Shocked by headphones!? Please help!

[Zorlac]

So my Audio Technica ATH-A900 headphones have been shocking me in the left ear recently. When this happens, my computer either hard locks or the game that I usually play freezes (Lord of the Rings Online).

I am using an Auzen Prelude soundcard on Vista Ultimate 64 with the headphones running straight out of the card.

I had no problems until I upgraded to the latest Auzen driver. So, I downgraded back to the prior version which seemed to fix the issue until lastnight when it started again.

What could be causing this? Is it possible the cable on the headphones is rubbing against my clothes, blanket, etc. and causing the problem? The cable is wrapped in some sort of cloth like material.

I have looked in Windows Event Viewer and cannot find any source to the problem. I am frustrated and the electrical shock doesnt exactly feel good LOL.

Please help!

[Enthusia]

I think you need new headphones, the shocking doesn't sound too safe.

[Zorlac]

I bought the headphones new in Jan. of this year. I have kept them in perfect condition. (only used at home and stored on a headphone stand)

Do you really think the headphones could be going bad?

What else could cause this issue? Do you think that re-covering the cable in something other than cloth might help?

[Punnisher]

I was shocked by the SQ of my grados, but nothing like this!

[zyxwvutsr]

What's the humidity at where you currently live? Do you have carpets?
The headphone cable is probably picking up static and shocking you through the metal plate that covers the driver.

[jilgiljongiljing]

Is it static, a quick small jolt, or a proper shock?

[gz76]

I don't think you'll find a system process that is causing this.

[Maniac]

Is your computer's power supply properly grounded? If not, your computer will be able to shock you every time you touch the bare metals on the chassis with sweaty hand.

[infinitesymphony]

This reminds me of a problem that recently occurred to some iPods after a firmware update. In certain models, the update increased DC offset to an unsafe level, and several people experienced static shocks. I'm not sure that the two were directly related, but it could be a driver issue.

Think about it this way... Your headphones are not shocking the computer, something inside the computer is generating the shock. It all points to a hardware problem, and if it's not the sound card, it may be another component in your computer that is about to fail.

It couldn't hurt to download one of the CPUID programs like PC Wizard and check the voltages that are being delivered by the power supply.

[Zorlac]

Thanks for all the replies!

So first of all I just want to say that it is pretty ironic the problem first started after upgrading to the latest Auzen Prelude driver.

I downgraded back to the previous driver which seemed to fix the issue...for awhile.

The shock is like a quick static shock, but the ear is a tad sensitive

After the shock, the app either locks or both the app and windows lock...hard! I have to cold boot my computer regardless.

I read about the ipod issue via a Google search and most people seemed to think it was aftermarket headphones with *cloth* covered headphone cables. My headphones are covered in *cloth*. The theory was that the cloth rubbed against clothing and built up a static charge. I only get shocked in the left ear. This is the side the headphone cable attaches to.


Last night I slipped some nylon cable sleeving over the headphone cable and played LOTRO for about 2 hours with NO shock and no lockups.

I think this will require a few more days of testing, but I still think it is odd the problem just started considering I have had the Headphones since Jan. of this year.

My surge supressor/line conditioner looks good and even an outlet tester reports good wiring/ground. My PSU is a high-end Seasonic, but I realize that doesnt mean much.

I will check the voltages on the PSU tonight.