Amp Static?

[Gaige]

Title says it all really. I'm just wondering what causes it.

My amp is connected to my desktop computers soundcard (Soundblaster X-Fi). It's been suggested that it could be one of 4 seperate things:

-The Soundcard itself
-My motherboard
-My electrical outlet
-The amp itself (PreSonus HP4)

I've come to see if any of you have any suggestions or other ideas as to what it could be or how I could fix the static. Oh! I'm using Beyerdynamic DT 770 (80 Ohm version) cans.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Penchum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaige /img/forum/go_quote.gif Title says it all really. I'm just wondering what causes it. My amp is connected to my desktop computers soundcard (Soundblaster X-Fi). It's been suggested that it could be one of 4 seperate things: -The Soundcard itself -My motherboard -My electrical outlet -The amp itself (PreSonus HP4) I've come to see if any of you have any suggestions or other ideas as to what it could be or how I could fix the static. Oh! I'm using Beyerdynamic DT 770 (80 Ohm version) cans. Thanks for reading.

Hi! Could you describe it in more detail? Does it ever go away?
Thanks

 

[Uncle Erik]

You're most likely hearing RFI from your computer picked up by your soundcard. Computers are extremely noisy - the primary noisemaker is the switching power supply. Those throw off huge amounts of RFI, which your soundcard picks up as an antenna and sends through your amp sounding like static.

You could try shielding the soundcard, but that's tricky and can cost a lot. The surefire way to stop the noise is to use an external source: DAC, CD player, turntable, and so on.

 

[Gaige]

Quote:

Hi! Could you describe it in more detail? Does it ever go away?

Well, it sounds like...white noise...I guess that's the best way to describe it. Almost like a turn-table record playing. That type of static or scratching you hear.

It DOES go away when I turn my amp's volume almost all the way off.

Quote:

You could try shielding the soundcard, but that's tricky and can cost a lot. The surefire way to stop the noise is to use an external source: DAC, CD player, turntable, and so on.

Would an external Soundcard pick up all the RFI noise?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[breakfastchef]

You have to isolate where the source of the noise; basic scientific method of eliminating each part as the problem. Does the amp have noise when you run another source to it like a CD player, TT, DAp, etc? I would tend to agree that Uncle Erik is correct about the soundcard picking up hum and noise from the PC.

I have a USB DAC/Amp and do no pick up any noise. I have another USB DAC device that did pich up some noise when hooked up to a rear USB port, but not off a USB port on the front of the PC.

 

[d-cee]

does the amp make noise when not plugged into the pc?

 

[Fidel]

This is an interesting topic...I have a similar issue when I use my DAC1 - it used to make this cracking noise that was very irritating. Interesting enough, in only happens when I play music through foobar. It sounds weird, but I found out that uninstalling my video card's drivers fixed the problem.

 

[Penchum]

A simple process of elimination will tell you what you need to know. Plug your headphones straight into the sound card, in the same place the amp was connected to. Is the static still there? If it is not, then plug another source (like MP3 or CD player) into the amp and your headphones into the amp. Is the noise still there?

This will point out the trouble. If it is the sound card, you could move the sound card to another slot, furthest away from the video card and see if that helps some.

The ultimate fix, is to use the X-Fi's digital coaxial output, to a separate DAC or DAC/Amp. This would result in better quality sound and no noise. It is a major improvement over using the line-out on the sound card.