So you are lying down on your couch and chilling, suddenly you hear an irritating sound of hissing and humming.
On investigating further, you discover that the real culprit is the speaker system lying in your main hall. Who would have thought that the speaker system was responsible for this? No one right!
We know that you have all these questions popping up inside your head regarding what causes these to make such a sound and what could be the possible fixes that will solve your problem.
Worry not! We have the whole solution to your problem compiled in a single article.
Either the system wiring may be loose, or the volume of the speakers may be high, which might be responsible for this horrible sound. There can be plenty of reasons. We make sure that we cover them in this article.
So if you want to handle this issue by yourself, we assure you that going through this article will solve almost every problem of yours. Without any further ado, let’s get started!
What Causes Humming or Hissing Sound from Speakers?
There are many reasons why your speakers might be making that humming and hissing sound and disturbing your leisure time.
A bit of knowledge about the speakers and their functioning will make the reasons better understandable.
Let us have a look at some of the probable causes of this humming or hissing sound from the speakers:
The wiring may be loose
The wire connects the speakers to the source of the sound. These wires are responsible for the AC sound signal transfer from the source of the sound to the speakers. The jacks/plugs connected to the speakers help in the transfer of the current to the speaker from the wires.
At times the wiring may get loose and can be the probable cause of the humming or hissing sounds. So if you are also hearing the constant hum and hiss of the speaker, it will be better to look at the wiring to get rid of the speaker hiss.
The wiring may be damaged
It also can be the probable cause behind the speakers hissing and humming sound. Damaged wires can cause a lot of hissing sound from speakers.
The wires may be damaged, due to improper handling of them or their cheap quality which made them wear out easily. Look out for the damaged wires and replace them as soon as possible.
Blown speakers may lead to such hissing and humming noise
If you have blown out speakers, then they may be responsible for the hissing and humming noise that you are hearing. Speakers get blown out due to the burning of the voice coil and possible damage to the speaker cone and the suspension.
Blown-out speakers cause such hissing noise, and it will be better if you get them replaced or repaired.
The ground loop may be responsible!
The ground loop noise is common in buildings and apartments. The audio equipment is connected to the same power source via different AC outlets. Generally, the potential of these AC outlets is the same.
When there is a potential difference in any of the two outlets or more, ground loop noise arises. It is a fifty or sixty cycle hum. This creates a kind of a loop, hence the name ground loop. This gives rise to a humming sound from the speakers.
The speaker’s gain may be set too high
Do you know that there is a difference between the gain and volume of the speakers? Yeah, you heard that right! Gain is very different from the volume of a speaker.
If the gain of a speaker is set too high, then there is the freedom to set the volume at a very high pace, which can cause irreparable damage. So, if the gain is set too high, then it may be the source of the humming and hissing sound that you keep on hearing.
The noise may be inherent in the audio signal!
The noise can be printed on the audio signal itself, causing the speaker to reproduce the sound. As the speakers are used as an output for the sound signals, this sound will also get reproduced. So if you are getting the hum and hiss sound, it may be out of your control at times! As it has been supplied in the audio signal itself.
The noise may be coming from the analog equipment
Analog equipment and playback systems will often produce a humming and hissing sound that will be transferred to the speaker. When analog equipment like vinyl or analog tape is not cleaned, it may produce this speaker hissing sound.
The playback system may be producing this sound
The playback system that is responsible for reading audio from the analog equipment may be producing such a hissing sound. So it is better to clean the analog equipment and the playback system if you hear the speaker hiss.
Electromagnetic interference can also cause such a noise
Have you ever noticed when you move towards a speaker, the humming and hissing sound is produced? Or when a computer or wifi is placed near the speaker, such a sound is produced.
When there are many electronic devices near the speakers, there will be interference. The magnetic field of the devices will interfere with the sound signals and cause the production of humming and hissing noise.
Radiofrequency interference can also be the reason
Radiofrequency interference is induced when an application uses radio waves for functioning like Bluetooth uses radio waves for transferring data. These will interfere with the sound signal and result in interference.
Hence there may be the production of noise in the environment. So, when you hear a hissing sound from speakers when not playing music, then definitely a device is near the speaker.
The computer may also be responsible for this noise
At times, the computer also interferes with the sound signals and generates humming noise. The internal circuit contains motherboard and sound cards that are susceptible to interference.
The digital to analog converters are also susceptible to the generation of such noise.
The USB also produces a noise when current leaks through it
When you connect a USB to the speaker, the current may leak if the USB is plugged in loosely. The current leak may produce a hissing sound. It can be responsible for the noise.
The transformer may also produce such a noise
If you use the wrong transformer or if the wiring is damaged, the transformer may cause strange hiss noise. At times, the wiring may be connected improperly, so it is better to talk to the manufacturer whether you have the correct transformer or not.
If you hear some sound coming from the component of the transformer, then definitely the source of the noise is your transformer.
Different unbalanced cables
The cables may get entangled with each other, which will lead to electromagnetic interference. It will lead to the production of the humming and hissing sound. The speaker’s humming sound is noisy and irritating.
21 Ways To Get Rid Of Humming Or Hissing Sound From Speakers
We have talked enough about the probable causes of the humming and hissing sound of the speakers. But, just knowing about the reasons won’t help, so let us take a detailed look into how we can get rid of the hissing and humming. Let’s get started!
Faulty cables may be the real reason
The cables may be damaged or loose. So it is better to check for the faulty cables, and repair them or replace them. First, check the cables. Try to change those cables, or replace them. It will be inexpensive and will surely help you eliminate speaker hum.
Try adding a noise gate to your audio files
Noise gates prevent any unintended noise to get in the audio signals. It is the best way to eliminate any noise in the audio signal. Most people use it to eliminate white noise in speakers.
Try reducing the audio effects
When you edit your music on the computer, some editing may be very loud for your speakers. Try reducing the audio effects for eliminating the speaker hum.
Adjust the volume
High volume can lead to your speakers getting blown out. Lower the volume of the speaker to notice any hum or hiss sound. If you hear this sound, then you have damaged the speaker. Keep the volume set low so that the speakers do not get damaged.
Adjust the gain
If you set the gain of the speakers at a very high level, then even the smallest of sounds will get amplified. The threshold of volume is controlled by the gain of the speakers. If you set it to a high value then, the volume can be increased to a very high level resulting in your speakers getting blown out. Lower the gain of the speakers to remove humming noise.
Adjust the bass
Bass, when raised too high results in the humming sound. This humming sound can cause the coil to dismantle, and wires may get entangled. If you have low-quality speakers then, surely you would have faced such an issue. So make sure that the bass is not set too high.
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Adjust the treble
Treble helps to make the sound clear, set it too high, and you are going to have a hard time. The speakers may get damaged, and the coil inside of the speaker will also get destroyed.
The best way is to treat the speakers just like your ears. Whenever you feel some discomfort when you hear, try to adjust the audio settings of the speakers not too high. It is all about hearing and adjusting the audio settings accordingly to get rid of the humming in the speakers.
Fix the improper USB connections
Many speakers contain USB ports. You can connect the USB cables there. At times, the USB cables may be connected too loosely. Check for any loose connections, and then if you find them faulty, try to replace them. Replacing the loose cables will do the work and prevent any current leak.
Distance the audio equipment
When the speakers are kept very close to each other then, there may be the humming and hissing of sound. When there is enough distance between the audio equipment, the speakers will function properly and give out the best sound.
Keep the Wifi router away from the speakers
The signals from the Wifi will interfere with the sound signals causing electrical interference, which will result in the production of noise. Make sure that you keep electronic devices away from the speakers so that you diminish any possible interference.
Keep the electrical devices away from the speaker
Many electrical and wireless devices like mobile phones, computers, wifi may play with the audio signal and result in the production of the hissing and humming sound. Whenever you play sound on your speakers, make sure to keep these devices away from them.
See if there is any electrical interference
Check for electrical interference. If you find any, try to minimize it. It is easy to assume that modern devices like your phone won’t interfere with the audio signals. But it is not always true. The signals may get overlapped and produce the humming of sound, causing a disturbance.
So. try to keep such devices distant from your speakers.
Check the speaker’s wires
Many times the wires may get entangled, loose, or damaged. It is suggested to keep them properly cleaned and detangled. The wires should be replaced immediately if found damaged or loose.
Try using different ground connections
If you use different ground connections for the different audio equipment, it will ensure that the ground loop is not formed. As a result, the probability of the production of noise gets eliminated.
Plug off the speakers when not in use
It is the best way to ensure that there is no sound produced. If you unplug the speakers, no current reaches them, resulting in zero sound and noise.
Use a two-prong adapter
Using any faulty adapter will prevent optimal capability. It is better to use a two-prong adapter. The speakers will work perfectly fine.
Clean the analog playback equipment
The analog playback equipment may develop dust, as a result, the speakers may not work efficiently. Cleaning the equipment will ensure that the speakers work efficiently and that there is no noise production.
Replace the loose cables
Use proper jacks and plugs along with the wires. It ensures that the connections are strong and proper. If you find any loose wires, replace them and use new ones in their place.
Use hum eliminators for breaking the ground loop
Hum eliminators prevent the formation of ground loops and help prevent the formation of ground buzz and hum. It is available in the market, and you can use it according to your convenience.
Use an AC power regulator
An AC power regulator helps maintain the power supply and the voltage to the audio equipment. It helps to maintain a steady supply of voltage to all the components of the audio equipment. Using it prevents the formation of a ground loop and generation of noise.
Replace the Blown out speakers or replace the damaged part
Many times due to persistent high volumes, the speaker may get blown out. In such a case, it will be better to replace the speaker if it is cheap. For the expensive ones, you can replace or repair the damaged part.
Wrapping Up
Once you identify the cause of the humming and hissing sound, you will be able to tackle the issue efficiently. Look out for the loose wirings or the damaged ones, and remember, always switch off the speakers before proceeding.
We know that it is not pleasant to hear your speaker’s humming sound. We hope that this article helps you!