Computer speakers are making a buzzing noise

[graymatter123]

Hello. I just recently bought and built my new computer. I got the Asus Xonar D1 Soundcard.
And I have the Corsair Gaming Audio Series SP2500 High-power 2.1 PC Speaker System. The speakers I got make static noise and then when I unplug them or even turn the computer off you can hear this annoying buzzing noise. I thought maybe it was the sound card or computer so I tried plugging it into my phone and it did the same thing. I had sent the speakers back and they sent me a new pair and they do the same thing. Could it be something with my house being older and it having shitty wiring or something?

[Hugh Robjohns]

... when I unplug them or even turn the computer off you can hear this annoying buzzing noise. I thought maybe it was the sound card or computer so I tried plugging it into my phone and it did the same thing.

Often buzzes are caused by ground loops, but if you plugged in your (battery powered) phone then there would be no return loop via the mains power supply, so it probably isn't a ground loop problem.

So the most likely thing is either some form of interference getting into the speaker electronics, or the speakers are poor quality and buzz anyway. I've never used these or heard them anywhere, so I can't comment on the last supposition.

However, you can try to prove the interference idea by trying the speakers, connected to a simple sound player (portable radio or something -- not a phone in case that is the source of interference), in a room away from your computer equipment.

If they still buzz then the chanceas are it's a poor design. If they are clean tehre then you'll have to go back to your room and reconsider how everything is set up, and where the cable runs go.

The input wiring is obviously unbalanced, and that could pick up interference from universal power supplies, the computer itself, display monitors and so on. So keep the audio wiring well away from other mains cables, power bricks and adapters, and all the computer wiring as best you can.

hugh

[graymatter123]

Ok. Thanks for the help. I'm at work right now but I'll try that stuff out when I get home and let you know how it goes. As far as the speakers go I doubt that they are poor quality. This has happened to two sets now and they are very highly rated on newegg and people seem to really like them a lot.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836852001

[graymatter123]

Update... I brought the speakers into my work to see if they would do the same thing and
they aren't making any buzzing noises at my work so i don't know...

[Martin Walker]

Hi graymatter123, and welcome to the SOS Forums!

All I can say is that most people would agree that they rarely get a buzz at work - home’s another matter

Hugh’s already mentioned ground loops, so it might be worth you reading this dedicated sticky thread I started a long time ago to help musicians track down stray background noises:

http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showf ... ber=222392

Martin

[graymatter123]

Hey guys, here's the update. I have come to the conclusion the the buzzing noise only happens when my computer is turned off. This is because my sound card has a relay. So when the computer is turning on the buzzing will stop. So I guess all I have to do is turn off my speakers with the controller that came with it when I turn off my computer and I'll be all good. But I also been having this problem as well. My sound randomly works when I turn on my computer. I thought maybe this has to do with the way the relay is working? Idk. I have all my onboard audio disabled in bios and used driver sweeper to make sure all onboard audio was drivers were gone. Now I have discovered that when I turn the computer on and if my sound isn't randomly working I can go into the device manager and disable it and renable it and then it will work. I have no idea why this is happening!

[jemesright]

Sounds like a connection and/or grounding problem. Try to isolate the source of the issue.

Try connecting your Logitech speakers to another source such as a boombox. Do you still hear the buzzing? If yes, it's not your computer sound card.

[Pete Kaine]

Is it a PCI-E version of the card?

Seen two of them playing up over the last few days with both fitted into 16X slots rather than the short form X1 slots. Absolutly no idea why it would make a difference but moving them to a x1 slot sorted it out in both cases.

The X16 slots are supposed to be backwards compatible and I've not seen this happen on other models but it's worth you juggling the card around a bit to see if it helps... however disregard should it the PCI revision or mounted in a X1 slot already.