Computer noises and static disrupting sound?

On my computer, there are much more noise (hissing and high-pitch noise) from the front headphone jack than the rear jack directly off the sound card.  It's likely picked up from interference from all the other components in the computer.

I actually have to use an attenuator on the front to cut down noise.

Realtek is pretty basic integrated sound chip.  Check out the Computer Audio forum for some crazy dedicated sound cards (not that you really need them).

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/list/46

You just stumbled across the main reason why many people get external DACs.  Computer audio tends to be very noisy from interference and electrical hum from the power supply.  Using an offboard DAC removes this interference.  There are some really good ones, like the uDAC, for cheap that will make you a lot happier.

http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconudac/

Changing headphones or computer-based audio players won't help.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboarder89 

Whats up headfiers, okay so i recently ordered a pair of headphones that I will be using through my computer, waiting for them to come. I currently am using my speakers for sound and i noticed that there's a considerable amount of static noise coming from my computer. wtf is this, and will it affect the sound on my new pair of headphones?

 

Also, I have Realtek HD Audio Manager installed which i believe is the sound driver/manager. Is there anything I should know about this program, is there a better one i should get?

 

Thanks :)

Interesting. Sorry for hijacking your thread.

Question, by buying a more expensive DAC, what are you buying? A clear-er signal? Arn't all converters the same? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by hodgjy 

You just stumbled across the main reason why many people get external DACs.  Computer audio tends to be very noisy from interference and electrical hum from the power supply.  Using an offboard DAC removes this interference.  There are some really good ones, like the uDAC, for cheap that will make you a lot happier.

 

http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconudac/

 

Changing headphones or computer-based audio players won't help.
 

 

You are buying different flavors.  In my opinion, DACs can and do sound different, but they are subtle differences.  If you buy a $1000 DAC, it doesn't necessarily sound $900 better than a $100 DAC.  It just has a different flavor.  I think you are buying build quality and perhaps more resolution and overall clarity.  Other coloration has more to do with the "house sound" than anything to do with overall quality.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endless 

 

 

Question, by buying a more expensive DAC, what are you buying? A clear-er signal? Arn't all converters the same? 

 

that's because the realtek injects the dirty computer ground into your phone....the only ways to overcome this problem are to use:

-an internal soundcard that doesn't share the chassis and audio ground..Asus Essence and Auzen Bravura come to mind

-a toslink S/PDIF output to an external DAC

-a USB DAC together an ADUM4160 dongle

If you want to get a pure audio signal out, get yourself a copy of Foobar2000, then use one of the bitperfect output addons (Wasapi, KS, ASIO).  That way, it bypasses anything your Realtek card would normally do.  This combined with an external DAC is about the best choice you can make for computer audio.

X2.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelpearce 

If you want to get a pure audio signal out, get yourself a copy of Foobar2000, then use one of the bitperfect output addons (Wasapi, KS, ASIO).  That way, it bypasses anything your Realtek card would normally do.  This combined with an external DAC is about the best choice you can make for computer audio.

By any chance is your cell phone near your computer? i have noticed my computer speakers pick up a lot of interference from my cell, i'm constantly moving it around to minimize this. and, yes, i can hear the interference on headphones as well.

might wanna make sure that your computer's grounded in the wall outlet as well.

Agreed. Excpept for cell phone interference, i don't hear any issues with my computer sound, even using headphones.

Is ASIO supposed to improve the soundstage, or is it just placebo? Before it, my ATH-M50 (which is connected directly to the rear jack, might I add) seemed to have absolutely no soundstage at all, despite the SQ, but now I'm even more impressed.

I'll second the external DAC motion.  I haven't heard a single sound card that I actually liked the sound of its analog outputs.  There's so much noise inside a PC that even with a good card it's still in such a hostile environment.  There are lots of good outboard DAC's that have headphone outputs, or go all the way, get an external DAC and then a headphone amplifier. :)