speakers "pop" randomly

[Rÿcher]

while listening to itunes or whatever, my computer's satellite speakers will make a popping sound. It sounds like it's coming from either the top center or front right or left channels.

Someone suggested that I have the main speaker volume all the way up, the volume on the control panel almost all the way down. Maybe I shouldn't do that since the speakers are popping.

 

[MetroKid]

I don't know if it could be related but I used to have a similar problem with my speakers. It turned out that they were popping because they were on the same circuit as the refrigerator and they made that sound every time the fridge's compressor kicked on.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I had some USB speakers plugged into the same hub as a wireless adapter. Caused all sorts of noise and interference on the speakers. I moved the wireless off of the hub and into a direct port, and no more noise.

Check what else is around the speakers that might be producing interference, including any wires running nearby.

 

[backstept]

I think it's pretty safe to say that the popping isn't related to the audio source. as has already been mentioned, interference is the most likely cause

anyone who has a cellphone knows how easily they can make speakers emit sounds when they send data packets etc . . .

 

[Rÿcher]

hmmm. That could be. (all of it)

I mean, there's a ham radio operator up the street, a few taxi companies in town, a fire department up the street, this house has old wiring...

Guess I'll have to cope.

 

[John Picard]

I think it's pretty safe to say that the popping isn't related to the audio source. as has already been mentioned, interference is the most likely cause

anyone who has a cellphone knows how easily they can make speakers emit sounds when they send data packets etc . . .

No kidding. I have a radio on my desk at work and it will pick up cell phone packets from time to time. I can't stand it when people bring their cell phones to the office anyway (LOUD TALKERS), but this takes the cake. One day, the woman in the cube next to me said, "What are you doing over there? It sounds like you have a horse galloping along." I got this look when I told her it was interference from someone's cell phone. To top it off, the office's biggest cell phone idiot comes over one day and said, "I heard you have interference from cell phones on your radio. Does it sound like..." I said, "Yes, and it's irritating.". She replied, "Well huh. I just bought a new truck and had the dealer replace the radio and the speakers because I kept getting these strange sounds and here it was my cell phone!"

 

[Jadzia]

My computer speakers will pick up the police hand radios if they're ever on patrol nearby.

It totally freaked me out one night I was quietly falling asleep, and from my neighbouring room I hear this voice, something like "We have a 10:16. Calling for backup. I'm moving in now."

I've never had popping -- but that's due to voltage surges in your supply. I'd suggest using a surge protector which (if it's any good) should stop potentially damaging pulses like this.

If i use my head phones with my computer I can hear digital noise through them (it's quiet but audible), since they're more sensitive than desktop speakers. Whenever the processor is busy, or when accessing the hard disk, i can hear the digital noise. It also makes a buzzing sound if I move the mouse.

Sound cards are generally not magnetically shielded, so it's best to keep them as far as possible from the graphics card, and from the processor/chipset, which is the last PCI slot on most boards.