Dell Studio XPS 16 Audio Bleed Problem (1645 and possibly other models)

I am reluctantly returning my Studio XPS 16 (1645) due to two different audio bleed problems replicated on two different builds of my laptop (both my original build and a build after replacing both the mother board and speaker system). I posted about this problem in one of the 1645 throttling threads, and quickly received a few replies suggesting others could reproduce the same problem. I’m wondering how wide spread this problem is (and if most people who have this problem with their laptop even realize it).

The Audio Bleed Problems my Studio XPS 1645 has are:

1) Speaker Bleed: On my laptop, a large number of the sounds that are supposed to just play in the left speaker, also play in the right speaker. Usually, sounds that are supposed to play just in the right speaker, do properly play just in the right speaker.​

2) Headphone Bleed: I might be the only one who has this problem relating to headphones (since no one else has yet confirmed having this issue as well). In this case, signals that are supposed to play just in the left headphone, play in both head phones. Unlike the Speaker Bleed problem, signals that are both supposed to play in the right headphone also play in both headphones. It should be noted that I’m testing with an iPhone headset (in each of the headphone jacks).​

This is a high-end multimedia laptop (and Dell markets it as such). Even $400 entry level laptops do not (and should not) have these issues. These problems destroy stereo separation. If you run any of these tests, please post your results including your laptop revision (1645, 1647, etc.), your BIOS version, your audio drivers, and any successes/failures you experience.

How to Test and Reproduce Problem 1 – Speaker Bleed

This problem is tricky, because while it is consistently reproducible, some sound tests always work, and others always fail. The successes can lead one into a false sense of security that Dell Tech guys may use to try to prove that one’s laptop has no problem.

Speaker Bleed Tests that Always Show the Problem (where the left signal plays in both speakers)

- This simple test right from a browser: http://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_stereo.php

- These Waves and/or Aiff Files show the problem from within iTunes or Media Player: http://www.itashiki.com/tuner/speakerpopup.htm

- Dell pre-boot Diagnostic test: Mono Output Sound Playback (see pre-boot diagnostics section below for how to run).​

Speaker Bleed Tests that Seem to Work OK (suggesting no bleed):

- Enhanced Audio Controls Sound Check (from the Dell Dock).

- Dell pre-boot Diagnostic test: Analog Sound Playback Test (see pre-boot diagnostics section below for how to run).​

How to Test and Reproduce Problem 2 – Headphone Bleed

Headphone tests that always fail for me (with an iPhone headset) – hint take the headphone out of the ear that you are testing for, and leave in the headphone that should be silent to easily hear the failure:

- (Same Test as Problem 1) This simple test right from a browser: http://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_stereo.php

- (Same Test as Problem 1) These Waves and/or Aiff Files show the problem from within iTunes or Media Player: http://www.itashiki.com/tuner/speakerpopup.htm ​

Headphone tests that work fine for me (with an iPhone headset):

- Enhanced Audio Controls Sound Check (from the Dell Dock).

- Dell pre-boot Diagnostic test: Headphone Test 1 (HP1) (I think this was the test’s name).

- Dell pre-boot Diagnostic test: Headphone Test 2 (HP2) (I think this was the test’s name).​

To get to the Dell pre-boot Diagnostic tests I reference, do the following:

1) Start up the automated pre-boot tests:

a. http://support.dell.com/support/top...7D456BA3E2854631E040AE0AB6E13969&docid=300428​

2) After about one minute of automated tests (with a blue screen), you need to confirm that you can see colors on the screen. Next after about 5-6 minutes of memory tests (maybe time dependant on the amount of memory you have), the testing suite asks you if you would like to run more memory tests. Select “no”.

3) After the suite reboots, click on “Test System” followed by “Custom Test” to show a tree of tests.

4) Once in the test tree, navigate down to the Audio/Intel HD Audio branch. It is in this branch that you will find all the Dell pre-boot Diagnostic tests I reference above.

a. Please note that all the audio tests play the signal in the left only, followed by the right only, followed by both at the same time. To see what speaker headphone/output is playing as any given moment, look in the upper right quarter of the screen.​

My Test Machines Statistics (the Laptop I’m Returning)

- Dell Studio 16 XPS (1645)
- Tested with A01 and A03 Bios
- Audio Drivers = IDT Driver Version 6.10.0.6217 (Driver Dated 6/29/2009, Dell Install Package Dated 9/23/2009)
- I do NOT have the Creative Soundblaster X-Fi MB software (I wonder if that could fix any of the problems).
- Windows 7 Home Premium
- i7 720QM
- 6GB 1333 Mhz
- 1 GB Ati 4670 Card
- Blu-ray Burner
- RGBLED
- 500 GB 7200 RPM HDD​

Other Important Links

Link to a parallel version of this thread on Dell’s Forums: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19316231.aspx

Dell’s 1645 Throttling Thread: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19306277.aspx

NoteBookReview’s 1645 Throttling Thread 1: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=437800

NoteBookReview’s 1645 Throttling Thread 2: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=446193

 

Good info, will test mine when I get home (on the road)

 

My 1645 seems fine. I might hear a TINY bit coming from the opposite side, but i have to put my ear up against it *shrugs*. From a normal distance it sounds like "Right" is coming entirely from the Right and "Left" is coming entirely from the left

 

ChOOkz,

Thanks for testing it. Which test(s) did you try (and what BIOS/sound drivers do you have)?

If this problem is not very wide spread, then I will feel more confidence ordering another Studio XPS 16 if and when the throttling issue is officially resolved (at least most of the way resolved).

The fact that I had this audio problem with two builds on my computer, and two other online users seemed to have problems with the first "simple browser" test I posted suggested that this problem might be more wide spread. I wonder if it might be a configuration issue (with the specific driver/BIOS/chipset test).

Here was the page where two other users (kenshee78 and 97mg) started to notice the same problem (at least with the first test):
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19306277/19624940.aspx?PageIndex=10

buckZor,

I'd appreciate your testing check as well. If you don't want to spend much time on it, just focus on the non-diagnostic tests that show the problem(s).

Thanks,
Bill

 

I must say that i test this on the built in speakers and earphones.. Nothing was reproduced in the wrong speaker.. My system system to be working perfectly fine

 

I think I may have some audio bleed also.... I have to do more tests to make sure, but could it be the so called sub on the SXPS 16?

**update**
I disabled the SRS PREMIUM SOUND and it was gone...

 

I disabled SRS Premium Sound like cause&effect said and I have full separation between left and right!

 

do you have a fresh windows 7 installation or you still on Dell's installation version ?

 

Yes, I have the original Dell install.

It looks like cause&effect might be onto something here. Disabling "SRS Premium Sound" in the Enhanced Audio Controls seems to fix ALL my headphone bleed problems, and the first speaker bleed test (the "simple" left/right web page).

However, the wav/aif playback in iTunes still shows the bleed problem, and I did not rerun the mono diagnostic test.

cause&effect and bfarmer, could you run the wav/aif test in iTunes and/or Media Player to see if disabling SRS Premium Sound fixes that problem for you too (assuming you have not already tested that)?

 

I just did it in itunes and the rest of my media players(wav/aif) and they are ok...no bleeding. Did you make sure that it is set to stereo and not 5.1 in IDT?

 

Just tried it and my SRS Premium had re-enabled itself. Disabled and everything is fine with wav/aiff files, too.

I don't put a lot of trust in most of the IDT/Creative, etc audio drivers and software out right now across OS platforms. We were using a new Latitude Z with a sophisticated commercial audio/video conferencing system and we struggled to strike the right settings. Most of the features these programs offer are mostly fluff and problems with gating can send you over the edge.

I think if you are having problems - in this case - it isn't the Dell.

 

The thing that bugs me is Dell's only solution to this was to send out someone to replace the motherboard and speakers (and the installer didn't put it back together right since there is a piece of circuit board visible under the right control key). I have a brand new Studio XPS with old parts in it (not properly reassembled) because Dell refused to properly look into this issue. This is why this "new" refurb is going back. I'd do an exchange for a fresh build, but they won't give me a blu-ray burner in the new laptop due to supply problems.

Why couldn't they just really research the issue? I gave them more than enough information.

Anyway, tonight I'll try to ensure that I'm in stereo mode, and test the iTunes playback again. Thanks for all your posts. I'll let you know how it goes.

EDIT: I double checked and I am in stereo (not 5.1) and the wav/aif playback is still bleeding. I suppose that my laptop does have some sort of deeper rooted hardware issue since one of the diagnostic tests (the mono test) failed as well.

 

Its just an issue with the IDT Sound Driver. All the three Notebooks that is 1640, 1645, 1647 has the same audio driver Dell revisioned A15. Even after disabling SRS Premium Sound, when you restart the computer it gets re-enabled. So a driver fix is a critical requirement or if any force disabling of SRS Premium Sound is possible through Registy!

 

If you want to disable SRS Premium sound effects so it won't keep re-enabling itself, change the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IDT\Apo\LFX\Speaker1\plugins\SRS and D-WORD string "load" to 0.

Been using this for a few months and it solved a lot of issues I was having with sound. Also disabling "Audio Service" which is by IDT helps. Its a poorly written jack sensing driver.

 

hey guys, do u also have problems playing this with an xps 16?
YouTube - Skype Incoming Call Sound

I had a lot people complaining about this, not sure if the german tarnslation for "scheppern" and "dröhnen" is correctly translated into: clanking / clanging or buzzing?

Especially Skype is effected on this issue. Can I set up skype in a way I can hold a normal conversation?


Also, when having IDT SRS Surroudn enabled its even worse!!!

 

I remember that sound file test being posted when i was having speaker problems. My right hand speaker would have problems with that and certain tones when people talked on skype with me. I also had bad rattle near the sub (that was fixed by just tightening all the screws up). The right hand speaker was replaced with the entire plamrest piece and now my audio is quite good.

My computer was a replacement refurbished 1645 and each time a tech has come to "fix" problems new problems have been created, so even with good audio now, it still has other issues.

 

Ran your tests on my XPS 1645. No headphone bleeding. No bleeding in left speaker but right speaker has a little "left" in it. Have not found a fix yet.

 

The bleeding you are hearing is the sound produced by the speaker inside the sub. Open up your laptop, unplug the sub and re-run tests. I guarantee there is no speaker bleed.