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Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

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Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#61

Post by brigade »

Night_Thastus wrote: post #42

I run into a similar problem. I have a power-hungry GPU (3080) and CPU (9800X3D). All my audio equipment was on the same UPS (and therefore outlet) as my gaming PC. The result is that any time a particularly stressful game would be open, I'd get buzzing in the speakers. (Especially if the framerate was at 360) If you ask audiophiles online they will swear up and down that a cheater plug, balanced cables, or optical i…

Well the OP’s electrical noise almost certainly is coming through the USB connection as their DAC has no external power supply. Extremely common.

Your problem of an AC power supply not sufficiently filtering out high-frequency noise from mains is exceptionally rare to the point that yes, I also don’t believe that was the correct diagnosis of your issue.

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#62

Post by LoganDark »

Night_Thastus wrote: post #51
monster_truck wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pure sine wave UPSs are not that expensive anymore man. I think the biggest "desktop" pure sine wave cyberpower sells (1500VA/1000W, CP1500PFCLCD) is <$300 now. I have a couple of them, they are great.

It's not about pure sine wave - it's double conversion. Only double-conversion would actually isolate the equipment from EMI on the line. Without that pure sine wave won't do squat for EMI. And one of those, even the cheapest ones, run for about ~$900. And they are LOUD.

Are they loud because they're double-conversion or are they loud because they're designed for server racks? When I search for double-conversion online I can practically only find rack-mount solutions.

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#63

Post by azraellzanella »

bluedino wrote: post #23

I remember 15+ years ago reading about certain laptops (Dell?) that you could 'hear' scrolling on websites, somehow the video chip was interfering with the sound chips. I had one at the time it was pretty weird.

I get this on my MacBook M1, I "hear" some websites "static"

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#64

Post by tecleandor »

bluedino wrote: post #23

I remember 15+ years ago reading about certain laptops (Dell?) that you could 'hear' scrolling on websites, somehow the video chip was interfering with the sound chips. I had one at the time it was pretty weird.

Happens to my Lenovo X390, specially with disks writes...

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#65

Post by Gracana »

LM358 wrote: post #54
Gracana wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're a bit handy, you can assemble a line filter using a part like this https://enerdoor.com/products/fin27/ for a heck of a lot cheaper than you can buy a filtered power strip. You may also be able to solve the problem with a simple common mode choke, either the clip-on type, or a toroid that you wrap the cable through a couple-few times. https://palomar-engineers.com/rfi-kits/acdc-power-line-choke...

A filter like that will have very little attenuation in the audio spectrum. I agree however that indiscriminately throwing ferrites at problems can be a good solution!

Maybe you’re right. My experience is with radios, where it’s possible that high frequency noise is conducted into the RF section rather than into the audio amplifier. I know that in one case, both my transmitted signal and received audio output were absolute garbage (edit: because it was picking up noise from the vehicle ignition) until I added a choke to the power input wiring.

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#66

Post by Night_Thastus »

LoganDark wrote: post #62
Night_Thastus wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about pure sine wave - it's double conversion. Only double-conversion would actually isolate the equipment from EMI on the line. Without that pure sine wave won't do squat for EMI. And one of those, even the cheapest ones, run for about ~$900. And they are LOUD.

Are they loud because they're double-conversion or are they loud because they're designed for server racks? When I search for double-conversion online I can practically only find rack-mount solutions.

They're loud because unlike a regular UPS they need to run continually to convert the power back and forth. That generates a lot of waste heat, which fans must remove.

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#67

Post by 0_____0 »

LM358 wrote: post #54
Gracana wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're a bit handy, you can assemble a line filter using a part like this https://enerdoor.com/products/fin27/ for a heck of a lot cheaper than you can buy a filtered power strip. You may also be able to solve the problem with a simple common mode choke, either the clip-on type, or a toroid that you wrap the cable through a couple-few times. https://palomar-engineers.com/rfi-kits/acdc-power-line-choke...

A filter like that will have very little attenuation in the audio spectrum. I agree however that indiscriminately throwing ferrites at problems can be a good solution!

This reminds me of my favorite "Downfall" meme video.

[Youtube] "Hitler fails radiated emissions" - Orin Laney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeo8ZZTfwZQ

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#68

Post by arde »

LoganDark wrote: post #62
Night_Thastus wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about pure sine wave - it's double conversion. Only double-conversion would actually isolate the equipment from EMI on the line. Without that pure sine wave won't do squat for EMI. And one of those, even the cheapest ones, run for about ~$900. And they are LOUD.

Are they loud because they're double-conversion or are they loud because they're designed for server racks? When I search for double-conversion online I can practically only find rack-mount solutions.

They're loud because silence is not a priority in their design and their fans run non-stop.

Re: Why are my headphones buzzing whenever I run my game?

#69

Post by bogwog »

bluedino wrote: post #23

I remember 15+ years ago reading about certain laptops (Dell?) that you could 'hear' scrolling on websites, somehow the video chip was interfering with the sound chips. I had one at the time it was pretty weird.

Maybe I have sensitive hearing, but I encounter this frequently on machines from all manufacturers. It is very much still a problem today.
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