Very loud ticks at start-up or shut-off PC

[hf]

Dear all,

Any idea what could be the cause of having very loud ticks at my speakers at startup of W7 (just before the login screen appears) and just before shutdown?
(It is not the small vinyl like ticks you have sometimes in between tracks; but really loud ones)

Suggestions very welcome..

Hein

[PeterSt]

Hein,

When this is the case all the time at each reboot, something will be wrong with your grounding.
It is commonly known that this can happen, say one out of 20 times with the NOS1 and it is caused by DC offset incurred for by your mains. Hard to explain, but please except it for now.
When you really have this all the time and really loud, something *is* wrong. What ? hard to tell. Not your NOS1, not your PC, but something with your mains and protective earth (PE) in relation to the neutral.

"Wrong" is a tough word because you may never have noticed it, but say it is bad for audio.

If you recognize anything special to this regard, don't hesitate to bring it forward. Also when you think it may be suspicous.

Peter


PS: Usually any louder tick at booting goes along with a more "deep" tick at shutting down the PC. Here DC offset emerges which is prone to the NOS1 and its DC Offset protection but encouraged for by USB and how the PC deals with it (this is just very stipud stuff). Leave this be without attention, and DC Offset will show on the NOS1 all the time during the PC being down. Just watch the meters on it. At booting, DC of ~0 will be restored (firm "tick").
Without further detailed information, the best is to leave the PC on all the time. If you don't like that, also OK, but now better shut off amplifiers first at shutting down, and restore DC ~0 after the PC is down (easy to do, see Install Guide). Or power down the NOS1.