Strange Static/Crackle Sound at Random Times

[icanhascpu2]

So I dont know a better place to put this, thought it would be best to ask here.

Ive reinstalled win7.64 recently on my desktop and Ive been getting a new strange sound coming though my speakers every 1-20min. It is *not* from a cell phone, its not nearly as loud as that or remotely like that pattern. Its much softer, sounds a bit like when trying to plug in headphones into the back of the computer and you touch the metal around the unput, makes a sort of soft crack-static sound. It is only maybe 1/2 a second long and happens very randomly. Its not the same sound but they are all very similar and short. Its not a big deal it just annoys the snot out of me not knowing what is causing it, so even if it goes away for whatever reason Id still like to know wtf is going on with that. This did not happen before the new install.

I will try to update drivers and such but Im hoping someone has at least heard of this before?

 

[vshah]

are you using onboard sound? it may be related to high CPU activity. try running a few different CPU benchmarks and see if you can reproduce the sound. don't know why this would start after the new install though - maybe related to different sound drivers.

 

[reallyscrued]

Do you live in an apartment? Are the noises and pops the same loudness regardless of the volume you set on the hardware driving the speakers themselves? (To check, leave your speakers at very low volume on the receiver, not the computer or the source, and wait for the clicks. Were they of the same intensity?)

If so, I bet you it's your power.

The setup I have in my sig has had random clicks and pops, regardless of the volume. Drove me nuts, it's a refurbed unit and I was ready to send it back until one day, for no reason whatsoever, I hooked up a fluorescent light (a blacklight, well not no reason whatsoever, but I wanted to sell it and see if it still worked) to one of the outlets in the same room, so I flipped the switch and my receiver happened to be on.

You can see where this is headed: my speakers popped. Each time I flipped the switch on the light, the speakers popped.

Moral of the story: If you live in an apartment, or in a house with some weird wiring, you're gonna have clicks and pops every time your refrigerator condenser clicks on, your A/C, your fluorescent lights in your kitchen, etc.

I'm not an electrician so if that's the case, I can't help you beyond that, but at least you can be sure it's not your speakers that are faulty.

 

[icanhascpu2]

are you using onboard sound? it may be related to high CPU activity. try running a few different CPU benchmarks and see if you can reproduce the sound. don't know why this would start after the new install though - maybe related to different sound drivers.

Cant seem to reproduce it on command. It hasnt happened for several hours though so i dont know wtf

Do you live in an apartment? Are the noises and pops the same loudness regardless of the volume you set on the hardware driving the speakers themselves? (To check, leave your speakers at very low volume on the receiver, not the computer or the source, and wait for the clicks. Were they of the same intensity?)

If so, I bet you it's your power.

The setup I have in my sig has had random clicks and pops, regardless of the volume. Drove me nuts, it's a refurbed unit and I was ready to send it back until one day, for no reason whatsoever, I hooked up a fluorescent light (a blacklight, well not no reason whatsoever, but I wanted to sell it and see if it still worked) to one of the outlets in the same room, so I flipped the switch and my receiver happened to be on.

You can see where this is headed: my speakers popped. Each time I flipped the switch on the light, the speakers popped.

Moral of the story: If you live in an apartment, or in a house with some weird wiring, you're gonna have clicks and pops every time your refrigerator condenser clicks on, your A/C, your fluorescent lights in your kitchen, etc.

I'm not an electrician so if that's the case, I can't help you beyond that, but at least you can be sure it's not your speakers that are faulty.

Nope live out in the middle of nowhere. Yes, they do not grow louder or more quiet with volume. Its hard to tell what you mean by clicks and pops, but it might be that. They are short, like 1/2 second long. It sort of pops at the end of a short quiet static but not everytime. Im not sure why it would suddenly start doing this, as the computer is in the same place its always been and ive had kitchen appliances doing what they have always done.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Thought id update as i found the culprit a few days ago.

My 3G internet! Its been there for years and suddenly now my speakers are making strange sounds due to it getting/changing signal. Never did this before. Strange. Ill just move them further apart

 

[vshah]

Thought id update as i found the culprit a few days ago.

My 3G internet! Its been there for years and suddenly now my speakers are making strange sounds due to it getting/changing signal. Never did this before. Strange. Ill just move them further apart

That would have been our first guess had you not ruled it out in the op!

 

[Mushkins]

Thought id update as i found the culprit a few days ago.

My 3G internet! Its been there for years and suddenly now my speakers are making strange sounds due to it getting/changing signal. Never did this before. Strange. Ill just move them further apart

Not strange at all, speakers and wireless signals are like oil and water. In my old setup my router sat on the second shelf of my desk. If I didn't wiggle it at just the right angle, it would be "too close" to the subwoofer and send crackling noises to the speakers. Pissed me off to no end until I moved.

 

[icanhascpu2]

As i said, the 3G was there before and it never made a sound.

 

[vshah]

what carrier are you on?