headphones - distorted sound

[cookie_365]

When I plug my headphones into the headphone socket on my speakers (powered
stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep bass buzzing distortion even at
zero volume. If I increase the volume I also get high pitched feedback (a
bit like what you get on FM radio if the station isn't broadcasting).

Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left speaker goes to the right
headphone & vice versa.

If I disconnect the speakers from the green jack on the sound card, and
unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug the headphones directly into
the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but still get the high pitch
distortion (but at least out of the right earpiece!).

It's not the headphones that are the problem; they work fine with my hi-fi,
and I've tried more than one set.

I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC. I've tried adjusting the
settings in the nForce control panel but with no luck. I'm sure it must be
software as the speakers work fine.

Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank you for it!

Thanks, Cookie_365

 

[Jim Macklin]

Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no internal balun for
the headphone output. You really will do better plugging
headphones into a headphone box.


message | When I plug my headphones into the headphone socket on my
speakers (powered
| stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep bass buzzing
distortion even at
| zero volume. If I increase the volume I also get high
pitched feedback (a
| bit like what you get on FM radio if the station isn't
broadcasting).
|
| Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left speaker goes
to the right
| headphone & vice versa.
|
| If I disconnect the speakers from the green jack on the
sound card, and
| unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug the
headphones directly into
| the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but still get the
high pitch
| distortion (but at least out of the right earpiece!).
|
| It's not the headphones that are the problem; they work
fine with my hi-fi,
| and I've tried more than one set.
|
| I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC. I've tried
adjusting the
| settings in the nForce control panel but with no luck. I'm
sure it must be
| software as the speakers work fine.
|
| Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank you for it!
|
| Thanks, Cookie_365
|
|

 

[cookie_365]

Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I still get the high freq
distortion with the headphones directly in the soundcard & the speakers
disconnected?

 

[Jim Macklin]

You have poorly shielded headphone, frequency leakage inside
the computer and maybe too much power being applied to the
circuit.

When I said headphone box, I meant an isolated amplifier
like what a good stereo sound system uses.


message | Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I still get
the high freq
| distortion with the headphones directly in the soundcard &
the speakers
| disconnected?
|
|
in message
| | > Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no internal balun
for
| > the headphone output. You really will do better
plugging
| > headphones into a headphone box.
| >
| >
in
| > message | > | When I plug my headphones into the headphone socket on
my
| > speakers (powered
| > | stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep bass
buzzing
| > distortion even at
| > | zero volume. If I increase the volume I also get high
| > pitched feedback (a
| > | bit like what you get on FM radio if the station isn't
| > broadcasting).
| > |
| > | Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left speaker
goes
| > to the right
| > | headphone & vice versa.
| > |
| > | If I disconnect the speakers from the green jack on
the
| > sound card, and
| > | unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug the
| > headphones directly into
| > | the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but still get
the
| > high pitch
| > | distortion (but at least out of the right earpiece!).
| > |
| > | It's not the headphones that are the problem; they
work
| > fine with my hi-fi,
| > | and I've tried more than one set.
| > |
| > | I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC. I've
tried
| > adjusting the
| > | settings in the nForce control panel but with no luck.
I'm
| > sure it must be
| > | software as the speakers work fine.
| > |
| > | Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank you for
it!
| > |
| > | Thanks, Cookie_365
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Steve C. Ray]

If you are listening to a CD plug the headphones directly in the CD player
and see if everything is OK there.

 

[cookie_365]

Hmm, sounds ominous. I can't really justify buying an amp. I think I'll
ditch the el crappo speakers for something better & see if that improves
things.

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Jim.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Audio is in the ear of the listener. Aural reproduction is
an art and a science. Really good sound costs money, most
people cannot hear the difference, modern noises such as
lawn mowers, jet engines, and rock music has destroyed their
finer senses.

BTW, Aural sex is the only safe sex, you can talk about it
you want (with adults).


message | Hmm, sounds ominous. I can't really justify buying an amp.
I think I'll
| ditch the el crappo speakers for something better & see if
that improves
| things.
|
| Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Jim.
|
in message
| | > You have poorly shielded headphone, frequency leakage
inside
| > the computer and maybe too much power being applied to
the
| > circuit.
| >
| > When I said headphone box, I meant an isolated amplifier
| > like what a good stereo sound system uses.
| >
| >
in
| > message | > | Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I still
get
| > the high freq
| > | distortion with the headphones directly in the
soundcard &
| > the speakers
| > | disconnected?
| > |
| > |
| > | "Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
wrote
| > in message
| > | | > | > Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no internal
balun
| > for
| > | > the headphone output. You really will do better
| > plugging
| > | > headphones into a headphone box.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
wrote
| > in
| > | > message | > | > | When I plug my headphones into the headphone
socket on
| > my
| > | > speakers (powered
| > | > | stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep bass
| > buzzing
| > | > distortion even at
| > | > | zero volume. If I increase the volume I also get
high
| > | > pitched feedback (a
| > | > | bit like what you get on FM radio if the station
isn't
| > | > broadcasting).
| > | > |
| > | > | Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left
speaker
| > goes
| > | > to the right
| > | > | headphone & vice versa.
| > | > |
| > | > | If I disconnect the speakers from the green jack
on
| > the
| > | > sound card, and
| > | > | unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug the
| > | > headphones directly into
| > | > | the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but still
get
| > the
| > | > high pitch
| > | > | distortion (but at least out of the right
earpiece!).
| > | > |
| > | > | It's not the headphones that are the problem; they
| > work
| > | > fine with my hi-fi,
| > | > | and I've tried more than one set.
| > | > |
| > | > | I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC. I've
| > tried
| > | > adjusting the
| > | > | settings in the nForce control panel but with no
luck.
| > I'm
| > | > sure it must be
| > | > | software as the speakers work fine.
| > | > |
| > | > | Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank you
for
| > it!
| > | > |
| > | > | Thanks, Cookie_365
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[cookie_365]

but you need to syringe your ears afterwards !

Audio is in the ear of the listener. Aural reproduction is
an art and a science. Really good sound costs money, most
people cannot hear the difference, modern noises such as
lawn mowers, jet engines, and rock music has destroyed their
finer senses.

BTW, Aural sex is the only safe sex, you can talk about it
you want (with adults).


message | Hmm, sounds ominous. I can't really justify buying an amp.
I think I'll
| ditch the el crappo speakers for something better & see if
that improves
| things.
|
| Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Jim.
|
in message
| | > You have poorly shielded headphone, frequency leakage
inside
| > the computer and maybe too much power being applied to
the
| > circuit.
| >
| > When I said headphone box, I meant an isolated amplifier
| > like what a good stereo sound system uses.
| >
| >
in
| > message | > | Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I still
get
| > the high freq
| > | distortion with the headphones directly in the
soundcard &
| > the speakers
| > | disconnected?
| > |
| > |
| > | "Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
wrote
| > in message
| > | | > | > Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no internal
balun
| > for
| > | > the headphone output. You really will do better
| > plugging
| > | > headphones into a headphone box.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
wrote
| > in
| > | > message | > | > | When I plug my headphones into the headphone
socket on
| > my
| > | > speakers (powered
| > | > | stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep bass
| > buzzing
| > | > distortion even at
| > | > | zero volume. If I increase the volume I also get
high
| > | > pitched feedback (a
| > | > | bit like what you get on FM radio if the station
isn't
| > | > broadcasting).
| > | > |
| > | > | Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left
speaker
| > goes
| > | > to the right
| > | > | headphone & vice versa.
| > | > |
| > | > | If I disconnect the speakers from the green jack
on
| > the
| > | > sound card, and
| > | > | unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug the
| > | > headphones directly into
| > | > | the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but still
get
| > the
| > | > high pitch
| > | > | distortion (but at least out of the right
earpiece!).
| > | > |
| > | > | It's not the headphones that are the problem; they
| > work
| > | > fine with my hi-fi,
| > | > | and I've tried more than one set.
| > | > |
| > | > | I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC. I've
| > tried
| > | > adjusting the
| > | > | settings in the nForce control panel but with no
luck.
| > I'm
| > | > sure it must be
| > | > | software as the speakers work fine.
| > | > |
| > | > | Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank you
for
| > it!
| > | > |
| > | > | Thanks, Cookie_365
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Jim Macklin]

That doesn't have to happen, aural sex is always limited to
auditory vibrations. It explains the 1-900 sexy number at
$129/hr.

Now if we go back to the days when you had to "wash your
ears" when somebody told a joke or said a 'bad word" that's
another factor. Remember, if you have to eat soap to wash
your mouth out, Lifebuoy will cause blindness (Re: A
Christmas Story).


message | but you need to syringe your ears afterwards !
|
in message
| | > Audio is in the ear of the listener. Aural reproduction
is
| > an art and a science. Really good sound costs money,
most
| > people cannot hear the difference, modern noises such as
| > lawn mowers, jet engines, and rock music has destroyed
their
| > finer senses.
| >
| > BTW, Aural sex is the only safe sex, you can talk about
it
| > you want (with adults).
| >
| >
in
| > message
| > | Hmm, sounds ominous. I can't really justify buying an
amp.
| > I think I'll
| > | ditch the el crappo speakers for something better &
see if
| > that improves
| > | things.
| > |
| > | Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Jim.
| > |
| > | "Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
wrote
| > in message
| > | | > | > You have poorly shielded headphone, frequency
leakage
| > inside
| > | > the computer and maybe too much power being applied
to
| > the
| > | > circuit.
| > | >
| > | > When I said headphone box, I meant an isolated
amplifier
| > | > like what a good stereo sound system uses.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
wrote
| > in
| > | > message | > | > | Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I
still
| > get
| > | > the high freq
| > | > | distortion with the headphones directly in the
| > soundcard &
| > | > the speakers
| > | > | disconnected?
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | > | "Jim Macklin"
<p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
| > wrote
| > | > in message
| > | > | | > | > | > Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no
internal
| > balun
| > | > for
| > | > | > the headphone output. You really will do better
| > | > plugging
| > | > | > headphones into a headphone box.
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
| > wrote
| > | > in
| > | > | > message | > | > | > | When I plug my headphones into the headphone
| > socket on
| > | > my
| > | > | > speakers (powered
| > | > | > | stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep
bass
| > | > buzzing
| > | > | > distortion even at
| > | > | > | zero volume. If I increase the volume I also
get
| > high
| > | > | > pitched feedback (a
| > | > | > | bit like what you get on FM radio if the
station
| > isn't
| > | > | > broadcasting).
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left
| > speaker
| > | > goes
| > | > | > to the right
| > | > | > | headphone & vice versa.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | If I disconnect the speakers from the green
jack
| > on
| > | > the
| > | > | > sound card, and
| > | > | > | unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug
the
| > | > | > headphones directly into
| > | > | > | the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but
still
| > get
| > | > the
| > | > | > high pitch
| > | > | > | distortion (but at least out of the right
| > earpiece!).
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | It's not the headphones that are the problem;
they
| > | > work
| > | > | > fine with my hi-fi,
| > | > | > | and I've tried more than one set.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC.
I've
| > | > tried
| > | > | > adjusting the
| > | > | > | settings in the nForce control panel but with
no
| > luck.
| > | > I'm
| > | > | > sure it must be
| > | > | > | software as the speakers work fine.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank
you
| > for
| > | > it!
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Thanks, Cookie_365
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > |
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[cookie_365]

I've just got an idea for how I can pay for a really nice new amp ......!

That doesn't have to happen, aural sex is always limited to
auditory vibrations. It explains the 1-900 sexy number at
$129/hr.

Now if we go back to the days when you had to "wash your
ears" when somebody told a joke or said a 'bad word" that's
another factor. Remember, if you have to eat soap to wash
your mouth out, Lifebuoy will cause blindness (Re: A
Christmas Story).


message | but you need to syringe your ears afterwards !
|
in message
| | > Audio is in the ear of the listener. Aural reproduction
is
| > an art and a science. Really good sound costs money,
most
| > people cannot hear the difference, modern noises such as
| > lawn mowers, jet engines, and rock music has destroyed
their
| > finer senses.
| >
| > BTW, Aural sex is the only safe sex, you can talk about
it
| > you want (with adults).
| >
| >
in
| > message
| > | Hmm, sounds ominous. I can't really justify buying an
amp.
| > I think I'll
| > | ditch the el crappo speakers for something better &
see if
| > that improves
| > | things.
| > |
| > | Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Jim.
| > |
| > | "Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
wrote
| > in message
| > | | > | > You have poorly shielded headphone, frequency
leakage
| > inside
| > | > the computer and maybe too much power being applied
to
| > the
| > | > circuit.
| > | >
| > | > When I said headphone box, I meant an isolated
amplifier
| > | > like what a good stereo sound system uses.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
wrote
| > in
| > | > message | > | > | Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I
still
| > get
| > | > the high freq
| > | > | distortion with the headphones directly in the
| > soundcard &
| > | > the speakers
| > | > | disconnected?
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | > | "Jim Macklin"
<p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
| > wrote
| > | > in message
| > | > | | > | > | > Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no
internal
| > balun
| > | > for
| > | > | > the headphone output. You really will do better
| > | > plugging
| > | > | > headphones into a headphone box.
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
| > wrote
| > | > in
| > | > | > message | > | > | > | When I plug my headphones into the headphone
| > socket on
| > | > my
| > | > | > speakers (powered
| > | > | > | stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep
bass
| > | > buzzing
| > | > | > distortion even at
| > | > | > | zero volume. If I increase the volume I also
get
| > high
| > | > | > pitched feedback (a
| > | > | > | bit like what you get on FM radio if the
station
| > isn't
| > | > | > broadcasting).
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left
| > speaker
| > | > goes
| > | > | > to the right
| > | > | > | headphone & vice versa.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | If I disconnect the speakers from the green
jack
| > on
| > | > the
| > | > | > sound card, and
| > | > | > | unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug
the
| > | > | > headphones directly into
| > | > | > | the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but
still
| > get
| > | > the
| > | > | > high pitch
| > | > | > | distortion (but at least out of the right
| > earpiece!).
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | It's not the headphones that are the problem;
they
| > | > work
| > | > | > fine with my hi-fi,
| > | > | > | and I've tried more than one set.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC.
I've
| > | > tried
| > | > | > adjusting the
| > | > | > | settings in the nForce control panel but with
no
| > luck.
| > | > I'm
| > | > | > sure it must be
| > | > | > | software as the speakers work fine.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank
you
| > for
| > | > it!
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Thanks, Cookie_365
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > |
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[cookie_365]

Jim, just to let you know that a new set of speakers (Labtec spin75) fixed
the problem. They only cost £15, so it makes you wonder if the pair I got
with the PC had less money spent on the actual speakers than on the
cardboard box they came in

Thanks for your help.

That doesn't have to happen, aural sex is always limited to
auditory vibrations. It explains the 1-900 sexy number at
$129/hr.

Now if we go back to the days when you had to "wash your
ears" when somebody told a joke or said a 'bad word" that's
another factor. Remember, if you have to eat soap to wash
your mouth out, Lifebuoy will cause blindness (Re: A
Christmas Story).


message | but you need to syringe your ears afterwards !
|
in message
| | > Audio is in the ear of the listener. Aural reproduction
is
| > an art and a science. Really good sound costs money,
most
| > people cannot hear the difference, modern noises such as
| > lawn mowers, jet engines, and rock music has destroyed
their
| > finer senses.
| >
| > BTW, Aural sex is the only safe sex, you can talk about
it
| > you want (with adults).
| >
| >
in
| > message
| > | Hmm, sounds ominous. I can't really justify buying an
amp.
| > I think I'll
| > | ditch the el crappo speakers for something better &
see if
| > that improves
| > | things.
| > |
| > | Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Jim.
| > |
| > | "Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
wrote
| > in message
| > | | > | > You have poorly shielded headphone, frequency
leakage
| > inside
| > | > the computer and maybe too much power being applied
to
| > the
| > | > circuit.
| > | >
| > | > When I said headphone box, I meant an isolated
amplifier
| > | > like what a good stereo sound system uses.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
wrote
| > in
| > | > message | > | > | Thanks Jim. What's a headphone box? And why do I
still
| > get
| > | > the high freq
| > | > | distortion with the headphones directly in the
| > soundcard &
| > | > the speakers
| > | > | disconnected?
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | > | "Jim Macklin"
<p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm>
| > wrote
| > | > in message
| > | > | | > | > | > Cheap speakers with wiring crossed and no
internal
| > balun
| > | > for
| > | > | > the headphone output. You really will do better
| > | > plugging
| > | > | > headphones into a headphone box.
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > | > "cookie_365" <[email protected]>
| > wrote
| > | > in
| > | > | > message | > | > | > | When I plug my headphones into the headphone
| > socket on
| > | > my
| > | > | > speakers (powered
| > | > | > | stereo desktop set, work fine) I get a deep
bass
| > | > buzzing
| > | > | > distortion even at
| > | > | > | zero volume. If I increase the volume I also
get
| > high
| > | > | > pitched feedback (a
| > | > | > | bit like what you get on FM radio if the
station
| > isn't
| > | > | > broadcasting).
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Also, bizarrely enough, sound from the left
| > speaker
| > | > goes
| > | > | > to the right
| > | > | > | headphone & vice versa.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | If I disconnect the speakers from the green
jack
| > on
| > | > the
| > | > | > sound card, and
| > | > | > | unplug the speaker power from the PC, and plug
the
| > | > | > headphones directly into
| > | > | > | the green jack, I lose the bass buzzing but
still
| > get
| > | > the
| > | > | > high pitch
| > | > | > | distortion (but at least out of the right
| > earpiece!).
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | It's not the headphones that are the problem;
they
| > | > work
| > | > | > fine with my hi-fi,
| > | > | > | and I've tried more than one set.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | I have onboard nVidia audio on my XP home PC.
I've
| > | > tried
| > | > | > adjusting the
| > | > | > | settings in the nForce control panel but with
no
| > luck.
| > | > I'm
| > | > | > sure it must be
| > | > | > | software as the speakers work fine.
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Please can you help - my neighbours'll thank
you
| > for
| > | > it!
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > | Thanks, Cookie_365
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > |
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|