Speakers buzz when I move mouse and windows around screen.

[denniskuz]

Setup (important bits):

Asus ROG Strix Z270F
i7 7700k
16gb Corsair Vengeance RAM
GTX 660ti
Asus xonar dx 7.1 sound card

Yamaha HS5 speakers
Yamaha YST-FSW100

So when I move my mouse, or scroll a page, or any type of task that's graphically "intensive", I get a buzzing from my speakers. After some research it seems some current or something doesn't ground properly so the speakers that are hooked up via a 3.5mm to XLR buzz as the amp takes the ground (which should be 0) for no sound, or something like that, but it buzzes instead as there is current somewhere running through.

I don't get any issue with the subwoofer. Not sure why it's fine. Maybe there is some issue but it's too quiet to hear? Or what I think is the frequency of the buzz is too high for it to be output, as I feel no pressure from the subs when I move a window etc.

So I don't know how to fix this issue? Some places online suggest getting a USB hub etc. and balanced cables (which I have?) but i'm not sure how that would really fix my situation? It seems like a combination of USB inputs and graphics output intensity that cause the buzz.

Any help would be amazing as it's really pretty annoying. And i'm also wondering why I get this issue even I have a sound card, I thought they were meant to isolate, and thus avoid issues caused by mobos?

 

[photonboy]

1) First, use headphones or a different set of speakers using the SAME analog output to confirm the issue still exists (not the speakers themselves that have a problem).

2) Remove the sound card and use only the onboard.

3) Try a different mouse.

4) Try a different USB slot. (every USB slot)

5) Buy an addon USB card and use that with the mouse

6) If the issue still exists you have two choices IMO:

a) USB DAC, or
b) TOSLINK to DAC (optical output)

Both of these should do a good job of electrical isolation from the noise.

If you have SPEAKERS with a headphone jack you can use that otherwise you may need a USB DAC with two, 3.5mm analog outputs.

Also make sure your MICROPHONE connection works if that's important.

*This is kind of EXPENSIVE, but you can look at the connections to see what I mean:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B006IPH5H2&pd_rd_wg=n3HDx&pd_rd_r=VNTZ4ZB713B04YRXW6J8&pd_rd_w=KgbGX&smid=A2XGE4CX5AV74X

Probably the most important part of your SOUND CARD is the analog outputs, so I'm not sure if you'd hear any difference if you used TOSLINK via the motherboard vs the sound card.

And USB doesn't use either. I believe it's just the CPU sending the data to the USB DAC which is the "sound card" itself.

 

[denniskuz]

1) First, use headphones or a different set of speakers using the SAME analog output to confirm the issue still exists (not the speakers themselves that have a problem).

2) Remove the sound card and use only the onboard.

3) Try a different mouse.

4) Try a different USB slot. (every USB slot)

5) Buy an addon USB card and use that with the mouse

6) If the issue still exists you have two choices IMO:

a) USB DAC, or
b) TOSLINK to DAC (optical output)

Both of these should do a good job of electrical isolation from the noise.

If you have SPEAKERS with a headphone jack you can use that otherwise you may need a USB DAC with two, 3.5mm analog outputs.

Also make sure your MICROPHONE connection works if that's important.

*This is kind of EXPENSIVE, but you can look at the connections to see what I mean:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B006IPH5H2&pd_rd_wg=n3HDx&pd_rd_r=VNTZ4ZB713B04YRXW6J8&pd_rd_w=KgbGX&smid=A2XGE4CX5AV74X

Probably the most important part of your SOUND CARD is the analog outputs, so I'm not sure if you'd hear any difference if you used TOSLINK via the motherboard vs the sound card.

And USB doesn't use either. I believe it's just the CPU sending the data to the USB DAC which is the "sound card" itself.

Okaaay, so I've used different speakers before however they were super cheap, i never got an issue with them. I don't have an issue with headphones if they are plugged into the front IO.

I have a astro a40 mix amp which is connected via toslink, and its even worse when plugged into that, as with my earphones... but not headphones. Maybe just too much power?

I have just decided to try different cables... so I have a 3.5mm to 1/4" balanced adapter and a 3.5mm cable both ends. Decided to try that instead of the XLR cables. And it's fixed like 98% I don't get buzzing when I'm on a game like i did before, i dont with the mouse but i do get the buzzing when I move a window.

That suggest the cables are properly grounding?

Should I just get better XLR cables or maybe go 3.5mm to 1/4" balanced?

 

[denniskuz]

Update for whoever reads this. I have tried some earphones in the same jack as the speakers in my soundcard and there is no issue whatsoever.

My presumption is that there is a poor grounding system in the 3.5mm to XLR cables I have. I have bought some "higher" quality ones from Roland rather than some obscure (Chinese?) brand (Pulse).

I will update later when they arrive.