# Audio Out Hiss/White Noise
**URL:** https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979
**Category:** 5 Moons
**Created:** [October 17, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979 "2023-10-17T01:28:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@drewzin](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/drewzin)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/1 "2023-10-17T01:28:25Z")
Been really enjoying all the sonic avenues I can travel with 5 Moons, but there was one thing I’ve notice that I hope someone could help shed some light on
I’ve noticed if I plug headphones directly into the audio out of 5 Moons I get some audible hiss/white noise, even with the volume knob turned all the way down. The instructions recommend running audio out through speakers or an amp, but doesn’t say anything about headphones, so I was curious if it wasn’t designed to handle the audio this way. It’s most pronounced through my in ear studio monitors
If I run the audio through my passive mixer this hiss/white noise goes away.
Also, I’m fairly new to music making and audio gear so any advice is greatly appreciated
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### Author:  [@oweno](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/oweno)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/2 "2023-10-17T14:41:23Z")
Using headphones shouldn’t be a problem. The audio outputs are designed to work with headphones, and it should be a clean signal. How are you powering the 5 Moons?
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### Author:  [@drewzin](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/drewzin)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/3 "2023-10-17T18:46:52Z")
It’s currently plugged into a usb hub using the cable that came with the 5 moons. The usb hub is plugged into a usb wall adapter that is connected to an extension chord running into a surge protector. So a bit of a daisy chain 😅 It’s an old apartment with few outlets.
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### Author:  [@KeurslagerKurt](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/KeurslagerKurt)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/4 "2023-10-17T19:02:37Z")
I don’t have any noise when powering from a power bank or from a wall socket. I always use ‘studio’ headphones like you (Beyerdynamics DT770 36 ohm).
I would test if it’s better with a wall plug. USB noise can be terrible when using laptop USB, so i maybe a USB hub can inject noise as well
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### Author:  [@drewzin](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/drewzin)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/5 "2023-10-18T18:30:58Z")
Thanks for the suggestions.
I’ll see how it sounds with a power bank then try minimizing the number of connections from my outlet.
A friend of mine said it could also be a grounding issue with the outlet. I know sometimes the outlets in older bldgs aren’t always grounded as they should be, even if the outlet shows a ground connection
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### Author:  [@Toby20078](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/Toby20078)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/6 "2024-05-06T20:39:19Z")
hello! any update on how this went, friend? 🙂 running into the same issue with audio hiss… it seems to happen at any volume past 10 o’clock, my power is isolated & hiss doesn’t change if it’s a powerbank or a conditioned wall wart.
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### Author:  [@drewzin](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/u/drewzin)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.critterandguitari.com/t/audio-out-hiss-white-noise/9979/7 "2024-05-10T15:50:18Z")
I couldn’t figure out the source. I suspect some of my outlets might not be grounded (old building) so I bought a few of these [ground loop isolators](https://www.amazon.com/BESIGN-Ground-Isolator-Stereo-System/dp/B06XQYN77L/ref=asc_df_B06XQYN77L/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693682316786&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17917155896878080854&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031948&hvtargid=pla-350233567378&psc=1&mcid=09068f15b3543c1aaf0a7f661499c635&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwi_exBhA8EiwA_kU1MtgECXfibUDjgOENLgP4n9anm12Lqz0wwgYljJMSb-3CGOTnYj2agBoCloAQAvD_BwE) to put in my chain anywhere I felt a lot of noise was being generated.
Wish I had a more elegant solution 😕