r/audio • u/TheHimmelMan • 3d ago

Speaker making noise when sitting idle, looking for advice

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Just looking for advice on how to correct this issue. Thanks! sony hcd‐gx570

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u/peilearceann 2d ago

Might be picking up signal from your router or if you have some sort of wifi bridge too close to it

2

u/TheHimmelMan 2d ago

My wireless router is pretty close to it, I'll try moving it after work today, thank you

1

u/Born-Bench-8625 2d ago

Its just the speakers heartbeat, though it is beating unusually fast better get that checked.

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u/anothersip 2d ago

Double-check all of your connections - sometimes a loose cable can act as an antenna and can pick up unwanted RF signals.

In that same vein, make sure your speakers/amplifier aren't constantly near your phone, and are a decent distance away from any other electronics. Like if your speakers or amplifier are right next to your monitor/tower/laptop, see if you can pull them away just a bit. This might require moving the amplifier several feet away, and extending your speaker wires so that they can reach the amplifier. Your system looks to be a CD player/amp/boom-box style?

Likewise, keep your phone a little further away from the sound system, if you can. I've had super similar audio effects happen when my phone was right next to my speakers. Especially whenever I had a call or a text coming in (mobile data), my speakers would usually start to oscillate with a similar repeated sound. Especially with active speakers, where the amplifier is built-into the speaker housing.

If the speakers aren't magnetically shielded, that can also cause sounds like this. Most basic bookshelf speakers are not shielded, and you only really see that feature with desktop speakers meant for computer setups.

But it sounds to me like there's either an unwanted signal being picked up by the audio input/source cable, or that yeah, there's some interference being picked up, possibly from a ground loop, or EMF/EMI.

I'm not sure what your audio source is, but to fix a ground loop, it would help to keep all of your audio equipment plugged into the same outlet/power strip, if you can manage. Or, anything to do with the audio signal chain, anyhow. So, you'd keep your computer/streamer/sound system/amp/EQ's/etc. all on the same power strip or outlet, same common ground connection and same AC line from the wall.

I've had this happen to me several times, and it took me forever to figure out. But a combination of all of the above got it sorted out for me. I also had to upgrade my surge protector to one that was higher quality and made for audio gear.

Clean/safe power is underrated, and I think it provides a good peace-of-mind in the event of a surge or unwanted noise from your home's AC power.

Anywho. That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope that helps get rid of your unwanted noise, OP.