Type in your question below and we'll check to see what answers we can find...
Loading article...
Submitting...
If you couldn't find any answers in the previous step then we need to post your question in the community and wait for someone to respond. You'll be notified when that happens.
Simply add some detail to your question and refine the title if needed, choose the relevant category, then post.
Before we can post your question we need you to quickly make an account (or sign in if you already have one).
Don't worry - it's quick and painless! Just click below, and once you're logged in we'll bring you right back here and post your question. We'll remember what you've already typed in so you won't have to do it again.
After a day of futzing around with this, I'm at wits end.
I'm using a Dell Latitude laptop (work laptop). It has a fully updated version of Windows 7 64-bit. Since the last update (I think) I've bee hearing crackling and stuttering in any and all tracks. It comes and goes, there could be 30 seconds of pristine playback and then a brief crackle/stutter.
After searching the forums and Intertubes, here's the things I've tried:
1. Resetting sound device settings, and trying various stample rates and bit-depths
2. Toggling off Hardware Acceleration
3. Toggling off Play all songs at same volume
4. High quality streaming
5. Downloading playlists local
I went so far as to drop $100 on a USB DAC that bypasses my built in Soundcard in my laptop and docking station, and the crackling still persists.
It does NOT happen in iTunes, Windows Media Player, or in YouTube videos. Only Spotify. I'm getting really frustrated, as I'm paying $10 a month for a service that is almost unusable to me for 8-10 hours a day.
It works fine on my iPhone and my several Macs at home without issues. Only my Windows 7 machine that's causing the problem.
Solved! Go to Solution.
This is most likely due to sound card conflict/interrupt issues.
It's an old issue that plagued Creative sound cards for years.
I am using a Dell Latitude 6430u with Win 7 and the fix is as follows:
Stuttering Playback
I have the latest Spotify client installed on my Windows computer. (Premium user)
Windows 8.1 Pro with latest Windows updates
updated video and audio drivers
Intel Xeon CPU X5650 @ 2.67GHz 2.66 GHz (2 processors)
8 gigs of RAM
64-bit OS
Whenever I start using another application on Windows that accesses the drive, Spotify starts to stutter/scratch play for seconds while something else loads. I've reset my Spotify cache, turned ON and OFF "Available Offline" and there's no difference. (rebooting doesn't fix anything either)
If I load iTunes and try opening other applications I don't experience these jitters.
I'm stomped!
I have same annoying problem...
I too have this problem and I have a one month old (i.e. new) MacBook Pro
2.6 GHz i5
8GB memory
256 SSD
While I too think the issue has something to do with the software since I am having the problem WITH locally downloaded files and the problem only happens with Spotify. However I've noticed the problem is improved by turning OFF the setting "sleep hard disks when possible." It is also helped when I close all other programs. But #1 files that are being listened to should no be accessing the CURRENT song from the hard disk, they should be moved to the active memory and accessed from there if they aren't already. #2 I should be able to have other programs (say 8 tabs in internet browser, and some other smaller background programs (dropbox, mail, messages, notes, etc)) open AND not have spotify studder in the background. Perhaps spotify should allow for a reserved memory/CPU load option for higher end systems reserving say 3-5% of the CPU and 100-200 MB of memory if you guys can; but I'm no software designer. My laptop (being new) should have no problems with performance on playing music locally downloaded to my hard drive.
However even with these additions the problem still presists, just about 30% better, a small benefit.
This does not fix the problem I've perpetually had with Spotify. I've tried all the solutions in this thread to no avail. Changing my cache to an alternative drive seems to reduce the issue, but it still occurs on a sem-regular basis.
Hello: In what way are you using the iPhone to listen in your car? Bluetooth, airfoil, some other app feature, direct soung cable input into the stereo head unit? Might help to maybe isolate what is causing the issue. Are you plugged into the car's power point with the power cable while music is playing off of your iPhone into the car stereo system? The reason I ask I have an old Ford truck and when I used to plug my ipod into the power point and then play music while the vehicle was running and music was playing through the trucks stereo system, I ended up with a strange static noize and low level buzzing. Things not grounded right in a car electrical system can do odd things. Just some things to consider and help in self trouble shoot for you.
Hum is there a way on your car and the stereo system to try a blutooth connection just to rule out the USB connect method?
I recently had this problem while using Spotfy Premium on Ubuntu 14.04
At first I thought it was my new headphone amp, but I tried a bunch things came to the following conclusion:
The crackling is not due to Spotify alone. It only occurs with my particular DAC (X-Fi Go! SB110) AND Spotify. Spotify on other computers sounds fine even with my DAC and Spotify, so it's combination of computer, audio device, and Spotify from what I can tell. I'm super confused right now.
Same issue here, every 45 seconds or so you get a noise that shounds like a cracked or jammed record.
Tried:
Clearing cache
clean install
running Spotify with nothing else running (inc killing all non-essitual background processes)
turning hardware acceleration on and off
high quality audio on or off
AV on or off
Windows Firewall on or off
Machine Spec:
Dell XPS L502x Laptop
i7-2860 QM 2.5 Ghz
16 GB Corsair Vengeance RAM
Crucial 256GB MX100 SSD (Boot Drive with Windows Spotify and Spotify Cache)
Realtek High Definition Audio, Waves Maxx Audio3 and JBL speakers
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
The issue happens regardless of location and connection type, speed, wired or wireless.
I can only conclude its an issue with Spotify itself.
Any one got any idea's I've not tried
Hi guys
I've had the same problem and I was going crazy because of it. I have a Toshiba (4 year old Tecra) with Win7 64bit and I am using a Bose Mini Soundlink as my external speaker (great sound, by the way...), linked via bluetooth. As I was experiencing some syncing problems, I changed some parameters, almost everywhere, including the speakers properties in windows sound config.
I solved the problem reducing the sound quality (sample rate and bit depth) from 48000 Hz (DVD quality) back to 44100 hz (CD quality) in the advanced tab of my speakers properties. Check this page where i found the solution that worked for me: http://corey.degrandchamp.com/2010/11/25/fixed-windows-7-sound-popping-cracking-skipping/
Hope this helps, at least some of you.
I have given up with Spotify client.
I uninstalled it on my box months ago because of this issue and I've just done a reinstall and BANG there are the little glitches.
I've tried all the suggestions.
Spotify if you are reading this you need to sort your software out. It absolutely has a problem.
I have a monster of a machine here with a pro external Firewire studio mixer ...
Anyway, bye bye again Spotty.
MacBook Air, i7, aftermarket SSD, optioned to the max; trying out Spotify Premium, and playing to Bose Spoundlink mini, via Bluetooth.Today, first time, appalling crackling; so much so I had to stop listening. Right now, 30 mins later, excellent. What did I change? Zilch.
So, I will keep an ear on this; I can listen to my music via iTunes with zero distortion, so if the problem continues, that is my option.
Exactly 3 years later and the problem still persists... Guys wake up!
It's not with our computers or internet, otherwise no other music streaming service would work (like Pandora, Google Play Music and even the defunct Grooveshark all showed no problem).
Everyone here in this community is only here complaining because we love Spotify.
But if you can't solve a fundamental streaming problem, the competition will steal us really soon...
Hey there you, Yeah, you! 😁 Welcome - we're glad you joined the Spotify Community! While you here, let's have a fun game and get…