buzz/hum from speakers

jeepers101

I installed a couple of ceiling speakers in my kitchen and connected them to an amplifier. I then ran a headphone jack from the amp to another location for connecting devices.

It all works okay when music is played but if the jack isn't being used there's a horrible noise from the speakers.

Any ideas?

ZENER

If the headphone lead is quite long and nothing is connected to the loose end then it effectively becomes an antenna for every bit electrical noise present in its vicinity. So for example you ran this cable up the wall across the ceiling and through to the final location then you could have fluorescent lights, electronic transformers for down lighters, dimmed lighting circuits etc. and thats before you get into fridge motors and washing machines !!

My suggestion would be to terminate the lead with a proper 3.5mm socket which self shorts the signal connections to avoid this.

Ken

jeepers101

Great info there Ken, thanks. The lead is 10m long so that explains it.

The socket you mention, is that the one you solder to the cables or can you get screw type terminals?

ZENER

Lidl or Aldi were selling a Bluetooth Receiver kit recently, it may be the way to go ? The BT enabled iPod or mp3 player etc. connects to the BT receiver which is wired to the your amplifier thus providing a wireless link. Worth considering. Here's a link.

Alternatively you could install a 3.5mm wall socket in the kitchen ? Looks a bit like this. A socket should automatically short the end of the cable but without seeing the back of the one I've linked to there's no way to tell.

Ken