O.T. Speakers static/humming
I have a Dell XPS 8500, with Windows 7 Professional, SP1,
with Spywareblaster, Malwarebytes, Avast , Windows Defender and Windows firewall. (1) TB HD Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-33-3770 CPU @ 3.40 GHz Ram 12.0 GB System type : 64-bit operating system I also have I have a Dell Optiplex 780 Tower, with Windows 7 Professional, SP1, with Spywareblaster, Malwarebytes, Avast , Windows Defender and Windows firewall. Intel (R) Core 2 Duo 2.93 GHz 4GB RAM, 750 GB HD System type : 64-bit operating system and (external hard drives) (8500) WD BLACK SERIES WD2003FZEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (780) Seagate Desktop HDD ST2000DM001 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive The problem concerns the 8500; I have an intermittent problem, for some reason when I logged on today there's a humming/buzzing sound coming from the speakers. This has happened several times recently. I haven't done a thing other than logging on. I tried restarting and disconnecting and reconnecting the speaker connections but it doesn't seem to go away until I power off/on. So what could this be? Thoughts/suggestions Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Mark Twain wrote:
I have a Dell XPS 8500, with Windows 7 Professional, SP1, with Spywareblaster, Malwarebytes, Avast , Windows Defender and Windows firewall. (1) TB HD Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-33-3770 CPU @ 3.40 GHz Ram 12.0 GB System type : 64-bit operating system I also have I have a Dell Optiplex 780 Tower, with Windows 7 Professional, SP1, with Spywareblaster, Malwarebytes, Avast , Windows Defender and Windows firewall. Intel (R) Core 2 Duo 2.93 GHz 4GB RAM, 750 GB HD System type : 64-bit operating system and (external hard drives) (8500) WD BLACK SERIES WD2003FZEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (780) Seagate Desktop HDD ST2000DM001 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive The problem concerns the 8500; I have an intermittent problem, for some reason when I logged on today there's a humming/buzzing sound coming from the speakers. This has happened several times recently. I haven't done a thing other than logging on. I tried restarting and disconnecting and reconnecting the speaker connections but it doesn't seem to go away until I power off/on. So what could this be? Thoughts/suggestions Robert Debug by section. 1) Plug headphones into the LineOut Jack of the 8500, where the speakers are currently connected. Is the headphone sound clean ? 2) Plug a portable source (Sony Walkman, iPod, or similar) to the speakers. Is the humming and buzzing still there, with a driven source (that floats with respect to AC) ? I even have a transistor radio that will serve for this purpose (an FM radio with a synthesizer tuner). It's possible the amplified speakers have a leaking cap in the power supply section. Since you had a "power event" at your place, and all your gear operated for a time at the wrong voltage, just about anything could be wrong with it. But first you want to separate the 8500 from the speakers, as in (2) and verify the speakers are the author of their own misfortune. When my computer speakers acted up, I ended up running a finger over the solder points inside it, until I found a solder point that "made a difference" and the sound started working properly again. I re-soldered that point (it was a cold solder joint). Trouble is though, some computer speakers are *glued* shut, so this is not as easy as it seems. They can be very hard to open up. I actually used a saw on mine, and sawed a slot where I could get prying tools jammed into the seam and used brute strength to separate the glue. And the speaker still works :-) It no longer looks all that nice though. I won't be selling it on Ebay ("slightly used, some scratches"). Paul |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
I don't have headphones, a walkman
or iPod etc. to test and the speakers are brand new Harman Kardon (after the electrician fried all my components) https://www.google.com/search?q=Harm...lboe9gT-etK1M: When I logged on later everything is back to normal. As I say, it's intermittent. Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Mark Twain wrote:
I don't have headphones, a walkman or iPod etc. to test and the speakers are brand new Harman Kardon (after the electrician fried all my components) https://www.google.com/search?q=Harm...lboe9gT-etK1M: When I logged on later everything is back to normal. As I say, it's intermittent. Robert Does the Harmon Kardon have a two or three prong plug ? Computer speakers should have a two prong plug. This prevents ground loops from forming. The 1/8" plug has the only ground between the two units, so there's no ground loop. If the audio equipment has three prongs, it *might* need a hum-breaker, which is a form of transformer coupling between units. These require precisely constructed transformers for best results (some of these have a bandwidth of 10KHz or so, not that impressive). You can also solve hum problems, by using stuff like TOSLink between units (optical interconnect, red LED light flowing over plastic large aperture dental fiber). You would have to look at the input options on the HK speakers, to see if there's another way to get there (a way that avoids this stuff). I've never really owned any "spectacular" audio gear, and 1/8" audio input is about as fancy as anything I've had on my gear here. I didn't even have S'PDIF to play with. ******* I've had your problem, between my Mac G4 and the stereo I used for other sources. And the Mac G4 was the only one with funny radio station noises, hum and other garbage. I never managed to fix that. While it's possible to couple radio station signals into audio cables, and have them rectified by the front end of the speaker or stereo, it's hard to say why this happens. I could use the same cable between two different audio sources, have the problem on one source and not the other. Lots of devices in the room with you, use capacitors on input and output for DC blocking. This is supposed to prevent one device from applying a DC input to a transistor on the input of another device, and driving it into a non-linear area of operation. If you look at the sound chip on the computer motherboard, it uses capacitors on all inputs and outputs for this reason. A defective capacitor might cause a problem, but when it happens identically on both left and right channel, you have to wonder whether it's a design issue. You could also move audio with something like Bluetooth, but the default profile for audio isn't all that good. And that would also add latency, which might upset lip sync while watching movies. Paul |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
The Harmon Kardon speakers use a
two prong. Here's the setup connections: https://www.google.com/search?biw=17...u-MK58fLu9ONM: It's odd that it's intermittent, you would think if it were a capacitor it would happen all the time. Well, I guess I'll just live with it and just power off/on when it happens. Thanks, Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Mark Twain wrote:
The Harmon Kardon speakers use a two prong. Here's the setup connections: https://www.google.com/search?biw=17...u-MK58fLu9ONM: It's odd that it's intermittent, you would think if it were a capacitor it would happen all the time. Well, I guess I'll just live with it and just power off/on when it happens. Thanks, Robert So that looks to me, like a 2.1 amplified computer speaker, with LineOut for the satellites and CenterSub connector for the larger speaker in the base unit ? Are both audio connectors plugged into the computer ? Do you have a center-sub connector on the 8500 ? I presume so. According to the standard colors table here, black is "Surround" and lime-green is "front left and front right". You would think they'd want an orange connector for a center-sub (so the computer can send a "sub" signal to make the larger speaker in the base unit work). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_System_Design_Guide If you leave the second connector "floating", it might pick up hum. Especially as the Sub probably extends to 60Hz for the hum (the Sub would normally be band-limited as to which frequencies it could reproduce). You also want the computer audio settings in the 8500, set to a setting which "matches" the wiring you're using. If your speakers are 2.1, and two plugs are used, you want to select "2.1" in some output selection panel to match. You have a bunch of stuff to check. I thought originally, this was a simple 2-channel setup, with a single green plug to plug in. If you left a plug unplugged, that could well explain the extraneous noises. Paul |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Yes, both connectors (green and black) are
plugged into the computer and I followed their diagram to the letter. The plug-in's to the base module are beige and yellow and one plug is square and other a triangle so it's impossible to mess it up. The speakers are actually the ones I picked with the 8200 and when I bought the 8500 I just used them. When the electrician fried everything I wanted the same speakers because I liked them allot and found a new set on eBay still in it's original box. I've never had to set-up any software previously and they work just fine. This what I've found; http://i65.tinypic.com/29qi4h0.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/263k83l.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...s640/audio.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/rwrihv.jpg http://i67.tinypic.com/4g6t6e.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/2ef8804.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/11t1rhg.jpg http://i64.tinypic.com/103x6wx.jpg Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Mark Twain wrote:
Yes, both connectors (green and black) are plugged into the computer and I followed their diagram to the letter. The plug-in's to the base module are beige and yellow and one plug is square and other a triangle so it's impossible to mess it up. The speakers are actually the ones I picked with the 8200 and when I bought the 8500 I just used them. When the electrician fried everything I wanted the same speakers because I liked them allot and found a new set on eBay still in it's original box. I've never had to set-up any software previously and they work just fine. This what I've found; http://i65.tinypic.com/29qi4h0.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/263k83l.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...s640/audio.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/rwrihv.jpg http://i67.tinypic.com/4g6t6e.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/2ef8804.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/11t1rhg.jpg http://i64.tinypic.com/103x6wx.jpg Robert So the software seems to know it's driving four speakers. But it doesn't have any common notation for the mode showing, to confirm that. It seems to have figured out the jacks on the back of the machine are in usage, and perhaps it has the proper side contacts for plug presence detect for HDAudio. It's probably in quadraphonic mode right now. (When the number of channels in the content, doesn't match the number of speakers, they can fake it by using various math transforms.) 2.0 Plain stereo 2.1 Left, right, plus a subwoofer 4.0 Quadraphonic (stereo front and stereo back speakers) 5.1 Stereo front, Stereo back, Center, and Subwoofer (three plugs) Might match some common movie setups. 7.1 Four plugs, don't know all the speaker names right off hand, but I could go look them up :-) One question I have about this setup, is what was the intention of the HK design ? Is it advertised as a 2.1 system with a left, right, and a Sub ? It seems a strange choice of packaging, if the thing is actually a quadraphonic system (four speakers, two front and two back). Does the HK speaker have a *model number* on the back, on a plate or similar, that I can go look up ? Not that this has anything to do with "funny noises". I doubt the wire is actually floating and undriven by a signal. The computer audio is bound to have put some signal on there. And if the HK has a two-prong plug, it probably isn't a ground loop. You could try putting the power plug of the HK speakers, on the same power_strip as the computer is using. There's no reason to suspect this will do anything though... It should not make a bit of difference. When a two prong powering is used, the power should "float" with respect to the rest of the room, and the ground on the computer audio plugs should establish ground for everything. Preventing ground loops and humming. Paul |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
The Harman Kardon set-up is 2.1 with (2)
stereo speakers and a base(Sub). The model number is HK695-01 The speaker plug is in the same APC surge arrest. http://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/produc...r=SEC-756-GOO-[53166061159]-[269259981065]-S-[] As I say, this is an intermittent problem that comes and goes. Most of the time everything is fine. Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Mark Twain wrote:
The Harman Kardon set-up is 2.1 with (2) stereo speakers and a base(Sub). The model number is HK695-01 The speaker plug is in the same APC surge arrest. http://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/produc...r=SEC-756-GOO-[53166061159]-[269259981065]-S-[] As I say, this is an intermittent problem that comes and goes. Most of the time everything is fine. Robert What a weird design :-) I've never seen anything like this before. https://www.top4runners.com/computer...on%20HK695.pdf It accepts what is effectively quadraphonic input (two front, two surround signals) and does a transform of sorts to 2.1 or maybe even a sort of 3.0 . ******* One neat feature, is the interface has a diagnostic output jack, that sweeps low frequencies and gives you a test stimulus for the speakers (PDF page 17). So you don't even need a Sony Walkman or a tape recorder, to inject a test sound to test the speakers. The test tone sweeps from 40Hz to 400Hz. The crossover on the sub is at 180Hz. Frequencies above 180Hz, you would expect those to go to the satellite speakers. This also means, the input signals hardly go directly to the amplifiers inside the unit. The input signals would go to the DSP chip. The DSP chip would process the signals and drive the amplifiers from there. As I don't know of a way to convert 4.0 to 2.1, using only RLC circuits from an Electronics 100 course :-) Google let me down, in terms of theory of operation or any of that sort of stuff. No take-apart pictures to see what is inside. The design is a good deal more complicated than your average computer speaker, at a guess. Paul |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
I'm sort of a vintage stereo guy,,..
and Harman Kardon is a good name brand. It's a good set-up and I had to pay extra for it at the time. I was thinking,...even though it was new in the box would the years since it was made 'oxidize' circuits etc and that's the cause of the intermittent static? I would be interested, if you wanted to spend the time. Of your opinion of my stereo system. I bought this while in the Navy 1979-1980. Yamaha A-1 Integrated Amp: http://www.classic-audio.com/yamaha-a1-p-405.html http://www.hifi4sale.net/t9572-yamah...amplifier-used Yamaha- T-1 Tuner: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_li...maha/t-1.shtml Pioneer Pl-L100 Linear Tracking Turntable: https://www.vinylengine.com/library/...pl-l1000.shtml Teac C-3 Tape Deck: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_li...teac/c-3.shtml Speakers: http://www.thevintageknob.org/pioneer-HPM-150.html http://www.vintage-speaker-review.co...er-review.html Thanks, Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
Mark Twain wrote:
I'm sort of a vintage stereo guy,,.. and Harman Kardon is a good name brand. It's a good set-up and I had to pay extra for it at the time. I was thinking,...even though it was new in the box would the years since it was made 'oxidize' circuits etc and that's the cause of the intermittent static? I would be interested, if you wanted to spend the time. Of your opinion of my stereo system. I bought this while in the Navy 1979-1980. Yamaha A-1 Integrated Amp: http://www.classic-audio.com/yamaha-a1-p-405.html http://www.hifi4sale.net/t9572-yamah...amplifier-used Yamaha- T-1 Tuner: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_li...maha/t-1.shtml Pioneer Pl-L100 Linear Tracking Turntable: https://www.vinylengine.com/library/...pl-l1000.shtml Teac C-3 Tape Deck: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_li...teac/c-3.shtml Speakers: http://www.thevintageknob.org/pioneer-HPM-150.html http://www.vintage-speaker-review.co...er-review.html Thanks, Robert It is possible for 1/8" connections to act up. In some cases, there isn't sufficient control of dimensions, or sufficient spring force, and it's not making good contact. I did think of a way for the LineOut to have DC on it. HDAudio chips support jack re-tasking. That means an output, can be used as a microphone input, and the mode changes in software. To support electret microphones, they take a voltage source, and maybe a 2Kohm resistor, and bias tip and ring. There's no particular pattern to what they select for a voltage source, and it could vary anywhere from 3.3V to 5V or so. /\ tip ---- 2K ------- 3.3V || ring ---- 2K ------- 3.3V || sleeve ------------- GND The idea is, the electret pulls down the level, when the electret receives some sound pressure. Basically, the computer provides a source of power to make the electret work. On modern enough systems, the microphone is stereo in, and a separate bias is placed on tip and ring (for left and right). The bias source should be switched off by the software, when the jack is in output mode. The next time the speakers do it again, try using the diagnostic output and routing it to the green and black inputs as a test. And see if that signal source behaves differently. What you want, is a way to prove it's the computer that is doing it. If the volume pot on the speakers was a bit dirty, it could function as a noise source. But you'd also notice this, if adjusting the volume control created all sorts of extraneous noise. It doesn't take too many twists of a volume knob to figure out it's a noise source. ******* And I think you've got me beat on stereo equipment :-) Paul |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
I'll do the diagnostics next time it happens,..
It says if I hear the test tone in all speakers then everything is working OK, otherwise I'll have to go into detailed troubleshooting techniques. The volume on the satellite speakers are push +/- push buttons and I don't adjust the base. Thanks about the stereo,.. Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
I went and looked at the diagnostic
troubleshooting and one of the suggestions was to move the speakers away from the monitor as much possible. So I did that; maybe that was the issue? As I said I'll test it if it happens again. Kinda of cool that the speaker has it's own test diagnostics. Robert |
O.T. Speakers static/humming
The speaker hum/static sound came back today
and this time I tried the diagnostics. I unplugged the speakers and tried each one in the diagnostics port for low and high frequencies and both played although they sounded the same to me. So according to the test the speakers are working normally. Afterwards the humming stopped. Robert |
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