Constant buzzing coming from my speakers

[stringcheeseincident]

This problem really came out of nowhere and continues to get worse and worse. I'm running some old Logitech Z640 5.1 speakers hooked up to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card. Whether or not I'm listening to music, gaming, or doing anything with my computer, they constantly "buzz" and make this annoying sound that comes out of every speaker. Turning the volume up or down on the center speaker doesn't change the volume of the buzz. Listening to music only covers the sound and its still very noticable in certain songs. I haven't found a way to get rid of it temporarily or even lower the volume of this constant hum.

I tried running only 2 front speakers and my center speaker, still happens. I tried running only my back speakers, still happens. I tried running my back speakers through where the front speakers go on my sound card, still happens. The thing is, I don't really have any extra speakers so I can't tell if the cause is my sound card, or my speakers, or something else. When I run headphones directly to my sound card, the buzz isn't there. When I run my headphones through the headphone port on my center speaker, the buzz isn't there. I don't really know where to start looking for the cause of this.

I know when I was running onboard sound on my NFS-7, the north/southbridge (whichever controls sound, I can't remember) had a problem with overheating and caused a sound similar to this one. I haven't cleaned out my case for a while and I think there may be tons of build-up on my sound card, which could lead to overheating and be the cause of this. Anyone have suggestions for how to narrow down this problem? Has anyone else experienced it before? Let me know what you think.

 

[Cheezeit]

Do don't have another computer to try it on? From what I think, I would believe that it might be your soundcard...

 

[stringcheeseincident]

I'll try cleaning it out later today, I'm going to get some compressed air and hopefully that will do the trick. If it doesn't work, I'll try to find another set of speakers, worst case scenario I'll buy a cheap set for $5-$10. If I still get issues after cleaning and with other speakers, I'll see if any of my friends has a sound card I can borrow. Hopefully that'll narrow it down.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: stringcheeseincident
I'm running some old Logitech Z640 5.1 speakers hooked up to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card.

you can buy new stuff

 

[stringcheeseincident]

I'm young and I don't work and I just spent all my money on other hobbies

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Try checking the IRQ channel your sound is on.

 

[feelingshorter]

It happened to my old computer too...it might be a system overheat that caused it to mess up in the long run. My old computer is an AMD 2200 and it runs at like 45C idle and 55 wihen your doing something. The system temps are high too. Cant explain why it happened but i would say heat perhaps.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If headphones connected don't have a buzz, it would seem it's a speaker problem.

Are the speakers plugged into the same outlet as the computer?
Do you have all the inputs muted that you're not using (line-in, mic, etc?)
If you don't have the speaker inputs plugged into the computer do they still hum?

 

[WildHorse]

stringcheeseincident
Like YOyoYOhowsDAjello says above, try plugging speaker amp into a different electrical outlet than your computer. The thing about that is to try & get them onto different electrical circuits. If you plug into seeparate outlets that're both on same circuit it might not work.

Also, try making sure the little boxy thing (transformer) on the speaker electrical cord is physically away from other cables/wires in the spaghetti behind your computer..

I experienced your same problem once upon a time, and was able to correct it 100% by simply moving the telephone wire away from the speaker amplifier.

Hope that helps.