Picking up radio in my speakers...

[Simon Charles]

My PC speakers (CA speakers and mini-woofer) sometimes pick up radio from other people in my building. I hear radio stations playing faintly in the background, even when the sound is turned off. This is really annoying when I'm playing games.

Anyone knows what's causing this and what I can do to stop it? Moving the speakers and/or the computer does not help.

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

buy new speakers.

[Phait]

Possibly chicken wire.

My guitar amp once picked up a Christian station of all things. As I played sinful music.... huh.

[Duoae]

Insulate your cables.... or buy insulated cables.

[NutWrench]

What Duoae said. You speaker wires are unshielded and are acting like antennas. You can either buy shielded speaker wire, buy a couple of RF filters or try moving the whole computer setup farther away from the radio source.

Radio Shack has a snap-on filter choke (http://www.radioshack.com/sm-inductive-products--fi-2032273_cp-2032058.2032230.html) that you can attach to your speaker wire. (One for each wire)

[8IronBob]

What a funny story. One day, out of my Lowrey Organ that I had a few years ago, actually when I pressed a key on the organ, I heard a Police Radio or something out of the speaker underneath. I was like, what the--? A POLICE RADIO! I thought at first I was busted right there and then, thinking that a cop was outside the front door. Man, that was scary! That was about 5 - 7 years ago, I'm just lucky I remember those days. This thread reminded me of one of the more scarier, yet funnier moments in my life. Thank you for reminding me about that, even tho it's a little off topic.

Anyhoo, on topic, regarding your speakers. I would suggest going for a Logitech X-530 set, since those are amongst the best 5.1 speaker systems around for PCs now. On top of that, you can probably attach those to a game console as well, or share the speaker system like I did, since I hooked mine up to an HD-Ready TV.

[Ecmaster76]

NutWrench said:
What Duoae said. You speaker wires are unshielded and are acting like antennas. You can either buy shielded speaker wire, buy a couple of RF filters or try moving the whole computer setup farther away from the radio source.

Radio Shack has a snap-on filter choke (http://www.radioshack.com/sm-inductive-products--fi-2032273_cp-2032058.2032230.html) that you can attach to your speaker wire. (One for each wire)



(for emphasis)

Also, if possible try plugging your amp into different wall outlets.

Its also possible that the signal is getting picked up at your computer or volume control box (if its not in a speaker).

For the computer, disconnect it form the amp while the signal is being picked up. If this works, its the input lines. If you have a volume control box, move it around a bit. I had a set of headphones that would pick up the Tech radio station if I had the volume control on the cord over 4 feet off the ground.

[Rellik66]

Heh, before I got my Logitec Z-5300, I had a pair of OEM Dell Harmon/Kardons that would regularly pick up my HAM radio obsessed neighbor's transmissions.

as said before, it's likely poor sheilding or poor run of the cables. to confirm it's the speakers, plug in headphones(directly, not to the speakers) to see if you still hear the same signals.

[Phayzon]

Phait said:
Possibly chicken wire.

My guitar amp once picked up a Christian station of all things. As I played sinful music.... huh.



lol

[GambitMR]

8IronBob said:
Anyhoo, on topic, regarding your speakers. I would suggest going for a Logitech X-530 set, ....



I have them ... picking up radio noise with them occasionaly ...wouldn't recommend them.

[8IronBob]

Well, okay then, how about what I had, the Creative P5800s then? That served me justice having that set during the time I had it.

I guess that the Logitech X-530 must've had the same trouble that my Lowrey organ had, from what you're telling me. Yeah, pressing one note just to hear a police walkie-talkie out the other side, that scared the wazoo outta me.

[Simon Charles]

GambitMR said:

8IronBob said:
Anyhoo, on topic, regarding your speakers. I would suggest going for a Logitech X-530 set, ....



I have them ... picking up radio noise with them occasionaly ...wouldn't recommend them.



Wow... I sort of expect that from my current speakers; they cost me 15$. But from that 5 speaker Logitech set?

[GambitMR]

yeah I didn't expect it either. Bought my bro the Logitech Z3e and this hasn't got the problems (well it's THX certified). My next set won't be from Logitech anymore ... my last 3 were. I'll try german quallity next (namingly teufel concept e magnum if you're interested)

[Simon Charles]

Can anyone suggest me a good 4 speaker set then? I've been wanting to play Doom 3 with 2 front and 2 rear so I could hear what the fuss is all about. I finally have space near my desk to allow more speakers. I think I can afford medium-range prices (but do suggest entry-level prices too if you think they're good speakers).

Only rule : no Logitech, no Labtec. I've had nothing but problems with both brands. Horrilbly overpriced for crappy performance.

[8IronBob]

If you can afford it, go Bose, a 2.1 piece speaker set from them would be superior to any other 5.1 system out there. I know that Bose or Klipsch aren't the cheapest, but they are probably better quality in the long haul. At least with them you may not get radio interference.

[Ecmaster76]

8IronBob said:
If you can afford it, go Bose, a 2.1 piece speaker set from them would be superior to any other 5.1 system out there. I know that Bose or Klipsch aren't the cheapest, but they are probably better quality in the long haul. At least with them you may not get radio interference.



Do not buy bose unless you have some money you want to get rid of in a hurry.

Klipsch Promedia 5.1 Ultra shall serve your computer well (assuming a decent soundcard)

[Dogy]

I own the X-530s, never picked up a radio station.

Plus, ALL speakers (Guitar amps in particular) will pick up a radio station, no matter what. So I suggest you don't avoid certain sets just because they pick up radio stations.