New Microphone-Headset Is Buzzin'

[Dingbat]

No, really, it's making a buzzing sound. Well, a low growl. Bought it about two hours ago and the freaking thing won't shut up.

There isn't much about the product on the packaging, other than that it's an ADVENT PC Headset with a supposedly noise-cancelling microphone. I've tried only using the microphone jack, which doesn't work, and the headphones themselves seem to make a slight (different) buzzing sound when used without the microphone jack.

Any idea what could be causing it, or have I just got a duffer?

[piemastermike]

possibly fucked up magnets in the headphones.

[Martinus]

Got another headset for comparison?

A number of things could cause this; poor shielding, high volume...

Magnets are unlikely to be the cause (unless you're aware of an explanation I'm not mike?). If the diaphragm is torn you'll get a buzzing sound but it won't be constant, only when signal is passed through the electro-magnetic coil though.

[Dingbat]

possibly fucked up magnets in the headphones.
Can't be. The problem isn't just with the headphones, even when they're not plugged in it can still be heard on my computer speakers.
Got another headset for comparison?
My other headset seemingly works fine, which is what confused me about this one.

[Lewiji]

Can't be. The problem isn't just with the headphones, even when they're not plugged in it can still be heard on my computer speakers.

My other headset seemingly works fine, which is what confused me about this one.
I'm confused about exactly what's going on.

So you're getting a buzzing noise in the earphones when plugged in?

But your speakers when plugged in also make this noise.

A different headset, however, doesn't make a buzzing noise.

Is this the case or do we have crossed wires?

[Martinus]

Is the headset marked as active or passive?

[Dingbat]

OK, here's the summary:

I have a laptop so it has built-in speakers. A previous microphone headset that I had experienced no problems other than just generally being of crappy quality, so I bought a new microphone headset. This new headset makes a buzzing noise when the microphone is plugged into the computer, regardless of whether or not the headphone jack is plugged in as well.

[Thunderjew]

Is the microphone boost enabled?

You can see if it is by double clicking the speaker by the windows clock and lok in the advanced settings for the microphone.

[Dingbat]

It's not, doing that just makes the buzzing louder.

[TheSheep]

its ADVENT that really isnt a great start. we used to have an Advent pc and it sucked so much.

take it back and say that its buzzing - is the simplest way i think

[Thunderjew]

It's not, doing that just makes the buzzing louder.
I see, 'cause if it was enabled i would have suggested that you turned it off.

[Lewiji]

It's not, doing that just makes the buzzing louder.
Is the microphone channel muted in your output mixer?

Microphone boost shouldn't affect the output at all, so it must be something along those lines.

[Dingbat]

It isn't. Muting the output on the 'Master Volume' does stop the buzzing but also mutes the microphone entirely, of course.

[Lewiji]

It isn't. Muting the output on the 'Master Volume' does stop the buzzing but also mutes the microphone entirely, of course.
(this is a rough estimate of the wording as I'm not on xp, however)

If you go to file, properties in the mixer, you should see a drop-down box with two options: playback and recording.

In the playback mixer, the mic should be muted - this means the mic will not play through your output.

In the recording mixer it should be unmuted, and this is where you can configure your mic's options and levels.

Hope this helps.