Crackling sound while downloading

[Slaanesh]

Since I've installed my new audio speakers (AudioEngine A5+ powered speakers) I've been experiencing VERY loud crackling while downloading/uploading. It's really driving me crazy!!

1. I'm using a wired internet connection (utp cable); the crackling noise is ONLY when data transfer is happening over this cable. When I unplug the UTP cable, the crackling stops immediately.

2. When I use an usb wifi dongle (front usb port) instead of the wired connection, there is NO crackling.

3. My speakers are connected to my sound card (Sound Blaster Z PCIe) using a small 3,5mm stereo jack cable. The distance between the audio jack and the ethernet port (both back of my PC is about 10cm (4 inches). The crackling does NOT get louder when I move both cables closer to each other (it DOES get louder when download speed increases...)

4. Using motherboards soundchip (RealTek) instead of the SoundBlaster card doesn't work: still crackling.

5. There is NO crackling using my monitor speakers (over HDMI).

Using Windows 10, latest SoundBlaster drivers.

I have absolutely no idea what the cause is. Should I buy shielded utp cables? Any other help?

Thanks alot!!

 

[corkyg]

Sounds like a cable shielding deficiency to me.

 

[UsandThem]

Sounds like a cable shielding deficiency to me.

+1

I'd lean to that as well. Did the audio cable you are using come with the speakers? They are usually pretty cheap and un-shielded.

I take it that you didn't have this problem before using the new speakers?

 

[Slaanesh]

Thanks for the answers!

Didn't have this problem before, with my old (cheap) speakers.
Do you suggest shielded audio cable or shielded utp cable?

 

[UsandThem]

Thanks for the answers!

Didn't have this problem before, with my old (cheap) speakers.
Do you suggest shielded audio cable or shielded utp cable?

I'd try a new audio cable first since it only started when using the new speakers. If that doesn't fix the issue, replace the other cable.

One last thing is if you have the speaker's power cable plugged into the same outlet as the PC? Sometimes it's best to have them plugged into different outlets to rule out any grounding issues. Do you have another PC, laptop, or even a tablet to test the speakers out on to eliminate them being the issue (defective)?

 

[Dranoche]

Probably ground loop, or line noise from a device somewhere in the chain. If it only happens when the ethernet is active, then my bet is the noise is probably being introduced by the router or modem. Try powering the speakers from an extension cable run to an outlet on another circuit, see if the sound is reduced or eliminated. If that helps, plugging the power cables for the speakers into an isolation transformer might help, though they're expensive. Another option would be using an external DAC with an optical input.

 

[Slaanesh]

I'll see if I can try that.

I ordered shielded utp cables and a shielded audio jack cable, fingers crossed 🙂


Update: powering the speakers using another outlet on the other side of the room didn't do a thing.

 

[Slaanesh]

Update!

1. I bought new, shielded UTP cables and 3,5mm stereo jack cables. Nothing worked, still the same crackling 🙁

2. But I finally found the real culprit: when I unplug BOTH my speaker's (AudioEngine A5+) power cable and my subwoofer's (AudioEngine S8) power cable, and plug them in another outlet using an extension cable, the crackling while downloading is gone! Amazingly, rerouting only the speaker's cable wasn't enough.

My power cables are all over the ground now, so I really like to put them back in the same power outlet, so.. is there any way to shield them or something like that?

 

[UsandThem]

My power cables are all over the ground now, so I really like to put them back in the same power outlet, so.. is there any way to shield them or something like that?

Likely not. The speakers plugged into the same outlet as the PC causing feedback was one of the suggestions I mentioned earlier. I suggested looking into that as I have seen that cause noise in other's PC over the years.

Edit:

You can always try connecting the PC to one surge protector and the speakers into a different surge protector on the same outlet, and see if prevents the static. If not, you will likely just have to figure out something to hide the cables running to two different outlets.

 

[Slaanesh]

Another update!

(sorry this is taking so long...)

Something I dind't mention was that the UTP cable is connected to a Devolo powerline adapter, in the same power outlet as all power cords for my PC and speakers.
I seems that the powerline adapter causes the static noise; if I remove the adapter and connect it (with an extension wire) to a different outlet, and I keep all other power cables as they were before, the noise is 100% gone.

Unfortunately, this leaves me with the same problem as before: I don't want extension cables all over the floor, and I also have wired ethernet connection (or fast enough WIFI) in this room...

 

[corkyg]

Ahh! The mysterious world of EMI. Sometimes it is just positioning of cables.