If speakers produce noise or crackling sounds, it can seriously spoil the listening experience. However, not all noise is necessarily interference, and often the speakers themselves aren’t to blame at all. If you want to find the cause of the noise, you need to listen closely. We follow the trail of the noise.
Of noise and hum
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Everyone has an idea of what noise is. But only a few know what it actually means from a physical perspective. In acoustics, it refers to the simultaneous occurrence of sound waves with very different frequencies (hertz) and sound levels—essentially the opposite of a tone with a constant pitch. You could also call it sound wave chaos. The most well-known example is the high-frequency-heavy white noise. When dealing with disturbing background or side noise, it’s important to distinguish between noise and low-frequency humming sounds. These usually have different causes and mainly occur with subwoofers.
Tip for reading: What to do if your subwoofer hums? Find anti-ground-loop tips here.
Speaker noise isn’t necessarily interference
Speakers themselves don’t inherently produce noise—at least not passive ones that rely on an external source. That’s exactly where the cause of the disturbance is usually found: the A/V receiver or amplifier. Amplifiers always emit a baseline or inherent noise. It’s often audible when nothing but the speakers is connected to the receiver or amplifier and the volume is turned down. At a close distance, you’ll almost always hear a slight hiss. This is often described as the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). How noticeable it is mainly depends on the quality of the system. In practice, it shouldn’t negatively affect the listening experience.
If the noise is loud enough to disturb the listening experience, there may be a defect. Faulty cables and connectors can also cause unwanted noise. In most cases, however, the issue lies in the electronics of the amplifier. A simple test can provide clarity: swap the speakers’ positions and see whether the noise moves with them. If the location of the noise source stays the same, it likely points to the amplifier electronics. If the noise moves, it suggests that one of the transducers might be faulty. However, when speakers produce noise, the cause can also lie elsewhere.
Online, you’ll often find tips suggesting that speaker noise can be eliminated by placing a resistor between the amplifier and the speaker. While this can work, it’s usually unnecessary. It’s more effective to pay attention to the impedance of the speakers, which should match the amplifier’s output.
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Speakers can actually be “too good” for a playback source. Lossy MP3 files, for example, don’t contain data in the high-frequency range. High-quality speakers can’t fully showcase their capabilities in such cases. Instead, the sound may appear noisy at higher frequencies. Poor recordings or files can also contain their own interference. So check whether the noise occurs constantly or only with certain playback sources.
When there’s crackling and stuttering – other causes of sound problems
Noise and humming aren’t the only interference signals. Speakers can also crackle or pop, which often indicates material defects such as loose connections. To check this, you can do the following:
- If the crackling or popping changes when you bend the speaker cable, there’s likely a loose connection. Pay special attention to the cable ends at the connector and the speaker input.
- Active speakers can be connected to different source or playback devices to check whether there’s a defect in a jack socket.
- The output volume of the source device or playback software should be set to maximum. Fine-tuning the volume should then be done via the speakers. Buzzing and crackling can occur if the speakers are turned up high while the source device volume is low.
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Conclusion: Speakers often do not produce noise on their own
- Noise is caused by the presence of sound waves of varying frequencies and volumes.
- If speakers produce noise, this should not be confused with humming. Humming usually has different causes.
- In most cases, noise does not originate from the speakers themselves, but from the amplifier or receiver.
- Faulty amplifiers may, under certain circumstances, cause loud noise.
- Lossy audio files can also be responsible for a noisy sound.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the topic of speaker noise
Most of the noise does not originate in the speaker itself, but in the electronics behind it. Typical causes:
Amplifier background noise: Every amplifier generates its own noise, which may be audible at low volumes.
Faulty or poor-quality cables: Poor connections amplify background noise.
External interference: Mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers or power adapters nearby can cause interference.
Audio source: Poor-quality recordings or heavily compressed files can also produce noise
Yes, a faint background hum is normal with active speakers or amplifiers – especially when no music is playing and you’re standing very close to the speaker. However, if you can clearly hear the hum from several metres away or whilst music is playing, there’s probably a technical problem.
Check the following points:
Adjust the volume correctly: turn the source up, keep the speakers at a moderate level.
Check the cables: ensure all plugs are firmly connected; replace any faulty cables.
Remove sources of interference: do not place electronic devices or power supplies directly next to the speaker.
Update the software: check the sound card drivers and firmware.
Test with a different source: this will help you determine whether the problem lies with the recording.
With active speakers, a faint hum is normal when no sound is being played, as the built-in amplifier is always active. If the noise is loud or distracting, possible causes include:
– Faulty electronics in the amplifier.
– Ground loops caused by incorrect earthing.
– Interference from radio sources or power lines.
If the noise remains clearly audible despite correct settings, replacing the cables and eliminating sources of interference, there is likely to be a fault (e.g. damage to the electronics in the amplifier or speaker, or a voice coil problem in older speakers). In this case, it is worth having the unit repaired or replaced.
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The podcast has been automatically generated by AI, but the content comes directly from an article written by our own editorial team. This ensures the quality remains high and allows you to hear our story in a new format.
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