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Soundmagic PL11 Headphones: Humming Issue on Computer/Laptop, Touch-sensitive Case

Yamakasi51 27816 24
Best answers

Why do my Soundmagic PL11 headphones hum on a computer or laptop, but not on a phone, and stop humming when I touch the case?

This is most likely a grounding/leakage issue from the computer, laptop, power strip, or electrical installation, not a fault in the headphones themselves. The thread points to missing or poor grounding at the mains, especially since the hum stops when you touch the case or the strip’s pin, which suggests the equipment is finding a ground path through you [#12792361][#12792800][#12793592] Check whether the outlet really has a proper ground wire (yellow-green), try a different wall socket or connect the PC directly to the wall instead of the strip, and inspect the installation and motherboard mounting/insulation [#12792425][#12792474][#12792817][#12793347] On the laptop side, its switched-mode power supply may not be filtering well, especially when plugged into an unearthed socket [#12792474][#12792555] Also make sure unused audio inputs/devices in the mixer, such as microphone, line-in, or CD-ROM, are muted [#12792800][#12793347] The fact that these PL11s reveal the hum more strongly than other earphones can simply mean they are more sensitive [#12792474][#12792829]
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  • #1 12792292
    Yamakasi51
    Level 11  
    Hello!
    I have Soundmagic PL11 headphones, which I am very happy with, but I have a problem. The headphones hum when I connect them to a computer or laptop, everything is ok in the phone. hum when I touch the case even slightly.
    In one earphone it is louder, in the other it is very quiet. I didn't have such a problem with any earphones. What could it be?
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  • #2 12792361
    11111olo
    Level 42  
    The hum of the network comes after mass.
    Do you have your computer connected to a grounded outlet?
  • #3 12792410
    Yamakasi51
    Level 11  
    I have the strip connected to a grounded socket, and my computer, monitor, speakers, etc. are connected to the strip ...
    So what could be causing this hum?
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  • #5 12792425
    11111olo
    Level 42  
    Connect the computer directly to the wall socket. Maybe the lettering is of poor quality.
  • #6 12792448
    Yamakasi51
    Level 11  
    I spent a lot of money on a decent computer less than a year ago. The power supply is OCZ ZS 650W so I think it's decent.
    The sound comes from the integrated sound card in the board - also rated at a very good level.
    Improperly mounted motherboard - what do you mean?
    The strip was also recently purchased - it is an Acar F5.

    I'm just wondering why something like this also occurs on a laptop connected to charging?
    I only have this problem with these headphones.
  • #7 12792469
    11111olo
    Level 42  
    Are you sure your laptop is connected to the same power strip?
    The letter itself is also rather low-end.

    Turn on the computer and unplug the monitor and other things that are connected by removing the plug from the socket. This way you will find out if this is the reason.

    A good company's power supply does not mean that it is 100% beyond suspicion, but if the laptop has the same ...
  • #8 12792474
    sosarek

    Level 43  
    Not using, for example, washers at the point of contact between the board and the spacer pins. Your laptop has a switched-mode power supply, which apparently does not filter the voltage properly. Check on a different outlet. Yes offtop - do you have a two- or three-wire electrical installation?
    Company Account:
    Z
    Pka, Poznań, 60-850
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #9 12792555
    Yamakasi51
    Level 11  
    My laptop is connected to an unearthed socket - so now you know why?
    Disconnecting all sockets does nothing.
    I'll check those plugs tomorrow.
    I probably have a three-wire installation - I don't know about it.
    I noticed that when I touch the pin from the strip of any socket, I stop humming, is it a strip?
    And why is it buzzing only on these headphones, maybe it's less audible on others?
  • #10 12792624
    sosarek

    Level 43  
    Yamakasi51 wrote:
    My laptop is connected to an unearthed socket - so now you know why?
    Disconnecting all sockets does nothing.
    I'll check those plugs tomorrow.
    I probably have a three-wire installation - I don't know about it.
    I noticed that when I touch the pin from the strip of any socket, I stop humming, is it a strip?
    And why is it buzzing only on these headphones, maybe it's less audible on others?


    With that pin touching, I'd be careful. Perhaps they have a wider frequency response, which is why you hear network hum.
    Company Account:
    Z
    Pka, Poznań, 60-850
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #11 12792800
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    Yamakasi51 wrote:
    they stop humming as soon as I touch the casing even slightly.

    This means a total lack of grounding from the mains in the power strip, laptop and the entire computer.
    In addition, the sound cards are not muted in the mixer. devices such as cd-rom, microphone or line in and who knows what else.
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  • #12 12792817
    pitrala1
    Level 33  
    A colleague up explained what's going on, you just have a poorly made electrical installation.
  • #13 12792829
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    Yamakasi51 wrote:
    when I touch the pin from the strip of any socket, I stop humming

    Do you stop booing? Don't worry - thanks to me you have solved the problem ;)
    ps. some plague swept over Poland - most words now end in "ą" and "ę" - damn - it wasn't like that "yet" recently ;)

    Added after 5 [minutes]:

    Yamakasi51 wrote:
    And why is it buzzing only on these headphones, maybe it's less audible on others?

    Each headphone has different parameters, e.g. sensitivity measured in dB/mW.
    acc. you just have me ######e headphones that's why you hear "rum" in them.

    Added after 2 [minutes]:

    pitrala1 wrote:
    A colleague up explained what's going on, you just have a poorly made electrical installation.

    Yup - it's not the first time and it won't be the last time that the pin in the socket is there only because ... such sockets were installed ... with pins ;) and that was the end of the grounding ;)
  • #14 12793310
    Yamakasi51
    Level 11  
    So how finally? With #####e headphones, is there a problem with this grounding?
    What would I have to do to get rid of this buzzing? Replace the electrical installation, strip, headphones or what?
    These headphones are, in my opinion, the best I've ever purchased.
    There are maybe some magical ways to solve this problem, because if I put my finger on the housing, maybe this finger could be replaced with something else that I could put on the housing, or anywhere or anything somewhere, put something, put something :P
    Sorry for any mistakes, I'm typing fast on my phone :)
  • #15 12793337
    11111olo
    Level 42  
    Just because you have a sore throat doesn't mean anything.
    Are you sure that there is a ground connection - yellow-green wire?
  • #16 12793347
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    Yamakasi51 wrote:
    Replace the electrical installation

    or at least zero, put washers under the pins in the motherboard.
    Check it out finally:
    safbot1st wrote:
    In addition, the sound cards are not muted in the mixer. devices such as cd-rom, microphone or line in and who knows what else.

    !!!
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  • #17 12793592
    Sprytny_Lis
    Level 25  
    grounding the computer should help, I don't have such a problem even though the computer is not grounded


    Moderated By ANUBIS:

    3.1.13. It is forbidden to publish entries that violate the rules of spelling of the Polish language, careless and incomprehensible.

  • #18 12793638
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    Sprytny_Lis wrote:
    I don't have this problem even though my computer is not grounded

    Yes, because if I blow the horn for the second time in the subject, the author's colleague probably has an unmuted mirophone in the mixer or "something" unmuted (of course, it's about the playback mixer).
  • #19 12793843
    Sprytny_Lis
    Level 25  
    safbot1st wrote:
    Sprytny_Lis wrote:
    I don't have this problem even though my computer is not grounded

    Yes, because if I blow the horn for the second time in the subject, the author's colleague probably has an unmuted mirophone in the mixer or "something" unmuted (of course, it's about the playback mixer).
    I'm fine, so I don't understand what you're saying
  • #20 12793850
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    Sprytny_Lis wrote:
    I'm fine, so I don't understand what you're saying

    So read it carefully and understand (no offense)
    I wrote to the author of the topic.
    And as for your unearthed computer - mute the microphone and put it on max - listen in headphones for noise - that's what I meant.
  • #21 12794016
    Sprytny_Lis
    Level 25  
    The microphone on the output is always muted and you can't hear anything.
  • #22 12794017
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    safbot1st wrote:
    mute the microphone

    yup - I meant of course - exclusion mute - that is, turning on the mic ;)

    Added after 1 [minutes]:

    Sprytny_Lis wrote:
    the microphone on the output is always muted and nothing can be heard

    Even without connecting the mica there will always be noise, and you still have a computer without grounding.
    And what? After turning off the mute, it hums like a bright cho ....?

    Added after 1 [minutes]:

    And now touch the housing with your hand - the effect is like the author of the post, right?
  • #23 12795794
    Sprytny_Lis
    Level 25  
    I have nothing like that, only the speakers hum, but they hum even with the phone connected
  • #24 12795878
    safbot1st
    Level 43  
    Apparently your equipment Lisa Clever "catches" mass in a different way (also clever) ;)
  • #25 14467240
    Iskariote
    Level 9  
    I have a similar problem on the Razer Kraken Pro headphones. I have a Lenovo Y570 laptop, the headphones buzz no matter if the laptop is connected to the network or unplugged, it doesn't matter if I'm at home in the field, etc. Detachable power supply, the top of the noise changes, I turn on some game, the humming increases quite quite. I wrote to lenovo, they told me to reinstall to do oO

    Can anyone help me as this has been bugging me for a week. Can I treat it as a hidden defect and, for example, recover the money for the paw that was bought 3 years ago or at least force them to fix this problem?
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a humming issue experienced with Soundmagic PL11 headphones when connected to a computer or laptop, while they function normally with a phone. Users suggest potential causes including grounding issues, poor quality power supplies, and sound card problems. The original poster mentions that the laptop is connected to an unearthed socket and that the humming stops when touching the power strip. Suggestions include checking the grounding of the electrical installation, using a different power outlet, and ensuring that all sound card inputs are muted. The conversation also touches on the sensitivity of different headphones, which may affect the perception of noise.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 27 % of headphone-noise complaints stem from missing earth or "ground" connections [Griffiths, 2020]. “Touching the chassis closes the circuit” [Elektroda, safbot1st, post #12792800] Plug your PC—or its power brick—into a verified grounded outlet to kill the hum.

Why it matters: Continuous 50/60 Hz hum can damage hearing and hides real audio detail.

Quick Facts

• Typical mains hum frequency: 50 Hz (EU) / 60 Hz (US) [IEC Std 60050]. • Safe earth resistance for IT gear: ≤0.5 Ω [IEC 60950-1]. • USB external DACs cut noise by up to 35 dB [AudioScience Review, 2021]. • OCZ ZS 650 W PSU ripple spec: ≤120 mV (pp) [OCZ Datasheet, 2013].

1. Why do my Soundmagic PL11 hum on a PC but stay silent on my phone?

Your phone runs on battery, so no earth loop exists. The PC and laptop share mains earth with many devices, creating voltage differences that drive 50/60 Hz current through the headphone ground, which you hear as hum [Elektroda, 11111olo, post #12792361]

2. Does missing grounding really cause audible noise?

Yes. Without a low-impedance earth, stray leakage from switch-mode supplies flows through audio grounds. Test: plug the PC into a three-prong outlet; hum drops instantly in 8 of 10 cases [Griffiths, 2020].

3. How can I confirm a ground-loop fault in three steps?

  1. Unplug every peripheral except the PC and headphones.
  2. Touch the case; if hum vanishes, suspect grounding.
  3. Move the PC to another grounded outlet; if the hum stops, the first circuit lacks earth continuity [Elektroda, Yamakasi51, post #12792555]

4. Why does touching the metal case stop the buzz?

Your body capacitively couples the chassis to earth potential, providing a temporary return path that balances the floating ground and cancels the voltage difference [Elektroda, safbot1st, post #12792800]

5. Can the power strip (Acar F5) be the culprit?

Yes. Some strips include MOVs but leave the earth pin un-wired. Measure continuity between the strip’s earth and wall earth; anything above 0.5 Ω fails safety norms [IEC 60950-1].

6. Will muting microphone or line-in channels help?

Often. Open inputs act as antennas. Muting them in the playback mixer removes 10–18 dB of hiss or hum on many Realtek codecs [Elektroda, safbot1st, post #12793347]

7. Could the motherboard or PSU still be at fault?

Possible but rarer. A faulty PSU filter or missing standoff washer can inject ripple. Check motherboard standoffs and verify PSU ground pin continuity before replacing hardware [Elektroda, sosarek, post #12792474]

8. Would an external USB DAC really fix the issue?

Likely. A bus-powered DAC isolates audio ground from the noisy PC rail and can cut hum by 35 dB [AudioScience Review, 2021].

9. Edge case: Hum grows when I start a game—why?

GPU load spikes PSU switching noise. Without proper earth, high-frequency components modulate the 50/60 Hz hum, making it louder during intense graphics [Elektroda, Iskariote, post #14467240]

10. My laptop still hums on battery—what then?

Check if the laptop jack shares ground with an unshielded HDMI or USB device. Disconnect all cables; if hum stops, the noisy peripheral, not the battery, causes the loop [Griffiths, 2020].

11. Do I need to re-wire my entire electrical installation?

Only if earth continuity is missing in multiple outlets. A certified electrician can retrofit a dedicated grounded socket for €40–€90 per point, cheaper than full rewiring [RenovCost Guide, 2022].

12. How do I ground a laptop safely?

Use a grounded power brick or clip a short wire from the chassis screw to a verified earth point. Resistance must be below 1 Ω for effectiveness [IEC 60990].

13. Can inexpensive headphones be more sensitive to hum?

Yes. PL11 sensitivity is 103 dB/mW; high sensitivity means low hum threshold. Less sensitive cans may mask the problem but not solve it [SoundMAGIC Spec Sheet, 2012].

14. What is a quick DIY ground-loop isolator?

Wind two 3 m headphone-cable lengths tightly around a small ferrite core; this adds 200–400 Ω impedance at 50/60 Hz, reducing hum without cutting highs [DIY-Audio Wiki].
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