Weird humm/buzz

MaxP779 · 7 Apr 2010 at 00:30

My current sound setup since selling my Z5500s and waiting for my new stuff to arrive is a pair of ipod headphones plugged into the front audio port of my pc with onboard audio

Yeah high end stuff i know lol, im not really looking for solutions or anything just an explanation.

Theres this strange noise, it changes depandant on what im doing on screen or in game. Its not crackles or anything, although i do hear a bit of crackling, this is different. Is this that processor humm thing? Where speedstep changes the speed of the cpu and that affects the noise? I just got kicked out of a game of L4D2 and the noise changed again.

Marsman · 7 Apr 2010 at 01:04

Interference. The cables provided with cases to connect the front audio to the motherboard or sound card are of crap quality. The cable just picks up all manner of interference inside the case and can be heard on whatever is connected to the front audio.

Why have they not learned this, and provide shielded cable!!? Oh, I forget, they don't give a toss. Cut corners, save costs n all that. Annoying really, makes a useful feature on the case a useless feature.

C64 · 7 Apr 2010 at 16:26

EMI as said above it's highly annoying and there seems to be nowhere to buy shielded front panel audio cables which is odd.
Ferrite EMI filter seems to fix it for some but I've really no idea which one they use at all.

Marsman · 7 Apr 2010 at 16:54

I've tried the front case audio on my 2 cases, one is an Antec 300, the other a Coolermaster Elite 330. I got no interference at all. That is somewhat fortunate though I feel, when you look how common interference from the case audio sockets is. If I did though, I think I would try a DIY job of tin foil over the cable then electrical tape or sleeving over that.

Uriel · 7 Apr 2010 at 17:25

Anyone got a recommendation for aftermaket front panel audio? My case doesn't have it and I'd want something with a well shielded cable.

Rozzy85 · 7 Apr 2010 at 17:32

On-board sound codecs tend to suffer from EMI due to being cheaply made and cutting out any shielding or being in close proximity with other components. Using the rear main outputs would help in some cases. I know that some front panels simply plug into the rear output and the cable is then physically fed back through an expansion slot plate to a front panel. You could probably easily make one yourself with good sheilded cable.

MaxP779 · 7 Apr 2010 at 17:33

Marsman said:
I've tried the front case audio on my 2 cases, one is an Antec 300, the other a Coolermaster Elite 330. I got no interference at all. That is somewhat fortunate though I feel, when you look how common interference from the case audio sockets is. If I did though, I think I would try a DIY job of tin foil over the cable then electrical tape or sleeving over that.

Mines an antec 300. The processor humm stopped from the the front panel when i got my xonar stx today and plugged the front panel into that, but theres still crackles from it. Pretty irrelivent now anyways as i dont have to use it anymore

C64 · 7 Apr 2010 at 17:38

I would try buying a couple of ferrite rings or clamp on ferrites first before thinking about a new front panel.Can buy a ferrite ring/clampon for £1-£2.
Could well solve the EMI, I have the same issues and intend to buy some ferrite rings from that high st electrical shop tomorrow will let you know if it solves it for me.
There's a forum post on here where ferrite rings have solved the issue http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18101143&highlight=ferrite+ring

Marsman · 7 Apr 2010 at 17:57

MaxP779 said:
Mines an antec 300. The processor humm stopped from the the front panel when i got my xonar stx today and plugged the front panel into that, but theres still crackles from it. Pretty irrelivent now anyways as i dont have to use it anymore

I think certain choices of components used within the case can make or break if someone gets interference from the front case audio.

Interesting query from Uriel, I wonder if any of these multi front panel efforts use a shielded audio cable?

Uriel · 7 Apr 2010 at 20:46

I'll put in another recommendation for ferrite rings. They solved some of the buzzing problems and EMI / RF noise I was getting with my old Medusa Home Edition amp and headset. That amp was one of the worst shielded pieces of audio equipment I ever owned. Even my little bravo tube amp gets less and that has completely open sides and a perspex top and bottom!