Strange Sound: Hiss & Clicks

[BoschRock]

Well, tonight I was re-arranging my room and I noticed a strange noise coming from my speakers. It was a hiss that would not go away--not when I turn the sound down or muted the sound completely--as long as the receiver was on, I could hear the sound. What's even stranger is the fact that I could hear a click in the static/hiss (it sounded similar to the sound speakers make when you have a cell phone near, just before your cell phone receives a call).

I know most speakers hiss, however, I could hear the noise from 3+ feet away.

What is wrong?! I am about to go crazy!

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by BoschRock

Well, tonight I was re-arranging my room and I noticed a strange noise coming from my speakers. It was a hiss that would not go away--not when I turn the sound down or muted the sound completely--as long as the receiver was on, I could hear the sound. What's even stranger is the fact that I could hear a click in the static/hiss (it sounded similar to the sound speakers make when you have a cell phone near, just before your cell phone receives a call).

I know most speakers hiss, however, I could hear the noise from 3+ feet away.

What is wrong?! I am about to go crazy!

It could be induction noise from another set of wires - the usual culprit being AC wiring to another appliance nearby. If your speaker wires are near an appliance, this could be the problem.

It could also explain the clicking noises. If somewhere on the circuit for an AC wire you have a motorized device (a motor, a fan, something like that) or a device with a relay that opens or closes (air conditioner, room heater), it can cause noise on the AC line - and not necessarily to the one with wires near the speaker wires. As long as it's on, it will cause inductance.

Also, take a look at how your wires are managed near the receiver and equipment stack itself. Make sure you don't have speaker wires wrapped around AC wires for your equipment - keep them as separated as possible. Don't bundle them together for neatness.

Finally, the condition of all wires should be checked. Loose or poor connections can cause noise with the speaker wires themselves - and if they're thin, they can have limited connectivity.

You also want to check the conditions of all of your connectors from your equipment - especially RCA connectors from DVD's, tape units, etc. One good test is to disconnect them one at at time, see if bad cables are sending spurious signals to your receiver.

Good luck - I just went through this a couple of months ago, turned out to be speaker wires too close to power cords.

[BoschRock]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

It could be induction noise from another set of wires - the usual culprit being AC wiring to another appliance nearby. If your speaker wires are near an appliance, this could be the problem.

It could also explain the clicking noises. If somewhere on the circuit for an AC wire you have a motorized device (a motor, a fan, something like that) or a device with a relay that opens or closes (air conditioner, room heater), it can cause noise on the AC line - and not necessarily to the one with wires near the speaker wires. As long as it's on, it will cause inductance.

Also, take a look at how your wires are managed near the receiver and equipment stack itself. Make sure you don't have speaker wires wrapped around AC wires for your equipment - keep them as separated as possible. Don't bundle them together for neatness.

Finally, the condition of all wires should be checked. Loose or poor connections can cause noise with the speaker wires themselves - and if they're thin, they can have limited connectivity.

You also want to check the conditions of all of your connectors from your equipment - especially RCA connectors from DVD's, tape units, etc. One good test is to disconnect them one at at time, see if bad cables are sending spurious signals to your receiver.

Good luck - I just went through this a couple of months ago, turned out to be speaker wires too close to power cords.

Thanks for your input, Blu-Dog. I tried what you've suggested, but it seems the problem still persists.

I called Sony and they gave me some ideas, which also didn't seem to stop the issues. Finally, they said it may be a defective unit and gave me a number to a local company that will fix the AVR under the Sony warranty.

[TENSE]

your screwed pal!

[JJ]

Originally Posted by TENSE

your screwed pal!

??

[BoschRock]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

??

I had no idea what he meant by that.

[TENSE]

Originally Posted by BoschRock

I had no idea what he meant by that.

WELL IM NOT THE ONE WITH HISSING AND CLICKING SPEAKERS!

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by TENSE

Thanks for securing my point.

[JJ]

Tense, what happened to your girlfriend, she's no longer listed on your sig?

[TENSE]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Tense, what happened to your girlfriend, she's no longer listed on your sig?

hey jj, just throwing out the trash right now, but yeah about my girlfriend, i took her of my sig because i wanted it to be short!

[zweet77]

Are you sure its coming from your speakers I had a similar problem once and it was the subwoofer cable that was not plugged in tight.

[BoschRock]

Originally Posted by TENSE

you can post more that i posted in the past before too, they are some were
profile lol enjoy!

I don't even know what you just said.

Originally Posted by zweet77

Are you sure its coming from your speakers I had a similar problem once and it was the subwoofer cable that was not plugged in tight.

Yes, I'm sure. I can hear it clearly when I put the speaker to my ear, and the subwoofer isn't even plugged in at the moment.

[Driver_King]

It sounds like you have some sort of interference. If this just started happening after you moved stuff around, then something is definitely interfering with the signal. Unless you're having power problems.

[zweet77]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

It sounds like you have some sort of interference. If this just started happening after you moved stuff around, then something is definitely interfering with the signal. Unless you're having power problems.

Quick question is this why you would want a power conditioner?

[Driver_King]

Basically, yes.

[BoschRock]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

It sounds like you have some sort of interference. If this just started happening after you moved stuff around, then something is definitely interfering with the signal. Unless you're having power problems.

That was my first thought. However, I don't believe that's the issue any longer. The receiver we have downstairs doesn't project the same sort of noise. I then tried to unplugging the downstairs one, and plugging mine in, the noise is still there--which leads me to believe it's my AVR.

We'll see, I'm calling the repair place tomorrow (they're closed on Sundays).

[Driver_King]

Well that changes things. Hopefully they can get your receiver fixed.

[BoschRock]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Well that changes things. Hopefully they can get your receiver fixed.

Indeed. Thank you, sir.

This is really bad timing, too. I'll be picking up a brand new Panasonic TH42PZ80U tomorrow after class. Now, I wont be able to enjoy my new plasma with surround sound for a bit. ARGH!

We really need a humongous-temper-tantrum smiley. haha.