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bad static bursts from iMac headphone port

M

macdcdude

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 28, 2009
3
0
I've got a 20 inch iMac, purchased early last year (so just out of warranty!). I have it plugged into some powered external speakers, the Harman Kardon Soundstick IIs. It all worked fine for a year, but recently I have been getting really loud and harsh feedback/distortion. It seems to come randomly, including when the computer has been asleep all night (it is so loud that it wakes me up in my bedroom). The only way to stop it is to unplug the speakers. I think it is coming from the iMac, because when I've tried plugging the speakers into my iPod, I haven't had the problem (but I also haven't left it for long periods of time, so it wasn't at all thorough troubleshooting). It doesn't seem to be something like a loose connection, because twisting and jostling the cord when it is plugged into the iMac does not seem to affect the noise when it is happening, and I can't figure out how to trigger it. On the other hand, I frequently (a few times a day) unplug the speakers from the iMac, because they are very loud and that is the only way to turn them off and play something at low volume with no subwoofer).
I have tried resetting the power manager on the iMac by unplugging it for 30 seconds, but that didn't seem to help.
So: is this just annoying, or is it possibly damaging my iMac, and/or my speakers? Any suggestions on what to do?

max

P.S. my mastercard supposedly doubles the warranty on purchases, and that what i bought the iMac with: anybody have any experience with that?
 
While you are waiting for the answer you WANt to hear I going to tell you to stop using "sleep" if you value the life longevity of your iMac. sleep is good for 2-4 hours stretches of time afk, but not for 8 hours a night 7 days a week.

I imagine this will solve your speaker problem, but like I said its not the answer you probably want to hear ;)
 
sleep and static

Thanks. I did not know that. I'll start powering it down, same with my MacBook Pro I guess?

To be clear, the static eruptions happen at random times, not just when it is asleep, but also when I am plaing music or watching a film or just sitting there using the computer and not playing anything. It could also be a bad cord, of course, but I would think that would give me some feedback when I played with the cord, moved it around. But that doesn't seem to affect it all - which is why I am concerned the source is the iMac. ...
 
macdcdude said:
Thanks. I did not know that. I'll start powering it down, same with my MacBook Pro I guess?

To be clear, the static eruptions happen at random times, not just when it is asleep, but also when I am plaing music or watching a film or just sitting there using the computer and not playing anything. It could also be a bad cord, of course, but I would think that would give me some feedback when I played with the cord, moved it around. But that doesn't seem to affect it all - which is why I am concerned the source is the iMac. ...
Click to expand...
To be honest i have had this problem to. sometimes its not the computer but interference from outside sources. I had a guitar amp that would pick up CB radio conversations from time to time. My PC rig's speakers also like to make noise when sifting through folders. Its like it is picking up noise from the HDD when its retrieving info and thumbnails. speakers do wired things if they have cheapo, non shielded cables and connectors.

Also see if you get static when using headphones on the iMac
 
My computers are almost always on standby, my iMac is seldom switched off. If there's any conclusive evidence to support that theory I might start switching it off.

Shame to hear about the speakers, perhaps it won't be that expensive to fix.
 
BenEndeem said:
My computers are almost always on standby, my iMac is seldom switched off. If there's any conclusive evidence to support that theory I might start switching it off.

Shame to hear about the speakers, perhaps it won't be that expensive to fix.
Click to expand...
Its hard to get evidence of long term problems of using sleep mode. It may be a few months or a year before new computers start to see problems and it hard to trace it back to using the sleep function. However, most issues people have with iMacs I read are from people that use sleep mode. i.e. "HELP!!!. iMac is acting funny after waking from sleep!!!"

Read up on how the sleep function actually works as well. when most computers are put to sleep, the ram still draws power and the fans turn off. To me this is really bad for compact machines to have ram heat up for hours on end and not have any fans cooling the parts, to say noting of the power supply heating up and not getting any fan cooling. The heat build up in such a slim machine as the iMac is bound to cause problems. But hey, its your mac, do what you want :)
 
bad noise

So, does anybody have any advice for me on this problem?

Max
 
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