Audio comparison (buzz/static/white noise)

Harsh

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Starting with my current set up. Used a constantly powered hardwire kit (Vico-Power Plus) to power the cameras with the car parked and off. Most of all, wanted to keep the Anker power-supply powering the Mobius cameras off as both chargers sit in close proximity within the glovebox. Not to mention six coiled and zip-tied USB cables running to the front and rear from the glovebox. Also wanted to keep the 3rd party auto-dimming IRVM (nearest 3rd party accessory to the cameras) turned off. All of which wouldn't have been possible in ACC/ON mode or with the car turned on.

Plan on running the same test with the Anker unit connected to the Vico-Power Plus.

Also plan on testing the Anker, Aukey and the VIOFO supplied charger with a regular 12V socket hardwired (constant) to the fusebox and the factory fitted 12V socket in ACC mode and with the engine running.


A119, A119S on a V2 GPS mount and SG9655GC V2 with the GPS cable connected.

USB chargers used - Aukey 4-port charger and VIOFO supplied 2-port charger.

USB cables in use - VIOFO supplied 3.5M cable.

Memory cards in use - A119 (Samsung EVO Plus 64GB), A119S (Samsung EVO Plus 64GB) and SG9665GC V2 (Sandisk 128GB).

Parked with the windows rolled up. GC is mounted to the right of the IRVM and the VIOFO V2 GPS mount is on the left. Separation between the A119/A119S and the GC is about an inch. Cables were connected and pulled from the charger end.


A119

A119 with OEM


A119 with AUKEY


A119+GC with OEM


A119+GC with AUKEY



A119S

A119S with OEM


A119S with AUKEY


A119S+GC with OEM


A119S+GC with AUKEY


A119S(REAR)+GC with AUKEY

 
SG9665GC V2

GC with VIOFO charger


GC with AUKEY


GC+A119 with VIOFO charger


GC+A119 with AUKEY


GC+A119S with VIOFO charger


GC+A119S with AUKEY


GC+A119S(REAR) with AUKEY


The A119 and A119S reveal a similar level of "white noise" with both chargers, probably because they share the same microphone and levels of gain. Doesn't matter if the SG9665GC mounted an inch away is on or off, the noise levels remain the same. Also doesn't matter if it's the VIOFO supplied charger or the Aukey, noise levels remain the same.

The level of noise though inconsequential to the equipment's intended purpose, is still a bit of an irritant.

Contrary to my previous posts in a few threads, the SG9665GC V2 is not immune. Though not anywhere as loud as the A119 and A119S, "white noise" is audible. Again, doesn't matter if the A119/A119S is on or off while being an inch away, the noise levels from the GC remains the same. Audio from the GC's microphone sounds better. Probably reducing the gain could eliminate the hiss altogether.

I think it's more to do with the quality of the microphones used. Let's see if the results change with the factory fitted and hardwired 12V sockets.
 
Before moving on to the Anker charger and the other 12V sockets, redid a few from yesterday with a couple of changes.

Now all 3 cameras are using 64GB Samsung Evo Plus cards and instead of the VIOFO supplied charger, used the charger supplied by Street Guardian with the SG9665GC.

Parked at the same spot as yesterday.

A119

A119 with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OhTkZPzqCAmiEPGJcl3nEAj0J3s-vY66

A119+GC with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1J1YbyXMCQujuEd62_PlIIq5gEqceW0Ii

A119 with SG


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P-xFNCXi_oLIREMwSG-ouRui0t_ny1Jk


A119S

A119S with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tgq4Fru-JgI2snIvEu_UCNooVK4gjwMH

A119S+GC with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yIStWf1YYNz-Uqg9gMIUbADY513KaK1p

A119S with SG


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1V5Lrbbb5f2CX_8I3f_Bd3oKVeEG_XFc3


SG9665GC V2

GC+A119 with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=121PBfhe82U78lhw3xlZYg-dDiPB2ffi8

GC+A119S with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1O_mRhBqOBFiCvYARbK5RXZ7bhu-YSPDk

GC with AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Xnff_X33iaXeb7047W0v8c2w3d-tVVxD

GC with SG


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rHbKu92WmLPonv5hDf6DtuiHPE-jFXY2


No change from yesterday with the Aukey charger.

Noise levels remain the same with the Street Guardian supplied charger for all three cameras. Might just be the Vico-Power Plus, let's see.
 
SG9665GC V2

GC+ANKER


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ulEMRD4t1gD7ceQpNrAPxJEp0bRNyCy7

GC+AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_xfp1B5ZZ67b0uppkAWux9j9qZ0NiLIJ

GC+SG


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Suik5W4ATQLqsEbB6dK68NwrQncqb2rl

GC+VIOFO


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MrxWGZSF7JmcmiGf41gfzZ9SaOKZEJV-

GC+A119+ANKER


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lzO8e5f7n8qKkuxWhIAozBA_kGM-k_Sp

GC+A119+AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ofKX0A4s1tCyoYo15-1YA9I6StJndTBT

GC+A119+VIOFO


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sr2ccEksW0SUJ-28N4Mc_mlTPJgeJeMD

GC+A119S+ANKER


https://drive.google.com/open?id=10i0LxRBmYQxXOXlqrvTWhIwifuhmq8Lm

GC+A119S+AUKEY


https://drive.google.com/open?id=17_ztH_uQEnkWXfUbdX_P0OIxBs1MpkQR

GC+A119S+VIOFO


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nET5KH-SHWGAPkaq1r8r3V4hDphSj8Cr


Was expecting some change, maybe a little less or even more noise, but no. "White noise" levels from all three cameras remains as it was with the Vico-Power Plus.

Out of the ones mentioned, only the factory fitted 12V sockets remains. Which with everything else on and results so far, don't really expect a reduction in noise levels, but we'll see.

BTW could a SIM based GPS tracker be inducing the noise in question? Reason I ask is because in the below video the noise worsens when I get a call on my mobile phone. Also could it be down to overhead power lines everywhere? Because the Mobius goes crazy if there are a lot of power lines or transformer(s) in the vicinity.

Or is it the microphone?
 
Ok, after listening to the video with the phone call, the noise didn't get louder, it was the phone's vibrator.

 
The audio noise in the dashcam's recordings has nothing to do with power supplies, adapters, cards or the proximity of other cameras. Your tests just proved it.
 
Was hoping for more of a discussion here.
 
Was hoping for more of a discussion here.

"buzz/static/white noise"

I'm only hearing white noise, probably from the microphone or microphone amplifier.
There is a lot less white noise on the SG, but the Viofo cameras sound better.

I'm guessing the SG has a more sensitive microphone so is using less auto gain, possibly that results in it being better in quiet conditions but not so good in noisy conditions, so the fact that there is less white noise in this situation doesn't necessarily mean that it has the better audio as a dashcam...
 
Thank you.

I prefer the cleaner audio from the GC. Can the white noise be eliminated?
 
Thank you.

I prefer the cleaner audio from the GC. Can the white noise be eliminated?
You could turn the volume down in the editor, but then you will loose the quiet real sounds.
It does sound to me like a microphone/amplifier issue so would require hardware changes to really sort it.

Listening to my Viofo A129, there is a very small amount of white noise but a lot less than on your A119. That also seems to cope with very loud sounds exceptionally well. Maybe an upgrade to the latest model is the answer.

There is a bit of parked "silence" at the end of this A129 video, with a car driving into the car park and some birds in the background:
 
Could there be external factors at play?

Because I've experienced the highest amount of noise and buzzing/static with the Mobius cameras (so much so that I keep the audio off), which as per user experiences on other threads appears to be abnormal.
 
Last edited:
I have mix of Transcend 400X, Samsung U1, U3 and a Sandisk 128GB. Let's see if there's any difference.
 
Could there be external factors at play?

Because I've experienced the highest amount of noise and buzzing/static with the Mobius cameras (so much so that I keep the audio off), which as per user experiences on other threads appears to be abnormal.
Most of the noise I've heard from Mobius cameras has been the power supply capacitors buzzing/hissing, which tends to be very high frequency and many people don't notice it or in some cases can't hear it at all. For people who can hear it, it can be very annoying. Like jokiin says, it can be affected by the memory card used since some cards use a lot more power than others, it can also be affected by the power adaptor/hardwire kit.

The A119 noise in your recordings above sounds like amplifier noise to me, different source, and will not be affected by memory cards. Might be a small effect from temperature but it is mainly down to the design and components used.
 
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