Playing computer and online games has become a famous phenomenon for many individuals, whether adults or kids. It is an interesting way of passing time in case you need to relax your mind somehow. It even gets better when you want to listen to the sound effects of the game you are playing through a speaker or headphones.
However, there are times where you will hear buzzing noise from speakers only when playing games and not music and you wonder why this is happening. Such buzzing noises can really be irritating and the only thing you will want to do is get rid of them. But first things first, you have to identify the cause and then get a solution. Read through this article to get an insight into that.
Causes and Solutions of speaker buzzing
Buzzing noise from speakers is not a new thing as many people have given their experience about this particular issue. The main cause may be due to electric issues or hardware and software problems but there are more reasons that we look at.
a) Non-performing audio drivers
It zeroes down to software issues. Your speakers may be producing such sounds because of a computer error that comes about due to audio drivers that are faulty. Dealing with the faulty drivers issue is very simple. All you need to do is update the drivers
How to update drivers
- Power on your PC.
- Go to the Device manager window.
- There will be a list of devices, locate speakers and right click on it.
- In case there are any updates, there will be a pop-up instructing you to update.
- The computer will automatically start updating the drivers. All you need to do is wait.
- After updating, restart your PC for the changes to be effective.
b) Electrical ground looping
This is one of the main causes of buzzing sound. A ground loop comes about when different ground potentials of sources of AC clash thus causing a buzz or hum that is audible. The only solution to this is to break the electrical ground loop. Use a single AC socket to power up everything and see if there will be a change.
Also, get rid of the cables that connect the receiver or the device that generates power to your speakers and connect your speakers alone. Further, you can visit a store and buy a ground isolator to help out with the buzzing noises.
c) Hardware problems
Some hardware problems can cause a buzzing noise to emanate from your speakers. The first thing to do when you hear such noises is to locate the volume button and turn it up and the down just to see if the sound will work like you require it to. Volume should always be 75% of the maximum capacity of your speakers.
Also, there could be a problem with your audio port or cable. It is vital to check if they are in good condition. To be sure, change the audio cable and the port and observe if the buzzing sound will disappear.
d) Frequency Interference
Having many devices close together may lead to interference in frequency. Devices such as microwave, Bluetooth speaker, radios and mobile phones have different frequencies that may interfere with each other. This is where the problem could be.
To sort this out, you first have to switch off the devices and unplug them from a power source. Take the devices far away from your speaker and check to see if your speaker still produces the buzzing sound. Moreover, if you have strong electrical devices in your home, they should not be near the speaker to prevent an electromagnetic pulse.
e) Incorrect audio settings
It is important to check and ensure that the audio settings in your computer have the right configuration. Improper settings may cause the buzzing sound. Check if there are any enhancements in the audio and disable this setting.
To change the settings, go to your computer and search for the Control Panel then open it. Look for Hardware and Sound then click on it. Go on and select Sound and a pop-up will appear. Proceed to right click on your speaker device and then click on Properties. You will see the Enhancements tab, click on it and then disable all sound effects. Finally, click Apply then Ok. At this point, you can not try the speaker and see if there is a difference.
Buzzing noise from speakers only when playing games
Imagine this scenario where you are listening to your favorite music or watching a TV show and the speakers are damn good, but once you start playing games, there is a buzzing noise coming from your speakers. Sounds weird, right? Is it that there is a problem with your PC, the video games or the speakers? Many people complain about this almost daily and it only happens when they play games.
If your PC and speakers are using the same power outlet and electric circuit, then you should disconnect one of them. This could be one of the issues causing the buzzing noise.
The other problem is with your graphics card. Graphics card makes it possible for you to play games on your PC upon installation. If you pull more electricity through the card (when you play games with high frames per second), there will be a loud buzzing sound. In other words, experts refer to it as coil whine that comes from the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).
Recently, most games require GPUs that are more powerful so as to keep up with the frames per second rates of the said games thus causing the buzz. To solve this, visit the video option panel of the game and then enable Vertical Synchronization which will in turn synchronize the frame rate of the game with the frequency of the monitor. You will no longer hear the buzzing sound.
Conclusion
Buzzing noise from speakers only when playing games results from a number of issues such as electric ground looping, frequency interference, outdated drivers, hardware issues and graphics card problems among others. All these issues have a solution that will stop your speakers from producing such sounds.
