Interference buzzing noise with JBL LSR305 speakers

korakk

n00b
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Jan 17, 2016
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38
Hi,

Need to first mention that I know nearly nothing about PC audio, and audio in general.

I just set up my PC and I'm having issues with interference buzzing type noise, especially when gaming. I have the speakers plugged into the green audio socket in my motherboard with this cable (https://www.swamp.net.au/mini-jack-to-dual-1-4-mixer-to-pc-audio-cable.html). Initially I had one speaker plugged into the same power outlet as my PC and the noise was much worse, since moving both speakers to a different outlet the noise has reduced but it is still really loud, especially while gaming. Just using windows there is some noise but it isn't constant. While gaming, moving my mouse effects the sound a little but even with it still the noise is really loud and constant, like a buzz. Game audio plays alongside the noise.

I think I might need a device to plug into my motherboard then the speakers plug into that, but I'm not sure. Here are a few devices I think might be what I need, but again, I have no idea.

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/headphone...o/m-audio-m-track-mk2-audio-interface/330033/

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/252...=true&hlpv=2&chn=ps&lpid=107&ops=true&viphx=1
(This is cheaper than the one above and I believe in the States this model is $50 more expensive)

http://www.lexiconpro.com/en-US/products/alpha#extended_description
(I can't seem to find an Australian seller with stock of this product)

Then I've seen a lot of cheap small USB devices that might do what I want but not sure if they are good quality.

My build is;

Monitor: Asus ROG SWIFT PG279Q 27 inch 2K-QHD
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX980Ti 6GB SuperClocked + ACX2.0+ 16X
CASE: Thermaltake Core V71 Full Tower
PSU: SeaSonic Snow Silent 1050 Platinum
CPU: Intel Core i5 6600K
CPU COOLING: Corsair Hydro Series H110i GTX 280mm AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
MB: Asus Maximus VIII Hero LGA1151 ATX Motherboard
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z 3200 2x8GB
HDD: Western Digital Green 4TB SATA
SSD: Samsung 950 Pro Series 512GB M.2 SSD
DVDRW: LiteON IHAS124 SATA DVD-RW 24X Black OEM
MOUSE: Logitech G502 Wired Mouse
KEYBOARD: Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Keyboard


Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
 
Does the buzzing still happen when you unplug from computer? If not, does it buzz if you hook it up to your phone (or other portable device)?

If there is no buzzing in both of the above situations, then an optical DAC might solve your issues. Might want to try something cheap like a FiiO D03K to test.

If the buzzing continues in either of the two situations above, then it could either be the speakers themselves or perhaps a power issue.
 
Sounds like a ground loop or your PSU is dying. If it's a constant 60hz buzz then it's ground loop and if it's 'scracthy data sound' that amplifies when you play games it can be a boatload of things.

Your motherboard audio may be insufficiently shielded taking emissions from your peripherals or your PSU might be dying (filtering failing and letting noise through).

You're not alone with problems using that motherboard: https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?80325-Audio-Problem-Asus-Maximus-VIII-Hero

USB audio / DAC will solve the noise problems but may introduce severe problems with games (lag, random slideshows).
 
I think he forgot to mention that he tried plugged this into his phone, there was no issue.
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1888682&page=2
Starts at ~post 37 for info regarding his issue.

I'm also going to ask: did you just try the other plug in the same outlet, or did you try a totally different outlet? For me, it was fixed when I tried a totally different outlet.. on another wall, practically. If you don't have any power strips long enough to reach, then yeah might be a bit of a pain. I just happened to, and it's a lot cheaper than getting a DAC if it works. That's what worked for me (before I returned them for the Vanatoo's either way).
 
I had a similar issue with my Presonus Eris E5's. Horrible noise when gaming. Headphones and my old speakers had no issues using the same audio ports. Tried tons of things including USB sound card, shielded sound cards, different cables, power cables, power sockets, power conditioners, etc. Nothing worked. Tested sockets for grounding issues, they were fine.

My solution was to use the optical out to a FiiO D3 DAC. Speakers work perfect now. No noise, only crystal clear sound.

This one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005K2TXMO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
 
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Thanks for the replies. I'll start to investigate some of these solutions but just want to add some more info that might narrow the issue down.

Like StoleMyOwnCar mentioned when I play audio from my phone to the speakers I don't have any issues.

So initially I powered one speaker from the same outlet (outlet had 2 power points, one was speaker and other was a power board with the rest of the pc stuff). The sound was the loudest. I then plugged both speakers into a power board and then into a different outlet in the same room, it improved the noise considerably. I then got an extension lead and plugged it into the next room and it made a massive improvement but the buzz is still there pretty loud. The problem is, I can't really plug my speakers into the other end of the house as a solution because I'll have an extension lead constantly through the house and the missus would kill me. One thing to note, while in game, increasing and decreasing the ingame sound level doesnt effect the buzz. I turned the ingame sound right down and still heard the buzz. It seems to start when the graphics card starts to work I think, or when the motherboard has to work hard I'm not sure, but it starts as soon as games load up.
 
Another thing to note, muting windows sound altogether doesn't effect the buzz. When tabbing back to the game the sound starts up again.

It also seems to start when there is a load on the system. I'm playing Fallout 4, when you first load the game through the opening video then the start screen with a basic picture, there is no buzz. As soon as I hit load to start my game, when the loading screen starts the buzz starts and continues to play constantly from there. If I tab out of the game it stops but starts again when going back.

One thing to note, turning the actual speakers up and down effects the buzz, like it completely controls it, turning them right down I can just about get the buzz to go right away then turning up the buzz goes up at the same pace. Ingame sound levels don't have an effect.

EDIT: I also don't think it's my PSU dying, my system is only a fews days old.

Also worth noting that plugging into the front case headphone socket doesn't effect the buzz.

Also, when in game moving the mouse doesn't effect the sound because of the cord or anything, it depends what I'm looking at ingame. If I look up at the stars it has a certain sound then looking at terrain and buildings another sound, look back at sky and back to the same sound, then back to terrain etc..
 
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http://i.imgur.com/ojJZHyv.png

When I play a test sound through 'Realtek Digital Output' I don't hear anything but the sound bar moves as if sound is playing. If I set that as the default sound device then I don't hear any sound. But, when I load up a game the buzz is there and everything else is mute. Not sure if this means anything, but trying to post as much info. Also in windows, popping up certain windows or programs gets a small buzz for a split second but goes, in games is when its the strongest. Also as I mentioned, muting sound altogether still gets the buzz from the speakers.
 
Sounds like electrical noise issues from the pc. Easy fix would be to use the optical out to an external DAC. Cheapest option in aware of would be a FiiO D03K (~$25 USD) as mentioned earlier by jhatfie and I.

Of course this doesn't really address the root cause of the issue, but it should get rid of the buzzing.
 
Sounds like electrical noise issues from the pc. Easy fix would be to use the optical out to an external DAC. Cheapest option in aware of would be a FiiO D03K (~$25 USD) as mentioned earlier by jhatfie and I.

Of course this doesn't really address the root cause of the issue, but it should get rid of the buzzing.

Thanks for the help. So do you think there is something wrong with a component of the PC? Do you think it's something to worry about, or if the FiiO fixes it I'll just leave it be?

Another thing I noticed, if I'm browsing the web and I mouse over something that changes the whole layout, like a different dynamic background to the page, it makes a buzz.


EDIT: Also, with that device, do I need new cables to connect from the speakers to the device, and a cable from the device to PC?
 
I've never had your specific issue (my mobo headphone outs were ok, but USB -> DAC connection causes similar issues for me), so I can't say if it's anything to worry about. Though, if everything else is solid...it's your call.

With the FiiO (or any other DAC with optical inputs if you want something fancier than that FiiO) you would need an optical toslink cable for PC -> DAC.

EDIT: Didn't notice the 3.5mm line out on the D03K. See jhatfie's post below.
 
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I think you can use the 3.5mm to dual TRS cable you linked in your original post using the 3.5mm line out on the FiiO (I used the RCA outs). My FiiO came with an optical cable, so as sayu said, you will need one of those if it is not included.

Just as a note, do not power the FiiO using the computer USB ports, use the power adapter that it comes with otherwise you might still get some noise.
 
Getting balanced cables will help with the buzzing and other noise problems as well.
 
Thanks for all the help so far. I think I might get one of those FiiO's and see how it goes.

Getting balanced cables will help with the buzzing and other noise problems as well.

What kind of cable would it be, I'm struggling to find one, I'm not even sure what a balanced cable is, is the one I linked in the original post not balanced?. Is there a balanced cable that has a 3.5mm to put into mobo and then 2 1/4 TS cables?

If you're suffering from a constant hum, something like this will fix it: http://www.hallresearch.com/page/GLI-35mm
What about this device that B00nie linked? It sounds like it might help? Would this be better than buying one of the FiiO things? Can you buy both?

I found this, which is a much cheaper version: http://www.jaycar.com.au/Sight-&-So...d-Loop-Noise-Isolator-(Stereo)-3-5mm/p/AA3086
 
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I don't think balanced cables would do you much good since your source isn't balanced. It would essentially be a TRRS --> 2x TS cable, but your mobo probably doesn't have a TRRS output.

As far as those ground loop isolator things, maybe they might work? The external DAC suggestion works based on the fact that electrical noise isn't transmitted over an optical connection. Those isolators work on the assumption that ground loops are the issue.
 
That cheap noise filter is from a shop close to me so I might go down and get one in the morning and see what it does. If it alters the amount of buzz but doesn't fix it does that narrow down the problem any more or it doesn't change anything? Either way my next buy will be that DAC.
 
I had that issue with my M-Audio speakers, I ended up lifting the ground from the power strip they are plugged into.
 
Getting balanced cables will help with the buzzing and other noise problems as well.
Maybe. But balanced lines help with outside interference, and the OP's PC seems to be causing the problem internally. Even if it supported balanced runs, they would just preserve the pre-distorted signal.

Optical FTW here.
 
Yep as the link I posted shows many others have had problems with that board audio. It must have bad shielding.
 
I decided to buy the FiiO, cheapest I could get it was the link from Amazon above, worked out to AU$45 with the optical cable included. Cheapest here was AU$50 without the optical cable. Gotta wait a couple of weeks so I'll report back when it arrives!

Thanks for all the replies, you have all been really helpful.
 
The FiiO arrived and is working great, completely eliminated the buzzing sound! Speakers sound fantastic.

The only thing I'm having an issue with is a soft pop/crackle type sound before sound starts. For example if there is no sound for a bit, when starting a song or noise, there is a quick noise before the actual noise starts. One way to replicate this noise a lot is to click the windows sound volume which makes a ding in windows, if I repeatably click it there is a pop/crackle noise with 80% of the clicks. I'm not sure if it's a speaker issue or Windows issue. I've tried uninstalling Realtek drivers and just using the default drivers that Windows installs and theres no change. I think I can live with it but I like to have things perfect. If it's just an issue with using studio speakers than the trade off for the sound quality is well worth it.

EDIT: This is possibly a motherboard issue as well with my google searches and as someone mentioned earlier that this motherboard had some audio issues.

EDIT 2: I have the sound quite loud, and it seems the volume of the crackle/pop noise is effected by the volume in windows. If I turn windows sound right down and repeatably click to make the ding sound the pop is a lot softer, the lower the windows sound the softer the pop
 
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sound.jpg




Update. When I click the left volume blue marker, it makes the windows ding sound without the pop or crackle, 100% perfect. But when I click the right marker to make the ding it has the pop/crackle noise every time.
 
Not sure if this sound file will work properly but the first 10 seconds is making the ding from the left blue marker and the last 10 seconds is from the right. The buzz sounds a lot louder in this sound file than in person and it sounds a little different but it might help explain it.
 

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Right click on the sound icon and go into the playback devices section. Find the DAC and right click on it. First make sure it's your default output device. Afterwards, right click and then go to properties. First go to Supported Formats and make sure nothing is checked that shouldn't be; I think this only supports PCM? Not sure on that, just play around with that section. Afterwards, play around with the "Default Format" in Advanced. Make sure it's set to the proper bitrate for the DAC (think it's 192k, but I'm not 100% on that). See if that fixes anything.
 
The only thing I'm having an issue with is a soft pop/crackle type sound before sound starts. For example if there is no sound for a bit, when starting a song or noise, there is a quick noise before the actual noise starts.
That's just the speakers' amps turning on when they detect a signal.
 
Really? I don't remember mine doing that, but I guess it could be... I didn't see the "for a bit" part, though; I'm usually always playing music anyway though. How long are we talking with no signal?
 
At first I didn't realise but I think you are right about a noise when the amp first turns on but that's not the main issue I'm having (since changing to optical I don't think that noise happens anymore? It use to happen on windows startup all the time but since swapping to optical I don't think it happens).

I think the issue has to do with Windows somehow, I can replicate the sound when clicking that sound button in the picture to make the ding in windows, but if I make the noise with the left button (Digital Audio (S/PDIF)) there is no issue. If I right click the sound button on the bottom toolbar and click on 'sounds', when I click the test sound button for all the different windows notifications it makes the noise. If I repeatadly click them it sounds like the sound clip I uploaded.

EDIT: Also, in the supported formats section, when I click to play sound from DTS Audio, Dolby Digital and Microsoft WMA Pro Audio no sound plays and Windows unticks the boxes (is this right?). Then for sample rates all 6 things make a noise and windows tries to tick all the boxes but I manually just ticked 192.0 kHz (is that what I should do? or tick them all?) Lastly, in the Advanced tab I selected 24 Bit 192000 Hz Studio Quality because that's what the DiiO D3 page says it plays at, is that right?) and it also has 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device' ticked, and 'Give exclusive mode applications priority' ticked. (I also disabled all enhancements in the enhancements tab)
 
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The FiiO D3 only supports two channel PCM, so none of the DTS or Dolby stuff should work.

Click the checkbox on all the audio types that work, but then in the later tab set it to what you want it to output. Personally, I set it based on my source files to minimize resampling, not that you can get entirely away from that using the Windows mixer... Just set it at 24b/192khz and forget about that setting until the next time you reinstall Windows. Anything above 16b/44.1khz is going to sound GREAT.

Go ahead and leave the checkboxes for exclusive mode set. There are a few apps that want to entirely control the sound system, let them. You might not come across it much, but I've run into increased latency in my DAW and guitar apps if I don't let them run in exclusive mode.

I think I'd rather paper cuts between all of my fingers than play guitar with too much latency.
 
Thanks for the reply Decibel, I've made those changes to the settings.

The issue I'm having seems to only happen with Windows system sounds I think, maybe it has to do with whatever file type they are? I just disabled System sounds in the tab, I don't think I really need them anyway, I don't use email or calanders or anything else really. I'm not sure I've heard the issue in any normal scenario, I could only really hear it when I repeatadly clicked that System sounds volume meter.
 
Thanks for the reply Decibel, I've made those changes to the settings.

The issue I'm having seems to only happen with Windows system sounds I think, maybe it has to do with whatever file type they are? I just disabled System sounds in the tab, I don't think I really need them anyway, I don't use email or calanders or anything else really. I'm not sure I've heard the issue in any normal scenario, I could only really hear it when I repeatadly clicked that System sounds volume meter.
Why do you keep the system sounds on in the first place? I always disable that annoying shit.
 
Make 100% sure that those windows sounds are the only thing you hear it on. The DAC could be faulty (and/or the speakers). Get some other computer to test all this with and play back the same sounds for verification.

I'm kind of sorry for recommending these to you at this point. It seems like they have caused you a great deal of trouble...
 
.............................I'm kind of sorry for recommending these to you at this point. It seems like they have caused you a great deal of trouble...

unless the speakers are defective he should have no issues with them, i don't on my set
 
I'll do some further testing but don't worry StoleMyOwnCar, I have no regrets about buying these speakers, they sound fantastic!

I still think it's a windows or motherboard issue, so far I haven't had the problem other than the windows sounds, games sound great and music even better.
 
I ran some tests: There is definitely a difference between how Windows plays the sound between the two faders. When I click S/PDIF Pass-through it plays the whole sound and will play several instances of it over each other. When I click the System Sounds slider it restarts the sound every time and depending on where I catch it in the sound I can get some weirdness. No pops or crackles though, those seem to be saved for when I test different settings and formats in playback device properties.

This is running from the optical out of an Asus Xonar DG sound card.
 
buzzing is a ground loop issue once the 2 devices are connected there should be no buzzing I would recommend using a surge protector to plug them all in together so that they all have the same "ground" point
 
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