Hissing and static sounds on headphones on the Inspiron 1720

Hey all, I just got my new laptop just less than 2 weeks, and through out, I hear static morse-code like sounds when I jack in my earphones... Even while typing this thread out, I'm hearing static sounds too. (Quiet environment here)

Yes, those earphones are sensitive ones...I tried others and I hear faint like sounds too. The static pitch are non-existent when I boosted the volume...

Anyway, I saw DIY fix for the 1520s and 1500s on this forum... but only supports those 15" models and which requires opening up the laptop which I apparently don't have the balls to do so.

I tried searching around for a solution for my 1720 but to no avail....

Here's my Inspiron Specs:

T9300 2.5Ghz 800Mhz
8600m GT (Running on 169.04 modded drivers, plan to O'C it some other time)
4GB DDR2 RAM
320GB HDD Space
Vista Home Premium 32bit

Any thoughts?

P.S, I don't mind opening the entire machine, but that will only be my last resort if all else fails.... Or, if the Dell tells B.S answers.

 

Nevermind I managed to solve it.

All I have to do is remove the battery after I connected the AC Adapter, the static and high pitched Morse code buzzing sounds disappear entirely altogether. I don't know what is the engineering explanation but it works so simply.

 

UPDATE: I plugged in the battery while the AC Adapter is on and the sounds never came back!

However those sounds came back when I restarted my Lappy... All I need to do is remove and re-insert the battery while the AC is on and viola for me! No static! Woohoo for me.... However I'm not sure about other people's 1720s...

 

Putting some electrical tape on the two tabs on the underside of the lid that press down on the metal casing of the headphone and mic jack assemblies worked for me. Just the noise floor over headphones now.

 

What about buying an X-Fi Express Card? Will that also solve the problem alternatively?

 

If the problem is interference being transfered to the output as per above yes.

 

Ah I see... OK then, I'll try to get hold of that X-Fi Card this Saturday. Hope it helps. I can't be switching batteries in and out all the time just to relief static sounds

 

Did you try bluetooth headphones? I havent heard any static with those on my 1720.

 

The static, through my experience, is all about interference being carried through the plate under the base top, through the metal tabs to the metal surround of the headphone jack. Maybe Dell originally had the design using plastic jack assemblies (which most stuff uses) but isolating the tabs with a little bit of electrical tape has completely solved the problem for me.

Any option that doesn't use the headphone jack like an Expresscard or Bluetooth, if the conditions stated above are the same, will solve the problem.
But the tape fix (or bending the tabs away from the jacks - although I dont advocate this option as the tabs are there to provide support) is easily done and by my experience well worth the effort. My headphone out is now clean as a bell bar the unavoidable noise floor.

 

oh wow... hard to explain this eh.

Samething happen to my lappy turn on blue screen for no reason a small proportion of member having this problem with 1705 series and no fix have been given out yet. So they just gonna live with it. Some how i managed to get a full refund after 8 months oof using YAy!

 

Hmm.... How is the sound quality of using wireless headphones? From what I heard, the sound quality is somewhat mediocre as compared to... How should I put it... the "mainstream" earphones?

Hmm... I see.... Any pictures of your tape fix, if you have any? Maybe I can have a look at it... Kinda little lost by what you say....

I guess some laptops are kinda "slightly" built differently I must say.... So anyway, to all those 1720 owners out there reading this, you might want to try the battery fix, but I'm not entirely sure if it guarantees to fix yours.

P.S, how did you managed to get a full refund after using for 8 months?!

 

Pictures of what I'm talking about are here

 

Ah Perfect!

 

Ok there's one thing I need to ask.... and I quote from that guy in the post: "I have disassembled my system and found that I only needed to isolate metal tabs..."

I took note of the steps carefully and also took note of my lappy's main screws at the back... Do I really need to take apart the entire system? As in, remove the RAM, processor, graphics card, in order to get into that tabs that he and you described? Or do I have to just remove the 15 screws at the back and pry the front and back cover open be good enough? It's kinda hard to tell from the pics he described as it just shows the metal tabs. Thanks though, for your time.

 

Nevermind, found it here. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/sm/speaker.htm#wp1179874

Thanks.

 

Yup - you just need to take the palm rest off - remove the LCD assembly, keyboard, hard drive (to access the palm rest screw under it) and disconnect the WiFi antenna's.

Some have just opened the corner of the palm rest and bent the tabs so they are not touching but as I said I dont recommend it as the tabs provide some structural strength to the jacks.

 

Yeah that is very true. I was thinking of that as well... The jack might be jerky in the long run.

 

YYeh - obviously when you plug in and out it can put a little stress on the jacks and the tabs are there to add support rather than any kinda electrical connection or whatever.

You can see if isolating the tabs is likely to help before taking the palm rest off. Just undo the screws in that corner and then push on one just to enable the palm rest to lift up and lift the tabs from the top of the jacks. If the static stops when you push up and starts again when you let go you know it will make a difference. I tested first before disassembling using that method so I knew I wouldn't be wasting my time.

 

My dad caught me trying to dissect my laptop. Anyway so I bought myself an express card. A little buldgy, but a huge improvement in sound! No more static problems.

 

I use bluetooth sterio all the time and love it. There are registry entries for improving quality but I have not set them on this laptop and it is fine.

I even have a bluetooth gateway that is on my TV to stream TV shows later at night when the kids are in bed and enjoy that too. With that there is a split second of lag but if I am not looking for it I usually don't even notice.

 

Bump. As a rule of thumb, you should always remove the battery when using AC adapter.

Thanks for the info!!