Why Does My Bluetooth Speaker Buzz?

Bluetooth speakers offer the most reliable connection between devices and are easy to operate. However, at times your listening experience may be interrupted with a buzzing sound also known as static noise. This interruption can be pretty annoying, but it is something that can be easily resolved. In this article, we discuss reasons why your Bluetooth speaker may make static noises.

Why Does My Bluetooth Speaker Buzz?

Your Bluetooth speaker may buzz due to reasons, including electrical ground loops, low battery, distance, interference, outdated software, audio cable quality, outdated music app, and faulty Bluetooth speakers.

Electrical Ground Loops

A ground loop occurs when one or more devices are plugged into the AC (alternating current) at multiple locations and connected by electrical signal cables (RCA, HDMI, component, composite) that have shielding connected to the ground. Ground loops are easy to occur and are manifested by a loud hum or buzz that is produced by the speakers.

To remove the noise, anything that breaks the loop can get it done. An easy way to get it done is to use a single AC socket to power every device. In the event that you cannot reach the same outlet using a piece of equipment, an extension can come in handy. And if an extension cord proves impractical for your situation, you can get a hum eliminator like the Ebtech’s Hum X.

Low Battery

When was the last time you charged your Bluetooth speakers? While your speaker’s battery life may be impressive, letting its battery get very low may cause a buzzing, crackling, or static sound. This occurs because with low power, Bluetooth connection becomes weaker, causing your speakers to start experiencing issues with the sound quality.

Low battery causes your speakers to start producing noise and in cases where the charge is too low, the sound is cut off altogether. To fix this issue, ensure your speakers are fully charged when you want your speaker to perform optimally.

Distance

Another reason why your Bluetooth speakers may produce a buzzing sound is the distance between the speaker itself and the device it is paired with. Although speakers offer a long range of about 10 to 20 meters, when exceeded, static noises may be experienced.

Once you realize your Bluetooth speaker buzzing, it should be a clear indication that the distance has surpassed the range that is allowed. Objects present between the speaker and the device may also affect your Bluetooth connection and as such, you may want to remove any obstacle within the range.

Bluetooth headphones are affected by distance more than speakers because they have shorter range. A solution for this is to keep your device and speakers close to ensure a strong connection.

Interference

Other devices in the room may interfere with the sound quality of your Bluetooth speakers, causing them to buzz. You can identify this to be the problem when you notice your speaker suddenly experiencing static noises.

Devices that are also using the Bluetooth connection and are in close proximity to your speakers may interfere with your speakers. Additionally, WiFi devices may also interfere with your speakers because WiFi connection like Bluetooth connection uses the same radio frequency of 2.4 GHz.

While it may be difficult to contain static interference from your devices, you can remove devices between your Bluetooth speaker and your phone or media player. To further prevent interference from other devices, switch the other devices to 5.0 GHz band.

Outdated Software

Most often than not, we tend to ignore software updates for our Bluetooth speakers. This could be detrimental in the long run because the sound quality of your speaker will be compromised as it is running on outdated software. Therefore, whenever an update is available, be sure to go through with it to keep up with the latest software.

If you are using Bluetooth PC speakers, you will notice buzzing when using an older version of Windows. Fortunately, you can troubleshoot the problem to understand how to solve the problem on your computer.

For speakers that are set up via an app on your mobile, you will also need to update the app occasionally when prompted to do so. This is possible with Bose or premium brand speakers where the app plays a major role on their working.

Audio Cable Quality

With Bluetooth modules and smart assistants gaining popularity, connecting them to speakers have become imperative. For this to be possible, there’s need for a short wired connection between the speaker and the smart assistant. A stereo headphone jack or a 3.5 mm cable is usually used.

When troubleshooting for reasons for the buzzing in your Bluetooth speaker, try switching the audio cable with another one to confirm if the previous one is the culprit. Unpair and re-pair the audio device and play any audio to observe whether the static noise issue has been settled. If the buzzing stops, the audio cable was the problem all along.

Outdated Music App

If you are running your music from an application on your audio device, the app should be updated. Using an outdated music app from your phone or computer could affect the sound quality of your speakers.

After updating the music app, and you still notice the buzzing sound from your speakers, you can delete the app and re-install it. However, deleting the app could erase your albums, downloaded songs, or playlists. Re-installing may also take time, which can be an inconvenience.

Fortunately, many apps nowadays have accounts that store information in the cloud, making restoration much easier.

Music apps like any other software are developed with lines of code, which if interrupted, can affect sound performance. By deleting and re-installing the app, affected lines of codes are erased and rewritten on your device.

Faulty Bluetooth Speakers

After troubleshooting all the other causes of static noise in your speaker, you may be disappointed to learn that your Bluetooth speaker may be faulty. If everything on this list is in perfect condition, then this may be the likely reason.

Like any other gadget, Bluetooth speakers may also get damaged. These speakers have receivers that although are designed to be durable, they can be damaged by wear and tear.

To find out whether your speakers are faulty, try connecting your device to a different speaker, and if it works, then you’ll know that your speakers have a problem. However, if the second speaker also registers the same problem, then the signal could be the problem.

To solve the issue of a damaged Bluetooth receiver, repairing it is the way to go.

Bonus Tips

With all these likely reasons for buzzing in your speakers, you may overlook even the simplest solutions such as re-pair. Re-pair your Bluetooth speaker with your devices and the static noises may cease. This could be the case if the first connection had an issue, so re-pairing could fix the connection issue. Re-pairing can be easily done within the settings on your mobile phone, laptop, or tablet.

Another bonus tip is to look up your specific manufacturer’s support site. While you may think that your buzzing speaker is an isolated case, calling up your manufacturer’s support site may provide you with useful insight on what to do for your specific speaker. If your speaker is a popular brand, you can easily get a troubleshooting manual to solve your crackling sound issues.

You can also check out your computer’s audio settings. Improper audio settings can cause your Bluetooth speakers to buzz. If configured properly, this noise may be eliminated. To get this done, head to your computer’s “Control Panel” and click “Hardware and Sound.” Select “Sound” and in the popup pane that appears, select “Properties.” Once that is done, click the “Enhancements” tab and uncheck the “Disable all sound effects” box, click “Apply” and “OK.” Try the speaker again and listen to the sound quality.

Best Bluetooth Speakers

The first step to getting great sound quality from a Bluetooth speaker is to invest in a quality speaker. Speakers that you should consider include:

• UE Boom 3 – the Ultimate Ears 3 provides one of the most pleasant sound quality produced by speakers of the same caliber. It provides balance for its size and its waterproof cylinder is available in multiple colors. Its battery life is also awesome as it lasts 15 hours between charges. Additionally, it offers a 100 feet Bluetooth range, which is quite awesome.

• Sonos Move – this Bluetooth speaker can fill any room and is pretty impressive when it comes to building a home network. It works with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. It streams music via Wi-Fi and can double as a Bluetooth speaker as well. Along with its 11 hours of battery life, this speaker is splash-resistant.

• JBL Link Portable – this portable Bluetooth speaker offers superb Google Assistant integration as well as 360-degree sound. It is waterproof and offers an eight hour battery life between charges.

Conclusion

Bluetooth speaker buzzing is a common occurrence that can be fixed depending on the cause. Whether the static noise is caused by a ground loop or improper audio settings, there is a solution for it. Troubleshoot every likely reason that may cause this issue, and you will probably arrive at the solution. We hope this article will come in handy in your troubleshooting exercise. Good luck!