Stereo Speaker Question HELP!

[Bogey]

We have a nice little surround sound system in our family room.  However, lately, when watching tv or a movie there is a sudden static pop sound from the rear speakers (not sure if both or just one).  Only happens now and then, but want to get rid of it.  Any ideas?

[head-case]

We have a nice little surround sound system in our family room.  However, lately, when watching tv or a movie there is a sudden static pop sound from the rear speakers (not sure if both or just one).  Only happens now and then, but want to get rid of it.  Any ideas?

Your amplifier is broken, either get it fixed or get a new one.

[Harry]

Your amplifier is broken, either get it fixed or get a new one.

Explain your self please!

[Harry]

We have a nice little surround sound system in our family room.  However, lately, when watching tv or a movie there is a sudden static pop sound from the rear speakers (not sure if both or just one).  Only happens now and then, but want to get rid of it.  Any ideas?

Their are multiple possibilities why this is happening, and I am honest with you, I have a few ideas, but in the end I have to hear it myself, which is kind of difficult right?

[Holden]

The likeliest cause is that an appliance, like a refrigerator, is turning on and off. This in turns means that either your speaker leads or your mains plug is not shielded. This should be easy to check out. In my house even turning the lights on and off can cause it.

[Daverz]

I sometimes get a pop when our flourescent kitchen lights go on.  You could try a line filter, but to be honest I don't have much confidence in those things, even the $80 Monster one I have.  Actually, a good amp should have a better power supply that does its own filtering. 

[Bogey]

The likeliest cause is that an appliance, like a refrigerator, is turning on and off. This in turns means that either your speaker leads or your mains plug is not shielded. This should be easy to check out. In my house even turning the lights on and off can cause it.

Thanks all.  Appreciate your time on this.

Holden (and I believe this lines up with your take also Daverz),
You know, we just put a little fridge in the garage about month ago and it is against the same wall (on the other side) as the stereo unit.  Hmmm.

Just checked: The popping started to occurr at about the same time now that my wife and I think about it.

[head-case]

The likeliest cause is that an appliance, like a refrigerator, is turning on and off. This in turns means that either your speaker leads or your mains plug is not shielded. This should be easy to check out. In my house even turning the lights on and off can cause it.

Unless your entire house is plugged into the lamppost down the street, it seems extremely unlikely that a small appliance turning on and off would cause a noticeable sound.  Amplifiers have big transformers and storage capacitors that isolate them from the power supply.  Even when my big air condition unit cycles or when the power grid burps and there is a slight flicker in the lights there is no noticeable sound from any sound system in my house.  Shielding of speaker lines is not an issue since a very large current (on the scale of amperes) is required to generate an appreciable sound from a loudspeaker.  (A small signal cable would be more vulnerable, particularly on something sensitive like a phono amp.)  The most likely explanation to me (particularly if this is a behavior that has developed some time after the system was installed) is that there is some component (like a transformer, capacitor or output transistor) breaking down in your amp which is causing the static sound. 

[Bogey]

Unless your entire house is plugged into the lamppost down the street, it seems extremely unlikely that a small appliance turning on and off would cause a noticeable sound.  Amplifiers have big transformers and storage capacitors that isolate them from the power supply.  Even when my big air condition unit cycles or when the power grid burps and there is a slight flicker in the lights there is no noticeable sound from any sound system in my house.  Shielding of speaker lines is not an issue since a very large current (on the scale of amperes) is required to generate an appreciable sound from a loudspeaker.  (A small signal cable would be more vulnerable, particularly on something sensitive like a phono amp.)  The most likely explanation to me (particularly if this is a behavior that has developed some time after the system was installed) is that there is some component (like a transformer, capacitor or output transistor) breaking down in your amp which is causing the static sound. 

Just unplugged and plugged in that garage fridge while my wife listened.....and the pop occured!  So, does that plug need some type of shield?

[Holden]

Just unplugged and plugged in that garage fridge while my wife listened.....and the pop occured!  So, does that plug need some type of shield?

I like it when I'm right - doesn't happen often enough though!  The likelihood is that the plug your stereo is connected to is also part of the plug that connects your fridge. A simple change to where you plug in your fridge might help - if that is possible.

[Harry]

Electrical feedback, yes I thought so.
Best to have a dedicated mains for the stereo only, that keeps that sort of problems away!

[Bogey]

I like it when I'm right - doesn't happen often enough though!  The likelihood is that the plug your stereo is connected to is also part of the plug that connects your fridge. A simple change to where you plug in your fridge might help - if that is possible.

Yes.  I believe the outlets are back to back.  However, that may be the only outlet to use for the fridge and moving the stereo system is out of the question also.  Will this damage the stereo equipment in the long run?  Any other suggestions?

[Renfield]

Yes.  I believe the outlets are back to back.  However, that may be the only outlet to use for the fridge and moving the stereo system is out of the question also.  Will this damage the stereo equipment in the long run?  Any other suggestions?

I've had the same problem with speakers of my own, and I think yes, there might be some damage in the long run. As far as what you can do, apart from somehow increasing the speakers' magnetic shielding, moving a less-demaning appliance to that other outlet, or using a line filter as Daverz suggested, I'm tapped.

[71 dB]

Yes.  I believe the outlets are back to back.  However, that may be the only outlet to use for the fridge and moving the stereo system is out of the question also.  Will this damage the stereo equipment in the long run?  Any other suggestions?

If the fridge is the source of problem (and it certainly is) and you can't move either the fridge or the sound system then line filter is your only solution. Buy one first. Try it on both sides (fridge/stereo). If the problem still remains buy another one so you have them on both sides of the wall.

I don't think the impulses from your fridge really damage your stereo but they will damage your life. 

Amplifiers have big transformers and storage capacitors that isolate them from the power supply. 

They should have but cheap models do not have. When you do things properly the product is not cheap anymore. Bogey said the static pops are heard from rear speakers which is not weird as the rear channels are considered less important and have even worse isolation than the front channels.

[Harry]

Yes.  I believe the outlets are back to back.  However, that may be the only outlet to use for the fridge and moving the stereo system is out of the question also.  Will this damage the stereo equipment in the long run?  Any other suggestions?

Either a Line filter, or a dedicated mains, only for the stereo.
The plops will not damage your equipment as Poju said, but it is annoying nevertheless.

[Robert]

Bill,

What I have on my system is an ADCOM AC ENHANCER ACE-515. I have had it about 15 years. It cleans all the ac. You can Plug amps and accessories into the 5 plugs on back. Its worked for me....I am not sure its even available any longer...You might look into this...

[Renfield]

Either a Line filter, or a dedicated mains, only for the stereo.
The plops will not damage your equipment as Poju said, but it is annoying nevertheless.

If they are plops, yes. But in the case of a problem I once had, they were "roars", more likely.

(Hence my comment above that they might damage the speakers. I have bad prior experience... )

[Great Gable]

Another option would be to run a dedicated power spur from the mains box - just for the Hi-fi setup.

[Mozart]

My dad just won a surround sound dvd player...but the controller is broken and I can't configure the sound on the speakers...It's half useless :/

[M forever]

Life is hard.