Buzzing sound from speakers when plugged into laptop - but only when programmes are on screen?

[Shaun]

I like to plug my laptop into my speakers for obvious reasons. However whenever I do this I get a constant background buzzing sound being emitted from the speakers when a programme, any programme, is on screen, but it is fine when all programmes are minimised and the volume of the buzzing does not vary with the volume from my speakers, either the level set on the laptop or the actual volume the amplifier is adjusted to.

The buzzing tone also varies from programme to programme - Chrome produces a higher intensity buzzing whereas Windows Media Player's is lower and deeper.

I'm very sure from the information above that it's something in the laptop output that is causing the buzzing sound (also, there is no buzzing sound when plugged into my desktop).

My laptop is an Acer, by the way, and every result on Google I've seen is based on buzzing from power supplies and such stuff.

Any help or advice?

[Bolkonsky]

Reinstall your audio drivers?

[PoleCat]

...I'm very sure from the information above that it's something in the laptop output that is causing the buzzing sound (also, there is no buzzing sound when plugged into my desktop).

My laptop is an Acer, by the way, and every result on Google I've seen is based on buzzing from power supplies and such stuff....

Or maybe because your laptop is not as shielded from EM interference as your PC maybe?

When you plug your laptop into your speakers how close (physically speaking) is your laptop to the actual speakers? Inches, centimeters, feet or yards/meteres? It might help us to know.

This really sounds like screen interference to me but that's hard to gauge from here. Good luck!

[craziii]

I get the buzzing sound when I have my cell phone connected to my laptop via micro usb. that would be the first thing I would check.

[Shaun]

Reinstall your audio drivers?

I'll try that.

Or maybe because your laptop is not as shielded from EM interference as your PC maybe?

When you plug your laptop into your speakers how close (physically speaking) is your laptop to the actual speakers? Inches, centimeters, feet or yards/meteres? It might help us to know.

This really sounds like screen interference to me but that's hard to gauge from here. Good luck!

Laptop is about a foot away from nearest speaker; however, the sound comes out of both speaks with an equal volume.

I get the buzzing sound when I have my cell phone connected to my laptop via micro usb. that would be the first thing I would check.

It's nothing to do with my phone I don't think as it makes the buzzing when it's on my desk or in a different room.

[irishron]

Are the speakers insulated?

The old ones that were not insulated or the insulation wore out would do things like this.

[Shaun]

The speakers are probably not insulated given that they're almost 40 years old. However I have never had this problem with my desktop, which is closer to them than my laptop.

And to add in another twist: the buzzing is practically non-existent when the 3.5mm jack isn't plugged all the way into the headphone output...

[PoleCat]

...[snip]...Laptop is about a foot away from nearest speaker; however, the sound comes out of both speaks with an equal volume...[snip]....

The speakers are probably not insulated given that they're almost 40 years old. However I have never had this problem with my desktop, which is closer to them than my laptop.

And to add in another twist: the buzzing is practically non-existent when the 3.5mm jack isn't plugged all the way into the headphone output...

If those speakers are 40 years old then I doubt they conform to modern EM interference codes. You know those annoying slips of paper you get when you buy new hardware and all they say is that "such and such device conforms to Governmental Regulation Aleph.22.1 regulations" or some such? Your speakers are nowhere near modern times and don't conform.

Now as to why this doesn't affect your desktop - your guess is nearly as good as mine. But I'd wager that the case provides some protection against interference (although it's no Faraday cage). There's space between the walls and the cards in a desktop - not so much with a laptop. Add to that laptops are built with wireless networking in mind with very little insulating space they by design are more susceptible to interference.

Here's a poor college-man's test. Take a glass bottle - say a whiskey bottle - and fill it with water. Then orbit both speakers with that filled bottle and see if you can note any changes in the frequency or intensity of the buzzing. If you can then you can figure out the general direction of the interference and work from there.

Good luck!

[irishron]

The jack could be bad, then. Just guessing. It seems to me laptop parts are less forgiving than their desktop counterparts.