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BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

Ariffk — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 22:16:11 GMT

Hi all,

I've been having an issue for the past few weeks/ months and to be honest it's really starting to frustrate me.

On my Gaming PC I've been getting a buzzing/ humming & slight clicking noise through my earphones - and I've tried alternative earphones and the issue remains.

I've completely stripped my setup way back and reconnected everything, taking care to cable manage and keep audio cables away from power cables.

I've identified the source of this buzzing/ humming & clicking noise to come from either the BT Smart Hub 2 or it's Power Adapter (leaning toward the latter).

When it's plugged in it's generating this constant irritating noise and I cannot solve it - it's made worse by squeezing the cable that's folded up and held together by a cable tie (the same cable bunching as it arrives out of the box with just a foot of slack to connect to the power socket.

I tried an old Smart hub adapter which has the same power ratings and it was still the same issue.
Thing is this power adapter has a plastic ground pin - so I'm guessing this means it's not being grounded if I'm getting ground noise - What other adapter can I try?

This hub is only a few months old.

If I can't get a solution here I'll just scrap it and get something else entirely.

Thanks

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

Les-Gibson — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:17:23 GMT

If, as is the norm these days, the power adapter is switch mode then it is operating at something like 40kHz which is well above the typical human hearing range of around 20kHz so I have my doubts that the noise is coming from the adapter.

The earth pin is plastic because the adapter is double insulated and therefore doesn't require an earth connection.

For what it's worth, I would turn my attention to any RCDs' that you may have be they the plug-in type (in a mains socket) or in your consumer unit

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

countrypaul — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:46:05 GMT

Assuming it is a 12v power supply, could you try powering it from a battery (e.g. car battery) just long enough to confirm that it is the PSU rather than the hub itself.

How far is the hub from your PC?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

steephill — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:52:16 GMT

Try removing the cable tie and unwrapping the power cable.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

Ariffk — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 10:31:56 GMT

The reason I think it's the adapter or hub is because from my GoXLR Mini (mixer) device when I plug my earphones into the headphone amp I get this irritating noise.
When I remove the BT hub power adapter from the mains the noise goes away.
Even with every other device connected it's perfectly fine. As soon as I plug in the BT hub the noise returns.
All my aux cables have ground loop isolators but it doesn't fix this noise when the hub is powered on.

Also I've seen some people mention on here before that their hub/ adapter makes a weird clicking noise - which is the same noise I hear only through my earphones or headphones only when the hub is powered on.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

Ariffk — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 10:32:57 GMT

Not sure how I would power this from a battery?

The hub is sitting on top of my streaming PC and is about 3 foot away from my Gaming PC.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

countrypaul — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:41:45 GMT

I admit I had not thought through how you might use a battery. I tend to have all sorts of bits and pieces lying around such as 2.1mm plugs, old alarm batteries so it is easy for me. I was thinking something like this attached to a battery: 2.1mm x 5.5mm Male DC Plug to Bare Ended Power Cable 1.5m/2m/3m/5m

Might be a non-starter for you as I have no idea about your circumstances.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

Devonboy55 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:56:56 GMT

I had the same issue - hum from PC-connected speakers - but only since a new router (BT Smart Hub 2) was installed, 2 days ago.

I don't believe it's the power supply because, as soon as I switched off the Hub itself (button on back) the noise disappeared.
(Never had this problem with the old hub (BT Smart Hub)
I'm thinking that it's because the new hub is more powerful?)

BUT moving the Hub slightly further away from the speakers fixed the problem!

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

licquorice — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:15:39 GMT

You're posting on a 2 year old thread!

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 - Power Adapter Ground Noise

Devonboy55 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:58:39 GMT

But some people will be having this problem - as I did - and be looking for a solution!