Feedback/interference from my PC

[gavinc]

I posed a question earlier on and I am afraid that I used the wrong word to describe what my problem is. Thank you for your reply ChuckFickens(?). I should have used the word "interference" and not "feedback"...strangely enough, this might have been subliminal as they were playing "I feel fine" by The Beatles when I was setting the question...so the question still remains...how do I combat interference from my PC whilst playing it through my disco unit?...sorry for any confusion caused!!

[ChuckFickens]

There was no need to post a new question, an admendment to your original question (by posting an answer yourself) would have done..

But now we are here :)

the first thing that a lot of people do is they run the PC output level far too low so the volume on the external amp has to be turned up to compensate which introduces a lot of noise, turn the amp right down to start, open the volume control on the PC and turn everything up full and then slowly turn the amps volume back up and see if that improves things.

If not another thing worth trying is, again, open the volume control on the PC and put a tick in the mute tick box of everything that is not being used (if your playing MP3's then all but wave) because it may be one of the other sound channels that is picking up the interference.

[gavinc]

Thanks for the advice Chuck. I have only recently moved over to playing a PC through my disco unit...personally I prefer the old vinyl myself...still, I suppose we have to move with the times don't we. Thanks again. Will try your suggestion and if it doesn't work I shall post another question.

Cheers,

Gavin

[beso]

Is the interference the sound of the electricity mains humming? For the UK it will be at 100 Hertz which is pretty close to G2.

If so you have a ground loop problem. This is very common when connecting two mains powered audio devices together. It is especially strong when the two devices are run from different power outlets.

It is caused by currents induced in the ground conductor loop formed by the earth lead in the mains power cords of each appliance and the shield in the audio connection lead. (And the house wiring if separate outlets are involved)

It can be reduced by minimising the area of this loop. Run the power cords right next to each other as far as possible. Run the audio connection lead back along the the divergent path taken by the power cords.

It can be cured with audio signal isolators. These break the DC connection between the two devices and only pass the audio signal. The modern way is by using optical connections but this is only found on high end equipment.