Speakers buzzing for no reason

[fustercluck]

Well, there's got to be some reason - I Rarely hook up speakers to my computer unless I really want to crank out some music. The speakers in my room are old though and always give me trouble. I try plugging my speakers into my comp and there's this loud buzzing noise, where if I change the speakers to a different input there's no buzzing at all. Can hear music in the background, but it's distorted and drowned out by the buzzing. Usually like now I just use Headphones and there is no buzzing at all. I've checked all the connections and stuff and they seem ok, but then again I don't really know what I'm doing. Why would the speakers be buzzing when no music is playing? The buzzing is even visible on the audio bars (the bars that go up and down with the music).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Could be a ground loop problem.

When you plug headphones into your soundcard, it's fine right? (As in you're not saying it's fine with heaphones plugged into the receiver, right?)

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Could be a ground loop problem.

When you plug headphones into your soundcard, it's fine right? (As in you're not saying it's fine with heaphones plugged into the receiver, right?)

Yeah headphones have no buzzing at all when plugged into my computer. My speakers always have a buzz when they're on, but it's a bigger buzz when plugged into my computer, and it's buzzing levels are actually visual on the audio bars.

I don't know what a ground loop problem is, by the way.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_(electricity)

 

[fustercluck]

Gibberish!

How do i fix it?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well here's another link found from google
http://www.epanorama.net/docum.../groundloop/index.html

I've only had to deal with this a couple times so I don't have a whole lot of experience with it.

There are ground loop isolators that would help you to get rid of it if it's really a ground loop problem that you're experiencing.

 

[Slammy1]

First step, remove all 2-pronged plugs from your outlet. You may need to isolate your amp on the circuit then add things back. Try another outlet, see if you have the same problem. If that doesn't fix things, you may need to connect the ground on the outlet. Sometimes, even if it's 3-pronged, they'll be wired incorrectly (at least it was for a friend's system).

 

[Shawn]

I fixed my ground loop problems by using TOSLINK.

 

[Slammy1]

Originally posted by: Shawn
I fixed my ground loop problems by using TOSLINK.

Unfortunately, they have buzzing when their PC is off so it sounds like a more fundamental grounding issue. Still, it's an important thing to say if someone else reads the thread. Another point is to isolate the PC from the circuit that the receiver is on, but again if there's a ground loop irrespective of PC involvement it's just extra info to help others.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

mute your mic in the volume control.