High pitched static sound from speakers

[Pyrophyte]

Hi all

I recently had a custom PC built a few months back, and ever since I've got it my powered monitor speakers have been emitting an odd noise only when connected to the computer. If they're connected to any other device the noise isn't there. I can only best describe it as a high pitched "static-y" sound. The noise is always there regardless of what I'm doing, and regardless of what level the computer or speaker volume is at.

The speakers are connected using an RCA to 3.5mm cable to the rear audio output of the computer. I also have a set of headphones connected to the front audio output which I use when I don't feel like turning on the speakers, because I don't get the high pitched sound out of the headphones. I've tried connecting the speakers to the front output but the noise still persists. I've tried swapping the RCA cable for a higher quality cable thinking that the issue may be interference, but that didn't help either.

This leads me to believe that it may be an issue with my computer or sound card but I don't know for sure, and if it is I don't know how to fix it.

Any advice is much appreciated, thanks for reading.

 

[kapitalistas]

no offense im just saying,but you can say some one else.cause i see the date on last post November 27,2013 12:03:11 pm.

 

[mduchonie]

no offense im just saying,but you can say some one else.cause i see the date on last post November 27,2013 12:03:11 pm.

His post was actually my exact problem and got me here today.... thanks toho, as a researcher I usually appreciate people bumping old threads, just let it sink again if it bothers you.

My problem was fixed thanks to this thread.

 

[kapitalistas]

your welcome.

 

[uxonith]

Hi everyone,

Problem: I'd like to mentioned that I was just having this issue and it was driving me up the wall (forums). I had tried a few different cables, front port, back port of PC, nothing. I connected headphones to the PC: clear as day. Smartphone to speakers: clear as day. PC to speakers... bzbzzbzbzzzzzz.

Solution: I was amazed at how simple it was... I ended up switching the speakers power plug directly to a wall instead of a power strip. Just try to make sure that the outlet you are grounding your speakers on is a nice clean ground (I have no idea how to test the integrity of a ground).

I hope this helps someone down the road!

 

[PeterWeb]

Thanks to those posting answers on this thread, even after all this time. It gave me the hints I needed.
For those seeking a simpler solution, I moved the USB power takeoff for my speakers from the PC to a small generic USB charger/power supply plugged into a power board. Cost $1.50 from dx.com. That did the trick - annoying random staticy noise (clearly driven by the onboard graphics card) instantly became very faint hum -- just fine by me.

 

[limbophonic]

Hi all

I recently had a custom PC built a few months back, and ever since I've got it my powered monitor speakers have been emitting an odd noise only when connected to the computer. If they're connected to any other device the noise isn't there. I can only best describe it as a high pitched "static-y" sound. The noise is always there regardless of what I'm doing, and regardless of what level the computer or speaker volume is at.

The speakers are connected using an RCA to 3.5mm cable to the rear audio output of the computer. I also have a set of headphones connected to the front audio output which I use when I don't feel like turning on the speakers, because I don't get the high pitched sound out of the headphones. I've tried connecting the speakers to the front output but the noise still persists. I've tried swapping the RCA cable for a higher quality cable thinking that the issue may be interference, but that didn't help either.

This leads me to believe that it may be an issue with my computer or sound card but I don't know for sure, and if it is I don't know how to fix it.

Any advice is much appreciated, thanks for reading.

Hi..it sound like a ground loop problem, i got it with my music PC and external sound card, you say you have powered monitors, i have adam a7's , i solved it by using ballanced cables from sound card to adam speakers, your monitor should have XLR connectors at the back, you can buy stereo 6.3mm/1/4 inch jack to XLR cables, i assume you have external sound card with 6.3mm/ 1/4 inch sockets?

other solution would be a ART hum isolation box check DV247 music shop

 

[limbophonic]

Hi..it sound like a ground loop problem, i got it with my music PC and external sound card, you say you have powered monitors, i have adam a7's , i solved it by using ballanced cables from sound card to adam speakers, your monitor should have XLR connectors at the back, you can buy stereo 6.3mm/1/4 inch jack to XLR cables, i assume you have external sound card with 6.3mm/ 1/4 inch sockets?

other solution would be a ART hum isolation box check DV247 music shop

 

[ChevDogZ]

Most probably You speakers got inbuilt amplifier which interfears with radio/mobile or other frequency in your surrundings hence you hear those noise, Your PC is fine, its a common issue with most cheap PC speakers in built amplifier. For solution get better speakers that doesnt catch on outer radio / mobile signals or vice versa A qualified sound salesman in a reputable shop will be able to assist you better in your selection and placement of speakers.
Thanks

i am having the same problem and my pc build was 3K and i am using a pair of Mackie studio monitors which i purchased for around 700 dollars for the pair, these are also active amplified,it sounds like a ground loop kind of static :/

 

[rrodwell]

I have had this problem with a brand new pc. But didn't start happening straight away, took about 1 month before it started happening at high volumes, on both my speakers and headphones.
Both of decent quality.
I had recently (1 week ago) re-managed my cables behind the desk. I zip tied all the cables together to tidy it up, including my speaker and headphones.
They ran with the power cables for most of my devices. I removed the speaker and headphone cables and moved them to another space away from the power cables, and it has increased the volume i can get to before the hum kicks in dramatically.

I am about to try fully de-powering the systems and then re-booting after all the juice has been used to see if it drops all the static in the lines.

 

[bnb4kds]

There seem to be 2 unique problems being discussed in this thread. 1. - Low level hum or "noise" thru speaker monitors that may worsen with certain conditions such as intense gaming ... and 2. a higher pitch "static like noise" coming thru monitors when performing functions such as mouse movement and web page link selection etc....

My problem was the latter and was solved by using the Ebtech Hum-X.
With a new build using an ASUS Z97 Pro gamer, I had the identical problem covered in some of the above posts... static like noise coming from studio monitors whenever the mouse was moved, web pages loaded, rolling mouse over links, or scrolling pages etc..... Was considering replacing the MOBO, but was convinced this must have everything to do with a noisy power line and ground loops.
I repeated many of the posted processes in this forum to troubleshoot with no success, I was running off of my motherboard audio and also tried an ASUS Xonar Essence sound card in my attempt to eliminate the noise.
I purchased the Hum-X, connected the PC POWER SUPPLY line to it and problem solved. No more noise from mouse movement, etc.....
I tried a few other options that DID NOT work with the Hum-x: connecting the Speaker power line to the Hum-Z - or the APC Battery Back-up to the Hum-x. Neither eliminated the noise. But placing the PC Power cord into the Hum-X has solved this problem for me.
We also use the Hum-X in our church sound system by plugging the mixer into it and it substantially reduced the common 60hz hum that was coming from the main speakers.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HumX

 

[thee_prisoner]

The Ebtech is considered a low-quality device that will help with hum/AC(alternating current) buzz but it also affects overall sound quality. Cheap isolators don't do the job well. You don't have to spend a lot to get a better product, but you get what you pay for. The most common problem is the house electrical is grounded, then the CATV guy comes along and grounds the cable too. Which causes the loop.

bnb4kds, I'm glad you brought up this old thread because people still have problems like the issues that you mentioned. For a church sound system, something like the Ebtech might be a good solution but for home use, due to the fact it really filters out high and especially lows, it isn't a good solution.

If you want to delve into some facts and solutions on hum and buzz. I read this interesting PDF on this subject.
http://web.mit.edu/~jhawk/tmp/p/EST016_Ground_Loops_handout.pdf

Happy listening, the Prisoner...

 

[Soul Ripper]

Will this grounding method work? http://www.emfwise.com/how-to-ground-appliances.php
I've had this problem ever since i sent my psu for repairing and then later i reassembled my whole pc.

 

[MattiG]

Almost 3 years after the fact, I realize, but I just wanted to say that out of the vast sea of misinformation on this topic from seemingly savvy sources online, this was the only post I found in hours of searching that was accurate and helpful. Thank You.

I think I know what it is, I'm having the same issue.

Setup:
PC mobo stereo out to presonus HP4
Hp4 to Rane mixer, to Rane Splitter, to monitors

Problem:
Only happens when a gains are set above mid. Its a really high frequency hum, with a crackle of second or so. Goes up and down, and stops entirely for a second or so on occasion.

Analysis:
Things I've done to make it stop for a second only, then it starts again: disconnect an ethernet cable from the PC, pull power from wireless router, jiggle the audio cable coming out of the PC. Again, it only stops for a second. I'm a comp engineer and recognize the tone sound like a digital signal, actually sounds like intermittent data transfer. I've unplugged everything unrelated to this audio chain: lights, TVs, wifi,wifi printer, cell phone, ALL lights, everything. the hum is still there. The only time the hum completely goes away at FULL GAIN is when I disconnect the Presonus completely from the PC, then I only hear a very low frequency hum very faint, completely tolerable and completely what one would expect for high quality rocket 8s at full gain with no signal... perfect.

Interesting scenario:
at full gain on the rane mixer with presonus powered off completely (i.e. no signal out of presonus what so ever) , I still hear it but lower. powering on the presonus it gets a tad loader, agusting gain from 0-12 gets alot loader. Now unplugging the PC from presonus and.....perfect... all gains at 100% and perfect! Plugging PC back into presonus and.... its back and quite load at all full gain. Now lowering gain to 0 on presonus... still there... powering down presonus....no change... unplugging PC from powered down presonus..... perfect!!!

Results:
100% certain its the PC motherboard soundcard, and this aint no cheap board, its a sabertooth. Since the hum is there, but fainter, even when presonus is powered down, I suspect it is a ground issue with the PC, but more specifically it does sound like a digital signal inside the PC (likely near the processor which is close to the line out, no surprise). Note that when I power down the rane mixer... its perfect again even when the presonus is powered on and at full gain... suggesting to me that the grounding issue is corrected by the time the signal leaves the rane mixer headed for the speakers. (note that I tried replacing the presonus with a akai and still the same problem, so that aint it).

Conclusion:
digital signals are leaking out around the processor via mobo grounding plates and wires, which likely connect directly to the line out as well. I suspect any mobo you buy, if you amplify the signal load enough you'll here digital signals. To combat the effect I think there are only a couple options: better grounding of the PC, isolation of the mobo ground from the line out ground via high ohm resistor or (the likely option) buy a new sound card. I think that's what I'll do, get an expensive sound card and hope the MFR isolated the ground from the mobo ground a bit... at a minimum this will get the line out and audio jack quite far away from the processor area and I really think that's the root cause. I already tried a few ugly ways of grounding the PC with little effect. I'll let you peeps know when I get my new sound card in the mail.

Yes, I’m certain it’s a digital signal inside the PC, If you listen carefully you can mudulate the signal just my moving the mouse. Out of curiousty, I’m going to run a performance test without moving anything, to see if I can here the processor signals getting denser or something…. Yeah, it sounds like a lawnmower when I’m playing bioshock, suspect this is the various clocks of the 8 core AMD interfering… sometimes sounds really really high pitches, sometimes lower like a lawnmower… 95% the cause is the processer and getting an isolated good quality soundcard will fix it… we’ll see… tata!

Watch the first minute of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOCbuYfvW-U

 

[ShonkaiDJ]

Ok. My 50 cents.

I had the same problem with an ASUS Sabertooth X79, i7 and my onboard and PCI Soundblaster Xfi soundcard. Connecting my USB soundcard (Xone DB2) amplifies the hissing sound and adds a high pitch to it.

I live in an old house where only some power boxes are grounded. I happen to have one on the far side of my studio room and one on the side where I'm sitting, opposite of where my audio-setup is placed. I've tried many combinations of where to plug what. None of them worked. Until I bought a power distributor with a HF filter on every plug.

I connected my Audio setup which consists of many devices to this Brennenstuhl and my PC to the grounded wall outlet (without the filter) on the other side of the room and now every disturbance is gone. I tried it with an unearthed wall outlet and that worked too, yet left a little more basic noise than what I'm listening to now.

Now all I need to get rid of is the high pitch sound I get on the analogue circuitry when I attach my USB sound card. The last setup mentioned connects the grounding from one circuit to the other, so there is some logic to it. Yet there must be a way to make this noise disappear as well. It's a few bucks cheaper than the Hum-X solution and leaves you with more filtered outlets.

 

[HomeVision]

ohh that's really bad
i think you need to change your PC to get rid of that noise

 

[killerbeam]

Lol I was googling about this problem because I had it too. Whenever I muted sounds, the high pitch static stopped.

I suddenly realised whether it's because of my microphone extension cord plugged in my back panel which leads to my keyboard microphone output (and this extension cord I believe is not a high quality ESD disturbance shielded one) so I tried to plug my headset microphone in it.

And voila! My problem was solved lol...

I am only telling this if you are having the same problem yourself? Some unplugged input line to your sound card? Or your speakers have a microphone input without a microphone in it? If not then try adding devices in every input your devices have and check if the problem persists.