lasts for a second or so, happens maybe every 10-15 minutes. I believe it is coming from my stereo/speakers. I can get model numbers later.

I'm going to try to unplug other devices later (TV, cable box, Blu-ray player).

Any idea what this may be?

6/11/2010 9:26:08 AM

Does it happen when they are in use? Or just randomly while sitting there? Sometimes distortion like that can happen from a short somewhere, possibly wires touching or maybe a crimp in the wire. Though that sort of scenario would likely produce a steady noise.

It could be a damaged tweeter, and that at certain frequencies you are getting the distortion. What kind of speakers are these? Distortion like that could also be from too much power... You could try auto-leveling the speakers if this is set-up to an A/V type receiver.

Whatever it is, its likely in regards to the tweeter. Generally when woofers are overextended, they produce a clipping noise, which does not sound like what you are experiencing.

6/11/2010 10:15:47 AM

Possibly some sorta interference it's picking up? I know with a lot of different applications if I say, get my cell too close, I will know a text message or call is incoming before it rings because my speakers will start randomly spouting out high pitched sounds.

6/11/2010 10:20:42 AM

If your speakers are not magnetically shielded, then ^ can be the case. If they are just HTIB speakers then its likely they are not magnetically shielded. Audiophile-grade speakers will be.

6/11/2010 10:28:30 AM

thanks.

it's a sony AV receiver and sony tower speakers. I believe it may be coming from the front right channel/speaker, though I couldn't confirm that this morning.

I've only noticed it while in use, since when I'm home, the TV/receiver is on. I'll try a few different combinations of on/off tonight. I'll also check all wiring when I get home.

I haven't moved any electronic devices in my room and the noise has happened with me/my phone both next to it and across the room from it.

6/11/2010 10:44:41 AM

It's definitely interference, you should record and analyze it just in case:

6/11/2010 11:07:59 AM

If you don't have banana plugs, then re-cut and crimp the ends of the wires.

Something you might want to do is pinpoint what exactly is happening audibly when you hear the distortion. Is it a really loud scene in a movie? Or a high-pitched voice/effect/song? I feel the tweeter may be damaged, distortion would probably be constant, because you said there was no effect from moving anything near or around it.

6/11/2010 12:25:42 PM

The speaker is feed through a hole on the speaker's input. There is a threaded stem with a hole in the middle and a plastic nut; I just fed the wires through the hole and tightened the plastic nut.

As for when it happens, it seems random. All I've been watching lately is ESPN (multiple channels), so no intense/loud parts there.

6/11/2010 1:05:56 PM

Like this?

Anyway, it doesn't sound like you are over-extending the speaker, I am betting the tweeter is starting to go. How old are the speakers? And were they purchased new/used?

6/11/2010 1:17:46 PM

yeh, but the hole I put the speaker wire through is perpendicular to the posts (so it goes through the post, not parallel to it). Bought new, somewhere in the late 90s

like these, you can just barely see the whole that goes through the post (as opposed to down the center of the post)




[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 1:33 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2010 1:30:09 PM

Yea, same thing, those are also able to accept a banana plug should you ever want to upgrade to those.

Back on topic though, try listening to one speaker at a time for an hour or so, and see if you can pinpoint which speaker its coming from, might not be worth the money to have the tweeter replaced, you can do it yourself, the parts are dirt cheap.

If you do find changing the wires doesn't help, I would head over to http://www.avsforum.com and see what those guys have to say.

Look on the bright side, this is the perfect excuse to upgrade

6/11/2010 1:51:53 PM

ok, I'm pretty sure it's the right front now; everything is off but the receiver...

now it's time to play the wait and listen game...

[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 5:41 PM. Reason : dammit, maybe not... maybe it's a surround...]

[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 5:41 PM. Reason : looks like it may be every 4 minutes]

[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 5:42 PM. Reason : I'm going to laugh if it has nothing to do with the stereo, and it's some other gadget I can't find]

HOLY SHIT. I don't think it has anything to do with the receiver... All the speakers are unplugged and I just heard it.... ahahahaha



[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 5:46 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2010 5:29:42 PM

Oh, in that case, here is your problem:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/b278/


At this point you may want to search low and high for this small magnetically-attached device and kill whomever may have had access to the area since you started hearing the sound.

Good luck.

[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 6:02 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2010 6:01:49 PM

it sounds like it's in my ceiling

haha, PWNT. Roomate stuck one in my room. fucking bastard.

[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 6:14 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2010 6:04:49 PM

Hah. One of my co-workers did this to my manager half a year ago... in the wall of his cube near his computer He eventually even called IT in to diagnose the beeping in his computer, hehehe.

[Edited on June 11, 2010 at 6:26 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2010 6:25:30 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHA

That was pretty epic

6/13/2010 6:58:58 PM

I have to get some of those




[Edited on June 13, 2010 at 8:09 PM. Reason : FTW]

6/13/2010 8:08:09 PM

hahaha im glad i decided to check this thread

6/13/2010 8:10:01 PM

Niiice!
I'm also glad I came back to check this thread.

6/13/2010 8:13:19 PM

LOLOL

6/14/2010 8:28:55 AM