Linux Mint Forums

I have a mini stereo connected to my system to provide the sound.
After installing Mint, I noticed I have a medium loud crackle/buzz
noise in my speakers like there is a ground issue. But I don't believe
I have any ground issue as when win7 is running, I do not have this
issue at all.

No noise problems while running the LIVE disk version. Only after
install. I tried a few different versions of Mint and they all do it.

Funny thing is... when I install any RPM distro, this does not happen.

Anyone experience this and if so, what have you done to resolve it?

Have you tried this https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/PositionReporting

wyrdoak wrote:Have you tried this https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/PositionReporting

Thanks! I used the Fix-2 line in the config file and it worked!

Actually even after the fix, it re-started making the same noise.
Took a couple of days... strange... but started again.

I need to figure this out or I will be forced to switch to a different
distro. Not really wanting to do that, though.

Make sure your cell phone isn't near your computer turned on.If I happen have my cell in my pocket turned on any where near my puter,my speakers make all kinds of intermittent weird noises.

Could be from the amplified speaker system connected to your PC....that has its own power source.

Using headphones do you get the same crackling? Had a similar problem with a Mac Mini that was getting errant power feeding back from a printer and the USB cable from it to the Mac.

No, it's not from any cell phone nor the speakers... because sometimes it doesn't do it and I never move the speakers.

Are both your computer and the audio system connected through the same breaker/fuse in your breaker/fuse box, or are they on different circuits? If they are on different circuits, you could be getting a ground related noise feeding back from your HVAC system, refrigerators or other motors which kick on automatically.

Check with another speaker or headphone , if the problem is still exist , i am sure the problem is soundcard configuration
post the output of :

I read of a noise issue from users of the Chrome browser.....?

I had something similar with strange noises, but only in Firefox and only when I scroll the webpage down.
Problem was on the motherboard -> exactly old and damaged capacitors.
After replacing them, FF is quiet

Well, not sure about others issues with noise in speakers... but I have two computers and it did it on both computers! But I installed the latest NetRunner OS and no more noise! This OS is in its infancy, but I really think it will be one that will zoom to the top!

However, I recently downloaded Mint 14 KDE and installed it on my HP Slimline Pavillion PC and for some weird
reason... it no longer makes the noise. But installed it on a Dell Optiplex 790 and BAM... noise! So NetRunner OS
will continue to power that PC. Can't wait for NetRunner to grow... it's a good one!

I have a Dell Inspiron base version, had the same issue. (2014 build laptop) By editing the /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf file, and adding "options snd-hda-intel position_fix=1" fixed the issue. I had grabbed a USB sound card to see if it was hardware, but now that I think of it, Mint treated the USB card differently (correctly), so that test could have easily misled me to think it was faulty hardware. Thankfully, I found this thread before giving up.