5 ms·

is this why I can hear my headphones click when browsing websites?

o-__-o 7y ago
No that is because your computer and all parts within must accept interference. And your motherboard’s $0.07 embedded DAC really wasn’t designed with isolation in mind. So you “hear” your north bridge bus because as your processor speed changes its harmonics induce interfere with the DAC. If this is a laptop, you could disconnect all external power sources (such as charger, external HD’s etc) and those clicks and noise will be lowered (but probably still noticeable at high gain). If you purchased a power conditioner and used a high quality USB3 audio interface (read: isolated DAC) you wouldn’t hear any clicks.
- aidenn0 7y ago
  Even a moderate quality USB dac like the Behringer UCA-202 will be a big improvement over desktop machines that route USB next to unamplified audio
- liveoneggs 7y ago
  it's a macbook pro with airpods so none of that stuff applies
  - o-__-o 7y ago
    You think your brain magically decodes digital signals? No, the DAC in your AirPods do that. Your AirPods are isolated since they are battery driven, but I’m sure it’s at the mercy of whatever noise is in your atmosphere. Also you should lower your audio expectations with AirPods, they are hardly audiophile quality
    - Dylan16807 7y ago
      Wireless interference to headphones isn't anywhere near the 'audible click' level. Especially when they're supposed to be idling.
      - o-__-o 7y ago
        I don't think you wish to hear that your airpods suck because of the price you paid. However Apple is well known for taking products and charging a premium for. I assume you have this problem on all headphone types (bluetooth or hardwired) and across multiple USB audio devices? Or is it limited simply to the airpods which should work noise-free like other headphones of its class including Sennheiser, Bose, and Dr. Dre Beats.
jazzyjackson 7y ago
Hmm, I suppose a good test might be to disable javascript and see if you still get clicks. For me, when my iphone is connected to my car's bluetooth, the kind of ad/tracking-infested websites make it beep like crazy, same sound as turning my volume up and down, closing the tab stops the beeping. I assumed it was some ad or video being glitchy about auto-play, but it happens even without a visible media player...
noisem4ker 7y ago
May be so. Even for playing silence, the DAC/amp audibly wakes up in certain power-saving devices, sometimes with a "click" as you describe.
- noisem4ker 7y ago
  I forgot to say: you can always check if a website is playing audio, as there should be a loudspeaker icon on its tab (Firefox and Chrome on desktop, Firefox at least on mobile).

No that is because your computer and all parts within must accept interference. And your motherboard’s $0.07 embedded DAC really wasn’t designed with isolation in mind. So you “hear” your north bridge bus because as your processor speed changes its harmonics induce interfere with the DAC. If this is a laptop, you could disconnect all external power sources (such as charger, external HD’s etc) and those clicks and noise will be lowered (but probably still noticeable at high gain). If you purchased a power conditioner and used a high quality USB3 audio interface (read: isolated DAC) you wouldn’t hear any clicks.

aidenn0 7y ago
Even a moderate quality USB dac like the Behringer UCA-202 will be a big improvement over desktop machines that route USB next to unamplified audio
liveoneggs 7y ago
it's a macbook pro with airpods so none of that stuff applies
- o-__-o 7y ago
  You think your brain magically decodes digital signals? No, the DAC in your AirPods do that. Your AirPods are isolated since they are battery driven, but I’m sure it’s at the mercy of whatever noise is in your atmosphere. Also you should lower your audio expectations with AirPods, they are hardly audiophile quality
  - Dylan16807 7y ago
    Wireless interference to headphones isn't anywhere near the 'audible click' level. Especially when they're supposed to be idling.
    - o-__-o 7y ago
      I don't think you wish to hear that your airpods suck because of the price you paid. However Apple is well known for taking products and charging a premium for. I assume you have this problem on all headphone types (bluetooth or hardwired) and across multiple USB audio devices? Or is it limited simply to the airpods which should work noise-free like other headphones of its class including Sennheiser, Bose, and Dr. Dre Beats.

jazzyjackson 7y ago

Hmm, I suppose a good test might be to disable javascript and see if you still get clicks. For me, when my iphone is connected to my car's bluetooth, the kind of ad/tracking-infested websites make it beep like crazy, same sound as turning my volume up and down, closing the tab stops the beeping. I assumed it was some ad or video being glitchy about auto-play, but it happens even without a visible media player...

noisem4ker 7y ago

May be so. Even for playing silence, the DAC/amp audibly wakes up in certain power-saving devices, sometimes with a "click" as you describe.

noisem4ker 7y ago
I forgot to say: you can always check if a website is playing audio, as there should be a loudspeaker icon on its tab (Firefox and Chrome on desktop, Firefox at least on mobile).