Let me guess - you have a PCI soundcard INSIDE your PC?

If so, this is common with most soundcards. The inside of a PC is very "noisy" in the sense of RF interference. With the low-level audio signals this close to all that radiated noise, it is inherently inducted into the signal path where they become audible as noise.

The only way to really eliminate this is to get a top-notch internal soundcard or just go ahead and get one with a "Breakout box" or even a USB/Firewire interface that will allow external connections of the audio signals.

If you already have a great internal or external audio interface, check connections and GROUNDS. Having the amplifier and computer on different circuits will gause ground issues and makes this noise more audible.

Also check the routing of data and power cables INSIDE the PC in the close proximity of the soundcard. If possible, re-route and cables that are close to the soundcard.

Aside from that, just put up with it - but who wants do do that? Just dig around until you find what makes it better or worse and try to make an analaysis of where the problem lies.

Later :cool:

Depending on what sound card it is, sure, but not always the case.

Indeed the PC is not a great place for converters but if you have a good power supply, which will filter out a good deal of noise, then it won't happen.

Sure, there may be RF but very unlikely you are going to attract a lot of it. More so with analog only cards but with all digital cards it's not anything to worry about.

What we need to know here is what sound card you are using and all the other details of your system in order to truly say it's one thing over the other.

I don't think it's due to the cables running along side each other either, you would hear groud hum sounds more so than the hard drive or other internal components coming through the audio output of a sound card.

Opus :D