Bought new speakers but chirping noise is back.

[lexluthermiester]

Ummm:

Edifier S350DB - High pitch noise

www.overclock.net

Edifier S350DB - High pitch noise on all outputs with an exception.

So i got these speakers today, massive upgrade compared to the G560's! It's literally night and day, i can't believe what i've been missing out on all these years buying gamer speakers. Anyway, i noticed straight off the bat that no matter what interface i used, optical, cox, bt etc there was...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

^ spoiler, on third unit he finally got one that didn't produce the same type of noise you're hearing.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetAudiophile/comments/k95aq9
https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetAudiophile/comments/ipyrw5
https://www.reddit.com/r/audio/comments/ipyreo
https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetAudiophile/comments/kadxte Here Edifier Support told the owner that it's not an issue.

Return this POS.

Interesting development.

 

[nomdeplume]

Posits nothing but a culture of inability to resist inflating negative reporting across social media. When 900 out of 1000 reviews tear the product and aftersale support apart or a class lawsuit restricts ongoing sale...

Every [pause] EVERY manufactured speaker of this class or below have this issue. Unshielded cables are responsible a majority of the time. More often the electronics as a whole just prove susceptible to whatever is floating around in that particular environment.

It is highly unpredictable. You could pull six brand new speakers of the same or different make and model out and get different results in every home you attempt this in. Outright return is always a better option than being forced into a chain of RMA failures. After making sure correcting the issue is not the easier of the two options.

 

[caroline!]

Hi, updating.

Try to borrow a USB sound card or a DAC like a Fiio E10K like i have. If it is a problem with the onboard audio, the USB card should be free of it.

I said borrow not buy. If it dose the same on USB as on onboard. Then you isolated the issue to the speakers or wall socket. And someone please explain to me how sound is different on a USB connection than on a analog one.

I borrowed one from a friend but my computer refuses to recognise it, I'm using Arch and also Windows 10, nada. I didn't said sound is different, I just have... a thing with USB, I don't like it when there's already a dedicated port for say audio, or keyboard. Shame my mobo doesn't has an optical audio port, could've used that.

I’m a PC audio neophyte but I thought the two main reasons to use an external USB DAC are 1.) better quality DAC in external gear and 2.) reduce noise from EMI inside the PC case.

Either way the audio goes through a DAC at some point along the signal path so reading “I don’t like sound over USB” is a mystifying declaration to me.

Apart from saving a little cash, is there a truly compelling reason to use onboard audio outputting an analog signal?

Of my various computers all (except my notebook PC) are outputting digital audio over HDMI or DisplayPort cables. My daily driver PC also outputs optical digital to a small Teac receiver. My Mac also outputs digital audio over USB to a Cambridge DacMagic.

What am I missing by favoring an external DAC over onboard audio?

I really don't have enough space for more equipment, other than saving cash I like onboard audio because I've always used it. If I'm spending money I'll get a sound card and the optical wire if it means an upgrade over the antique analogue connectors.

I must have missed reading this key fact in the topmost quote. Ferrite choke is not the most obvious solution anymore. My online diagnosis of "I did crazy stuff with my power" certainly made it a higher priority to remove as cause.

They can be fit to pretty much any cord or cable. I have USB that came from the factory with one installed. The name choke should tell you they may not be the ideal thing to place on an audio only adapter cable.



I guarantee your speakers were designed with onboard audio as one of the most likely sources. Phone and PC.

3.5mm port are more than good enough. Your mobo 3.5mm port does not seem to be so great for this application. Nor do I believe onboard sound card are a feasible solution with modern hardware. Your phone or PC realistically have the same or better capability. I suspect this will be hard to hear, but PCIe sound cards are in everything but name USB sound cards.

Sub $100 USB DAC might be your only feasible upgrade. Not option, upgrade. Not suggesting a devalued legacy piece of Schitt either. More sophisticated.

I respect the decision to spend zero monies is preferable. Any caroline! as clever as they seem might just unhook their front 3.5mm jack from the mobo and contrive a means to feed audio directly to or through a rear mounted 3.5mm female connector and adapter cable into their speakers.

They come with multiple input options, classic analogue for PC/TV/whatever outputs sound, coax, opt and wireless of course.
Options right now are: sound card with optical wire or old case bracket but also losing the front jacks. For the cards I trust Creative more than ASUS or any "gamer-ish" brand.

As for the negative reviews: they're wrong/not my issue because wiring the speakers to the front panel gets rid of the noise, so there's nothing wrong with them.

 

[cvaldes]

I really don't have enough space for more equipment, other than saving cash I like onboard audio because I've always used it. If I'm spending money I'll get a sound card and the optical wire if it means an upgrade over the antique analogue connectors.

Again, I'm just not getting your reasoning.

A USB cable would just replace the existing analog audio cable coming out of your PC, right? It's not like you'd be adding or subtracting any wires for 2-channel audio. It's still one wire (regardless whether it's analog or digital) going from the PC to the audio device (speaker, subwoofer, A/V receiver).

And if you buy a sound card and use an optical wire, it's still a wired connection. You're just passing digital optical data over a wire instead of an analog audio signal or digital audio packets over a USB cable. You're just paying for the privilege of using an optical digital connection rather than using your PC's built-in USB ports. Whether you choose optical or USB for outputting digital audio really doesn't matter for mundane use cases as far as I can tell.

Perhaps I'm missing something that is obvious to you and others but has gone noticed by me. That wouldn't be a first, LOL. As I said, my knowledge of PC audio is very basic.

Anyhow, it looks like my understanding doesn't pertain to this situation so I hereby bow out of further discussion in this thread.

Best of luck!

 

[lexluthermiester]

Again, I'm just not getting your reasoning.

You don't need to. They don't want to go the USB audio route because of added desk clutter. Can't blame them there either.

 

[Luke357]

I just have... a thing with USB, I don't like it when there's already a dedicated port for say audio, or keyboard. Shame my mobo doesn't has an optical audio port, could've used that.
I like onboard audio because I've always used it.

Both of these are lame excuses for not using USB audio. Ignoring that however...

The Creative Audigy ($40 US last I looked) (or the Asus Xonar SE if you need optical) linked earlier in this thread seem like some cost effective ways to fix the interference issue (assuming the issue is the ports on the onboard audio and not due to the fact it has close proximity to alot of EMI inducing components.) If the issue is the fact that the inside of your computer has too much interference USB audio is the only solution (unless you'd rather use the FP connectors on your case, which is valid).

 

[lexluthermiester]

Both of these are lame excuses for not using USB audio.

Maybe for you, but I'm with them. I don't like USB dongles cluttering up my desk, so everything is generally internal to the PC unless it won't fit. Additionally, USB audio is generally of lesser quality than that of discrete sound cards. Good rule of thumb, if you'd got a free slot in your PC, put a card in it rather than use an external device. Though there are exceptions to that rule, in this situation, the OP would very likely best served by a sound card of good quality.

 

[claes]

As for the negative reviews: they're wrong/not my issue because wiring the speakers to the front panel gets rid of the noise, so there's nothing wrong with them.

Wait — you don’t have any issues with the chassis front ports, but with every other source?

 

[caroline!]

Again, I'm just not getting your reasoning.

A USB cable would just replace the existing analog audio cable coming out of your PC, right? It's not like you'd be adding or subtracting any wires for 2-channel audio. It's still one wire (regardless whether it's analog or digital) going from the PC to the audio device (speaker, subwoofer, A/V receiver).

And if you buy a sound card and use an optical wire, it's still a wired connection. You're just passing digital optical data over a wire instead of an analog audio signal or digital audio packets over a USB cable. You're just paying for the privilege of using an optical digital connection rather than using your PC's built-in USB ports. Whether you choose optical or USB for outputting digital audio really doesn't matter for mundane use cases as far as I can tell.

Perhaps I'm missing something that is obvious to you and others but has gone noticed by me. That wouldn't be a first, LOL. As I said, my knowledge of PC audio is very basic.

Anyhow, it looks like my understanding doesn't pertain to this situation so I hereby bow out of further discussion in this thread.

Best of luck!

Yes it's still one wire, and I know it's still "the same" moving digital signals through a pair of wires but using a different connector.
I don't like USB for audio, there's no reason for it, I just don't like it. You know when you suddenly meet someone and dislike him for no reason at all? that happens to me with USB and audio, or when you dislike one spoon in particular when it's done nothing to you. It's ok for flash drives and other peripherals tho.

Also it's not like I can grab an USB and plug it directly into my speakers, it doesn't works like that and I'd have to go through the DAC first.

Wait — you don’t have any issues with the chassis front ports, but with every other source?

That's what I've been saying.

Oh and if I use my phone or mp3 player there's no noise either, just tried again. That fully rules out the speakers and blames the computer instead.

 

[nomdeplume]

They come with multiple input options, classic analogue for PC/TV/whatever outputs sound, coax, opt and wireless of course.
Options right now are: sound card with optical wire or old case bracket but also losing the front jacks. For the cards I trust Creative more than ASUS or any "gamer-ish" brand.

You are misunderstanding. Internally they are treated as USB I/O. Effectively they rely on a signed USB device driver. I won't make a case for this any further so you can focus on the solution that is right on your end of the internet. I'm not a tarnished spoon.

It sounds like you borrowed an older card. Here your issue was easily predictable because... It likely didn't work anywhere near correctly without input from a team of people with multiple doctorates working around the clock... in XP. Drivers for W10/11 is a lost cause.

I really don't have enough space for more equipment,

By any chance would your thing about onboard inputs detract from using HDMI audio into a preamp safe to use with your powered speakers. Among other things it would help clean up the audio signal.

 

[erocker]

Buy a cheap USB DAC.

USB audio is generally of lesser quality than that of discrete sound cards.

That is just simply not true compared with pretty much any DAC over 75 bucks.

 

[lexluthermiester]

any DAC over 75 bucks.

Key point. A quality sound card, as demonstrated earlier in the thread, can be had for as little as $40 and that card is leap & bounds better than a USB DAC of similar price. Plus, it's internal to the PC case and will not clutter up the desk.

 

[Operandi]

Shame my mobo doesn't has an optical audio port, could've used that.

Optical is about the shittiest interface you could ever use for audio from a PC. When you interface with a DAC via TOSLINK (optical) you are using your PCs clock which by audio standards is pure garbage. The USB audio format uses the DACs clock amongst other advantages that make it a vastly superior interface.

I'd suggest getting over you phobia of USB audio as thats a orders of magnitude better way to connect a DAC to a PC.

 

[caroline!]

Extra point for the sound card.

Key point. A quality sound card, as demonstrated earlier in the thread, can be had for as little as $40 and that card is leap & bounds better than a USB DAC of similar price. Plus, it's internal to the PC case and will not clutter up the desk.

I've looked at the local market and both the Creative RX and the ASUS SE are available, the Creative seems to be a bit higher end so I might grab that one. I remember reading a lot of good things about Creative cards a few years ago so I hope they still make decent products.

Also from them there's the Sound Blaster Z/SE for $5 more, the key difference here seems to be the OPT-IN port in addition to the output, oh and the red cover, I doubt that's an actual heatsink.

 

[Operandi]

I doubt that's an actual heatsink.

Thats a shield to protect ICs from the EMI cluster fuck that is a PC.

 

[caroline!]

The cheap DACs rabbit hole has guided me to one of the weirdest audio things I've seen

https://www.amazon.com/Mic-Support-External-Mic-Input-Audio-Output-Converter/dp/B0995JNBM7/

pros:
$10
all in one
no drivers apparently

Also this one similar to the one I borrowed from my friend
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/

 

[Operandi]

The cheap DACs rabbit hole has guided me to one of the weirdest audio things I've seen

https://www.amazon.com/Mic-Support-External-Mic-Input-Audio-Output-Converter/dp/B0995JNBM7/

pros:
$10
all in one
no drivers apparently

Also this one similar to the one I borrowed from my friend
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/

Thats not weird at all, just cheap and generic. But its more or less the same thing (functionally) as one of the most popular external DACs on the planet, the Apple Lighting to 3.5mm headphone adapter.

DACs rarely need drivers.

 

[nomdeplume]

Thats not weird at all, just cheap and generic. But its more or less the same thing (functionally) as one of the most popular external DACs on the planet, the Apple Lighting to 3.5mm headphone adapter.

DACs rarely need drivers.

Phone DAC are different beasts than a constant power source + USB power DAC. They overheat and wear out.

Buy a cheap USB DAC.

That is just simply not true compared with pretty much any DAC over 75 bucks.

Comments about price to performance don't prove true in real life. A DAC chip that costs less than a US quarter is not worse than one that costs $10 simply because it costs more. Prices are scaled off just this type of marketing point. The difference you look for is $75 worth of design quality in a usable package instead of a price tag of $75.

If shipping was less than outrageous I could get a direct from the Chinese factory Pi DAC kit and ghetto mod an internal 3.5mm jack onto a blank PCIe plate for under $100. Honestly I'm not sure what is holding up unplugging the front case jack and rigging up a patch cable from mobo HD Audio pins to a gently powered 3.5 mm jack on a drilled out blank.

DACs rarely need drivers.

To playback mp3 in the most polluted fashion OS can arrange.

ASIO and other functionality mean a driver for M$.

 

[caroline!]

Honestly I'm not sure what is holding up unplugging the front case jack and rigging up a patch cable from mobo HD Audio pins to a gently powered 3.5 mm jack on a drilled out blank.

I don't want to destroy the front panel BUT I'm sure I've seen an older bracket somewhere that can do the same. If it still exists I'll try that, otherwise the sound card or a DAC if I can find one that's not that cheap cable because I foresee it's gonna die in a month.

 

[nomdeplume]

I don't want to destroy the front panel BUT I'm sure I've seen an older bracket somewhere that can do the same. If it still exists I'll try that, otherwise the sound card or a DAC if I can find one that's not that cheap cable because I foresee it's gonna die in a month.

Nah, that part is just unplugging the cases HD Audio cable and bundle it up behind the board. I may be thinking a bit more adventurous in other ways you're not up for.

You seem set on a sound card anyways. Don't buy a crappy DAC because of peer pressure.

 

[claes]

Is anyone else confused that the chassis audio is cleaner than the motherboard audio? Makes no sense to me and suggests there’s nothing wrong with the onboard audio. Shouldn’t any interference affecting the motherboard only get worse when running through the chassis IO?

 

[Ferather]

If only the THX certificate was a thing, its what's it's for, I'm not strictly pro THX, but I am pro certified units, CBA sending back units because they ultimately don't pass.

 

[caroline!]

Is anyone else confused that the chassis audio is cleaner than the motherboard audio? Makes no sense to me and suggests there’s nothing wrong with the onboard audio. Shouldn’t any interference affecting the motherboard only get worse when running through the chassis IO?

^^^

It's not that the front panel wires are shielded and have chokes on them, nope it's just a flat ribbon of wires and a cheap wobbly connector at the end yet it works perfectly.

Nah, that part is just unplugging the cases HD Audio cable and bundle it up behind the board. I may be thinking a bit more adventurous in other ways you're not up for.

You seem set on a sound card anyways. Don't buy a crappy DAC because of peer pressure.

I've read "optical is trash" so I'm even more confused now. I'd like to believe a sound card can properly clock/sync the audio signals before they reach the output port.

 

[Operandi]

It's not that the front panel wires are shielded and have chokes on them, nope it's just a flat ribbon of wires and a cheap wobbly connector at the end yet it works perfectly.

Its everything thats in the path before the output that counts. PCs are full of EMI and unless whoever was designing the audio section carefully making design choices to mitigate all that you get noise. Usually its the front ports that are worse because the output is further way from the sound chipset but thats not always how it works as onboard sound is usually an after thought in general.

I've read "optical is trash" so I'm even more confused now. I'd like to believe a sound card can properly clock/sync the audio signals before they reach the output port.

Clocks in PCs are not very accurate at all and then look at the sample rates involved in digital audio, its a bad combination.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Clocks in PCs are not very accurate at all and then look at the sample rates involved in digital audio, its a bad combination.

While there's some truth to that, in context of audio reproduction and the transmission of digital data through a fiber-optic connection, the variances are so small as render them completely irrelevant. We are talking about variances measured in billionths of a second at best, and hundred millionths of a second at worst, neither of which is going to render ANYTHING that the human ear/perception can distinguish. The arguments that have raged elsewhere on the interwebs are as silly and misguided as they are without merit.

I've read "optical is trash" so I'm even more confused now.

It's not trash. If you want to use TOS-link, use it and enjoy the excellent quality it delivers. Full stop.