New PC -> speakers making strange noise when audio is used.

Karel_1_BE

Commendable
Jul 19, 2016
17
0
1,510
Hi all,

I'm a hearing impaired person, but can hear with hearing aids. Recently, I have built a new PC system but I'm facing with a strange issue. When an audio has to be played, let it be a youtube movie or a game, I heard a very annoying sound from my speakers. I cannot describe it, but it sounds as trrtrtrtrrrrr but less "r". Like when you're waiting with your car in front of red light, but with less emphasis on the "rrr" sound. When I'm on desktop, that sound doesn't come out.

I have used that old speakers from my previous PC build, which made that noise. It's a Trust speaker
k28UjgC.jpg


Close up:
y9o3P3G.jpg


I do have knowledge in PC components but I don't have much knowledge about audio systems (wouldn't surprise ya I guess). I thought that the speaker was broken, so bought another one. A Creative A50 speaker.
Yp6V1DK.jpg


But that speaker is also having the same problem... Oddly enough, this tiny little cheapy speaker (i just tried that)
oUNFTE5.jpg


doesn't have that issue! It works on a battery while the other two here above is being powered by an USB.

I think that I have a ground loop issue. My motherboard is a MSI H110M gaming. I have tried everything on the software side ... (drivers, another ports, settings, ...). However I have to say that the case front audio ports (both micro and headphone) is not connected to the motherboard because I don't intent to use it. There is a lot cables to manage anyways...
Does it make a difference?

Now, can this issue being resolved or do I have look for another type of speakers? It doesn't have be that expensive set that you see here or on reddit because I'm hearing impaired (duh).

If I do have to look for another speakers, can someone point me which one I should take? Or point me the brands and which spec it should have (eg input model?) Or what I should do?
 
Solution
well, easy way to check your speakers is to try them out on another device. plug them into your phone or other such device and check.

sounds like either some sort of ground loop or emi interference to me.

why?

-could be due to the fact that they are usb powered and there is some sort of odd grounding or electrical issue going on in the pc.
-could be electrical noise from the usb connection due to erratic psu output, etc
-could just be crappy speakers
-could be something wrong with your onboard audio or speakers where it picks up emi easily (unshielded sections, etc)
-could be something with high emi (router, etc) placed near a device susceptible to it

why does the cheapo speaker work?

its only 3.5mm without usb. i'm thinking that...

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Resonance perhaps...?

Right click the small speaker icon most likely lower right screen area.

Select "Playback devices", find your audio source (green checkmark) and drill down into the Properties and associated tab settings.

See if there is a low frequency enhancement to cut off low frequencies that can cause distortion.

However, may be any number of configurable settings available depending on the audio device and its drivers. Try making some changes to see what happens. (I did note that you tried some "settings" but not sure how far down into it all you may have gone...)

Change only one thing at a time and keep notes should you need to reverse some change.
 
well, easy way to check your speakers is to try them out on another device. plug them into your phone or other such device and check.

sounds like either some sort of ground loop or emi interference to me.

why?

-could be due to the fact that they are usb powered and there is some sort of odd grounding or electrical issue going on in the pc.
-could be electrical noise from the usb connection due to erratic psu output, etc
-could just be crappy speakers
-could be something wrong with your onboard audio or speakers where it picks up emi easily (unshielded sections, etc)
-could be something with high emi (router, etc) placed near a device susceptible to it

why does the cheapo speaker work?

its only 3.5mm without usb. i'm thinking that your onboard audio is likely fine just that you're picking up some kind of electrical interference from connecting to both usb and 3.5mm at the same time. this is why i'm thinking perhaps using wall wart powered speakers or a powered usb hub might change this

i would be curious to know if you still have the problem with a regular set of powered pc speakers like the z313 which connect to the wall socket.

i would also be curious if hooking up your front audio port and trying that along with a different usb port has influence.

using a powered (with ac wall plug) usb hub with the usb powered speakers would also be a good test if you have one already. i wouldnt run out and get one if you dont though.
 
Solution

Karel_1_BE

Commendable
Jul 19, 2016
17
0
1,510
Ah, it took me a while to research that. I couldn't find a solution on that. So I have purchased a z313 as you have recommended and it has solved the problem. So it's caused by an electrical interference between using the audio port and the usb port for power.

Now I have a working speaker system. But I need to get used with the bass sound... (Still have to figure out to reduce the bass intensity while keeping the volume at same level)

Thank you for your help.