REW issues - popping, static in frequency sweep output.

@jsalerno277 @erik_squires 

Thanks. I am not using a headphone amp or DAC.

I am connecting my PC directly to my integrated amp using the 3.5 mm headphone/earbud audio outlet using a 3.5mm to stereo RCA adapter cable. 

If I plug my ear buds into the PC, the "static" is audible. If I play a PC system tone through my stereo, it is crystal clear.

So my thought is, I have a setting in REW set incorrectly or my PC’s sound card just can’t play the sweep without distorting.

PS. I played the sweep on the PC using earbuds and the PCs built in mic without any distortion (so with the MiniDSP mic unplugged) and sample rate set to above 48kHz so there is come sort of conflict with the USB mic. 

Wait, are you driving loudspeakers directly?  Dont do that

@erik_squires are you driving loudspeakers directly?

I don’t understand. How else would I get a sweep test tone from REW installed on my PC to play through my speakers but via my integrated amp? 

btw the popping noises have nothing to do with connecting to my integrated. The popping is present on my laptop speakers/ear buds when USB mic is connected and goes away when I unplug the mic.

My first thought is a bad connection or a bad mic. Have you tried a different USB port? Tried a different USB cable? Contact cleaner?

P.S. Are you using the ASIO driver or the java? I had issues with the java driver.