Hard drive noise in speakers

[electricd]

Hello,

I have a problem now with my speakers. (actually I have always had it, but I am trying to finish up, and this is really bugging me!)  I can hear my hard drive spinning through my speakers.  My setup is an audio cable out of my computer running into a 2 X 10W amplifier and then directly into a pair of Happ 4" sheilded speakers.  The amp gets its power from the computer (which I assume is probably causing the problem.).  Is there a way to isolate the noise out of the speakers?  I used to be into car audio and I know that when you have engine noise, then you have a ground loop somewhere.  Is this the same problem?  Any suggestions on how to fix it?

ED7

[krick]

I found this dc power supply noise filter circuit in a book I have called "Do-it-yourself Projects for Guitarists" by Craig Anderton.  He recommends adding this circuit to any power bricks that are adding hum to an audio circuit.  I think the concept will still apply to your situation.



That being said, you might want to question the quality of your power supply.  There are some unbelievably crappily made power supplies on the market.

I had a system that I swore had a defective hard drive.  It turned out to be a weak power supply that wasn't able to keep proper voltage levels during heavy drive activity.

Fortron FSP power supplies are well made, low priced units.
They are also sold under the Verax name.  Verax is Fortron's distributor.

Check out these articles at Tom's Hardware where he talks about them...
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20040122/index.html

I wholeheartedly recommend this model...
Fortron 300W FSP300-60ATV ATX P4
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/fsp30060atv.html
For $27, you can't go wrong.

I have one in each of the three computers in my house.

Quiet, powerful, rock solid, AND cheap.  What more could you ask for?

[Tiger-Heli]

Fortron FSP power supplies are well made, low priced units.
They are also sold under the Verax name.  Verax is Fortron's distributor.

Check out these articles at Tom's Hardware where he talks about them...
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20040122/index.html

I wholeheartedly recommend this model...
Fortron 300W FSP300-60ATV ATX P4
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/fsp30060atv.html
For $27, you can't go wrong.

I have one in each of the three computers in my house.

Quiet, powerful, rock solid, AND cheap.  What more could you ask for?

I like this Fortron supply which is similar (but quieter, I think):
FortronSource P4 300W Power Supply with 120 MM Fan, Model "FSP300-60PN" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-104-937&depa=0

BTW, Fortron is probaly better known in the U.S. as Sparkle Power.  If you notice the FSP in the Newegg P/N, that stands for Fortron/Sparkle/Powerman  (NOTE:  Powerman is also made by them, but Powmax is NOT!)  Conrad is also made by them.

Here are customer reviews of the unit Krick recommended:
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=0&item=17-103-915

[telengard]

Hello,

I have a problem now with my speakers. (actually I have always had it, but I am trying to finish up, and this is really bugging me!)  I can hear my hard drive spinning through my speakers.  My setup is an audio cable out of my computer running into a 2 X 10W amplifier and then directly into a pair of Happ 4" sheilded speakers.  The amp gets its power from the computer (which I assume is probably causing the problem.).  Is there a way to isolate the noise out of the speakers?  I used to be into car audio and I know that when you have engine noise, then you have a ground loop somewhere.  Is this the same problem?  Any suggestions on how to fix it?

ED7

I have a similar problem, but it seems to only happen when my wireless USB thing is working.  The crackling noise comes though my speakers.  I'm not in such a rush to fix it since it only happens when I'm updating my advmame/advmenu binaries.  I thought maybe some shielding might help but I haven't got around to trying it yet.

~telengard

[krick]

Once you rule out the power supply, the problem has to be the speakers.

I originally had a pair of cheap "drive bay" speakers that were powered off a power supply drive connector.  I hacked them and connected the amp to my cab speakers.  It sounded ok but drive noise came through a lot, especially when I used my CD-ROM drive.  It was truly annoying.

I then moved to a hacked pair of Benwin USB powered speakers.  It sounds excellent.  No noise at all....
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20839