Question for Harman Kardon Soundstick owners

[MattTheMedic]

I recently got the great sounding Harman Kardon Soundsticks.
I have a question for people that own these as well:

When you turn your speakers on (and no audio is playing) do you notice very faint crackling/static?

Knowing this would be very helpful for me to determine if this is normal or if i should get a replacement.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SaSaSushi]

I've already replied to you in your other thread on the same subject that mine do not make any noise whatsoever. You either have a problem in the speakers or with the Mac you're connecting them to.

In troubleshooting the issue I would start with the obvious and make sure that the plug is firmly and completely inserted into the headphone jack. Does the static occur when the speakers are turned on and not connected to the Mac? Try connecting them to another sound source and see if the noise persists.

 

[qcmacmini]

I get a slight pop when they power up. I also notice slight crackling from time to time, I have a feeling it's the amp turning on/off when there is no audio. The great sound quality makes up for it when you have audio playing.

 

[MattTheMedic]

I've already replied to you in your other thread on the same subject that mine do not make any noise whatsoever. You either have a problem in the speakers or with the Mac you're connecting them to.

In troubleshooting the issue I would start with the obvious and make sure that the plug is firmly and completely inserted into the headphone jack. Does the static occur when the speakers are turned on and not connected to the Mac? Try connecting them to another sound source and see if the noise persists.

Thanks, I did read you're other reply but I though you had different speakers. (I didn't realize you ment the Harman Kardon soundsticks with HKIII, my bad).

Either way, I returned the soundsticks and I'm waiting for new ones. I fear they will give the same sound but I hope not.

I did test a few things before returning them. I reconnected the cables firmly, I tried using 3 different devices and I tried turning the speakers on while they were not plugged in to an audio source. I also tried to run them in a different room to make sure there's no ground loop. Still the same problem.

This leaves me to think the problem is in the soundsticks itself, or its some sort of interference.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Thanks, I did read you're other reply but I though you had different speakers. (I didn't realize you ment the Harman Kardon soundsticks with HKIII, my bad.

Yeah, no worries. Actually, having never heard any noise whatsoever from mine I tried everything I could to see if I could get them to produce any and was unsuccessful. I also turned off all my external HDs and other devices to get the room as silent as possible, maxed the volume on the HKIIIs with no audio playing and put my ears right up to the tweeters. I couldn't hear any static.

I do concur with qcmacmini though that there is a slight "pop" sound sometimes at the moment I power on.

Were you hearing the noise with your ears pressed to the tweeters? I suspect that you had a bad set and that your replacement will resolve it for you.

I do love my HKIIIs.

 

[MattTheMedic]

Yeah, no worries. Actually, having never heard any noise whatsoever from mine I tried everything I could to see if I could get them to produce any and was unsuccessful. I also turned off all my external HDs and other devices to get the room as silent as possible, maxed the volume on the HKIIIs with no audio playing and put my ears right up to the tweeters. I couldn't hear any static.

I do concur with qcmacmini though that there is a slight "pop" sound sometimes at the moment I power on.

Were you hearing the noise with your ears pressed to the tweeters? I suspect that you had a bad set and that your replacement will resolve it for you.

I do love my HKIIIs.

No, I noticed the noise when I was sitting in front of my desk. I could easily hear noise without pressing my ears to the tweeter. (the niose is constant) I did also hear a pop sound when turning the soundsticks on but I think this is normal. I'm hoping to receive the new soundsticks somewhere in the coming three/four days. I hope these won't have any noise. That would be a shame for such great speakers.

 

[wayne smith]

No, I noticed the noise when I was sitting in front of my desk. I could easily hear noise without pressing my ears to the tweeter. (the niose is constant) I did also hear a pop sound when turning the soundsticks on but I think this is normal. I'm hoping to receive the new soundsticks somewhere in the coming three/four days. I hope these won't have any noise. That would be a shame for such great speakers.

I'm having the exact same problem, although I've owned these speakers for about a year. I can't stop this humming now with the occasional crackling. Did you have it resolved with new speakers?

 

[hussainh1]

I have the Harmon Kardon Soundstick II's and have the same issue as well. Pop when they go on, low level static when not playing but on low volume. I've been using in-ear monitors the past couple years, but still have the HK ready to use when speakers are necessary.