Whoaah
Member
+1|6480|Pa USA
My sound system, over time has developed what started as a slight hum and what is now a very loud hum. I unplugged and replugged my cables and pulled out the sound card and reseated it, no change. I used my speaker system on another computer and the hum stopped. When I unplug the cable from the computer it stops. So it’s my sound card right? Can anything else do this? Are there any other tests I could do?

This computer and several others are plugged into a central UPS unit. None of the other computers are having this problem so it’s not grounding.

Sound Card:
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 w/Dolby Digital 5.1

Speakers:
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1

If I replace the card any suggestions?

Thanks
liquidat0r
wtf.
+2,223|6887|UK
I think it's pretty conclusive that it's your soundcard. But anyway, got an onboard sound card you can test your speakers on?
Morpheus
This shit still going?
+508|6259|The Mitten
What kind of hum is it?

If it's a 60-cycle hum, it is a power/ground issue.

What kind of computer is it? A Desktop? (5.1... it must be, right?)

Do other speakers make the same noise when plugged in? What other computers did you test your  speakers on (laptop/desktop?)
EE (hats
mcminty
Moderating your content for the Australian Govt.
+879|6981|Sydney, Australia

Whoaah wrote:

My sound system, over time has developed what started as a slight hum and what is now a very loud hum. I unplugged and replugged my cables and pulled out the sound card and reseated it, no change. I used my speaker system on another computer and the hum stopped. When I unplug the cable from the computer it stops. So it’s my sound card right? Can anything else do this? Are there any other tests I could do?

This computer and several others are plugged into a central UPS unit. None of the other computers are having this problem so it’s not grounding.

Sound Card:
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 w/Dolby Digital 5.1

Speakers:
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1

If I replace the card any suggestions?

Thanks
Get a DAC.. I'm in the process of creating an Official Audio Thread, so that should explain some things..

But yeah, it does sound like it's the card.

Edit: Try the card in another computer?
TSI
Cholera in the time of love
+247|6241|Toronto
Is it from all speakers or only some?
Any other power cables near the speaker wires?
I like pie.
Whoaah
Member
+1|6480|Pa USA
Liquidat0r:

Excellent idea. Plugged into my mother board… same hum. Does this mean it’s my mother board? Also, if any one of the three cables are plugged in it hums doesn’t matter which cable and into either the card or onboard

Morpheus:

It is a 60-cycle hum. It’s a desktop and I tested with another desktop. All the speakers hum. If it’s a grounding issue it’s only with this computer. The other desktop I tested was using all the same cables and did not hum.

mcminty:

DAC? I look forward for your post. I do have a bone yard computer in the garage I could pull the card from and test it this weekend.


TSI

All speakers. Yes there are power cables, but they were there from day one!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have an optical input that I have cabled to my TV that is clear if I select that input (no ground with the TV when using an optical cable).

I guess at this point installing that old sound card is the next test. I’m starting to get concerned that it might be the motherboard. It’s a Dell dual 3.6 GHz Xeon processor 670 workstation that cost me a bundle.
Morpheus
This shit still going?
+508|6259|The Mitten
Hmm, if the onboard sound did the hum too..... And it's a power hum.....
Yea, the mobo might bad... Just double check everything, make sure there are no power crossing the audio path... including inside the case... maybe something got knocked loose?

And McMinty's DAC is a Digital to Analog Converter... basically a box that will take a digital output (like you optical out) and make it into a regular plug for speakers/headphones/and analog device... Since you said the opti out doesn't hum.... hrmm.....

Oh!!

Ok, try lifting the ground on you desktop power... maybe it's a PSU starting to die.....
EE (hats
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6713|The Twilight Zone
Using more than one power socket for the whole system?
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Whoaah
Member
+1|6480|Pa USA
Morpheus,

If I use a 3-prong to 2-prong adaptor on the pc plug “to lift the round” could I damage the Logitech speaker system by sending a voltage down the shield in the cables if the PSU is going bad?

.Sup

The speakers and pc are plugged into two different receptacles but they are on the same circuit at the ups.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was working for years. One other point, the hum is not as loud when the pc is first turned on. It gets louder after it warms up.

I just pulled the sound cables at the pc and did a voltage test between the pc chassis and the cable shield.

DC = 0 volts
AC = 47.9 volts

Tested with a Fluke 27 multimeter

What do you make of that?
Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6457|Winland

I think the problem lies in your power supply using some bad decoupling capacitors somewhere. An electrolytic in the wrong place can make stuff like this pop out from nowhere.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Morpheus
This shit still going?
+508|6259|The Mitten
Err... to answer your question, no... usually these speaker cables (in my experience) are unbalanced, where the shield is the 'cold' line, so to speak. (Even if it's a TRS plug [Tip, Ring, Sleeve], it might be L/R/N , instead of +/-/G) So, in that sense, you are already sending voltage through the shield. (Also, really the only way for it to damage anything is if your system is REALLY fucked up... although it's true you should ground equipment as much as possible, removing the ground doesn't hurt)

I guess, to be really safe/sure, try swapping out the PSU entirely.


If it gets louder as it warms up, like Freezer said, it could be some bad caps in the PSU (or Mobo)
EE (hats
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6713|The Twilight Zone

Whoaah wrote:

Morpheus,

If I use a 3-prong to 2-prong adaptor on the pc plug “to lift the round” could I damage the Logitech speaker system by sending a voltage down the shield in the cables if the PSU is going bad?

.Sup

The speakers and pc are plugged into two different receptacles but they are on the same circuit at the ups.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was working for years. One other point, the hum is not as loud when the pc is first turned on. It gets louder after it warms up.

I just pulled the sound cables at the pc and did a voltage test between the pc chassis and the cable shield.

DC = 0 volts
AC = 47.9 volts

Tested with a Fluke 27 multimeter

What do you make of that?
I know you said the power circuitry is the same but could you try connecting your: Monitor, PC, Speakers (+an external soundcard if you have it) to the same socket? Hum coming from your speakers could still be a ground issue. Do the speakers have a "ground" switch at the back of the sub?
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6841|SE London

Whoaah wrote:

Liquidat0r:

Excellent idea. Plugged into my mother board… same hum. Does this mean it’s my mother board? Also, if any one of the three cables are plugged in it hums doesn’t matter which cable and into either the card or onboard

Morpheus:

It is a 60-cycle hum. It’s a desktop and I tested with another desktop. All the speakers hum. If it’s a grounding issue it’s only with this computer. The other desktop I tested was using all the same cables and did not hum.

mcminty:

DAC? I look forward for your post. I do have a bone yard computer in the garage I could pull the card from and test it this weekend.


TSI

All speakers. Yes there are power cables, but they were there from day one!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have an optical input that I have cabled to my TV that is clear if I select that input (no ground with the TV when using an optical cable).

I guess at this point installing that old sound card is the next test. I’m starting to get concerned that it might be the motherboard. It’s a Dell dual 3.6 GHz Xeon processor 670 workstation that cost me a bundle.
Why don't you just connect your computer to the speakers digitally (I think you'll need a jack to RCA coax adapter for the Audigy 2 - they cost about 20p)? Particularly with that speaker set, it makes far more sense and should eliminate the problem.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2009-11-12 11:22:47)

.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6713|The Twilight Zone

Bertster7 wrote:

Whoaah wrote:

Liquidat0r:

Excellent idea. Plugged into my mother board… same hum. Does this mean it’s my mother board? Also, if any one of the three cables are plugged in it hums doesn’t matter which cable and into either the card or onboard

Morpheus:

It is a 60-cycle hum. It’s a desktop and I tested with another desktop. All the speakers hum. If it’s a grounding issue it’s only with this computer. The other desktop I tested was using all the same cables and did not hum.

mcminty:

DAC? I look forward for your post. I do have a bone yard computer in the garage I could pull the card from and test it this weekend.


TSI

All speakers. Yes there are power cables, but they were there from day one!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have an optical input that I have cabled to my TV that is clear if I select that input (no ground with the TV when using an optical cable).

I guess at this point installing that old sound card is the next test. I’m starting to get concerned that it might be the motherboard. It’s a Dell dual 3.6 GHz Xeon processor 670 workstation that cost me a bundle.
Why don't you just connect your computer to the speakers digitally (I think you'll need a jack to RCA coax adapter for the Audigy 2 - they cost about 20p)? Particularly with that speaker set, it makes far more sense and should eliminate the problem.
Cos Audigy 2 has a better DAC than Logitech
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6457|Winland

.Sup wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Whoaah wrote:

Liquidat0r:

Excellent idea. Plugged into my mother board… same hum. Does this mean it’s my mother board? Also, if any one of the three cables are plugged in it hums doesn’t matter which cable and into either the card or onboard

Morpheus:

It is a 60-cycle hum. It’s a desktop and I tested with another desktop. All the speakers hum. If it’s a grounding issue it’s only with this computer. The other desktop I tested was using all the same cables and did not hum.

mcminty:

DAC? I look forward for your post. I do have a bone yard computer in the garage I could pull the card from and test it this weekend.


TSI

All speakers. Yes there are power cables, but they were there from day one!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have an optical input that I have cabled to my TV that is clear if I select that input (no ground with the TV when using an optical cable).

I guess at this point installing that old sound card is the next test. I’m starting to get concerned that it might be the motherboard. It’s a Dell dual 3.6 GHz Xeon processor 670 workstation that cost me a bundle.
Why don't you just connect your computer to the speakers digitally (I think you'll need a jack to RCA coax adapter for the Audigy 2 - they cost about 20p)? Particularly with that speaker set, it makes far more sense and should eliminate the problem.
Cos Audigy 2 has a better DAC than Logitech
This. The Z-5500 uses some generic chink DAC that you can't even get a datasheet for.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6841|SE London

Freezer7Pro wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Why don't you just connect your computer to the speakers digitally (I think you'll need a jack to RCA coax adapter for the Audigy 2 - they cost about 20p)? Particularly with that speaker set, it makes far more sense and should eliminate the problem.
Cos Audigy 2 has a better DAC than Logitech
This. The Z-5500 uses some generic chink DAC that you can't even get a datasheet for.
So you say. It doesn't change the fact those speakers sound far better connected digitally to an Audigy 2 than they do when hooked up through analog connections. I haven't done extensive testing with the Z-5500s and the Audigy 2, but I have with the Z-5400s (which are essentially the same) and the Audigy 2 and that is certainly the case.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2009-11-12 12:04:37)

Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6457|Winland

Bertster7 wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Cos Audigy 2 has a better DAC than Logitech
This. The Z-5500 uses some generic chink DAC that you can't even get a datasheet for.
So you say. It doesn't change the fact those speakers sound far better connected digitally to an Audigy 2 than they do when hooked up through analog connections. I haven't done extensive testing with the Z-5500s and the Audigy 2, but I have with the Z-5400s (which are essentially the same) and the Audigy 2 and that is certainly the case.
I find it hard to believe that they sound objectively better with their internal DAC. Different, and more pleasing to your ear, perhaps, but better, no.

EDIT: Unless using the integrated DAC adds some form of equalization on them. In which case, they might very well sound better if it's well performed.

Last edited by Freezer7Pro (2009-11-12 12:17:07)

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6841|SE London

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

This. The Z-5500 uses some generic chink DAC that you can't even get a datasheet for.
So you say. It doesn't change the fact those speakers sound far better connected digitally to an Audigy 2 than they do when hooked up through analog connections. I haven't done extensive testing with the Z-5500s and the Audigy 2, but I have with the Z-5400s (which are essentially the same) and the Audigy 2 and that is certainly the case.
I find it hard to believe that they sound objectively better with their internal DAC. Different, and more pleasing to your ear, perhaps, but better, no.
Better. There is no doubt about it whatsoever.

This is with the standard cables supplied - results may be substatially better through other cables, but the quality difference seems so great that I can't see that would make that great a difference.

This also only really applies to digital content. If you're not using proper digital content then expect poor quality crappy PLII expanded rubbish.

Analog surround output of the same (digital) content using the Audigy 2 sounds muffled and has even worse mid-range than usual.

Don't Cirrus do the DAC for the Z-5500s anyway? There are plenty of datasheets around for it.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2009-11-12 12:35:44)

Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6457|Winland

Bertster7 wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

So you say. It doesn't change the fact those speakers sound far better connected digitally to an Audigy 2 than they do when hooked up through analog connections. I haven't done extensive testing with the Z-5500s and the Audigy 2, but I have with the Z-5400s (which are essentially the same) and the Audigy 2 and that is certainly the case.
I find it hard to believe that they sound objectively better with their internal DAC. Different, and more pleasing to your ear, perhaps, but better, no.
Better. There is no doubt about it whatsoever.

This is with the standard cables supplied - results may be substatially better through other cables, but the quality difference seems so great that I can't see that would make that great a difference.

This also only really applies to digital content. If you're not using proper digital content then expect poor quality crappy PLII expanded rubbish.

Analog surround output of the same (digital) content using the Audigy 2 sounds muffled and has even worse mid-range than usual.

Don't Cirrus do the DAC for the Z-5500s anyway? There are plenty of datasheets around for it.
When I took apart the Z-5500 in my old school, there was a generic chip with some china signs on it that acted DAC. Although that was quite a while ago, and I don't know if it's the same in later revisions.

And I say it again, if there is a drastic difference between the Audigy and the integrated DAC, something, somewhere is wrong.

Last edited by Freezer7Pro (2009-11-12 12:41:39)

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6841|SE London

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:


I find it hard to believe that they sound objectively better with their internal DAC. Different, and more pleasing to your ear, perhaps, but better, no.
Better. There is no doubt about it whatsoever.

This is with the standard cables supplied - results may be substatially better through other cables, but the quality difference seems so great that I can't see that would make that great a difference.

This also only really applies to digital content. If you're not using proper digital content then expect poor quality crappy PLII expanded rubbish.

Analog surround output of the same (digital) content using the Audigy 2 sounds muffled and has even worse mid-range than usual.

Don't Cirrus do the DAC for the Z-5500s anyway? There are plenty of datasheets around for it.
When I took apart the Z-5500 in my old school, there was a generic chip with some china signs on it that acted DAC. Although that was quite a while ago, and I don't know if it's the same in later revisions.

And I say it again, if there is a drastic difference between the Audigy and the integrated DAC, something, somewhere is wrong.
Nope, nothing wrong. I have seen this with 4 sets of these speakers. Some people running X-Fis, not Audigy 2s though - on X-Fi it does sound better, but not a patch on a digital connection (for digital content).

Ideally you have both set up and use digital when using digital content and analog through the sound card when not.

Here's a datasheet for you:

http://www.cirrus.com/en/pubs/proDatash … 526_F1.pdf
Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6457|Winland

Bertster7 wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:


Better. There is no doubt about it whatsoever.

This is with the standard cables supplied - results may be substatially better through other cables, but the quality difference seems so great that I can't see that would make that great a difference.

This also only really applies to digital content. If you're not using proper digital content then expect poor quality crappy PLII expanded rubbish.

Analog surround output of the same (digital) content using the Audigy 2 sounds muffled and has even worse mid-range than usual.

Don't Cirrus do the DAC for the Z-5500s anyway? There are plenty of datasheets around for it.
When I took apart the Z-5500 in my old school, there was a generic chip with some china signs on it that acted DAC. Although that was quite a while ago, and I don't know if it's the same in later revisions.

And I say it again, if there is a drastic difference between the Audigy and the integrated DAC, something, somewhere is wrong.
Ideally you have both set up and use digital when using digital content and analog through the sound card when not.
What do you mean by that?

And are you sure that's the DAC that's in them? It's a bit expensive for the application.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6841|SE London

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

When I took apart the Z-5500 in my old school, there was a generic chip with some china signs on it that acted DAC. Although that was quite a while ago, and I don't know if it's the same in later revisions.

And I say it again, if there is a drastic difference between the Audigy and the integrated DAC, something, somewhere is wrong.
Ideally you have both set up and use digital when using digital content and analog through the sound card when not.
What do you mean by that?

And are you sure that's the DAC that's in them? It's a bit expensive for the application.
What do I mean by that? If you have a DVD with DTS audio (or AC3, but personally I think DTS sounds WAY better than AC3) and you listen to it with the speakers connected digitally it sounds much better. Other stuff, not so much - games are a real bitch to get to work over digital (unless you don't mind PLII expanded gayness). Digital surround content. For stereo audio they all sound very similar.

That is the DAC they use. Well, it isn't actually a DAC, it's an audio processor that also performs the function of a DAC - but that's what most sound cards use these days anyway.

A bit expensive for the application? What do you mean? Having a decent audio processing chip is quite important for a set of speakers that have digital inputs.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2009-11-12 13:24:04)

Whoaah
Member
+1|6480|Pa USA
Additional trouble shooting
Pull power cord on pc, speakers still hum.
Pulled sound card out of pc and plugged speakers in, no hum.
Put card back in pc and plugged in only the speaker cables, no hum.
Plugged in Ethernet, small hum.
Plugged in parallel cable to printer, louder hum.
Plugged monitor DVI cable in, very loud hum.
Unplugged Ethernet and parallel, still very loud.
Unplugged power cord to monitor, no hum.
Plugged power cord to pc in, loud hum.
Unplugged power to pc and took a piece of wire from the receptacle ground to the pc chassis, loud hum.

So any ground path to the pc makes this hum! Bad receptacle ground? A simple receptacle tester shows hot, neutral & ground is ok.

Note: Sound system has an ungrounded power cord.

What sort of cable can I use to go from the digital output 1/8” plug on the card to the RCA input on the Logitech sound system? Any cable with 1/8” plug on one end and RCA on the other? Will switching to this cable solve my problem?

Last edited by Whoaah (2009-11-12 16:20:00)

Morpheus
This shit still going?
+508|6259|The Mitten

Whoaah wrote:

Additional trouble shooting
Pull power cord on pc, speakers still hum.
Pulled sound card out of pc and plugged speakers in, no hum.
Put card back in pc and plugged in only the speaker cables, no hum.
Plugged in Ethernet, small hum.
Plugged in parallel cable to printer, louder hum.
Plugged monitor DVI cable in, very loud hum.
Unplugged Ethernet and parallel, still very loud.
Unplugged power cord to monitor, no hum.
Plugged power cord to pc in, loud hum.
Unplugged power to pc and took a piece of wire from the receptacle ground to the pc chassis, loud hum.

So any ground path to the pc makes this hum! Bad receptacle ground? A simple receptacle tester shows hot, neutral & ground is ok.

Note: Sound system has an ungrounded power cord.

What sort of cable can I use to go from the digital output 1/8” plug on the card to the RCA input on the Logitech sound system? Any cable with 1/8” plug on one end and RCA on the other? Will switching to this cable solve my problem?
Try plugging in everything to the same power strip? I know you said that everything is eventually run to the UPS, but that's really like saying every ground leads to the same earth... There could be stuff that makes all the grounds work individually, but not as a whole set.
...And what kind of digital out do you have? I though you said it was an optical out.....
EE (hats
Whoaah
Member
+1|6480|Pa USA

Morpheus wrote:

Whoaah wrote:

Additional trouble shooting
Pull power cord on pc, speakers still hum.
Pulled sound card out of pc and plugged speakers in, no hum.
Put card back in pc and plugged in only the speaker cables, no hum.
Plugged in Ethernet, small hum.
Plugged in parallel cable to printer, louder hum.
Plugged monitor DVI cable in, very loud hum.
Unplugged Ethernet and parallel, still very loud.
Unplugged power cord to monitor, no hum.
Plugged power cord to pc in, loud hum.
Unplugged power to pc and took a piece of wire from the receptacle ground to the pc chassis, loud hum.

So any ground path to the pc makes this hum! Bad receptacle ground? A simple receptacle tester shows hot, neutral & ground is ok.

Note: Sound system has an ungrounded power cord.

What sort of cable can I use to go from the digital output 1/8” plug on the card to the RCA input on the Logitech sound system? Any cable with 1/8” plug on one end and RCA on the other? Will switching to this cable solve my problem?
Try plugging in everything to the same power strip? I know you said that everything is eventually run to the UPS, but that's really like saying every ground leads to the same earth... There could be stuff that makes all the grounds work individually, but not as a whole set.
...And what kind of digital out do you have? I though you said it was an optical out.....
I did plug it all into one power strip, even tried a different strip. As I noted I can unplug everything except the sound system and touch a ground wire to the pc chassis with everything disconnected from the pc except the speaker wires and produce a loud hum. I think there's something going on with the building ground. Maybe equipment some where leaking a small voltage to ground.

The optical connection is from my tv to the to the speakers. I have an open digital input on the speakers and a digital output on the sound card that is not being used.

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