W3J + loud music on Logitech Z-2300 = huge distortion!

Hi all,

I've been lurking the forums for a while, and thanks to reading all the comments I took the plunge and got a W3J. It rules!, but now I'm just trying to get it to work with my spanking new Logitech Z-2300 speakers and I'm having some issues.

When I play regular volume music or videos I have no issue, but when I try going about 2/3 or more of the volume, the satellites (small speakers) make a huge distortion noise (like when you put a mic close to the speakers) and so I have to turn the volume back down.

I've noticed that this also started happening before I got these speakers, strangely enough, when I had the volume relatively loud (one or two taps less than full volume with fn + F12) and I closed the lid on the laptop. As soon as I got the lid close enough to being close the speaker made the same sort of terrible noise, and it would only stop if I lowered the volume with the fn + F11 combo....

I have NO clue if this is related to my new speakers, the laptop's speakers, or the sound card... I'm guessing it has to be on the laptop's side, as the screen issue had nothing to do with the speakers, but it's odd that it would transfer to the Z-2300's...

Any suggestions/ideas on what to do to get this fixed?

Btw, my W3J is basically the stock pre-refresh model. I've only installed omega drivers, updated windows, the bios (off asus' website), and I normally use winamp.. :-/

 

I don't know if the W3j has a microphone built in, but if it does, turn the sound off on it.

 

yes the problem is the mic. disable the mic and it should be ok. i had that problem.

 

Go to your volume control options. Check if the WAV tab is set to the max. If it is, try lowering it. Give it a try. Does it worK?

 

In my experience, the WAV volume leads to little or no distortion. The main volume does that.

However, I also think it's the mic that should be disabled. It's the only explanation for distortion occuring when the lid is being closed -- more sound is reflected by the screen onto the mic, leading to distortion.

 

I have a good pair of Sennheiser cans, I can crank the volume up to full (using the Fn keys and Volume properties) everything is set to MAX and it is still clear.

However when I use the equaliser to boost the volume it makes the tracks distort or clip, just check to see if winamp has a sould leveling.

But from what you describe it does sound like feedback, the mic is 2 inches in from the left at the bottom of the screen, place your finger over the hole and see if the noise changes.

 

Hi guys,

Thanks for the help. I did have the mic on, and although the volume was at about half, I muted it and viola! the problem's gone.

If I get any more issues I'll let you guys know, but for now I'll crank the volume all the way up!

 

Just wondering, are u r Logitechs plugged into the audio-out port that came with the laptop or did you upgrade the sound card?

 

I have them plugged directly to the sound-out jack. If you move the connector the speakers make ugly noises (it seems the jack outlet is a tiny bit wider than the jack connector, so there's a very small room for it to 'jiggle').

I haven't upgraded the sound card as I don't think there is an express card sound card option.. I haven't really looked into a USB option yet..

 

There isn't unfortunately...

 

From what I found out the Intel HD Azalia Audio chip that the W3J has is comparible quality to an external sound card, if I had a AC97 compliant chip, then it would be worth upgrading.

Read up about the intel high def chip it is much better than the AC97 chip.