my fiio usb dac makes a buzzing noise only when i play games and the gpu is working hard. silent at idle
Buzzing that changes with GPU load is electrical noise on the USB or power line. Use a different USB port, a shielded cable or a USB isolator.
GPU load changes the power draw and can inject noise into shared USB power. DACs with simple power filters pick that up as buzz.
Isolating the DAC's power fixes it in most cases.
Checked by Amit Malhotra on . How we verify answers
Electroacoustics Engineer at Sound Test
Lars Neumann is the Electroacoustics Engineer on the Sound Tester Audio Team. Conducts strict transducer distortion testing, frequency response matching, and ambient room noise profiling. Active in international acoustics engineering forums and Mastodon. Based in Germany. On Sound Tester he answers hum, noise and distortion discussions, and explains how room and wiring affect what you hear.
Brandon VanceAudio & Acoustic Performance Lead
Xavier CruzFrequency Sweep Specialist
Diana ChenHearing Test Architect
Alistair CrossHeadphone Benchmark Lead
Imogen BlakeBinaural Beats Engineer
Callum SterlingSurround Sound Auditor
Gemma GallagherTone Generator Validator
Harvey FinchSpectrum Analyzer LeadEach answer is written by the specialist closest to the topic and checked by a second team member. How we verify answers
Answers are free general guidance from the Sound Tester Audio Team and community. They are not medical advice. For hearing loss, ringing or ear pain, see a doctor or audiologist. Opening a device can void its warranty, so check the maker's support first for hardware faults.
Every tool runs in your browser. No sign up, no download, nothing uploaded.
The front pair plays, the subwoofer maybe hums, and the center and both rear speakers sit there like furniture. You…
The mic test shows a moving level bar, the browser says the microphone works, and a minute into the client call…
Laptop spec sheets love the word bass. Demo videos show a thumping kick drum from a machine thinner than a magazine…
The newest replies from listeners and the Audio Team.
