If you have ever experienced a buzzing sound from your computer speakers, you know how frustrating and distracting it can be. This problem can arise due to various reasons such as software glitches or hardware problems. However, the good news is that there are several simple solutions that can help you to fix the buzzing sound from your computer speakers.
In this article, we will look at the best ways to get rid of that humming or buzzing sound from your PC. But before that, let’s understand the possible reasons that your computer speakers are acting funny.
Why Is My Computer Speaker Making a Buzzing Noise
There are three possible reasons that can cause your computer speakers to emit a buzzing noise.
- First, it could be faulty hardware where the cable connecting your speakers is damaged or an internal issue within the speaker itself.
- Secondly, there could be external interference from other radio signals, creating static noise.
- Lastly, your computer might have some outdated audio drivers, causing a conflict with the sound output.
It may not be possible to instantly identify the reason but the good thing is that there are multiple ways to fix this issue. Let’s look at them.
9 Ways to Fix Buzzing in Laptop or Computer Speakers
Here are some easy fixes to tackle the problem of unwanted noise from your speakers.
1. Clean Aux Port and Connector Jack
A dirty Aux port or a connector jack can significantly degrade your sound quality. These metal contact points are subject to oxidation over a period of time, which can reduce the conductivity of sound signals. Hence, it is important to keep your Aux port and connector jack clean to ensure the best sound quality.
We recommend using isopropyl alcohol to clean your audio jack, instead of water. This is because isopropyl alcohol evaporates quickly leaving no traces behind, but water, on the other, hand can leave moisture residue, which can harm your Aux port.
2. Check the Audio Cable for Damages
If the cable connecting your computer and your speakers is physically damaged, it can hamper the sound output. Ensure that your connecting cable is in good condition with no exposed internal wires.
In some cases, the damage might not be visible. So, if shaking the connecting cable has an effect on the sound from your speakers, it is an indication of internal damage to the cable. The solution here is to replace your audio cable with a new one.
3. Ensure a Stable Power Source for Your Speakers
A fluctuating or inconsistent power source for your speakers can create unwanted noises. A speaker is an electromagnet and is directly affected by electrical noises if the power source is not stable.
So. if you hear a buzzing noise when your speakers are drawing power from a USB port on your computer, try powering your speakers using an external wall adapter.
USB ports on a computer are not a reliable source of power for speakers. Hence, using a dedicated adapter and connecting it directly to a wall socket can ensure a stable power source for your computer speakers.
4. Keep Radio-Signal Emitting Devices Away From the Speakers
Speakers are known to behave absurdly around radio signal-emitting devices. The most common culprit is mobile phones, which are actively connected to signal towers. Hence, it is advised to keep your phones at a distance from your speakers to avoid signal interference.
Other notable sources of external interference are microwave ovens. If your speakers are near a microwave, you may hear weird noises coming from your speakers when the microwave is running.
In such cases, you can either move your speakers further from the microwave or bear with the buzzing sound for a while when your food is getting warmed.
5. Try Lowering the Volume of Your Speakers
Some speakers tend to output distorted noise at higher volumes. This is because the diaphragm of the speaker is unable to handle the high amplitude of the sound signal at an increased volume.
If your speaker has a volume control switch, try to slightly lower the volume. Alternatively, you can also lower the volume from your computer settings to fix the noise.
6. Re-Install Audio Equalizers on Your Computer
Do you use a third-party equalizer like Dolby Audio, Boom 3D, etc.? If yes, you may face a buzzing sound from computer speakers in case these equalizers are misconfigured. Although these applications are helpful in tuning the sound quality of your speakers, using incorrect settings or sound profiles can result in problems like a buzzing sound.
The best way to revert to the recommended settings of a third-party equalizer is to re-install your audio equalizer. This way, it will delete any wrong settings from your system and load fresh sound profiles when you re-install the equalizer.
7. Update Audio Drivers for Your Speakers
Using outdated audio drivers on your computer can result in an unpleasant sound output from your speakers. So, follow the below steps to update audio drivers on your Windows computer or laptop.
Step 1: Press Windows + S to open the search bar on your Windows computer.
Step 2: Search for Device Manager and open it.
Step 3: Click on ‘Audio inputs and outputs’. This will reveal all speakers and microphones on your system.
Step 4: Now, right-click on the speaker device of your system. Select Update driver.
Step 5: Click on ‘Search automatically for drivers’ to check for the latest audio drivers for your speakers.
Step 6: Close all pop-ups and Device Manager, once the drivers are updated.
8. Configure Audio Settings
Ensure that your speakers are using the correct settings from your computer. Settings like volume gain or bass gain may not work properly with some speakers, resulting in static noise. Here’s how you can configure audio settings on your Windows machine.
Step 1: Open Control Panel on your Windows computer.
Step 2: Click on Hardware and Sound. This will show all hardware devices connected to your computer.
Step 3: Now, click on Sound.
Step 4: Right-click on your speaker device in the Playback tab and select Properties.
Step 5: Go to the Enhancements tab. This will show all audio settings for your speaker.
Step 6: Now, click on the checkbox next to Disable all Enhancements.
Step 7: Click on Apply and close all the pop-ups.
9. Replace Speakers if Nothing Else Works
If you have tried all the fixes, but are still facing buzzing sounds from your speakers, chances are that your speaker has turned faulty and needs some repairs. Try taking your speakers to the service center for proper diagnosis. This might also be an indication to get a new set of speakers.
FAQs on Buzzing Sound From Speakers
1. Can audio played on cheap speakers cause a buzzing sound?
Yes, cheap speakers tend to have poor-quality magnets and diaphragms, resulting in constant buzzing or humming. In such cases, traditional fixes will have no effect on the sound output as the speaker itself does not have the potential for a clear sound output.
2. Can hum sound damage speakers?
No, a humming sound will not damage your speakers. However, it will surely damage your mood as it can be irritating.
3. Does loud volume damage speakers?
Yes, playing your speakers at a loud volume for an extended duration can damage your speakers. The moving mechanism of the diaphragm can fail, and the drivers can get damaged due to excessive heat generation if you use your speakers at a loud volume for long periods.
No More Humming or Buzzing
To sum it up, fixing a buzzing sound from computer or laptop speakers requires a bit of patience and troubleshooting, but it’s a problem that can be solved with the right approach. By using the fixes mentioned in this article, you can determine the root cause of the issue and fix it. If you are looking to upgrade your sound setup, check out these affordable soundbars with Dolby Atmos support.
FAQs
How to Fix Buzzing Sound From Computer or Laptop Speakers? ›
Some of the simplest solutions to annoying hum in computer speakers involves just checking all the connections and making sure everything is plugged in tight. Audio cable transmits sound as electricity, so any rogue electrons that get into the cable can be transmitted as sound through the speakers.
Why is my PC buzzing through speakers? ›Some of the simplest solutions to annoying hum in computer speakers involves just checking all the connections and making sure everything is plugged in tight. Audio cable transmits sound as electricity, so any rogue electrons that get into the cable can be transmitted as sound through the speakers.
How do I get rid of the buzzing sound on my speakers? ›- INPUT. ✓ Remove your audio source devices one by one. ✓ Replace audio cables one by one. ...
- MIXER / AMPLIFIER. ✓ Connect your audio source device into another input. ...
- OUTPUT. ✓ Remove your speakers one by one. ...
- EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE. ✓ Use a Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) filter.
- Inspect or Change Your Hardware. ...
- Run the Audio Troubleshooter. ...
- Disable Audio Enhancement. ...
- Update Your Audio Drivers. ...
- Reinitialize the Default Audio Device. ...
- Turn Off Background Games. ...
- Resetting Sound Settings.
As the audio enhancement algorithm is implemented on your laptop, any error in the algorithm filter may be outputted to the speaker making a faint buzzing noise when the speaker volume is low. This is a normal phenomenon and does not indicate an issue with your device.
What is the reason for a loud buzzing sound? ›Ear damage and exposure to loud noises are common causes of ringing or humming sounds in your ear (tinnitus). Lesser-known causes include medications and thyroid disease. Tinnitus is the medical term for “ringing in the ears.”
What is the buzzing sound coming from? ›If you notice a buzzing sound coming from your wires or outlets, contact an electrician. In most cases, the sound indicates overloading in the wire or outlet. This may also be a sign of an improperly grounded or loose wire. All of these situations are dangerous and require professional input.
Why do I hear a loud buzzing noise? ›Tinnitus is the medical term for "hearing" noises in your ears. It occurs when there is no outside source of the sounds. Tinnitus is often called "ringing in the ears." It may also sound like blowing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, or sizzling.
Why wont my computer speakers stop buzzing? ›The two main causes of a persistent humming or buzzing are: a bad audio cable connected to the amplifier, or. there is electrical noise being passed through an audio cable into the amplifier.
Why do I hear a buzzing sound when it's quiet? ›In a silence where some people could hear a pin drop, people with tinnitus hear a constant ringing in their ears. Or the sound may be a buzzing, rushing, pinging, clicking, whistling, or roaring. Some people describe it as a freight train constantly rolling through their brains.
What is a phantom noise? ›
Phantom noises, that mimic ringing in the ears associated with tinnitus, can be experienced by people with normal hearing in quiet situations, according to new research published in the January 2008 edition of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
Why is one of my speakers making a buzzing sound? ›Your speakers start to buzz if the signal cable is not connected to the ground. Check the signal input line on your device. To check if the buzzing sound has disappeared, try switching to a different audio cable and port.
Is it normal for speakers to hiss? ›A constant low level hissing noise is a normal sound associated with speaker operation. All active speaker amplifiers generate sound which is heard through the speaker elements. This is called self generated noise level, which is <5 dB A or even <3. dB A for latest Genelec products.
What does a blown speaker sound like? ›The most common aural indication of a blown speaker is an unpleasant buzzing or scratching sound, by itself or roughly at the pitch of the note the speaker is attempting to reproduce.
How do you fix a ground loop hum? ›Power inter-connected equipment from different AC outlets is likely to create a ground loop: The ground will travel through the shielding of the signal cables. Anything that breaks the loop will remove the noise, and the easiest way to do it is to power everything through a single AC socket.
Why are my speakers sizzling? ›Speaker crackling is almost always caused by a connection problem. Someplace between your amplifier and your speaker driver, there's a bad wire which is causing the driver to move abruptly, causing interference.
What causes a fuzzy speaker? ›As we've discussed, distortion in speakers is typically caused by the clipping of the audio signal going into the speakers. Distortion itself will not cause damage to a speaker.
Does a rattling sound mean your speaker is blown? ›Rattling and Popping Sounds
If the only sound coming from your woofers is a rattling sound, then your speakers are likely blown. Another sound to keep an ear out for is popping. If you hear popping sounds coming from your speakers, then your tweeters are likely damaged.
- Distorted Sound: When music or sound is playing it is completely out of tune.
- Speaker Volume is Too Low: Even though it's turned to the max power on all settings,
Most minor tears and holes in speaker cones can be repaired with a thin, white glue mixture. Extensive damage may require re-coning, which is a complete cone replacement better suited for a professional.
What are the symptoms of ground loop in audio? ›
As a consequence of ground-loop induced voltages, the ground reference in the system is no longer stable and signals ride on the interference. This interference becomes part of the program signal. Ground loops are a major cause of noise, hum and other interference in audio and video systems.
What does humming wires mean? ›The reason power lines themselves might hum is due to a different phenomenon called corona discharge. This hum, or discharge of energy, happens when the electrical field around the power lines is greater than what is needed to start a flow of electric current from the power line to the surrounding air.
What is an example of a ground loop? ›One example where a ground loop can happen is in a simple setup of a laptop computer and an AC powered speaker. When the speaker is used by the laptop, connected through an audio cable, while both the laptop and speaker are plugged into the AC mains, the speaker may produce a buzzing sound.