m15x Audio Problem @ full volume.

Hello All.

Im hoping somebody can help me with my problem.

The audio problem arised when i plugged in my headphone(sennheiser earphone - not faulty - already double checked) and turned the volume up to full then there are cracking and tearing sounds espcially if there is bass. This usually happens when i am listening to music. I tried comparing to another laptop with the same headphone with the same mp3 audio and it had no problem with sound.

I already flashed my bios from a02,a03 and a05; updated the audio driver (IDT) and still the problem persist.

I also read a forum that a hardware fix is the solution. Can anyone confirm this?

System:
Alienware M15x, Lunar Silver | i7 720QM | 4GB DDR3 @ 1333MHz |
15.6-inch WideHD+ 1080p | GeForce® GTX 260M
500GB HDD @ 7.2K

 

I don't have this system, but I'm going to take a guess that you're overloading the digital mixer channels.

With analog systems and mixers, you could usually go to +3db without distortion, however, with digital systems, once surpass 0db (this is pre-amp), they start to distort and lose signal fidelity. Unfortunately, since there's a lot of quiet stuff out there, the digital mixers are still designed to add signal gain to the track (usually up to +10db), so if you have a full-volume source, like a properly created MP3 file, with the mixer at 100% (which is ACTUALLY more like 150%), you'll get distortion.

usually your true 0db (100%) mark is aproximately 80-85% up the mixer slider... the 100% on, even the digital, mixer is actually amplifying the signal.

if you blow out the digital signal between the PCM (or WAV) mix and main mix, then you're ending up with distortion regardless, or if you distort the digital channel between the application and the PCM... or if you overload the main before the analog amp (which will then route to speakers/headphones), you're going to end up with this type of a problem.

long story short, this is the way it's designed, so that it can amplify quiet signals, but with a full-volume signal, like the one you seem to be feeding it, you'll end up overloading the digital mixer and end up with distortion.

 

Thanks for the info. Called up dell and we tried playing with the digital mixer especially the bass. The same problems arise - cracking and tearing.

Bottomline is they will be sending a technician to change the audio card(motherboard??? because the audio card is integrated into the motherboard - is this right?). Can anyone confirm this? Any chance this fill fix the problem?

Thanks.

 

It is likely to have a replacement of the mobo. I have the same problem, but I already have replaced the mobo due to the BOIS A03, and the replacement left me with some scratches in the body and the screen and many pieces not well assembled.

Many dudes have reported the same problem, some say that could be the bus from the mobo to the audio board that it is not well connected, others think that are the drivers, but once they called Dell they ended up with a replaced mobo.

Don't let the tech leave without having a good test. Good luck.

 

Thanks. Dell techi will be coming today.

So did the mobo change fix the sound problem?

Thanks again.

 

I Know some cases where the mobo replacement fixed the problem, but not all of them... Dell replaced my system just a week ago and i get this issue (the other system didn't got it)... It's just noticable when you turn de volume up more than 80%, but it's really a pain...

Make us know about the problem once they tried to fix it, then maybe i'll try it too...

 

Hey. Dell guy just left and its just the sound card that he changed and unfortunately problem STILL persist. Although there is a slight increase in the volume but the cracking and tearing is still there. Dell guy then calls Dell this time to change the entire mobo and will be coming back tomorrow. Will update on this.

Bottomline: THIS IS BECOMING VERY FRUSTRATING!!! So much for the ultimate gaming machine..

 

Sure, I'm rather disapointed with this laptop, despite I love it...

 

Please continue this discussion here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/467386-alienware-m15x-sound-probs-please-help.html

Thanks.