Boni,
It could just be that the wires are reversed. I've read that in speakers if you reversed the black and red the speakers will sound awful. Is the static on FM/AM or is it on everything; it is possible that you are getting bad reception even though it is only 3 feet ... I have an indoor amplified antenna and there are times when just walking by it causes static on FM Stereo but not mono (has to do with the carrier wave for stereo).
Vinny