Headset Buzzing Sound Problem

Hi guys,

So I've recently started using Ventrilo and have run across a problem where there's a consistent buzzing sound in the background whenever I talk. The problem ONLY persists when my laptop is plugged in. On battery, the sound is crystal clear. Unfortunately, when I'm gaming, I can't really run the laptop off battery, so I'm wondering if anyone here has any possible solutions?

My laptop: Sony Vaio SR with a two-pronged AC adapter

I keep hearing about ground loops, and ground loop isolators, but from the diagram, I'm not exactly sure how to use the isolator. Most people seem to use it for their speakers - would it work for my microphone/headset input?

I've already tried using a power bar/surge protector (both a cheap one and an expensive high-quality one), plugging the laptop into different outlets in different rooms and none of this solved the problem.

I don't really want to lift the ground (and in fact, don't really know how to do it either - is this only with three-pronged adapters?). So what other options do I have? Would installing an external sound card fix things?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Yeah, it does sound like a grouding loop, but I too thought you'd only get it with the three prong adapter. Maybe you could try a different power adapter?

 

maybe try a USB headset..it might only affect the regular audio jacks

 

In that case just get a USB sound card that has a line-in and a all that. You'd get better quality sound signal from it too.