How do I fix problems with my speakers emitting unwanted noise?

The following article provides information on How to fix problems with speakers emitting unwanted noise.

Speakers emitting unwanted noise

If you can hear unwanted, surplus or distorted noise from the speakers connected to a CyberPowerPC computer, then please go through the guide below. If the guide doesn't resolve your problem, then please run through the abnormal noise tests as well.

Troubleshooting Steps

Most speaker systems have an amplifier inside the speaker. For such a speaker to work correctly they will require an audio source that is not amplified. Depending on the sound card, there will either be solely a line-out jack or both a speaker-out and line-out connector. The difference between the two outputs is that speaker-out is amplified by the sound card while the line-out, like the audio output on the back of a VCR, requires an amplifier to listen to it.

If your speakers are plugged into the speaker-out jack and your volume is too high or distorted and you have already adjusted the Windows volume control, then plug your speakers into the line-out jack to prevent over-driving the speakers.

It is possible that either the speakers or the sound card have an internal fault. The best way to isolate this type of problem is to use a different audio source than your sound card uses in order to test the speakers. You can use a portable CD player, the headphone jack on your CD or DVD drive, or the headphone jack on your VCR, for example.

In some instances, the speakers have been known to pick up noise from an external source. This is difficult to isolate as just about every electrical device in your house/office gives off some amount of radio frequency (RF) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals. Some of the more common items that can cause noise are:

• Your monitor
• Fluorescent lights
• An uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
• The computer itself
• Fans

Turn off as many of these devices as possible before you test your speakers. Also, if your speakers are plugged into a power strip or UPS, try plugging them directly into the wall outlet instead.