New HP (post DV6000) laptops having bad/dull mics

Hey everyone

You know, i'm sure there's a thread all about this problem (and probably many of them), but they all don't have the perfect answer at all. The problem is the common dullness of the mics that were created after the DV6000 were announced, or after Vista arrived to the laptops. I'm pretty sure it was around that time because i have the first generation of the DV2000 and the mic sounds crystal clear, but EVERY NEW HP laptop i've ever used, or have heard with my own ears with friends laptops, have extremely dull mics.

I've done a few things such as tinkering with the sound settings (through both XP and Vista), updating the sound driver, and using other various programs to get my newer DV6000 laptop to sound clear, but it does not compare at all to the trusty old DV2000. I know my other friend with the TX2000z has the same exact problem, and i get annoyed listening to how dull his mic is on ventrilo. He's gone through the same process as well.


I'm sorry if I am beating up on dead duplicate threads with this, but it's something that I think should be stickied or included in a list of known problems for HP laptops. I'm fairly certain this is a common problem as seen in many other forums from outside of notebookreview.com. Please help me get into the right direction.


Thanks

 

...no one?

 

i guess no one has the answer then.

 

I believe the reason you are not getting an answer is no one knows how to correct this problem besides sending the notebook in for repair and hope for the best.

Some people, I think a very few, have a good working Mic on the DV6XXX series. My Mic probably works as yours, barely! I have to have the boost turned up to 40db and all settings at max. to get any recognizable sound with a lot of background noise. My notebook is fairly new, Feb 2008.

If I ever have to send my notebook in for repair, for some other reason, I will note this problem also and see if they can fix it. Luckly I don't need this feature but I hear that external Mics or Headsets with Mics work well with the Skype type programs.

Even if the search function were working on this forum you will not find a definitive answer to this problem. Some, very few, lucky individuals have got their Mics working but usually they can't pin point the exact fix.

 

I think the problem seems to be the latest driver from windows update, since a few month ago my Mic was working fine and sound was clear. A few weeks ago I installed the sound driver on the Windows updates, and since then I have had problems with the mic, which not getting the sound for some reason.

 

I have a Dv6704 and have no such problems with the mic. A buddy and I always chat on AIM Talk and i never have a problem.

 

I seem to have a very un-sensitive mic in my dv6800. I recently installed xp for dual booting with vista.

 

make sure that in your driver you have things like noise suppresion disabled. I had some issues witha dull mic, but its working fine now

 

yea. i tried dual booting vista and XP. still the same problem


was hoping it wasnt' the newest driver or something causing it.


i also checked the options in the software to see what was up. didn't fix it.




i really dont want to send my laptop

 

i signed up to this forum as i have just bought a hp dv6920ea

having come from a sony and then 2 toshibas in about 3 months (dont ask they all kept breaking) im pleased to say the HP seems ok on most fronts.. apart from the mic is shocking. i was able to hold perfectly normal conversations with the sony and toshibas but the hp is useless.

the problem also exists with an external mic pluged in so its not the actual mics on the laptop

i also went back to the store to try the display model and it was the same.

Have just ordered an external usb sound card to see if i can bypass what i suspect is a cheap crappy hp soundcard.

if however there is a software update to get the built in mics working properly i'd love to find it!!