Weird sound from my computer speakers
October 6, 2018 7:08 PM   Subscribe

I was sitting here at my computer this evening. I heard what sounded like a crackle (the same as what it used to sound like when you were tuning a radio long ago when the knob was dirty, a dirty variable coil or rheostat sound. ) and then a small "ping" that sounded like a system sound that I've not heard before. I am running windows 10. Nothing popped up on any of my screens (comp or phone) with any notification. More inside.

Points: 1) I do not have a mic of any kind hooked up. I do not have anything else hooked up to my computer but the speakers, screen, and through Bluetooth the keyboard and mouse. And the tower of course.
2) My new phone (Samsung S9 +) was sitting here but it does not have its Bluetooth enabled.
3) I had my browser open and a video game running in the background that does not make noise when it's not on top.
4) I have a nanny intercom but it's not on atm and I think the battery is dead on the portion near me anyway. The portion in the other room is plugged in and may be on.
5) I live near a busy street but have never heard anything like this.

Is it possible my speakers picked up a radio signal of some kind? How would they? As far as the intercom, I've never had interference from it before when it's being used.
4) I do have Bluetooth mouse and keyboard that are working with my computer.

I have never heard any interference before on my speakers.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee to Computers & Internet (7 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I think the first thing to look at is your speakers. They could be going bad, or the humidity could be making them act all wonky.

Then, it may have been a weird anomaly.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:19 PM on October 6, 2018


Was it anything like a Galloping Buzz? A few years ago, cell phones near computer speakers could cause this. It's possible that your S9 is sending out some sort of radio interference that manifests as audio in a speaker.
posted by Hatashran at 7:31 PM on October 6, 2018 [5 favorites]


Best answer: My wired computer speakers sometimes pick up a sports game broadcast (sounds like a very, very faint old-timey radio) when my neighbor works in his garage. So it could be something that hit your speakers at the same frequency.

Also, seconding what Hatashran said about the Galloping Buzz - that is definitely a thing too. With my old cell phone, my speakers would do the Galloping Buzz right before I would receive a phone call/text.
posted by littlesq at 9:39 PM on October 6, 2018


When I have had components fail, there's usually a smell of burning electronics.
posted by theora55 at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2018


How close is your wifi router to your speakers?
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 9:49 PM on October 6, 2018


Response by poster: It definitely was not a galloping buzz, doesn't sound like the example and wasn't a buzz. In addition this is a brand new phone, there was no call incoming (or text or anything). I don't think it was a webpage, I have adblock, but I can't say for absolute sure right now, can't remember. The wifi router is about 15 feet away from my speakers. It only lasted for a few seconds. If there are no more ideas I'll mark the one I think is closest but I don't know that that explains it.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 1:52 PM on October 7, 2018


Best answer: The wire connecting the speakers to the computer can itself act as an antenna, picking up stray interference and playing it through the speakers. It might not sound exactly or much like the galloping buzz example above if it's from a different sort of source.

If it comes back, you could see if a ferrite choke might work.
posted by pykrete jungle at 10:01 PM on October 7, 2018


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