I recently moved. I have a set of Cambridge/Creative FPS1600 speakers that are now not working. All I get is a loud ground hum. When I disconnect the speakers from the SoundBlaster sound card, the hum goes away. I pulled the sound card and reinstalled. Same thing. Does this sound like a sound card issue?

Creative Worldwide Support

I'm thinking you have an open shield ground on the RCA input side. Connecting speaker inputs possibly restores the ground. Try connecting the high level inputs then disconnect the remote end of the cables (floating the grounds).

Then get out an ohmmeter and find that open circuitor or bad solder joint between RCA ground and real ground in the speaker's amplifier. Or.... if speaker ground kills the hum and you want to use RCA Line Level input to the sub, just connect one minus speaker output on your source amp to one minus on the sub's amp.

this may be result of blown capacitor - have it analyzed by applying strong magnet over the inside speaker , if humming persists, then its not blown capacitor -- the capacitor stores energy, and if that energy is lossed an out in the airwaves, thats the humming effect

Groung hum is usually caused by another 60 cycle interfearance. The two case grounds are not sharing a common ground. Use a 2-prong adapter on the speaker power cord, thus isolating the ground to the speaker.

Sometimes you can take an extra audio cord and connect (a not used connector) from the bass speaker to the computer, just so it will have an additional ground.

Either you have it configured incorrectly this time around, or the settings are defaulted back to original on your DVR........ adjust your DVR sound properties/settings. and check all wires/connections as well.

hi, i recommend just using the headphone out, and it probably will not hurt the notebook, as it is not feeding back into the notebooks sound device. you may wish to do as i did, and get a creative labs external sound card. much improvement over the on-board high def sound built into my acer notebook.with all the connections you would want! as for speakers there are alot of models to pick from.i usually go with creative, but this time i went logitech- thx,dts,ect. and i am very happy. i hope this helps you make a decision on what do. good luck!glen

same here. happened after moving residences

Hi Paulus
A lot brand of speakers, like Sound Blasters, Logitech, Cambridge, has this (strange) kind of volume problem, sometimes, is the resistor, in the volume control, sometimes in the modulator for the board on the sound speakers, Subwofer.
I use a general tip is let the volume in one setting and don't move in the intermediate low volume say....9 .
from other thing, be change the speakers.

This can be caused due to an increase in local interference. The hum is decreased when you plug in the satellites because the interference is spread over a longer area. You may notice that speakers tend to hum around things like cell phones and power outlets. To see if this is the case, move the speakers to another part of the room if you can, slide the desk around, plug the computer in at another room, something like this. If the hum gets louder or quieter, it is interference at your new place. This can be solved by finding a new area to set up your computer stuff at. Since it's mostly the subwoofer, try elevating it off the ground, there may be a power main running under the floor.

The input filter capacitor of ur sub may be damaged,the possibility is upto 99%.u can identify the capacitor easily as it will be the the larger capacitor in that board and is located near the power supply entrance.the component costs within a dollar