Studio speakers emitting low static noise and popping

[CaezarZinger]

Just today I recieved an order of 2 balanced audio cables for my studio monitors and I was very excited to plug them in and start mixing. Just to find a couple issues.

I am using a Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 USB interface, M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Studio Monitors and there both connected to the same power outlet. Which deducts any ground loops happening. I know for a fact that there's nothing wrong with the speaker cables since I just got them and I connected about an hour ago. I have troubleshooted with different techniques such as isolating each speaker to find which speaker that has the problem I need to prioritize before working on the next. I have tried plugging them into a different power outlet but it didn't help. Cranking the volume up and down to see if the noises change. And the left speaker one does, it gets worse when increasing the volume. And nothing happens with the right speaker.+

Left speaker:

When I turn on the left speaker it pop kinda loud but not extremely loud and then it's quiet. It does get sound output. But everytime there's a higher volume frequency or a hard-hitting bass frequency it pops and crackles. After I have used them for a bit and turn them off there is a quieter pop than the pop that came when I turned it on. Otherwise I can't hear any other problem with it except that, in combination with the right speaker, has a very low bass frequency overall.

Right speaker:

Right speaker has a consistent static hum that doesn't change no matter what I do. Turning the speaker on will result in a loud pop and turning it off results in an even louder pop. If I crank the volume up and down the hum stays the same no matter what. Plugging the audio output cable out of the interface doesn't remove the hum. I have tried so many things that I have now given up and asking you guys for help.

I don't know what to do. I scanned through the speaker manual multiple times to be sure I connected them properly and I did but it still didn't remove any problems. And it didn't make them worse either, which is positive. So I do see a good ending to this where they work as intended. But as for right now, the moment that ending arrives is a mystery. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

I'm thankful for all the help I can get. All troubleshooting I can do.

[Drew Stephenson]

I am using a Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 USB interface, M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Studio Monitors and there both connected to the same power outlet. Which deducts any ground loops happening.

Not necessarily, but it should minimise the likelihood and impact. What else is connected in your set up? A computer of some kind presumably but what other electronics?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Pops or thumps when turning active speakers on or off is not unusual, especially with budget designs, and is not necessarily anything to be concerned about.

Constant hum from a speaker, especially even when the input lead is disconnected, is a major concern, and suggests a faulty speaker.

The BX5s arent big speakers so their bass output is never gonna make your trousers flap. And their position in the room, particularly their proximity or distance to/from walls will affect the bass output considerably.

[CaezarZinger]

Pops or thumps when turning active speakers on or off is not unusual, especially with budget designs, and is not necessarily anything to be concerned about.

Constant hum from a speaker, especially even when the input lead is disconnected, is a major concern, and suggests a faulty speaker.

The BX5s arent big speakers so their bass output is never gonna make your trousers flap. And their position in the room, particularly their proximity or distance to/from walls will affect the bass output considerably.

I understand what you're saying, but the problem is that I am on the very low budget of basically $0 so I can't do much about room acoustics. And my desk is too small and I use 2 display monitors for when I livestream gaming. So I don't really have any room for my speakers other than putting underneath the shelf on my desk of which the display monitors are on. Which makes them too far down to even make a good impact so I lean my backrest on my chair so my ears are in the same height anyways. And there also isn't a lot of space to turn them so they are kind of towards my ears but not enough. And this puts in a very boring and peculiar situation that forces me to essentially rebuild my whole setup. And a new desk isn't possible since the budget is so low, my room is kinda small and if I get a bigger desk I won't be able to move in my room. And if I get a smaller desk I still couldn't fit the speakers where they need to go. So my best bet in mixing will probably for now be headphones but I still wanna use the speakers. I guess I'll just have to try and rebuild everything so I have a more "modular" setup.

Not necessarily, but it should minimise the likelihood and impact. What else is connected in your set up? A computer of some kind presumably but what other electronics?

I do have my playstation hooked up in the same circuit but currently I do not have it plugged in and I still have the static noise. Also I have the computer which of where I have my USB interface plugged in. And also a 3-set of LED lights I use for livestreaming. I tried plugging the lights out while typing and it didn't get rid of the noise. Otherwise I have nothing else than that connected in the same extension cable. And I obviously can't plug my computer since, well.. that's the most essential part to music production and you can't work without it. And also the speakers are useless in that case.

The other problem I have is that the apartment I live in is so old that none of the wall outlets are grounded. There are only ungrounded outlets. And we are going to move soon I think but as for now I still wanna use my speakers as much as I can. And I also realized after turning down the volume on the speakers to about 15% each and about 60% on the interface I get rid of the popping on the left speaker only to be left with such a low volume that I can't mix with. That also brought down the bass frequency to a minimum and I work a lot with 808 bass so it brings out the soul of the music I make. However, if I increase the volume I get more low end but I also get the popping and it gets worse the higher the volume is.

[Drew Stephenson]

The other problem I have is that the apartment I live in is so old that none of the wall outlets are grounded. There are only ungrounded outlets.

Right, that could be causing all manner of problems.