1. Anyone that can help me out:

    I picked up a pair of Logitech 5.1 speakers yesterday. When I hook them up to my laptop (with onboard sound) for whatever reason there is a hum I can hear coming from them. Not just quiet but extremely loud, even when you put on the volume at 10%. Any ideas why this is?
  2. Originally posted by drewhiggins:Anyone that can help me out:

    I picked up a pair of Logitech 5.1 speakers yesterday. When I hook them up to my laptop (with onboard sound) for whatever reason there is a hum I can hear coming from them. Not just quiet but extremely loud, even when you put on the volume at 10%. Any ideas why this is?


    Does ur laptop have a sound card that supports 5.1 (like with the green, pink, black and orange ports). Is the hum only there when u play music? or can u still hear it even when nothing is playing.
  3. Thanks for the help Andrew. My laptop (2009 Acer Aspire) has green, pink and black ports for sound and it's only onboard - one of those Realtek AC'97 ones. The hum is there even when I don't play any sound - it's just annoying and especially for music on low volume you can hear it.
  4. Originally posted by drewhiggins:Thanks for the help Andrew. My laptop (2009 Acer Aspire) has green, pink and black ports for sound and it's only onboard - one of those Realtek AC'97 ones. The hum is there even when I don't play any sound - it's just annoying and especially for music on low volume you can hear it.


    Have you checked there's not a process running in the background making the noise?
  5. Analogue output is mostly bad on laptops, the internal circuits pick up interference from other parts. If possible connect your set digitally, using SPDIF.
  6. Originally posted by drewhiggins:Thanks for the help Andrew. My laptop (2009 Acer Aspire) has green, pink and black ports for sound and it's only onboard - one of those Realtek AC'97 ones. The hum is there even when I don't play any sound - it's just annoying and especially for music on low volume you can hear it.


    Hmm, try maybe try the following to rule out the speakers being faulty.

    have the speakers turned on and all ready to go

    then take it in turns pluging each 3.5mm plug into ur i pod or iphone or other mp3 player. like 1st do green, then pink then black etc.

    play a song from ur mp3 player, is the hum still there? and try each coloured plug.

    if the hum is there then its probably something to do with ur speakers and probably best to call Logitech or where ever u bought em from, since ull still have manufactuers warranty (u cud even take em back if u wanted to).

    if the hum isnt there when u play it through ur mp3 player then it must be an issue within ur laptop

    hope this helps Drew
  7. They're Logitech Z506 model if anyone is interested.

    Have you checked there's not a process running in the background making the noise?

    I hadn't. Good suggestion - when I hook them up again I'll check that. But there's usually no hum with my other speakers, which makes me think when the microphone gave too much feedback it's damaged something inside the laptop itself. Not sure on that - I'll check.



    Analogue output is mostly bad on laptops, the internal circuits pick up interference from other parts. If possible connect your set digitally, using SPDIF.

    I'll try that. I think I was just hooking it up via stereo input or whatever it is



    Hmm, try maybe try the following to rule out the speakers being faulty.

    have the speakers turned on and all ready to go

    then take it in turns pluging each 3.5mm plug into ur i pod or iphone or other mp3 player. like 1st do green, then pink then black etc.

    play a song from ur mp3 player, is the hum still there? and try each coloured plug.

    if the hum is there then its probably something to do with ur speakers and probably best to call Logitech or where ever u bought em from, since ull still have manufactuers warranty (u cud even take em back if u wanted to).

    if the hum isnt there when u play it through ur mp3 player then it must be an issue within ur laptop

    hope this helps Drew

    Plugged into my mp3 player and it still was making that sound but I'll rule it out with different inputs. I might have to take them back if this is the problem - you reckon JB will let me return them within a few days if there's a problem or have to call up Logitech?

    I'll check all suggestions and let you know how I got on. Thanks!
  8. My Logitechs do the same Drew. I'm outputting from the PC via the green cable. Also an acer pc come to think. . . .
  9. Originally posted by drewhiggins:They're Logitech Z506 model if anyone is interested.

    [..]
    I hadn't. Good suggestion - when I hook them up again I'll check that. But there's usually no hum with my other speakers, which makes me think when the microphone gave too much feedback it's damaged something inside the laptop itself. Not sure on that - I'll check.



    [..]
    I'll try that. I think I was just hooking it up via stereo input or whatever it is



    [..]
    Plugged into my mp3 player and it still was making that sound but I'll rule it out with different inputs. I might have to take them back if this is the problem - you reckon JB will let me return them within a few days if there's a problem or have to call up Logitech?

    I'll check all suggestions and let you know how I got on. Thanks!


    generally if its within 7 days u can swap them over or get store credit, and not have to go through the manufactuer at all. If theres a fault with them straight away then they'd be classed as "Dead on Arrival', so JB shouldnt give u too much hassel
  10. Does the jack fit fully into the socket? Sorry if a bit off track here but I haven't read the whole of the history here! I've bought units before where the plastic around the jacks makes it difficult to achieve a proper fit.
  11. Anyone else having trouble with the Expatshield program that we have recommended on the Glasto thread? I used to hide my IP before sucessfully, but this "UK masking" doesn't seem to work for me; the BBC's "Not available in your area" messagge still shows (and annoys the hell out of me)...
  12. Originally posted by LikeASong:Anyone else having trouble with the Expatshield program that we have recommended on the Glasto thread? I used to hide my IP before sucessfully, but this "UK masking" doesn't seem to work for me; the BBC's "Not available in your area" messagge still shows (and annoys the hell out of me)...


    I've got it working here. You know you need to access the page you want from within the expat shield search page, right?