Sometimes, with some systems I have owned, I have noticed an occasional “popping” sound like static discharge. It’s quite annoying. What is causing this? Cheaper electronics?
This popping noise is even noticed when the receiver is on, but nothing is playing.
Also, I will add that, when playing a tape, this is especially prevelant. I guess it could be enhanced by dirt crossing the tape heads?
if it is static, ground everything that’s hooked up to it. get some wire, attach it to a metal part of your cd player, and whatever else you have hooked up to it, and tie it to something metal. may look ugly, but it worked for me. it also seems to get rid of any hums i’ve had, but especially static.
If it happens when no one is moving around, touching things (and producing static electricity), then it’s probably interference picked up over the air or through the power cords. Sometimes you can pick up a heat pump or air conditioner starting, or some other large electrical load. A power strip that blocks power line noise (Isobar is one brand name) might help, but it might be coming in directly as radio-frequency interference, in which case your stuck. Poor electrical shielding of the stereo equipment makes it more likely.
Arjuna34
Does this mean you initially heard the noise when the receiver was off? This is a common issue with Sony’s STR-AV & STR-D series receivers. Internal ground screws would work themselves loose due to vibrations or heating & cooling over time. I saw numerous technical bulletins from Sony on this, but it seems like they never did anything to prevent this from happening in later models, so it kept on happening. (I don’t mean to pick on Sony, every brand has its quirks & bugs- this just sounded like your problem).
In older receivers, dirty controls can cause random popping or static noise, even with no source signal present.
There is a related thread that might help you- go check out http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005573.html
Some good ideas here, but may I put forth that you make sure this is not something simple, such as defective or ancient speaker wires, or possibly bad connections which can cause this problem as well. Good luck.
“A single lifetime, even though entirely devoted to the sky, would not be enough for the investigation of so vast a subject.” - Seneca
Rats. My first UBB boo-boo.