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My computer speakers have started to emit a buzz, which "behaves" as following: It is loud when I power the speakers on, and then it fades quickly to a much lower volume level and remains constant and little audible thereafter. It is independent of the level the volume button is set. That is, if there's no audio at all, the buzz is the same at all volume levels. It has nothing to do with the computer and its sound card since its "behavior" is the same when I have the speakers disconnected.

Can it be caused by the adaptor, which has got a problem? Is it a question of grounding? In any of these cases, can it be fixed and how?

Apostolos
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1 Answers1

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You've performed good testing! By unplugging the speakers from everything but the power supply (AKA power adapter and wall wart), and checking that the buzzing continues even with low volume, the only source of the AC hum is that power supply.

If the supply is operating at normal temperature, likely, a capacitor in the output is failing. If it's running very warm, likely a diode has shorted.

Either way, it can easily be replaced with another supply of the same voltage rating, and the same or greater current rating, and the correct connectors for the PC and AC mains. There are "universal" power supplies with multiple output voltage settings, and with multiple plugs for the output, such as this, but make sure it meets the current (amps) needs.

If you are comfortable repairing electronics, it is possible to break open the power supply and replace a component, but it would be difficult to reassemble safely.

Giacomo1968
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DrMoishe Pippik
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