3 ms·

> Then again, I haven't methodically gone further into the rabbit hole and just try to see if I can notice a new device being powered up in a blind test. There

by cesarb 6y ago

> Then again, I haven't methodically gone further into the rabbit hole and just try to see if I can notice a new device being powered up in a blind test. There is a well known mechanism by which it might be possible for you to notice a new device being powered up: coil whine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_whine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_whine). It was very common in the CRT era (some people could instantly tell whenever a television set was powered on), but still persists today (for instance, it's a known problem on some laptop models).

StringyBob 6y ago
Cheap electronics, particularly with switch mode power supplies can be pretty bad for magnetostriction in transformers/inductors or piezoelectric effect in capacitors leading to these high pitched noises. When optimising for the cheapest borderline in spec components to get the bill of materials down this is even more likely. When these noises are present they can be extremely difficult to track down where they are coming from in a room
webmaven 6y ago
> There is a well known mechanism by which it might be possible for you to notice a new device being powered up: coil whine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_whine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_whine). There are other known (though less common) mechanisms, notably RF reception through dental fillings or bridgework. While the barrier to actually hearing intelligible radio broadcasts is pretty high, simple awareness of a nearby transmitting device is... less unlikely, and might exhibit as something like referred pain, or a vague sense of pressure, or be mistaken for tinnitus.
davidy123 6y ago
I don't have fillings or similar, but something like coil whine could certainly be a factor. The question then becomes, does coil whine have any adverse effects, like loss of sensitivity in its spectrum, or via distraction?

by cesarb 6y ago

StringyBob 6y ago

Cheap electronics, particularly with switch mode power supplies can be pretty bad for magnetostriction in transformers/inductors or piezoelectric effect in capacitors leading to these high pitched noises. When optimising for the cheapest borderline in spec components to get the bill of materials down this is even more likely. When these noises are present they can be extremely difficult to track down where they are coming from in a room

webmaven 6y ago

> There is a well known mechanism by which it might be possible for you to notice a new device being powered up: coil whine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_whine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_whine). There are other known (though less common) mechanisms, notably RF reception through dental fillings or bridgework. While the barrier to actually hearing intelligible radio broadcasts is pretty high, simple awareness of a nearby transmitting device is... less unlikely, and might exhibit as something like referred pain, or a vague sense of pressure, or be mistaken for tinnitus.

davidy123 6y ago

I don't have fillings or similar, but something like coil whine could certainly be a factor. The question then becomes, does coil whine have any adverse effects, like loss of sensitivity in its spectrum, or via distraction?