Correcting speaker noise

[mosdef]

For some reason I have been getting a lot of problem with noise on my speakers as of late. I am using a SB Live! X-Gamer with a 2 speaker setup, connected on the first regular out on the card. The speakers are Altec Lansing, though I don't know the model #. What sort of things should I check to eliminate this annoying scratchy noise. This problem only came up recently... Thanks

-mosdef

P.S. On a side note, how can I use the digital out for these speakers?

P.P.S. Though completely unrelated to this topic, what is the PCI Mass Storage Controller and what are some reasons why this device would be giving me problems in the Device Manager.

 

[mosdef]

burp

 

[noxipoo]

I don't know what your speakers are like, but to use digital, you can connect the signal to a receiver (stereo equitment) and then output to speakers using mini-stereo (computer).

 

[obenton]

Sometimes it's an ill-fitting plug, or the cable running close to a power cord.

 

[cryptan]

i'm using an SB live card too..

if you wanna use the digital out, the best thing to do would be to get the Cambridge Soundworks Digital speakers setup. It shouldn't cost too much and the 4spkr+1bass setup will definitely keep ya happy fer a long time to come...i knoe i'm happy )

as fer the scratchy noises, i get it sometimes...check your electrical cabling around the speakers....it affects it sometimes...

 

[DaddyG]

Maybe related, my GF noticed what sounded like a 'scratch' when playing Audio CDs. I tried to explain that a CD scratch didn't sound like a scratch on a vinyl record. She was right, it sounded like a scratch on a record. Played the CD on a regular player, no scratch.
The 'scratch noise was timed precisely with the LED flashing to read the CD, just a little later. Switching to Analogue for CD-Audio fixed the problem. Note that she has a POS Sound Card.

 

[duragezic]

Altec Lansing ACS54's? I have noticeably speaker hiss on my ACS54's when there is no sound playing or when the room is quiet and I turn the speakers on. I kind if expected it since they were around $55 which is cheap for 4 speakers + subwoofer.

 

[mosdef]

Thanks guys but here's more info on my problem... it's not a hissing sound it only happens when I'm playing music, not CDs but MP3s. It sounds staticy or scratchy, though I don't know the specific technical term for this. And I just realized it happens with another set of speakers that I tried, so it's not the speakers. Could the problem be something as obscure as the TV tuner card I installed, which the sound card goes through for certain audio functions? any ideas?

later

-mosdef

 

[Eeks]

I am almost positive that you are describing "pops" in the mp3s. If people who encoded the mp3's messed up a bit, the result is occasional pops and hisses in the mp3.

 

[mosdef]

This is basically with every outputted sound from my computer so I don't know if it's that.

-mosdef

 

[lumpyhed]

If your net connection is having probs, that might introduce the pops as well. If you download the exchange software from This site, i've found the mp3s are of good quality.

Oh and the digital out on the SBLive isn't digital as far as i know, you need the LiveDrive! with the optical connections for true digital sound, as the digital connector that came with my cambridge fps2500 is just an adapter for getting surround from DVDs, rather than using a hardware DVD decoder.