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Answered

Sonos Era 100 Noise Buzzing / Humming when connected with Macbook

  • September 5, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 189 views
A

Hello, 

I bought Sonos Era 100 to connect it to my MacBook Pro via a Sonos adapter and connected it with a 3.5 mm jack.

 

I have tried several times with other cables and in other settings but the result is always the same, as soon as I plug in the cable the sonos makes an annoying noise (buzzing). If I click PLAY and start the song, the song can be heard but always with the annoying buzzing noise.

 

I sent the SONOS back and it was replaced under warranty.

I have tried again with the new SONOS ERA 100 but the problem remains.

 

Where am I going wrong? Is it possible that it is so difficult to get it to work?

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Best

 

A.

Best answer by Corry P

Hi @Atkins 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

Sorry to hear of this buzzing sound you get when using Line-In with your Era 100 and MacBook.

Honestly, it sounds a bit like a ground-loop isolation problem, which is where the two devices can’t agree on what ground is (with the result that one has ground with a voltage on it as compared to the other ground, resulting in a hiss). It may help to simply ensure that both the speaker and the MacBook are plugged into the same power socket, though if they are not both grounded, this might not have an effect.

There are such a thing as ground-loop isolators, though I am unaware if you can purchase one that used 3.5mm sockets. They are pretty cheap, however - it’s probably worth buying one to test. If it doesn’t help, just return it for a refund.

One thing to try would be to connect the Era 100 to another device that has 3.5mm output (a tablet, TV or old phone, for example) - it might be that the MacBook is producing the hiss, and testing with another device as the source is the best way to find this out.

I hope this helps.

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5 replies

Pools-3015
Forum|alt.badge.img+17
  • Pools-3015
  • Prodigy I
  • 1009 replies
  • September 5, 2024

When you connect the Era 100 via Bluetooth to the MBP, do you hear the same buzzing sound?

Belly M
Forum|alt.badge.img+21
  • Belly M
  • 1747 replies
  • September 5, 2024

What socket are you using on your MacBook Pro? Most modern ones no longer have a line out and only headphone which is not suitable. You may have to purchase an adapter.

A
  • Atkins
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • 2 replies
  • September 5, 2024
Pools-3015 wrote:

When you connect the Era 100 via Bluetooth to the MBP, do you hear the same buzzing sound?

Hello Pools, thanks for your reply, no with bluetooth no problem; my problem is only with the cable as I mentioned.

 

Belly M wrote:

What socket are you using on your MacBook Pro? Most modern ones no longer have a line out and only headphone which is not suitable. You may have to purchase an adapter.

Hello Belly, thanks for your reply, I will attach some pictures of where I put the cable, I’ve tried on the Mac and in another dock connected to the Mac, the result is the same. Always buzzing.

 

A
  • Atkins
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • 2 replies
  • September 5, 2024
Belly M wrote:

What socket are you using on your MacBook Pro? Most modern ones no longer have a line out and only headphone which is not suitable. You may have to purchase an adapter.

Here you can find the pictures attached

 

 

Corry P
Forum|alt.badge.img+18
  • Corry P
  • Sonos Staff
  • 8531 replies
  • Answer
  • September 9, 2024

Hi @Atkins 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

Sorry to hear of this buzzing sound you get when using Line-In with your Era 100 and MacBook.

Honestly, it sounds a bit like a ground-loop isolation problem, which is where the two devices can’t agree on what ground is (with the result that one has ground with a voltage on it as compared to the other ground, resulting in a hiss). It may help to simply ensure that both the speaker and the MacBook are plugged into the same power socket, though if they are not both grounded, this might not have an effect.

There are such a thing as ground-loop isolators, though I am unaware if you can purchase one that used 3.5mm sockets. They are pretty cheap, however - it’s probably worth buying one to test. If it doesn’t help, just return it for a refund.

One thing to try would be to connect the Era 100 to another device that has 3.5mm output (a tablet, TV or old phone, for example) - it might be that the MacBook is producing the hiss, and testing with another device as the source is the best way to find this out.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
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