humming speakers?

[odoe]

Ok, sorry if this is a noob post, but I'm not really an audio techie, so I usually leech my info from you guys.

I have an SN41G2 and and an Audigy 2ZS that I've been using for audio.
I looked at this thread and hooked up an adapter to some digital coax from the Audigy 2 to my receiver.
I have this Sherwood receiver. It's not great or anything, but it's what I use for DVD and TV viewing. It's hooked up to 2 cheap KLH speakers.

Now the speakers and receiver work fine with the TV and DVD, but I get a low humming noise from them when I run audio from the PC out to it. The hum is very evident, especially when no sound is being played and it's the same volume no matter how high/low the volume is unless I turn the volume to 0. It even comes through the headphones from the receiver.

Is there a setting somewhere in the Creative drivers I need to tweak. I do not have the creative software installed, only the drivers. I've never jad a need for the software. Is there something I need to adjust there to rid the hum coming from the digital out? If I hook up headphones directly to the headphone jack on the Audigy 2, there is no hum.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[gerbiaNem]

Sounds like the problem I have (but worse). If I put the speakers up too loud I hear a hum. I think it may be analog interference and sound card quality. Not sure if it can be fixed.

 

[odoe]

Damn. I was afraid of that. I've been messing with it and that hum is present with all audio, analog and digital. Damnit, I never noticed until now. I would say it's probably my KLH speakers, but I get the hum through my headphones as well. Damn. I guess it might be the receiver. You can't really notice when the volume is turned up, but on low volumes it's annoying. I only ever really use the thing when I watch movies and I turn it up.

Now I want a new receiver. This blows.

 

[Mister X]

Do you have a cable TV feed connected to the audio system?

 

[odoe]

I run the audio from the TV to the receiver. The cable box doesn't even know my receiver exist.

Things connected to my receiver.
TV - analog connection
DVD - optical
PC - coax

If I put my hand to the speakers, I can feel them vibrating with the hum.

 

[ccotenj]

even though it "doesn't know it exists", try disconnecting the cable anyway and see what happens...

do you have a cable broadband connection to your pc?

there's a bunch of things to try before getting a new receiver... don't panic yet...

 

[Mister X]

The answer is yes.
(the "real ground" from the cable TV feed connects through the chassis of the TV to the analog outputs to the receiver that uses the house's "real ground")
Disconnect the analog connection from the TV and see if the hum goes away.

 

[odoe]

Crap.

I unplugged the RCA cables coming from the TV and the hum disappeared.
I plug them back in and it comes back.
Solves that. Damn. I'm guessing this is a common problem. I do have cable internet as well.

Well hell. These RCA cables aren't great or anything. Would better cables help?

 

[ccotenj]

The answer is yes.

ground loops and hums suck... at least it's a constant one, a bit of patience should be able to chase it out... i had one that was intermittent, it took me a good long time to figure out that it was the oil furnace that was causing it...

 

[Mister X]

The next step is to disconnect the cable feed from the TV and see if you get hum when you connect the analog output back to the receiver.
If the hum goes away when you disconnect the cable feed try this:
Grab one of these ------> http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=15-1253
And one of these----------> http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=15-1140

Connect them back to back between the cable and the TV and the hum should go away

 

[odoe]

Yup. Disconnected cable from the TV and the hum went away.
Thank X. I'll make a trip to the local shack in the morning.

I was sitting here messing with all this and getting behind the TV and stuff and the hum was going on and off and on and off and my wife walked in and asked what that horrible humming was. I told her and she said, she doesn't care how I do it, just make that hum go away.

Thanks again guys.

 

[ccotenj]

Crap.

I unplugged the RCA cables coming from the TV and the hum disappeared.
I plug them back in and it comes back.
Solves that. Damn. I'm guessing this is a common problem. I do have cable internet as well.

Well hell. These RCA cables aren't great or anything. Would better cables help?

nope, better cables won't help (imo )...

yup, it's a common problem...

you need a ground loop isolator for the cable... jensen makes one, i believe it's around 50 bucks... there are also some diy methods as well, i haven't tried any of them though...

edit: mister x's way is cheaper and should work just as well... that should "break" the continuity of signal...

 

[odoe]

Also, this is my first time using my HD 497's through my receiver and man, these really are nice headphones.

I am in heaven now guys. Thanks.

 

[BoogerBomb]

What sucks is that I get a hum as well but its electricity related. Its a steady low hum almost inaudbile while gaming but when i turn on the lights in my room it goes way up to unbearable.

 

[gerbiaNem]

Great to see you've fixed your problem, best of luck with the cables.