Sound Card Isolation

[CIVILIZEDGORILLA]

Hey guys,

First of all, let me say that this is the best forum on the net to get info when you are having a problem with your computer. I love this place and the answers one gets are timely and pretty concise. So here goes. Also, if I put this in the wrong forum, please let me know and I will repost the question in the correct place.

So I built my own rig a few years back and I when I purchased a sound card, I just bought a run of the mill one. Prolly under 20 bucks. My speaker system is a Klipsch 2.1 Pro Media. So here is my situation. When the volume on my speakers is turned up to a normal level, the sound card is leaking noise from the motherboard. It does not sound like anything specific, just electronic noise and such. It drives me nuts, becuase I have to keep adjusting my volume on my speakers...meaning, when I am listening to music or just surfing the net or working.

Anyways, my question is, do more expensive sound cards have a better noise seperation? Do they isolate better and not allow noise to get into the audio line? ANy help and/or ideas would be much helpful.

Thanks in advance and have a great rest of the work week.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

Let me get a crack at this one. First lets see where the noise is coming from. does it (a) the noise go up and down with volume or (b) steady no matter what volume?

1. First check the audio cable and make sure it isnt running in parallel with any powered lines. if at all try to make them cross perpendicular. Also see if u can possible clean the audio plug too as well.

2. If its (a) it is just amplifying the noise. Its either from your sound card or the amp in your speakers. You can combat this by adjusting either the sound volume of the sound card to low-mid and turn up/down the volume on the speakers. or set the speakers to a mid level and adjust volume in windows (im guessing ur using windows).

3. if those dont work it may be a deeper problem than that and report back here.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Also make sure everything is muted that you're not using. Line-in and mic etc. should me muted when you're not using them.

 

[CIVILIZEDGORILLA]

First of all, I am sorry that I asked a question and then did not follow it up when you guys answered me. My speakers system took a dump and I had to take them in to repair. I finally got them back and no they were not the problem.

So I did check the audio cable and power cable tangent to each other. That was a good tip. I remember what kind of problems I had during my audio days.

I am using Windows 2000, and I have tried all combinations of lowering either the sound card and the speakers, or one or the other. Actually, I just tried lowering the volume in the Windows interface and turned up the volume on my speakers. So far so good.

And by the way, my speaker system is the Klipsch Promedia 2.1.

 

[Creston]

What kind of soundcard are you using?

Creston

 

[Smilin]

Those klipsch have a separate "pod" with volume control right?
You running that around your monitor by chance?
Monitors and anything high voltage like power cords throw off tons of noise.


Try this extreme:

set up your speakers on the floor somewhere to the side or out in the middle of your room. Unplug from the back of your computer, bring the cord over to your speakers. Power them on. Any noise? (yes=bad klipsch)
On your computer MUTE everything. Run the line back to the computer and plug in. Any noise? ***
Keep your satellites where they are, move the sub over to it's normal location. If you can't leave the satellites where they are, just keep them right on top of the sub. Any noise?
Put your 'pod' back in it's location....
Put the satellites back in location...
You should be back to having noise at this point. When did it start?


***= if you get noise at this point, check the shielding on the back of your case where all the motherboard jacks stick out. Move your soundcard to the very far slot in your computer - furthest from AGP. Move any nearby cards away from it. If you use case lighting turn it off.