Shielded front panel cables for 3.5mm jack?

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
Didn't know where exactly to place this, but, the issue here is, if headphones are connected to the case's FP jack, they have static distortion that goes on every time there is HD access or moving the mouse, or typing on the wireless keyboard.

Before, they used the rear 3.5mm jacks, and the sound was clear at all times.
That jack no longer works, thanks to a 3 year old.

I am thinking the case's FP cables aren't shielded enough, so I was wondering if anyone has seen anything that can fix this issue?
I was looking at some ferrite chokes, but, I am unsure those would help.
Something along the lines of these? http://www.amazon.com/UF-50B-Noise-Suppressor-Ferrite-Filters/dp/B009ENG6TI
I also have been unable to find 3.5mm speaker & mic jacks shielded cables with the motherboard header on them. Anyone seen any?
 

giantpandaman2

Senior member
Oct 17, 2005
580
11
81
Probably easier just to be get a cheap soundcard. It might be the case itself has crappy wiring. If that's the case (puns are fun!) than shielding from the earphone jack on won't do anything for you.
 

razel

Platinum Member
May 14, 2002
2,337
93
101
Ferrite chokes filter too high for audio frequencies. Plus the noise is 'mixed' into the audio. It's takes processing to identify and remove. You can shield by wrapping the audio wire with aluminum foil then grounding it to the chassis... touch the foil to it or paper clip the foil to the chassis.

However, I would focus on that rear panel. You maybe able to fix it. It's honestly just two clips inside that you maybe able to pry apart and wrap your new 3.5" wires around. It depends on how bad it is.
 

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
I thought about doing the foil route myself, then using heat shrink tubing around that, and stick a ground wire on, but, I don't have enough tubing available at this time.
Was hoping for already made cables.

No fixing the jack, it is too damaged. :(

giantpandaman2, they don't have any free slots for a internal soundcard. Maybe one of those USB ones would work though. I am really tempted to cut open just a bit of the FP's audio cable, and see if it is shielded, it is a lian-li based case (rocketfish brand) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20090312-New-Case-Rocketfish-RF-FULLTWR-Lian-Li-special so, don't know where they cut corners.
And yeah, there also could be no fix, if the mobo's headers are the root cause of this.
 

Fallen Kell

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,155
504
126
I would suspect the interference is coming into the cable from the motherboard headers. Maybe 15-20 years ago I would suspect it was EM being generated from the hard drive getting picked up by the wires, but as hard drives have gotten more and more dense, the magnetic fields involved in reading/writing have drastically lowered in field strength (as the magnetic fields strength of a "bit" on the drive has shrunk in relation to the size areal density of the drive has increased over the years). Even the power surges/spikes needed for writing have dramatically dropped for the same reasons since the area being affected is so tiny now.

It is much more likely that it is a result of the grounding and lack of isolation between the audio components from the rest of the motherboard circuit with the header pins used for the front audio jack connection.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
He has 2 USB 2 external devices hooked up, already disconnected them to see if it would make a difference, and it did not.

USB3 devices can cause interference, but not USB2. You could try disconnecting all the other FP headers except the audio, as it could be a grounding issue.