Digital Audio Noise from the Headphone Jack

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Level 1

8 points

Digital Audio Noise from the Headphone Jack

I have been searching for a while to see if anyone else has this problem.

I have random faint digital noise (bleeps, bloops, and whirls) from my headphone jack. This happens regardless of application. I can get it going good by just tossing the volume bar back and forth on the sound pref panel.

I have considerably less of this from the line out but still detectable noise.

I have disconnected everything non essential from the Mac Pro and my power outlet are reduced to a minimum. (monitor and Mac)

I have tried numerous headphones including Etymotic ER•6 and Sony MDR-7505.

This has always been present in 10.4.7 and 10.4.8. Like I said, its faint in volume - but it gets annoying!

I have read the following below and believe these do not apply to me because this is not an external powered device.

Power Mac G5: I hear buzzes, beeps, or humming
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86523

Macintosh: Solutions for noise in the audio signal
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86655

Thank you!

2 x 2.6 GHz Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1 GB original RAM

Posted on Nov 4, 2006 6:16 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 13, 2006 11:40 AM in response to boondog

I am having the same problem. I work with headphones on to isolate office noise. The noise almost sounds like morse code...a series of dots and dashes in distorted output...and is only present when I have headphones plugged into the front of the MP. I've tried Apple-branded and non-Apple Branded headphones. No change. Anyone else having this issue?

MP 2x2.66 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 2

Dec 13, 2006 3:31 PM in response to rellsimstap

I have the same issue. A strange noise that starts at the login screen. Very annoying and can't find the problem. It's not a software error, cause my clean dual boot osx also has this problem.

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Answer 3

Dec 14, 2006 3:29 AM in response to rellsimstap

I had this problem with a dell pc a few years back, it was resolved by turning down the input level on line in and muting the outputs for unused ports. Try turning down input volume for line in and see if it helps (hey, it couldn't hurt...<g>)

Agreed, it's REALLY annoying. Hope this helps...

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Answer 4

Jun 8, 2007 3:11 PM in response to boondog

I found out today what is causing the noise on my Mac Pro!

Our next door neighbor has a really high power HAM radio that I am picking up static and transmissions from. I thought I was going insane when I heard weird voices coming out via my headphones. I know it is our neighbor because I heard him relay his name and location. Had to get my wife to listen to prove I was not going crazy.

Here is the weird thing. I do not have AirPort or BlueTooth on the MacPro...so I cannot figure out how the transmission is permeating the Mac. Could it be a shielding issue on some internal component?

Thanks!

Mac Pro 2.66 Mac OS X (10.4.9) 4GB / 1TB

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