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headphones hiss when nothing is playing

Ask By Jyoti S.2,718 views

i hear a constant hiss in my headphones when i play nothing. louder with volume up. normal?

Brand
Audio-Technica
Model
ATH-M50x
Connection
Wired 3.5mm Jack
System
Windows 10
Browser
Chrome 130
Sample Rate
48 kHz
Output Channels
2 channels
Crackling And Buzzing SoundsHeadphones
Tool used in this discussionHeadphone TestLeft and right channel, balance and driver check
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Short Answer

A hiss at silence is often the noise floor of the audio output, and sensitive headphones reveal it. Lower the system gain or use a better DAC.

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Lars Neumann
Lars NeumannAudio Team
Electroacoustics Engineer · 6+ years experience · Answered Jan 30, 2026

Every audio output has a small noise floor. Headphones with high sensitivity turn that into audible hiss.

Using a quieter output or reducing the amplifier gain helps.

Step By Step Fix
  1. Turn the Windows volume to about 80 percent and raise the player volume if needed
  2. Try the headphones on a phone to compare the hiss
  3. Use a USB audio adapter with a lower noise level
  4. Disable Audio enhancements in Windows
Sources
  1. W3C Web Audio API

Checked by Alistair Cross on . How we verify answers

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Community Replies 2

  • Neelam ThakurCommunity Member

    Mine hissed on a desktop motherboard jack. A small DAC cleaned it up. Worth trying before you spend any money.

  • Saanvi BhattacharyaCommunity Member

    This is the noise floor, normal on sensitive phones. I checked it again with the Headphone Test afterwards to be sure.

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Lars Neumann
Written and tested by

Lars Neumann

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.

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  • 5 answers on Sound Test
  • 6+ years experience
  • Reviewed by Alistair Cross
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Brandon VanceBrandon VanceAudio & Acoustic Performance LeadXavier CruzXavier CruzFrequency Sweep SpecialistDiana ChenDiana ChenHearing Test ArchitectAlistair CrossAlistair CrossHeadphone Benchmark LeadImogen BlakeImogen BlakeBinaural Beats EngineerCallum SterlingCallum SterlingSurround Sound AuditorGemma GallagherGemma GallagherTone Generator ValidatorHarvey FinchHarvey FinchSpectrum Analyzer Lead

Each 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.

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