Chat"

        device.intended_roles = "phone"

        device.description = "SteelSeries Arctis 5 Chat"

        module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"

        device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"

    Ports:

        steelseries-arctis-output-chat-common: steelseries-arctis-output-chat-common (priority: 5000)

    Active Port: steelseries-arctis-output-chat-common

    Formats:

        pcm



Sink #2

    State: IDLE

    Name: alsa_output.usb-SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000-00.analog-game

    Description: SteelSeries Arctis 5 Game

    Driver: module-alsa-card.c

    Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz

    Channel Map: front-left,front-right

    Owner Module: 7

    Mute: no

    Volume: front-left: 11796 /  18% / -44,68 dB,   front-right: 11796 /  18% / -44,68 dB

            balance 0,00

    Base Volume: 54094 /  83% / -5,00 dB

    Monitor Source: alsa_output.usb-SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000-00.analog-game.monitor

    Latency: 102580 usec, configured 99954 usec

    Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 

    Properties:

        alsa.resolution_bits = "16"

        device.api = "alsa"

        device.class = "sound"

        alsa.class = "generic"

        alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"

        alsa.name = "USB Audio #1"

        alsa.id = "USB Audio"

        alsa.subdevice = "0"

        alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"

        alsa.device = "1"

        alsa.card = "1"

        alsa.card_name = "SteelSeries Arctis 5"

        alsa.long_card_name = "SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis 5 at usb-0000:00:14.0-10, full speed"

        alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"

        device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:10:1.0"

        sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-10/1-10:1.0/sound/card1"

        udev.id = "usb-SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000-00"

        device.bus = "usb"

        device.vendor.id = "1038"

        device.vendor.name = "SteelSeries ApS"

        device.product.id = "1250"

        device.product.name = "SteelSeries Arctis 5"

        device.serial = "SteelSeries_SteelSeries_Arctis_5_00000000"

        device.string = "hw:1,1,0"

        device.buffering.buffer_size = "17632"

        device.buffering.fragment_size = "4408"

        device.access_mode = "mmap"

        device.profile.name = "analog-game"

        device.profile.description = "Game"

        device.description = "SteelSeries Arctis 5 Game"

        module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"

        device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"

    Ports:

        steelseries-arctis-output-game-common: steelseries-arctis-output-game-common (priority: 9900)

    Active Port: steelseries-arctis-output-game-common

    Formats:

        pcm



Sink #4

    State: IDLE

    Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo

    Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo

    Driver: module-alsa-card.c

    Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz

    Channel Map: front-left,front-right

    Owner Module: 8

    Mute: no

    Volume: front-left: 28914 /  44% / -21,32 dB,   front-right: 28914 /  44% / -21,32 dB

            balance 0,00

    Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB

    Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor

    Latency: 100566 usec, configured 99954 usec

    Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 

    Properties:

        alsa.resolution_bits = "16"

        device.api = "alsa"

        device.class = "sound"

        alsa.class = "generic"

        alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"

        alsa.name = "ALC1220 Analog"

        alsa.id = "ALC1220 Analog"

        alsa.subdevice = "0"

        alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"

        alsa.device = "0"

        alsa.card = "0"

        alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"

        alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x4012110000 irq 162"

        alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"

        device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"

        sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"

        device.bus = "pci"

        device.vendor.id = "8086"

        device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"

        device.product.id = "06c8"

        device.form_factor = "internal"

        device.string = "front:0"

        device.buffering.buffer_size = "17632"

        device.buffering.fragment_size = "4408"

        device.access_mode = "mmap"

        device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"

        device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"

        device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"

        module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"

        device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"

    Ports:

        analog-output-lineout: Line Out (priority: 9000, not available)

        analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority: 9900, not available)

    Active Port: analog-output-headphones

    Formats:

        pcm

2. /etc/pulse/default.pa

#!/usr/bin/pulseaudio -nF

#

# This file is part of PulseAudio.

#

# PulseAudio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it

# under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by

# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or

# (at your option) any later version.

#

# PulseAudio is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but

# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of

# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU

# General Public License for more details.

#

# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License

# along with PulseAudio; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.



# This startup script is used only if PulseAudio is started per-user

# (i.e. not in system mode)



.fail



### Automatically restore the volume of streams and devices

load-module module-device-restore

load-module module-stream-restore

load-module module-card-restore



### Automatically augment property information from .desktop files

### stored in /usr/share/application

load-module module-augment-properties



### Should be after module-*-restore but before module-*-detect

# load-module module-switch-on-port-available



### Use hot-plugged devices like Bluetooth or USB automatically (LP: #1702794)

.ifexists module-switch-on-connect.so

load-module module-switch-on-connect

.endif



### Load audio drivers statically

### (it's probably better to not load these drivers manually, but instead

### use module-udev-detect -- see below -- for doing this automatically)

#load-module module-alsa-sink

#load-module module-alsa-source device=hw:1,0

#load-module module-oss device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input

#load-module module-oss-mmap device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input

#load-module module-null-sink

#load-module module-pipe-sink



### Automatically load driver modules depending on the hardware available

.ifexists module-udev-detect.so

load-module module-udev-detect tsched=0

.else

### Use the static hardware detection module (for systems that lack udev support)

load-module module-detect tsched=0

.endif



### Automatically connect sink and source if JACK server is present

.ifexists module-jackdbus-detect.so

.nofail

load-module module-jackdbus-detect channels=2

.fail

.endif



### Automatically load driver modules for Bluetooth hardware

.ifexists module-bluetooth-policy.so

load-module module-bluetooth-policy

.endif



.ifexists module-bluetooth-discover.so

load-module module-bluetooth-discover

.endif



### Load several protocols

.ifexists module-esound-protocol-unix.so

load-module module-esound-protocol-unix

.endif

load-module module-native-protocol-unix



### Network access (may be configured with paprefs, so leave this commented

### here if you plan to use paprefs)

#load-module module-esound-protocol-tcp

#load-module module-native-protocol-tcp

#load-module module-zeroconf-publish



### Load the RTP receiver module (also configured via paprefs, see above)

#load-module module-rtp-recv



### Load the RTP sender module (also configured via paprefs, see above)

#load-module module-null-sink sink_name=rtp format=s16be channels=2 rate=44100 sink_properties="device.description='RTP Multicast Sink'"

#load-module module-rtp-send source=rtp.monitor



### Load additional modules from GSettings. This can be configured with the paprefs tool.

### Please keep in mind that the modules configured by paprefs might conflict with manually

### loaded modules.

.ifexists module-gsettings.so

.nofail

load-module module-gsettings

.fail

.endif





### Automatically restore the default sink/source when changed by the user

### during runtime

### NOTE: This should be loaded as early as possible so that subsequent modules

### that look up the default sink/source get the right value

load-module module-default-device-restore



### Make sure we always have a sink around, even if it is a null sink.

load-module module-always-sink



### Honour intended role device property

load-module module-intended-roles



### Automatically suspend sinks/sources that become idle for too long

# load-module module-suspend-on-idle



### If autoexit on idle is enabled we want to make sure we only quit

### when no local session needs us anymore.

.ifexists module-console-kit.so

load-module module-console-kit

.endif

.ifexists module-systemd-login.so

load-module module-systemd-login

.endif



### Enable positioned event sounds

load-module module-position-event-sounds



### Cork music/video streams when a phone stream is active

load-module module-role-cork



### Block audio recording for snap confined packages unless they have

### the "pulseaudio" or "audio-record" interfaces plugged.

.ifexists module-snap-policy.so

load-module module-snap-policy

.endif



### Modules to allow autoloading of filters (such as echo cancellation)

### on demand. module-filter-heuristics tries to determine what filters

### make sense, and module-filter-apply does the heavy-lifting of

### loading modules and rerouting streams.

load-module module-filter-heuristics

load-module module-filter-apply



### Make some devices default

#set-default-sink output

#set-default-source input

3. /etc/pulse/daemon.conf

# This file is part of PulseAudio.

#

# PulseAudio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify

# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by

# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or

# (at your option) any later version.

#

# PulseAudio is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but

# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of

# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU

# General Public License for more details.

#

# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License

# along with PulseAudio; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.



## Configuration file for the PulseAudio daemon. See pulse-daemon.conf(5) for

## more information. Default values are commented out.  Use either ; or # for

## commenting.



; daemonize = no

; fail = yes

; allow-module-loading = yes

; allow-exit = yes

; use-pid-file = yes

; system-instance = no

; local-server-type = user

; enable-shm = yes

; enable-memfd = yes

; shm-size-bytes = 0 # setting this 0 will use the system-default, usually 64 MiB

; lock-memory = no

; cpu-limit = no



; high-priority = yes

; nice-level = -11



; realtime-scheduling = yes

; realtime-priority = 5



; exit-idle-time = 20

; scache-idle-time = 20



; dl-search-path = (depends on architecture)



; load-default-script-file = yes

; default-script-file = /etc/pulse/default.pa



; log-target = auto

; log-level = notice

; log-meta = no

; log-time = no

; log-backtrace = 0



; resample-method = speex-float-1

; avoid-resampling = yes

; enable-remixing = yes

; remixing-use-all-sink-channels = yes

; remixing-produce-lfe = no

; remixing-consume-lfe = no

; lfe-crossover-freq = 0



; flat-volumes = no



; rescue-streams = yes



; rlimit-fsize = -1

; rlimit-data = -1

; rlimit-stack = -1

; rlimit-core = -1

; rlimit-as = -1

; rlimit-rss = -1

; rlimit-nproc = -1

; rlimit-nofile = 256

; rlimit-memlock = -1

; rlimit-locks = -1

; rlimit-sigpending = -1

; rlimit-msgqueue = -1

; rlimit-nice = 31

; rlimit-rtprio = 9

; rlimit-rttime = 200000



; default-sample-format = s16le

; default-sample-rate = 44100

; alternate-sample-rate = 48000

; default-sample-channels = 2

; default-channel-map = front-left,front-right



; default-fragments = 4

; default-fragment-size-msec = 25



; enable-deferred-volume = yes

deferred-volume-safety-margin-usec = 1

; deferred-volume-extra-delay-usec = 0