Computer speaker HUMMMMMMM

Heel n Toe · 03-31-2010, 08:52 AM

How do I get rid of it? I tried to reroute all the wires going to the subwoofer and 4 speakers so they're not near power cords, and though that is virtually impossible, I thought it would help.

But it didn't... when I plugged the power pack back into the APS power strip/battery backup, it returned... sounded just as it did before.

We've had these Altec Lansing speakers a long time... they've just been unplugged for a while (year or so) since the hum started... but since going to broadband, I wanna be able to play YouTube vids.

Gogar · 03-31-2010, 09:04 AM

Does the power cable for the speakers have 3 prongs on it? If so, you may try putting a two-prong adapter on it.

Do the speakers HUM when they are turned on, but the audio cable is not plugged into the computer? Or do they just HUM when plugged into the computer?

Neilk · 03-31-2010, 09:22 AM

Did you recently get a new cellphone? If so, how close is your cellphone to the speakers? My Blackberry can sometimes interfere with my regular phone when it is nearby.

Neil

Heel n Toe · 03-31-2010, 09:25 AM

Power "pod" only has two prongs on it.

The hum is there once it is plugged into the power strip/batt backup... even before the speakers are turned on. There is a button and a volume control on one of the small speakers.

Unplugging the audio cable from the back of the computer has no effect.

Thanks.

Heel n Toe · 03-31-2010, 09:25 AM

No cellphone.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Try it in another area - not in UPS. If it still hums with no source connected than it is a problem with the unit. A grounding problem somewhere no doubt.

Ian

Pazuzu · 03-31-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

How do I get rid of it? I tried to reroute all the wires going to the subwoofer and 4 speakers so they're not near power cords, and though that is virtually impossible, I thought it would help.

But it didn't... when I plugged the power pack back into the APS power strip/battery backup, it returned... sounded just as it did before.

We've had these Altec Lansing speakers a long time... they've just been unplugged for a while (year or so) since the hum started... but since going to broadband, I wanna be able to play YouTube vids.

This problem cropped up about the time you went to broadband? It might your router. Move the speaker itself away from the router, and the sound might go away. Moving the cables won't help, it's the high frequency switching in the router itself interfering. Even moving it 3 or 4 inches might be enough.

Gogar · 03-31-2010, 04:07 PM

Remove the speaker/sub thingy and take it into another room and plug it in with nothing hooked up to it. If it hums, maybe it's BROKE.

david914 · 03-31-2010, 04:55 PM

Check and make sure you're using the power adapter ("pod") that came with the speakers. Using a different adapter could cause problems.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by david914

power adapter ("pod")

Wall wart.

Ian

mattdavis11 · 05:08 PM

I have a set of harmon/kardon desktop speakers that hum when I turn the power on. Any suggestions? It doesn't matter on the aforementioned connections, pc, etc... Sorry for the hijack.

david914 · 03-31-2010, 05:31 PM

Humming while not connected to anything, and when the volume control is turned all the way down is indicative of a faulty or incorrect power supply (wall wart).

Heel n Toe · 03-31-2010, 09:47 PM

Thanks for the continued input, guys.

Ian, I unplugged it from from the back of the computer, then plugged the power pod (original Altec Lansing pod) directly into the wall, with the speakers turned off, and it still hummed. I'm having an electrician over in the next few days to do some work in another room... I'll have him check to make sure that's a grounded outlet.

Mike, it hummed when we were on dialup, too... but I moved the router about two feet further away from everything and around behind a short wall. Still hummed with all factors listed in the previous paragraph.

As far as taking the sub to another room and plugging it in, that's next.

david914 · 04-01-2010, 04:01 AM

If your speakers are humming and the power to the speakers is turned off, I suspect you have a problem with the power supply. If it were a problem on the audio input side (bad cable, ground loop, etc.), you would not likely have any hum with the system turned off.