Buzzing in headphone jack.

[fefrie]

It just started. and it doesn't seem to be from a loose connection. It's not the typical 60hz hum.

It seems that when it happens, I can take the jack out and tap it around the adjacent USB and I get the same

Sometimes it hums, sometimes it doesn't.

Anyone have anything that they can offer for advice?

[rkawakami]

If it's not 60Hz, care to guess what the frequency is? Typically hum in an audio circuit can be caused by a defective capacitor. Could also come from some other equipment that's connected to the laptop. I'd try disconnecting the AC adapter and running on battery only.

I'm also trying to make sense of your statement: "I can take the jack out and tap it around the adjacent USB and I get the same"

I'm assuming you mean you take the headphone plug out from the jack on the laptop, tap the laptop around where the headphone jack and USB port (left side) and the hum is intermittently coming out of the speakers as well. If that's the case, it would seem like there is a loose connection on the motherboard.

[evening_hunger]

Check if the chassis is grounded.

[fefrie]

I'm assuming you mean you take the headphone plug out from the jack on the laptop, tap the laptop around where the headphone jack and USB port (left side) and the hum is intermittently coming out of the Earbud as well. If that's the case, it would seem like there is a loose connection on the motherboard.

That's exactly the case.

Upon further experimentation, if I use a different plug while still connected to the headphone jack, and I fuddle around the USB port, and use my finger to ground something, the buzz in the earbuds reduces or goes away.

If there's something loose on the motherboard, I'm assuming that it's not worth the repair.