I have a fairly revealing hifi system, I have had a problem with a sporadic popping sound when playing APE files in many of the most recent builds (since 9.1.213).
Hi Lynn,
I, too, had a similar problem. If you do a search on the MC9 forum for "Pops in ripped tracks", you will see a bunch of posts between me (Rizlaw) and JohnT (Admin) regarding the problem. Up until I did a clean reinstallation of XP, I would have sworn the problem was somewhere in MC 9.1.2xx. I was probably wrong. The clean install of XP (and I do mean "clean" - deletion of partition; creation of new partition, format and reinstall of XP and all software) resolved my problem. My guess is that somewhere during one of the beta installs of MC 9.1.2xx, some file or registry setting got corrupted and each new download and install of MC 9 didn't overwrite or change the corrupted file or setting. In my experience, trying to find the problem is pretty useless. I know you mentioned that you have done a "clean" install of XP twice, and it hasn't helped. I also know that JohnT or JimH or Matt may suggest that it is a driver problem. It could be, but I doubt it. I am using a CardDeluxe to an external DAC. I am not using ASIO but I do alternate between Analog and digital out on the CardDeluxe and there are no pops/ticks in the output of MC 9.1.286.
So here's my "bite the bullet" suggestion. Try another clean install and then only install your sound card drivers and MC 9.1.286; no other software. Make sure that in your control panel "sound and audio device" applet you have your sound card set for digital output on the "audio" tab. Make sure, if your motherboard has a built-in sound chip, to disable it in the BIOS, or on the motherboard. Make sure MC9 is also set for digital out for your soundcard. Then, Play your APE or MP3 files and see if you get pops. If you do, then it could be some kind of issue between your sound card and external DAC; a marginal digital interconnect cable. I would also try analog output from your sound card to see if this makes a difference.
Best of luck.