Listening to music or watching a movie with a loudspeaker on is a fantastic idea to rest, especially after a busy day. However, sometimes you may hear a buzzing or humming sound in the background along with the audio. And in most cases, even turning the audio off does not eliminate the buzzing noise.
It usually happens because of ground looping, AC line noises, and Radio Frequency (RF) interference. But there are also other causes for such an issue. In this article, we explain all the possible reasons and what you should do in each scenario.
Why is my Computer Speakers Buzzing
Here are some of the reasons for your computer speakers to start buzzing:
How to Fix Computer Speakers Buzzing
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find the reason for and troubleshoot your computer speakers producing a buzzing sound:
Narrowing Down the Cause
Since there are many possible reasons for the speakers buzzing in a PC, you need to narrow down the exact cause on your system. If you start switching your equipment all at once without checking anything, you’ll never reach the root of the problem.
So, perform the steps we have mentioned below:
After eliminating the improbable causes for your issue, go through the solutions below corresponding to whichever cause remains a suspect.
Troubleshooting Ground Loop and AC Line Hums
A ground loop occurs when you,
The potential drops (or voltage used) across the devices are different. So, it causes the devices to have different ground potential, forming a closed loop through the ground. The loop acts like an antenna, where electromagnetic interference induces a current through the circuit.
Even a weak EMI can introduce a significant noise, especially if the loop carries low-level audio signals. you may hear this noise as a persistent hum or buzz.
Furthermore, the ground loop also creates separate noise on the AC mains, which causes speaker buzzing issues.
You need to break the electrical loop or get rid of the noise signals to resolve this issue.
Warning:Removing the Ground pin on the plug or using three-prong to two-prong adapters might remove the ground loop. But it makes you susceptible to electrical hazards. There have been many cases of severe injuries or even deaths due to such unsafe practices.
Use Single AC Socket
The easiest solution you can use to a single AC socket to power all the connected devices to eliminate the loop. You can usepower stripsor surge protectors for this purpose.
Use Ground Loop Isolator
If you can’t connect all the devices to a single AC source, the most convenient solution is to use a ground-loop isolator. It is a dedicated device that eliminates ground loop buzz and interference. It is also simple to use as you only need to pass your audio jack through the in-port and plug the out-connector into the PC or other device.
Use Direct or DI Box with Ground Lift or Hum Eliminator
Another solution is to use a Direct or DI box with a ground lift in your audio setup. It includes a special transformer that isolates the ground-level voltage and breaks the ground loop.
A DI Box also balances the audio system allowing you to plug in a balanced cable to unbalanced speaker output. This process eliminates other types of noises as well.
You can also use a Hum Eliminator, which is an alternative to a Direct Box and always contains a ground lift circuit.
Use Line Interactive UPS
Using a line interactive UPS is the best way to get rid of AC line hums. When an AC supply is available, the UPS converts the AC to DC to charge its battery. Then, when the AC supply cuts off or fluctuates, it converts the DC to AC and passes it through a filter, providing a consistent supply to your PC. So, the UPS removes the AC noises, eliminating AC main hums on the speaker.
Change Power Supply
If your low-quality power supply is responsible for AC line hums, the simplest solution is to change it. Make sure the new PSU or laptop AC adapter corresponds to your computer’s specifications before buying it.
Troubleshooting Radio Frequency and Other Interference
Another particularly significant reason for your speaker buzzing is interference due to RF signals. Wi-Fi routers, refrigerators, microwaves, heaters, dimmer switches, monitors, etc., all generate electromagnetic signals that can potentially induce noises on your speaker.
YourPC’s internal componentscan also produce noises due to interference, especially if you connect the speaker to the motherboard. On a laptop, other components such as graphics cards can also cause this issue because of EMI if the onboard speaker’s cable passes close to them.
The best solution is to use aDAC/Headphone amplifierto resolve this issue. Connect the DAC/amp to your PC and your speaker to the DAC.
An external Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) converts the digital signal to Analog outside your PC. It removes all onboard noises, and along with the amp, you’ll get a good sound quality on your speakers even with unshielded internal cables.
you may also use external USB or thunderbolt speakers, which the onboard components don’t affect much.
Troubleshooting Amplifier/Speaker Issues
If your speaker is very old, of low quality, or damaged, the only solution is a replacement. You could try using a noise gate to minimize the buzzing sound. However, the device has clearly served its purpose. Regardless, if it’s damaged, first take it to a hardware technician and see if they can repair it.
Most built-in sound cards or speakers do not have high specs, so if you want good sound, we recommend investing in good equipment.
For other amplifier or speaker issues, the possible solutions are as follows:
Connect With Only One Device
Some speakers that support multiple inputs may show this issue even when only one input is on at a time. It is likely a fault with the hardware design or insufficient power. You should try disconnecting all but the input source you want and check if it works.
Clean Your Speaker
You can also try cleaning your speakers to remove any dust potentially responsible for the buzzing sound. You need to remove the cones and then clean the following components accordingly:
Adjust Amplifier Gain and Volume
The speaker amplifier enhances the noise signals along with the audio. If the amplifier is separate from the speaker, you can try setting its gain stages to the optimal values.
However, if it’s built into the speaker, you don’t have other options than lowering the volume.
On a different note, having a high volume on your sound card is a better idea if you want good sound. The speaker’s amplifier boosts more noise if there’s not much useful sound. So turn your OS volume up (but not 100% to avoid audio clipping) and lower the speaker volume to adjust it.
Rewire or Replace Transformer
If the buzzing sound from your speaker is uneven or fluctuates, it’s likely because of the lamination rattle on your speaker transformer. You need to rewire or replace the transformer to resolve this issue. If you are not confident in doing so yourself, we recommend seeking help from a skilled technician.
Check Equalizer
Bass appears as a buzzing sound at high volume, especially on low-quality speakers. So, don’t set it too high on your equalizer. You can also check the default or third-party equalizer software you are using on your computer.
High treble also produces a hissing sound. So, check for it as well.
Troubleshooting Wiring and Connections Issues
To troubleshoot connection issues, unplug and carefullyreinsert all cablesin your audio setup. You can also try using other audio ports on your PC to connect your speakers.
If you are using a USB connection, make surenot to use adjacent portsto connect different devices. These ports can interfere with each other, causing audio noises. Also, use proper adapters to connect your speakers. You can check their official website to learn which adapter works best with the equipment.
Some audio jacks or ports may have flawed designs, preventing you from fully inserting them. These devices can also wear out after using them for an extended period. If there’s any issues with the ports or the cable, you’ll need to replace them.
Also, make sure there areno exposed or damaged wiresinside your PC and that the cables are not touching each other or some other conductive components.
Troubleshooting Software Issues
If your speaker is buzzing due to software reasons, it’s because of the audio driver or special effects. So, you need to check and resolve these issues.
Update Audio Driver
First, tryupdating your audio driversto fix any potential bugs with the current version. To do so,
If you already have the latest version, try reinstalling the driver to reset it. You only need to uninstall it and restart your PC. Your system automatically installs all missing drivers during a reboot.
Run Audio Troubleshooter
You can also tryrunning the audio troubleshooterto fix the most minor issues with the speaker. Here’s how you can do so:
Disable Audio Effects
It is also possible that some special audio effects are coming across as buzzing or humming sounds. Low-end speakers especially can’t produce a good sound with most extra effects. you’re able to disable all effects using the steps below:
If you use any other software to produce additional effects, make sure to reduce or disable them.
Related Question
Computer Freezes With Buzzing Sound From Speakers
If your computer freezes with a buzzing sound, it’s likely an error with your BIOS, power supply, or RAM. First, hard reset your PC, and then try the following solutions to resolve your issue:
You can also try general solutions such as scanning for malware, updating drivers and OS, etc., to account for the rare software issues.
