How to Reduce Audio Port Noise

Those who use sensitive headphones (Shure e2, e3c, pth500, etc) will find most laptop audio ports to produce a lot of noise (sound crackling, buzzing, etc)... and will need to operate with a relatively low volume setting to avoid blowing out the ears. The solution to this problem is simple.

To reduce audio port noise
Run the computer at maximum volume setting and use an external volume control to reduce the volume to acceptable levels!

If you run the computer at maximum volume, the signal to noise ratio in the audio port will be improved. Of course, running at maximum volume is extremely loud on most laptops... so, to fix that, use an external volume control! Turning the volume down externally virtually eliminates the noise, while bringing the audio output to acceptable levels.

Many headphones have built-in volume controls. Whenever possible, avoid reducing the volume in the computer when you can reduce it externally.

 

i dunno if this applies everywhere but certainly this is an issue that is raised time and time again on every model

 

I remember the 700m had a HUGE problem with this...see www.recall700m.com for details. Someone finally figured it out, but requires a rather dicey mod to finally fix it.

 

I have a v1jp (has SoundMax HD Audio) and use Shure pth500. I have to run the system at around 15% volume for normal levels. The noise is unaffected by the windows volume controls. If I mute the sound, I still hear it. So, turning the volume to maximum, and using an external volume control virtually eliminated the noise problem with these sensitive earbud headphones.

 

External Volume controls... actually very FEW headphones have this feature. And the noise is unnoticeable on speakers anyway.

 

Exactly, you can add an attachable level attenuator between the headphones and the audio source. I personally use the Shure EA650 (PA235) which works great.

Using this device has reduced the buzzing/crackling/chirping sound present on my Asus v1jp to inaudible levels even when the levels are quite high.

I also just tested this on my Toshiba m40 and successfully eliminated the hiss which is also independent to the volume.

This really is just a solution to situations where you can hear noise that is unaffected by the source volume setting. I always run my volume less than 50% on these laptops since they really put out a lot of power and the Shure headphones are sensitive. Whenever possible, it is better to use an external level attenuator rater than the internal volume setting of a computer as the sound quality will be maximized.