xyz Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Hi I'm getting high pitched pops & clicks, static, and notably when my GPU is active, a loud squeal on my monitors (Yamaha HS80Ms) while connected to my interface (I've tried two I had on hand, a Roland UA-25EX and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 - it happens with both but is worse with the Scarlett). Even just moving my mouse results in a whine. I have no problems with the headphone jacks on either; it's just the rear outs hooking into my monitors that appear to be the issue. I'm using XLR to TRS 1/4" (with 1/4" to RCA adapters for the Scarlett,they may be why it's worse on that unit, not sure). All my gear is on the same power hub. Trying to research what the issue may be is doing my head in. There are as many people saying any given solution doesn't work for them as there are people who say it did. Has anyone here been able to successfully work through similar issues and is willing to share or help me debug my problem? Thanks Cupe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 yep I have the same shit with a different sound card and monitors - not sure what the solution is, but I think it's somehow related to the powerpoints and grounding. I mixed the powerpoints and powerboards my PC and monitors were plugged into and I still get noise, but it's much quieter than it used to be. I remember reading into ground loop isolators but never bothered to actually try one. My suggestion is try plugging the monitors into a powerboard connected to one powerpoint, with the PC plugged into the other powerpoint and see if that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyz Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 Thanks for the reply, but unfortunately that didn't appreciably change the situation one way or the other. Still getting squeals and whining when I move the mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Desktop or laptop? Is the interface plugged into the computer directly, or via a USB hub? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyz Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 Desktop (new, AMD 3600 with a <$100 Asus motherboard), the interface is connected directly to the motherboard via usb. Doesn't matter which usb slot I use. I suspect there's a ground issue, but I don't understand how the interface's headphone jack isn't affected. It's like the active monitors are picking up and amplifying interference (mainly GPU & mouse activity) from the PC via the XLR-TRS cables connected to the interface, even when that interface isn't selected as WIndows' primary audio device. How is that possible? Has anyone used a DI box with ground lift (and attenuation) for monitor speakers here? Would that help? Or maybe even just something like these? Relatively inexpensive so considering giving a couple a shot. A lot of options, all cost money, NFI what the exact problem is in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 It wouldn't affect the headphone jack because the headphone jack is being powered by the same electrical powerpoint as the rest of the PC or something. That link looks like its definitely worth a shot for only $6 Cupe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I'd avoid the 1/4" -> RCA adapters and ensure you're using TRS cables -> whatever your monitors support (XLR or TRS). This will help. This is a decent starting point to run through in order. https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/210293145-How-to-Resolve-Ground-Loop-Issues-Humming-and-Buzzing-Sounds- What I'd do next: -ensure you're using balanced cables and inputs on everything -try the ground lift xlr adapters -try DI box. If you have a mate with the adapters and/or DI box to test first that's always a good way to go. Cupe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyz Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 Ordered the adapters, will update once I've tested them out. Thanks for the responses. Cupe and Mitch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeatLeSS Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Lettuce know how you go, I haven't encountered this issue with a Desktop computer before, usually their PSU's aren't converting power like the power packs in laptops. I have encountered this issue with almost every laptop I've touched however. Would be definitely interested to know how you solve this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyz Posted December 27, 2019 Author Share Posted December 27, 2019 Got the ground lift adapters in today, and they've made a world of difference. I can still here a tiny bit of the squeal if I get close to the speakers while the GPU is going hard, but it's inaudible from my seating position and definitely so while playing back audio - the quality of which doesn't seem to be affected. I'm very happy with my $10.04 solution! Cheers for the advice guys. BeatLeSS, Scottie and Cupe 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupe Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 58 minutes ago, xyz said: I can still here a tiny bit of the squeal if I get close to the speakers while the GPU is going hard Do you have any other tech plugged in nearby? I found recently that my surveillance unit interferes with my surround sound speakers. They must share a similar channel or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyz Posted December 27, 2019 Author Share Posted December 27, 2019 It's just the computer with standard peripherals, monitor speakers, and display monitors. Nothing else within metres of it. At this point though, like I said it's for all intents and purposes inaudible, so I'm considering the issue fixed. Mitch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 3 hours ago, Cupe said: Do you have any other tech plugged in nearby? I found recently that my surveillance unit interferes with my surround sound speakers. They must share a similar channel or something. They probably both run off 2.4Ghz which is common for interference. Microwaves etc. will also cause issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupe Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 14 hours ago, Mitch said: They probably both run off 2.4Ghz which is common for interference. Microwaves etc. will also cause issue Yep. I swapped the TV wifi over to 5Ghz and the Microwave no longer fucks with Netflix. But it's weird that a surveillance box fucks with independent speakers that run off audio out. But it was 100% related. Just thought I'd check because sometimes there's some device fucking with shit in the air and it's invisible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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