Altec Lansing ATP3 constant humming/buzzing from sub

[aeroguy]

I just got some of these speakers and hooked them up to my laptop, but there is a constant buzzing/humming sound coming from the sub, and I can only hear it when there is no other sounds (music) playing. Is this normal, or do I just have a bad sub?

 

[sohcrates]

i wouldn't blame the speakers...sounds like a crappy soundcard.

what kind is it in the laptop? do you know?

 

[AreEss64]

Probably the connection or the sound card, like sohcrates said.

 

[aeroguy]

It's a Dell Inspiron 8000. Ya, it probably is a crappy sound card... ESS Maestro PCI the device manager tells me. Does anyone know if that is a user replaceable item on a laptop, or is it tied into the motherboard like the video card?

 

[sohcrates]

<< It's a Dell Inspiron 8000. Ya, it probably is a crappy sound card... ESS Maestro PCI the device manager tells me. Does anyone know if that is a user replaceable item on a laptop, or is it tied into the motherboard like the video card? >>



usually they're not replaceable...so you can't go that route

do what AreEss64 suggested and wiggle the cable and what not..see if it goes away. also, try changing power outlet where speakers are plugged into

 

[aeroguy]

um, even when I umplug the cord from the headphone jack on the laptop, there is still the buzzing sound, so I guess it's not the sound card. And switching outlets didn't help either. Should I try getting a new set and see if that helps?

 

[JW310]

Maybe try unplugging the cord itself from the sub? Just to see if it's something in the cord itself that might be causing it to hum like that.... I have the same set of speakers and haven't run into that problem with mine.

JW

 

[sohcrates]

so the speakers buzz when they're just on and not even connected to anything? that might be a little more cause for alarm

 

[aeroguy]

Yep, they buzz when pluged into the outlet and not the computer.

The plug-in runs from the outlet to the sub, and then from the sub to the speakers. The only thing that makes the buzzing sound stop is to unplug the cord that runs from the outlet to the sub, unplugging the speakers or laptop from the sub makes no difference.

Now here's an interesting fact: I used to plug my laptop into my crappy $100 shelf stereo system using a mic to left/righ audio connector (I don't know what that's called) and after about a month the same buzzing/humming sound happened to it, and even when it wasn't plugged into the laptop and just playing the radio or a CD I got the bad sound. The stereo was about a 2 years old, and like I said, really cheap, so I thought it was just crap and it's setting in a closet. This may have nothing to do with anything, but I thought I'd mention it, as it is a strange coincidence. Is it possible that my sound card is messing up my speakers???