Solved! USB sound card: distortion and crackling but only with my headphones

[rickncn]

I'm using a StarTech ICUSBAUDIO USB sound adapter on a Windows 10 laptop. It shows up as a C-Media audio device.

If I plug my -known good- Bose "On Ear Headphones" into the output jack, I get very low volume and a lot of distortion and crackling.

If I plug my speaker plug into the output, the sound is crystal clear.

The headphones work perfectly with my desktop so I know they are good. What could be going on? Is it an impedance mismatch?

I had some trouble finding the input impedance of my Bose "On Ear Headphones", but a reference website measured them at about 25ohms average depending on frequency. I think they're probably rated at 32ohms in specs I'd guess.. Using the industry standard 1/8 rule, the output impedance should be about 3-4ohms. IDK what the actual output impedance is on it.

Could this be causing my problems?

 

[helpstar]

Which Bose model is it?
Maybe the connector of the Bose is not fitting well/deeply enough into he USB sound adapter

 

[rickncn]

They are Bose "On Ear Headphones". As far as I can tell from their website, "On Ear Headphones" is the model.
It's a standard 3.5mm plug and jack..I'll double check that though.
I have a couple other headphones I will test it with.

 

[hang-the-9]

Sounds like you need a better USB sound card. If you want good quality and good enough to drive headphones .
This is probably the cheapest card I would have someone get, even then I would not get it for myself https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Lab...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

This is also marginal but better than the cheaper stuff https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F7120TQ/ref=psdc_3015427011_t4_B06XBZ38ZJ

The one I would get, and actually did for my car is this https/www.amazon.com/FiiO-Bluetooth-Headphone-Receiver-Transmission/dp/B07JM5ZQPF/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=fiio+btr1k&qid=1565662383&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&smid=AEKTXRC1VF90T&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVU9RNE4xVklaTFBaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTQwNjI2M08wQlJXRzA2M1MxSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODgyMjY2MTJRSk1PNDM1WFVGRSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1 They work fine for computers as a sound card, clears up the audio and adds more punch to headphones. Anything lower end than this I would not use with anything past cheap kid-like headphones. Plus it acts as a very nice bluetooth adapter.

If you will be using this at a desk, this is probably the cheapest decent amp/dac for headphones for desk use https/www.amazon.com/FX-Audio-Optical-Coaxial-Amplifier/dp/B01HERNVQQ