Funny sounds when I use headphones

Not sure where else to post this, so I thought I'd try here. I have a 1520 and I just realized just now from trying to begin a movie that when I use headphones I get this weird crackling sound pitched with high pitched bleeps. My first instinct was to try different headphones, but that didnt work. If it means anything, if I drag the scroll bar on the side of the window and move it up and down quickly, the bleeping stops, but continues when I stop.

What's going on?

 

1520...It is because of the design flaw of the motherboard...do some searching and you'll know...

 

Wow, I would have thought that I might have heard about this at least once through all my questions and threads centering around "buying a notebook for audio editing"


So literally the only way around this is to get a refund and buy a new notebook? Would a 1420 or a 1720 have this problem? And I'm assuming that I dont get any compensation for the fact that I used a 300$ coupon to buy this one?

Amazing -.-

 

Solution shouldn't be as drastic as getting a new laptop. Getting a replacement won't get rid of it -- it's a defect in the line of laptops. Get an ExpressCard sound card instead...

Also, there's already one big thread about this. It's a pretty well known issue of the 1520/1500 Dells. Use the search function...

 

See my issue and draw any comparisons.... I would like to know if you experience any similarities?

 

What I said was motherboard flaw...What do you think T7250 and T7500 are? motherboard? 囧

 

From Dells internal powerpoint doc:

Products UpdateGlobal Services Quality
18 October 2007

Issue Description:: Vostro 1500 emits a static noise through headphones during playback. The issue seems to be related to the procs C3 power states

Status/Next Steps: Issue root caused to MB layout issue. Pending a viable work around

Update:
Pending further update from PG on Bios workaround.
No real work around. Busmastering, Bluetooth toggle as last option.
Messaging: MB replacement does not mitigate this issue

If any one interested in seeing this powerpoint doc for themselves then PM me. At this point, this doc appears to have a high degree of legitimacy.

IMHO, the fix will be the upcoming new 1525/26 inspiron with headphone jacks up front.

 

Make Dell give you an express sound card. They gave me one after telling them about the issue and how there wasn't a fix.

 

buy USB headpones like i did... I got ones from logitec and they got amazing 2.0 surround sound and since its USB, the sounds are gone.

 

What, the X-Fi Notebook? I have one of those.

Let's just say it lasted a couple hours, tops, and it was uninstalled. I'll chalk it up to Creative driver problems, but I could not get around the snap crackle pop in the audio.

I'll fall back to my GWC 5.1 USB sound card for now.

 

The X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook express card fixes this problem. It might be something on your end though, as I had the audio problems with the 1520 like everyone else. Once I got the card there was no snap crackle or pop.

 

Even using the latest patch for the driver (XP, SP2) the expresscard caused crackling in games and music. So I had to decide, what was worse...the CPU/system noise from the headphone jack on the 1520, or the occasional crackling from the expresscard?

I decided they both sucked and just plugged in the GWC...problem solved...$22 at Newegg.

 

So the express sound card completely solved the issue? I feel like if it were this simple Dell would have admitted to the problem and send them out for free to anyone with an inspiron that has this problem.

More importantly, I am going to end up investing in a digital audio workstation, and I dont know really how they specifically connect to the notebook and whether they bypass the soundcard and whatnot, and if I would have the same problem.

As for headphones, I simply cant rely on using a certain type of headphones just so that I can hear properly on a computer which I'll be doing audio editing on.

 

I agree with this. Talk to customer service (NOT Hardware Support, they can do nothing but waste your time and offer a MB replacement or tell you to wait a month for the BIOS update, which they told me 3 months ago... )
Tell them that the audio sound had a significant impact on your use of the laptop and dont let them jerk you around, and you'll score the express card X-Fi.
My example is I told them I'm a student and I listen to a lot of my lectures on podcast in the library and sometimes I cant even focus on the content because the buzzing is so bad, just prove your point it interferes and they'll do it.

 

I just spent a long time talking to dell. I was very upfront from the start explaining that Dell already new this was an issue regardless of whether or not he did, and he kept on saying things like "well it's usually not just an issue with the headphone jack if there is a sound problem etc etc"

So after we did dellconnect.com and he downloaded some BIOS crap that didnt do a thing, he eventually ended up telling me that dell knows of this issue and plans for an update on the 17th of december that will fix everything. And I said "ON the 17th, or sometime after the 17th?" and he said "sometime after" So I pointed out that there has been an update coming out for months.

The whole time I was insisting that they send me the card free of charge and the guy was really resistant the whole time so eventually I asked to speak to someone else.

The new guy informed me that the fix is not an update, but a new shipment of motherboards that they will be able to use to replace the ones of current inspirons. Target date is a 17th. Not sure what that means.

Should I try again or wait?

 

Keep pressing them and they will eventually (hopefully) give in.

 

What about this supposed "fix" I'm trying to determine whether it's Dell saying "we'll fix it soon" the same way they said they would months ago, or whether they've actually caved in and are offering a solution.

 

Most likely the 1525 replacement will be the fix. Unless Dell decides to somehow redesign the MB and swap them with the faulty ones. I rather doubt there will be a magical bios fix or something easy like that to fix this.

 

Does the 1420 have this problem?

 

What can we do to make them skip the crap and actually acknowledge that we KNOW Dell KNOWS about one particular issue? I mean, they treat you like you are an idiot and keep denying everything, but as a community we know what we are talking about...

Anyway, with my earphones the noise is unbearable. But I noticed that a different pair of earphones makes it disappear. The problem is, with this other earphones the volume is very low. Damn.

 

Dell is ignoring this since the fix would be very expensive and there are a ton of 1520's out in the market. I am assuming by now they are not getting anywhere with the so called pending bios fix. One poster mentioned that a tech said there would be a new redesigned MOBO for the 1520. I highly doubt that but it would be nice. Denial at this point is probably the best option Dell has. Admitting to a catastrophic flaw with no resolution on their most popular system.. and one of the most popular laptops in North America would be a messy ordeal for Dell. I remember Creative had a Zen micro player that had really bad headphone jack that would fail.. people lost one or both channels. Creative to this day never admitted to any design flaw. But I have seen the internals to that jack and the reinforced ones that Creative implemented later on. Generally, Dell will admit to it once they have a fix.. they don't have a fix so denial is the name of the game.

Anyway, Dell did admit it in their internal powerpoint doc. You can mention that their Products Update Global Services Quality doc on OCT 17, 2007 admits to the issue and that it says their is no fix and new MOBO does not mitigate issue. If you like PM me and I will send the doc to you.. You can offer the rep to send their own doc in their face.. maybe that would help LOL.

 

Have you tried disabling analog loopback? Just open the mixer application and play around with it.

 

most don't.

 

I do.

I get an audio hiss through the headphone jacks.

I cant hear anything while listening to music, but if the music is off its a problem.

 

the customer care rep said that Dell's website had info on the upcoming Dec 17th fix. I cant find it. Was it a flat out lie?

 

Lol, dude, they told me the same BS a loooonngggg time ago.
They're doing everything they can to cover up this b.s. until they can get the 1525 released.

 

I just ordered Inspiron 1520, and it is comming this week. You got to be kidding me if it really has a headphone problem!!! When Inspiron 1525 is comming out?Anyone know? I heard the rumor that it will be released on December 14th. can anyone confirm? I can't wait until that day.

 

So I've been on the phone with Dell customer care for about an hour and a half now. My rep tried to tell me about replacing the motherboard so I was firm about pointing out that replacing the motherboard wouldnt do a thing and Dell already knows that. She said "I'm sorry sir this is the only solution I can offer you at this time" so I said "ok, would it be alright if I talked to someone else or whoever is in charge?"

So she transferred me to her whatever manager, and she tried to send me this email for about 30 minutes. Then she gave up, I have no idea why it wouldnt work and we decided to try Dell connect. She tried looking at my inbox herself, which was somewhat awkward, but nothing was working until she I think what ended up happening is that rather than sending it from Dell, she send the file from her own personal email. The first email was just the standard issue link from the Dell support website, but the second email was all this "this is a confidential email do not disclose this is only intended for the recipient blah blah blah blah"

She ended up having to send it as a picture attachment, and I read it and it said something along the lines of an issue that started in October, but it read as updated on December 3rd with some charts that I couldnt make sense of, and it was supposed to be guaranteeing that the motherboard replacement would actually fix the problem. Then I was going tell her that I wanted to close the Dell connect and she was like "ok, let's delete this email real quick" and I was like "hold hold on" and took control of the touch pad and asked her for a while why she wanted to delete it because I wanted to be able to reference it.Turns out that she let me copy and paste the attached picture but she needed me to delete the emails because she used her personal email for it and they werent allowed to do that. I felt bad since she broke rules to help me and I just screen shotted the top of the page and then deleted them and purged the trash.

They said they would send me a box within 1 or 2 days and I should use it to send them my Inspiron and within 5-8 business days they would replace the motherboard and the problem would be done and they scheduled a checkup call to make sure that the issue was fixed.

Still have the picture attachment, but I dont really know what it says or how it ensures me that the issue will be fixed.

 

Any input? I dont really want to bother sending it in if I know it wont solve the issue. Anyone able to help me determine if the Dec 3 update is actually a new fix or whether it's the same bull they've been feeding us this whole time?

 

been through plenty of Vostro 1400s and there is no cracklin' poppin' or whining noise.

 

Gee, would that be because it has a different motherboard?

 

gee did you bother to read who I was replying to? and did you bother to read WHAT I was replying to?

my reply had nothing to do with a 1520 or 1500. I KNOW it's a diff. mobo, but I was just letting hypdotspec know that none of my 1400 (same as 1420) have the noise.

 

I don't get any crackling or popping. When audio is played i get no stutter at all.

Just when I put my headphones on and ambient noise is low (no outside noise) i can hear a faint 'buzz' and the pitch somewhat changes when I use the touchpad.

I think I'm going to just deal with it because I don't want dell to send me a refurb motherboard. I'd rather not have to deal with CPU Whine or any other issues if I don't have to.

 

Am I going to have trouble getting a refund if I do take Dell's word and send them my laptop and it comes with exactly the same problem?

 

When I received my 1420 replacement system it had a bad AUO screen. I was on day 18 of 21 to return an inspiron system. Dell starts the 21 or 30 day clock the day they ship your first system (not the day you get it). Now some people have gone further then that and got refunds when they reject multiple replacements. Personally, I did not want to go over the 21 day mark since technically, they could stick me with it. As crazy as it sounds, your safer just canceling/refunding system and starting over with a new order.. if you so choose. But one guy here rejected 5 systems before getting a refund and he must have been over 2 months by that time. But its allot of money and I did not want to take that chance. Especially after they promised my replacement would not be an AUO and it ended up being a horrible AUO screen. I don't believe anything dell tells me after that and I took it upon myself to refund my system within their own stated policy.

 

I am a couple of phoncalls into what could be a long relationship with Dell support in the UK, well FROM the UK, goodness knows where they are all based. First guy offered the Bios update but then admitted that the new MB was the only solution but they arent available in the UK yet, he promised me a call that Friday to let me know when they would be available. No call. Rang back and spoke to a woman this time and she was helpful but said that Id get a call on the 21st to update me on the MB progress, I wont hold my breath. I find it suspect that as of yet noone on here seems to suggest that the new MB fixes the issue. The 1525 MB might be the fix but thats no good for my vostro 1500 is it?
Im giving them till the 21st then Ill be back on the phone.
LOL they might be waiting to offer us all shiny new 1525s!! They MIGHT!

 

This new post may be of interest:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=197145