(7 Fixes) Astro A50 Crackling Noise On PC [Updated 2023]

Here’s why many still buy Astro A50 despite its hefty $300 price: 

Its audio quality is unmatched compared to other gaming headsets. 

But with constant crackling noises… 

Surely, you won’t be pleased with your A50’s performance. 

Don’t worry, though. This tech nerd will help you fix this problem. 

Continue reading to discover:

• 7 instant fixes you can try for A50s with a nonstop crackling noise. 
• The most common reasons your headset has crackling noise on PC.
• How you can figure out whether your Astro A50 or PC is causing this issue. 
• And this is just the beginning… 

Astro A50 crackling noise on PC – why?

Your Astro A50 has a crackling noise on your PC because it may have been damaged. This problem also happens when you haven’t disconnected the 2 devices for too long. And crackling noises may appear on your A50 if your computer’s USB port is faulty. 

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Astro A50 crackling noise on PC – 7 fixes

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#1: Check for physical damage 

Before diving into technical solutions for this problem… 

You should first thoroughly inspect your gaming headset for physical damage.

Because unsurprisingly…

This is 1 of the leading causes of audio devices producing crackling noise. 

See, your headset transmits signals through wires. 

So, if any of them are bent, frayed, or damaged… 

You’ll hear crackling noise from your A50. 

Or, in the worst cases, your headset might not even turn ON at all. 

Now, you may think:

“But how can I check my headset’s wires?”

Well, don’t worry. You won’t need to. 

Because if your A50’s wires are indeed damaged… 

You’ll likely see signs of your headset’s outer material being droopy or bumped. 

That said, for this first solution, you should… 

Look out for any signs of physical damage on your A50:

Step 1: Bring your headset to a bright area

Unplug it from your PC if needed.

Then, bring your A50 to a well-lit location. 

This way, it’ll be easy to…

Step 2: Spot signs of damage on your headset 

Look out for any hints of:

• Deformation.
• Discoloration. 
• Scratch marks. 

And if you don’t see any of the above, ask yourself this:

“Have I dropped or bumped my A50 recently?” 

Now, if you spot any of the signs above or remember damaging your headset…

Then, your A50 is most likely producing crackling noises because of its damaged wires. 

So, you should bring your device to Astro’s repair centers or local technicians. 

Note: Check out the last section of this article for a detailed guide on how to do so. 

However, if your headset’s noise problem isn’t caused by physical damage… 

Proceed to the next solution, which is to… 

#2: Plug your headset after turning ON your PC 

For most gamers… 

Regularly disconnecting your PC’s accessories isn’t really common. 

So, most likely, your Astro A50 is always connected to your computer. 

Well, this time, let’s try something different. 

And that’s to unplug your headset from your PC. And only reconnecting it when your computer turns ON. 

Now, I’ll be completely honest. 

There’s really no techy explanation for this fix. 

But this has removed crackling noises from dozens of A50s.

So, you should also go ahead and… 

Reconnect your A50 to your PC: 

Step 1: Unplug your gaming headset from the computer 

If your A50 base is currently connected to your PC…

Unplug the micro-USB cable from your computer’s ports. 

“Do I need to turn OFF my PC before this process?”

Not necessarily. 

You can also do so after disconnecting your A50 from your computer. 

So, choose whichever method is most comfortable for you. 

Just ensure that your PC has been OFF for at least 3 minutes before you… 

Step 2: Turn ON your computer again

After that, wait for about 1 minute. 

So your device can fully load its system. 

Step 3: Reconnect your A50 to your PC 

Grab the micro-USB cable you unplugged from your PC in step #1.

Then, plug its USB connector into your computer’s port.

After doing so, try using your gaming headset again.

Note: If this solution worked for you, repeat these 3 steps every time you turn ON your PC.

You might also want to know: Astro A50 Not Connecting To Base Station: How To Fix It

#3: Switch your Astro A50’s mode

Your A50’s base station has 2 built-in modes.

One’s for a PC and the other’s for a gaming console. Either PS4 or Xbox, depending on the base station you have. 

Now, if you’re primarily a computer gamer, your base’s mode most likely just stays on PC. 

And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. 

However, sometimes… 

Your A50’s setup mode needs a little refresher.

Especially if you haven’t changed it for weeks or months. 

So, follow these steps to…

Change your headset’s base connection mode:

Step 1: Connect your A50 to your PC

Ensure that your computer is ON.

Then, proceed to…

Step 2: Locate your device’s Mode Switch

You’ll find this on the right side of your base station.

And it’ll look like a toggle you can move from left to right. 

Step 3: Switch your base’s mode

Move the toggle away from the PC side. 

Step 4: Wait for 1 minute

This allows your PC and base station to fully disengage from the previous mode.

Once the minute is up… 

Step 5: Set your A50 to PC mode again 

Flip the Mode Switch once more. 

And after another minute of waiting… 

Try using your A50 headset. 

Still hearing the crackling noise?

Then, try to… 

#4: Briefly switch your sound output 

Maybe the connection between your A50 and PC is glitching. 

So, this time… 

Let’s try to switch your PC’s sound output to a different audio device. 

Don’t worry. This fix will be just as easy as the previous ones.

So, just follow these steps to…

Change your computer’s sound output:

Step 1: Connect another audio device to your PC

You may connect another headset or speaker of your choice. 

Step 2: Head to your PC’s Sound Settings 

Turn ON your PC. 

Then, right-click the speaker icon at the bottom of your screen. 

When a new window appears… 

Select Open Sound Settings, the first option in the list. 

Step 3: Change your PC’s output audio device

Tap the dropdown menu under the heading Output. 

Then, from the list that appears…

Choose any device apart from your A50 headset. 

Step 4: Wait for 1 minute 

Once more, this duration will allow your PC to fully apply the changes you made. 

Note: Don’t exit the Sound Settings window on your screen. 

Because you’ll still need it to… 

Step 5: Make your A50 your default audio output device again 

Click the dropdown menu under the Output heading once more.

Then, select your A50 from the list.

Note: The steps above are only applicable to Windows 10.

So, if you have a newer version, use this video as a guide to change your PC’s audio output:

After this process, try using your gaming headset again. 

And observe if the crackling noise still exists. 

#5: Use a different USB port

It’s easy to assume that your headset is at fault when these kinds of issues happen.

But really, the problem doesn’t always lie in your Astro A50. 

Faulty PC ports can also cause crackling noises on your audio device. 

So, if you’re still experiencing the same issue… 

You should try connecting your A50’s base station to a different USB port on your computer. 

Now, most PCs have several USB slots already.

So, you won’t likely have a hard time testing a different port.

However, if your PC doesn’t have extra USB slots for this solution… 

You can always purchase USB splitters online or from your local stores. 

Once your computer has a free slot you can use, follow these steps to… 

Plug your Astro A50 into a different USB port:

Step 1: Turn ON your computer. 

Step 2: Unplug your base station’s cable from your PC. 

Step 3: Reconnect the micro-USB cord to a different USB port on your computer. 

Step 4: Ensure your base station’s mode is set to PC.

After going through these steps… 

Try using your A50 headset again. 

Editor’s pick: Do All Computers Have Built-In Speakers? (Updated)

#6: Try a different audio device

Let’s do another test to determine whether your PC is the one causing this crackling noise.

And that’s to use a different audio device for your computer. 

Luckily, this solution is slightly similar to the 4th fix earlier.

So, you’ll have no problems following these steps to…

Make your PC play audio through a different device (Windows 10): 

1. Turn ON your PC. 
2. Connect another headset or speaker to your computer. 
3. Right-click the speaker icon at the bottom of your screen.
4. Select Open Sound Settings. 
5. Expand the dropdown menu under the heading Output. 
6. Choose the audio device you connected to your PC in the 2nd step. 
7. Try playing any media/games with audio on your PC. 

Can you still hear the crackling noise?

If you can… 

That means your PC is causing this issue. Not your headset.

So, instead of trying to fix your A50…

You should focus on fixing your computer’s audio settings or hardware instead. 

However, if the noise is exclusive to your A50 headset… 

I highly recommend that you… 

#7: Contact professionals 

Now, there’s no doubt that your A50 headset is causing this problem.

And that, most likely, this crackling noise is caused by its:

• Loose wires. 
• Manufacturing defects. 
• Serious software issues. 

Problems that only professionals can fix. 

Luckily, if your headset is still under its 1-year warranty… 

Astro will fix/replace your audio device for free. 

So, go ahead and contact its support team by: 

• Calling 1-800-374-7401.
• Visiting the brand’s official website. 

However, if your A50 is no longer under its protection plan… 

You should contact local technicians near you instead. 

Because Astro no longer provides repair services to devices outside their warranty period. 

Warning: Be careful of which technician you get in touch with. Some will try to rip you OFF. While others might make your headset’s problem worse if they’re not skilled enough.