Buzzing Noise when I plug in Audio Jack of Laptop

[bpeter289]

There's a constant buzzing noise when I tried plugging in my earbuds and headset. (Separate times for each) Both, when plugged into other devices, such as an MP3 player, don't produce such noise.

There are 3 USB ports on my laptop and I have all three of them used (keyboard, mouse, and laptop fan). I thought this buzzing noise may be as a result of interference with the USB, but it still produces the sound.

I tried muting the sound, but the buzzing noise still persists.
I tried leaving the audio input free and using only the built-in speakers in my laptop. I put it at max volume, but I didn't hear any buzzing noise.
Unplugging or plugging in the AC adapter does nothing to alleviate the problem.

What could be the source of the problem? Is the audio input simply messed up? Is my sound card the culprit?
Also, what are some steps I can take to remedy the problem?

Listed under sound, video, and game controllers, there are two devices that are listed:
Intel(R) Display Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

Thanks for all the help.

 

[trapper]

It sounds like your audio jack or it's connection/cable are touching something else in the laptop and it's picking up on an electrical signal. Not much you can do if that's the case.

 

[bpeter289]

Thanks for your reply.

It sounds like your audio jack or it's connection/cable are touching something else in the laptop and it's picking up on an electrical signal. Not much you can do if that's the case.

So basically what you're saying is, I need to send it back to Asus to get it fixed?
Sigh, I just received it today...

 

[trapper]

If it's a new laptop then you want to do that for sure.

If you bought it in a store I'd go there first before dealing with Asus directly. Just ask for a replacement. If you got it from Asus's store then give them a call.

 

[bpeter289]

If it's a new laptop then you want to do that for sure.

If you bought it in a store I'd go there first before dealing with Asus directly. Just ask for a replacement. If you got it from Asus's store then give them a call.

I actually bought it from an authorized re-seller that also does customization. Should I call the re-seller or Asus?

 

[trapper]

Call the re-seller first to see if they'll replace it with a new one. If you go thru Asus you might get a refurbished unit instead of a new one.

 

[InvalidError]

If the laptop is plugged in for AC power, the buzz could be due to a ground-loop between the laptop, the amplifier and power wiring. If this is the case, unplugging the laptop's power cable will stop the buzz. The (other) fix in this case would be to connect the laptop's power brick to the same power bar as the amplifier to minimize difference in ground voltages between pieces of equipment. Another possibility would be to install a direct ground wire between the amplifier and laptop if the laptop has a grounded metal surface with a screw you could connect a cable to.

 

[bpeter289]

Call the re-seller first to see if they'll replace it with a new one. If you go thru Asus you might get a refurbished unit instead of a new one.

Wait, but I got a new hard-drive (SSD), new processor, and new wireless card.
For a darn audio jack, they'll give me a refurbished?

Isn't an audio jack just a part? Can't they just take it out and put in a new one?
Or is it connect to the motherboard or something, where they literally need to replace everything and can't replace only the audio jack?

EDIT: Google seems to show that audio jack is connected to the motherboard.
Can't they just simply replace the motherboard? Why would they give me a refurbished? Are you telling me that they'll give me a refurbished motherboard and not a new one?

 

[bpeter289]

Thanks for the reply.

If the laptop is plugged in for AC power, the buzz could be due to a ground-loop between the laptop, the amplifier and power wiring. If this is the case, unplugging the laptop's power cable will stop the buzz. The (other) fix in this case would be to connect the laptop's power brick to the same power bar as the amplifier to minimize difference in ground voltages between pieces of equipment. Another possibility would be to install a direct ground wire between the amplifier and laptop if the laptop has a grounded metal surface with a screw you could connect a cable to.

The AC power has nothing to do with the buzzing noise.
I tried unplugging it, but that doesn't solve the problem.

 

[trapper]

Wait, but I got a new hard-drive (SSD), new processor, and new wireless card.
For a darn audio jack, they'll give me a refurbished?

Isn't an audio jack just a part? Can't they just take it out and put in a new one?
Or is it connect to the motherboard or something, where they literally need to replace everything and can't replace only the audio jack?

EDIT: Google seems to show that audio jack is connected to the motherboard.
Can't they just simply replace the motherboard? Why would they give me a refurbished? Are you telling me that they'll give me a refurbished motherboard and not a new one?

Ah, it's been upgraded? I saw the re-seller did upgrades but wasn't sure if you had some or not. In that case you definitely want to go thru them, it's possible they bumped something that can be fixed pretty easily. Given them a call tomorrow and see what they can do for you.

 

[bpeter289]

Ah, it's been upgraded? I saw the re-seller did upgrades but wasn't sure if you had some or not. In that case you definitely want to go thru them, it's possible they bumped something that can be fixed pretty easily. Given them a call tomorrow and see what they can do for you.

Yea, I upgraded pretty much several mains parts of the laptop.

They're closed for the weekend so I'll send them an e-mail and call them back on Monday.

You don't think that if they do need to replace the motherboard, they'll insert a refurbished one, do you?

What I would love for them to do is see if they can take apart this laptop and install it all the upgrades on a new Asus (same model). We'll see.

 

[trapper]

If the did some upgrades on it I assume it's just a case of them having bumped something into contact with the headphone jack or it's connector to the mobo. Hopefully they can fix it without even having to preform any part changes. If they do need to change parts out they likely wont use a refurbished unit - they likely don't even have access to any. They'd just take your upgraded components and plug them in to a new laptop.

 

[bpeter289]

If the did some upgrades on it I assume it's just a case of them having bumped something into contact with the headphone jack or it's connector to the mobo. Hopefully they can fix it without even having to preform any part changes. If they do need to change parts out they likely wont use a refurbished unit - they likely don't even have access to any. They'd just take your upgraded components and plug them in to a new laptop.

Yea. If it doesn't need an overhaul with a new motherboard, I'll be okay with just a fix. (Although this is just strike to a very long list of negatives with this seller.)

However, if it does need a new motherboard, what I'm hoping is they'll take out the upgrades, install it in the new laptop. Take this one and send it back to Asus.
It hasn't even been a day since I received my laptop.

 

[rodster_64]

Yea. If it doesn't need an overhaul with a new motherboard, I'll be okay with just a fix. (Although this is just strike to a very long list of negatives with this seller.)

However, if it does need a new motherboard, what I'm hoping is they'll take out the upgrades, install it in the new laptop. Take this one and send it back to Asus.
It hasn't even been a day since I received my laptop.

I've had this before on laptops. I've also had volume issues where the output is just not loud enough.
It wasn't specific to one bad laptop, we ordered over 10 of the same type (HP business laptops), and they all had buzzing and poor quality.
A desktop motherboard without dedicated hi-fidelity sound can also be pretty poor.

The reality is that the sound components on your m/b probably cost about 30p, and sound like every penny!

My solution, and the one I would recommend for any laptop, is to upgrade to a 3rd party USB sound card.
You don't have to pay a fortune here, as even a cheap sound card is going to be orders of magnitudes better than your laptop on it's best day.

Depending on your needs, you can go from a cheap USB dongle, up to the expensive bells and whistles stuff like the creative labs x-fi stuff.

I bought the cheapest lindy one, and couldn't complain at all.

http://www.lindy.co.uk/usb-2-audio-adapter/42961.html

 

[ergblog]

Here some solutions on how to eliminate the noise.