buzz/hum when connected to krk studio monitors

i'm having a similar issue with my krk roket 5's patch thru an m-audio firewire 410 connected to an imac. everything i scroll my bluetooth mouse, i hear an audible hum through the monitors. i believe it's a ground problem, so that's what i'm looking into.

Shawn, I am getting a 1 KHz whine through Behringer Truth monitors using M-Audio USB Fast Track Ultra audio/midi interface with an iMac i5 27-inch with LED monitor. The whine occurs continuously from the moment I open Logic Studio or iTunes, when the output is routed through the Fast Track Ultra. The whine does not occur when I use the imac output to imac's speakers. I also get an electronic scraping noise when I use the blue tooth connected magic mouse. I have installed ferrites on the monitor speaker wires with no reduction in the whining noise or electronic scraping noise. I have also ordered the USB with ferrite collar to see if the connection between audio/midi interface and the imac is the source of the noise. I am considering a Hum-X, as well, but I am getting into serious money taking stabs at a problem for which there ought to be plenty of competent technical support. The fact that this whine is at 1 KHz and not lower suggests that I am not suffering a typical ground loop. I am a former Pro Tools user who never had a hum or whine from my Digi and G4, which I am seriously considering recomissioning so I can make music again. I am spending way too much time and money making educated guesses and trying to diagnose a problem that all but kills the utility and purpose of this new system. I too am calling on all great engineers to step up with a diagnosis and solution.

could it be that whats causing the problem is the fast track ultra ? i am considering the krk speakers and the fast track ultra but the drivers might not be a match so im making my research and maybe thats whats causing the humming. try different household speakers on your system and see if the huming is still there .

samfranklin I too am using behringer B2030a Truth monitors (just got them off ebay today) connected to an Mbox2 mini and get a high frequency humming noise them moment i turn them on!

HELPPPPPPP!!!!!

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Are you guys using balanced (2-ringed) or unbalanced (single-ringed) 1/4" speaker cables?

I realized I bought 2x unbalanced 1/4" cables today- how annoying.

Found the possible answer on this thread:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=314609

+"You do not have speakers, you have powered speakers. So you are not connecting a speaker, you are connecting an amplifier.+

+Therefore you don't want speaker cables, because the signal you are sending from the MBox (preamp) to the Yamaha's amplifier input, is a line level signal, not a speaker signal.+

+Speaker wire can be simple unshielded lamp cord, because it carries a considerable amount of power, and any interference is completely overwhelmed by the high signal level.+

+Line level signals, however, require a shielded cable because they are tiny in power and are easily interfered with. A line level signal can be sent either with an unbalanced or a balanced cable, as long as both devices agree.+"

Hope that helps peeps! 🙂

Acomicon, you are right, sir. This peep is impressed and grateful. Balanced cables are less expensive than Hum-X, and God only knows how the improper match has adversely affected my mixes. Thank you.

Hey guys. I just switched to a Macbook Pro and hooked up my Behringer Truth speakers through a fast track pro external sound card. I was getting the same buzz and it was frustrating. Did some research on the maudio site and learned it was a speaker grounding issue. Main way to tell was that the headphones didn't have the buzz, but I'd try my suggestion either way. I just got some simple 3 prong to 2 prong grounding adapters. Mine were gray and u can get them at target, home depot, walmart etc...for a few bucks. I used them with the speakers and instantly they were silent. I was pumped. I'm not an electrician and don't know how safe this solution is. The website said to check w the manufacturer so ill be following up w/ them. Just wanted to share because I know how frustrating it can be...Peace.

Man, you're playing with fire. My problem was caused by using speaker cables instead of audio cables from my audio/midi interface to the Truth monitors. The reason is the Truths are powered (amplified) speakers that require balanced (as opposed to unbalanced) cables. When I changed out the cables, no more hum. But the ungrounded plug removed my hum too, only I'm told that the lack of a ground could cause your monitors to blow in certain electrical events. I'm no electrician but I'm not taking the risk of removing the ground. Good luck.