M17x R3 Left Speaker Buzzing - Help!!

So right now I am

I have buzzing on my left speaker. The right speaker is fine. I reinstalled drivers to no avail.

Any suggestions or will I just have to get a replacement?

 

Thanks for all the responses everybody.
NOT
I solved the issue on my own, but the screen is yellow looking and displaying lines.

 

Can you be more specific? Take a picture?

 

At this point, on top of some blemishes and them getting my nametag wrong, not to mention there being a gap near the keyboard and etc. etc. etc. I will be trying to get a replacement going. The build quality is really disappointing.

 

Sorry to hear that. Hope all is well with your replacement!

 

how u fixed the buzz on your left speaker?

i actually have buzzing/rattle noise on my right speaker

 

Sounds like he took it apart and damaged the ribbon cable.

 

Bartlett...I would be interested in hearing how you fixed the buzzing.

 

I have buzzing in my left speaker as well. Since I just received the unit yesterday, I went ahead and wasted a good hour of my life on the phone getting a technician visit set up. I'm not thrilled about that, as I can do these sorts of repairs myself given that I have the parts, but oh well.

Seriously though, if you managed to fix it, can you tell us what you did? It's not so much a buzzing as it sounds like the speaker is loose or some part of it is damaged. It's only noticeable with some sounds/music, and it reminds me of a speaker that is torn or blown.

I'm not afraid to get in there to see what's happening, but I don't know how deep I'll have to go and I've already had problems trying to add RAM--two of the screws holding the keyboard in place won't budge with any of my screwdrivers, and I don't want to destroy them completely.

 

The screen was like this before but I noticed it even more when on the ATI card.

But you have to dismantle the entire laptop and I do not recommend doing that, seriously it is very difficult. Look at the Alienware M17x manuals online though for information.

 

Guys, I found in a Dell forum thread that many times it isn't the speaker, but a piece of material that spreads out the led color. In some cases it touches the speaker and causes that buzz. I'm gonna hope this is the case for mine. Left speaker also buzzes. Just need to get in there and make sure that material is secure.

 

can somebody upload a tutorial? Because I have buzzing in my left speaker as well =(

 

You need a toothpick. Rub super glue around it and then put the toothpick in between the material and move it around. After that, press on the material so the two sheets of paper stick together.

The material is what is causing the buzzing because it is not glued properly. It is basically 2 sheets of some type of paper.

The manuals for replacing the speaker are on the Dell website. Follow the instructions exactly as they indicate them. Make sure you take photos and know what screw goes where. It will take you around 2 hours from start to finish, so it is not for the faint of heart.

 

They replaced my speakers and the noise went away. I had dismantled it down to that point prior to the tech's arrival, but I didn't note the location of this material. If it starts to buzz again, I'll give it a check.

It's not really that bad to take apart. Just follow the guide that you download from Dell, make sure that you stay organized--group screws accordingly, follow a process, and it will go really well. It was probably less than an hour to disassemble and reassemble.

 

Less than an hour? No way unless you have done this before... If this is your first time taking apart an M17x R3, it will take you 2 hours if you take your time and be thorough with it.

 

LOLZ @ the speaker thing being made of paper LOLZ! I always assumed it was some kind of white colored lace-type-material like they use for undies

 

Lol maybe he's just really good. It took me an hour and a half for my first try. The palm rest is where I got stuck really.

 

This is hilarious, cuz it took me like TEN minutes just to get the hdd out lolz. And I was sweatin' like crazy. OP must be hella experienced/lucky, cuz my hdd was on so freekin tight.

Also, good to see you on NBR again, Gryph. It feels like ages since I've seen you post

 

I've done a LOT of laptop repair in the past, so this kind of thing isn't difficult for me. I think it takes me longer to work on a PSP than it does most laptops, now that I understand how to use a system for disassembling and reassembling. I had no idea that my "quickness" was even noteworthy, lol.

 

+1rep for having an ultra cool sn.

 

ok im having this issue as well, left speaker buzzing, anyone got any pictures or guides on how to fix this? what sort of material is behind the led palm rests?

 

I suggest not fixing this unless you have taken apart laptops before, or at least computers in general. It is pretty though. The guide is on the Alienware website. M17x R3 Service Manual is what is should be called. Basically there is this paper that has 2 sheets glued together. Sometimes the glue in the middle is off/the paper is put on the wrong way (backwards) and it rubs against the speaker, causing this muffling noise.

Carefully examine your laptop for other issues. TRY to find some, so you can get a replacement. I fixed my issue only to realize that it had more issues, so wasn't worth it.

 

I'm reading the manual, i want to know if it's necessary to remove the display and the power button if I wanna reach the speakers/palm rest cover?

I think it's not hard until after the keyboard part.

 

Out of curiosity, what volume level do folks have it at when it begins to buzz? I can have mine at 100% and no buzzing. But the replacement (which I sent back to Dell) could not go past ~40% without buzzing.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/591467-speakers-quality-m17x-r3.html#post7718902

it will buzz regardless of level, the piece of paper is touching the speaker, refer to my pictures for more info.

oh and you need to take out the display assembly to reach there, not hard but lots of screws to take out.

 

Couldnt you just make the end of a toothpick dull (so you wouldnt puncture the paper) and then just shove it back through the grills?

 

huh? how are you suppose to apply the glue if you are just shoving from the outside?

 

Oh, didnt know there was glue involved. I thought it was just a piece of paper that you shove inward so that it doesn't rattle against the grills.

 

Got a system from the Dell outlet with the exact same problem.
Tech came in and replaced the speaker but it's still doing it (that was before I did my researches and found this thread).
ANyways they are sending the parts that have the white fabric and will see if it will solve the buzzing.
(BTW Dell tech support rocks. The teck guy asked me if there was any part on my laptop that have scratches etc and he is sending all the plastic parts that I want to be changed)

 

So you're going to fix it yourself or are they sending a tech to install the fabric thing?

Dell also offered to replace my speakers and good thing I didn't take them up on that, knowing it's most likely that fabric/paper.

 

Well you ain't gonna believe this guys. I've ditched Dell after bad luck with two machines and particularly due to this buzzing/vibrating speaker issue and went with a G74SX from Best Buy. It has the SAME FREAKIN' PROBLEM and also in the LEFT SPEAKER! Is this a practical joke? They need to stop getting fancy with speaker placement in gaming laptops and get back to the basics! My Inspiron B120 may have crap speakers but at least there's no chassis vibration.

Anyway, rant over. Just found it hilarious that I can't catch a break when it comes to avoiding that buzzing sound. Only thing is this time I believe it's a true design flaw and not just a defective unit like the M17x where the glue wears off. Oh well, headphone time.