Static on the e14's headphone jacks?

Its like the static I get when I play my zune off my speakers while its charging except this static doesn't disappear when I unplug my e14 form the wall. Anyone else having this problem? I tried muting the output as a control and the static was reduced but didn't go away completely.

 

This seems to be a reoccurring problem with some of the Envy's...

 

Is it on all of them?

 

What headphones are you using?

 

So far so good on mine with Sennheiser HD 435 and Beyerdynamic DT 880. Make sure your mic is turned off as I got some nasty feedback and static one evening.

 

Klipsch S4's (18 Ohm)and I notice a faint hiss. Its better (quieter) than many other laptops Ive used them with though.

 

I don't hear any static when I'm using my (cheap) headphones...

 

I have two (both pretty cheap headphones).

One is a Skullcandy Low Rider or whatever. $40. I head some static on them.

On my set of Sony headphones (several years old now), $20 back then, I hear nothing and audio is a ton crisper than Sullcandy's.

I think its dependent on your headphones, really.

 

It has to do with the way that your headphones connect... Like the type of connector used in the headphone. It seems like the jacks do not favor all of the headphone types. But this is a serious problem because, like others have posted, the cheap headphones perform much better than the higher end headphones.

 

Low impedance headphones are usually the cause.

 

the envy14 i returned had this problem.
mic off and everything.

it was pretty annoying.

 

The irony is that HP touts this as an audio editing/listening laptop...

The irony is very thick. Hopefully someone can find a fix, and hopefully this next batch will be without issues (too good to be true).

 

Most laptops have the issue, along with most recent Macbook Pros.

 

My point is that HP specifically touts this laptop as being a top quality audio solution...

It's all just marketing, anyhow.

 

The Macbook Pros do have this problem but their fix is to simply plug in a pair of headphones and unplug them... The Envy cure is not that simplistic.

 

I dont think its that simple Apple - Support - Discussions - Static noise in audio out macbook pro ... http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100720222502AAymDpW

 

Two things...

1) This static issue is normal when not playing any audio. Static can not be heard at all when you have the quietest of music playing. Stop freaking out people...

2) I was a skeptic before receiving this laptop, but the Beats Audio does make a difference and sounds great.

 

Thakns, agreed.

 

The static/hiss like I said again before in other threads are caused by HP increasing the gain in the headphone output wayyyy too much. Even some of the cheap IEMs can pick it up because IEMs are sensitive by nature. There is no way of fixing it unless you feel like opening up the mobo and replacing a few resistors. The easiest way of now having the hiss is getting headphones with higher impedance and lower sensitivity which is usually most headphones other than IEMS.

Yes it is kind of stupid but most laptops have this issue, but since the marketing was for a pro audio experience, we are very nitpicky for the e14.

Want better sound? Get an usb sound card like the emu 404 or something.

 

Ahhh. Youre right! I was thinking of the other audio problem that the macbook pros have... the audio not working at all

 

Yeah, better not to post if you're not sure or at least say so. Misinformation sucks.

 

So yeah, I just got my envy 14 and tried to plug in my headphones, and there's this really irritating static in the background. Has anyone else had this problem yet?

 

Yea, it seems to happen with certain headphones. My Klipsch Image S4's do it. Pretty common on laptops and better than my last, but still annoying

 

I seem to get this grinding noise in my headphones every once in a while during certain games. Happens with these headphones on my desktop too. On my desktop it would happen right before I bluescreened. Not sure though.

 

Absolutely does, it is worse with low impedance headphones.

Edit: I've never been a big fan of Beats by Dr. Dre, (Tried them out in an Apple store) but putting their name on this (even though it is actually IDT audio) hurts their image IMO. At least Beats aren't complete trash (Just highly overpriced), but I can't say the same for the sound card in the E14.

 

I havent listened to the sound out of the Envy too much, but it sounded nice when I did. While searching through my audio settings I was alarmed to find that they had Bass and Treble boosted all the way up though.

 

From a person who considers himself a bit of an audiophile the noise floor on this is atrocious especially considering how it it marketed. I tried this with my main headphone setup (headphone amp> 250 ohm headphones) and the hiss was still noticeable (although greatly diminished). I would need more time for me to gather my thoughts on the audio quality, but it is definitely nothing special.

Maybe I am too critical for most people here though.

 

Im not noticing hiss with my setup unless it's on a old recording. My Beyerdynamics are ony 32ohm also. I get great clarity and a good soundstage. I can say everything sounds a little processed on some things due to the bass being boosted. Sounds better with a little eq work. I've pondered an amp and external DAC but... i have other things i need to sink money into and really have no complaints about the sound as it is. I don't consider myself an audiophile but I think I notice sound / lack of detail more than the average person. I have Logitec Z5500s / x-Fi platinum in my desktop and think its atrocious. Klipsch was far better and far from audiophile quality but that's kinda off topic for a laptop discussion. Sorry for that ramble.

edit: may have to find some audio test files and report back. if anyone has a good link it would be appreciated.

 

I'm just using an old pair of sony headphones (MDR-V300) and I don't get that hiss.

*shrugs*

 

The headphones I'm using are the Klipsch S4 as well, and there is definitely a hiss that persists until the output gets somewhat loud. I have a pair of $25 Koss that come very, very close to my S4s that I'll try it with tomorrow.

 

You guys don't even get the hiss when there is no audio playing? There is a definite hiss that I hear and I can hear it when I play music too, but when it gets loud enough it gets overpowered. My portable headphones are sleek audio sa-6 which have 50 ohm impedance and when using these the hiss is blatantly obvious for me.

 

The only thing I notice is a small 'pop' when a song starts to play but no hiss. I have a small logitech headset I'll try out this eve too. I gave my Sennheisers to my brother over the weekend so I can't test them again. Are you listend to original CD's, mp3 or some other ripped format? I've not really tried anything except .wav files the past couple of days.

 

Maybe its the type of music that I like listening to (Rock & Hip Hop), but the Beats audio algorithms/Hardware sounds great using my Moda and Pure earphones. Orchestral pieces sound amazing also, but they tend to be string heavy (bass) also. If I listened to a lot of Piano or acapella pieces (heavy mids and highs), i would probably use the settings recommended in the Audio tweak tutorial.

As for the hiss, it is definitely a by-product of the gain being significantly higher than your average laptop. It's basically the equivalent of the lodness settings that many radios and cd burning software tools once used. You can only hear it with your headphones (most likely inner ear headphones) on and nothing playing though. In short, the law of diminishing returns has to come in at some point. The idea of returning this laptop because of the hissing sound that can only be heard when I've got my headphones on with nothing playing is bit extreme to me, but if you pay your money and you're not satisfied, do what you need to sleep in peace.

 

Yeah I notice this pop too, but it does not really bother me because it doesn't occur when the actual music is playing (like the hiss does). As for format I've tried mp3's and FLAC files.

@Guppetto:
I am generally not a fan of EQ. I tend to like my sound as unprocessed as possible because the devices I play them out of have a relatively flat sound signature and any EQ'ing I do would mess that up. I definitely don't plan on returning my laptop for this. Other than the hiss this laptop is near perfect and I've gotten used to laptops having noise from their headphone jack anyways. The main problem I see here is the marketing that they did for the 'beats' audio on this laptop and the sound being only marginally better than my previous laptop.

 

For the record I am using Monster Turbine Pros and Sony Extra Bass headphones.

They both show noticeable static when no music is playing.

 

I'm using audio technica a700's, and the static is extremely irritating, unless I turn up the volume.

Maybe we should start an archive on which headphones are good for the laptop and which aren't...

 

It seems cheaper headphones aren't as sensitive and show less static...

...so the solution is to buy apple ipod headphones...

 

nope, still get static with my pos apple earbuds...

 

ha... never mind then.

 

Hmm, strange. I get static with my Shure SL6 but don't get anything with my apple earbuds (came with iPhone 3GS). Are you sure the volume is not cranked all the way up? lol.

 

nope, the volume was set to 20, and the static was still really audible

 

Just got my ultimate ears 700's.. and I have the hiss. very disappointed.

I was planning on using the 700's with my envy alot

Maybe Ill just buy something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4&cm_re=usb_sound_card-_-29-114-004-_-Product but thats just more money to drop and another thing to carry around. ahhh!

or something like this? http://www.esi-audio.com/products/u24xl/

 

^^^

so the ultimate ears came with this sound level attenuator



from what Ive just read it basically adds impedance. I plugged it in and there's no hiss at all! Cant really say if at affects the quality because I just got them.. it sounds good though. owell good enough fix for now.

heres a thread I found about it http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/250575/is-the-ue-sound-level-attenuator-increasing-sound-quality

 

Nice! Im glad you tried it because I saw that as a solution and was gunna throw it up here and see if anyone could try it. Thanks

 

A quick search has yielded Level Attenuator with Volume Control and Shure Adapter Kit | HeadRoom Audio

I may purchase one of them in the near future for use with this laptop.

 

Thats awesome. Now I can use my IEMs with the laptop.

I know i don't get any hiss with my 600ohm DT880 but thats quite high on the impedance.

 

My Shure SE210 earphones have really high static, even with the sound muted... I guess their impedance is way too low (26 Ohm) but they sound just fine on my Zen.

I'll look into an impedance kit I guess.

 

I've got a pair of skullcandy ink'd earphones from my birthday... was wondering if that would get the hiss on the envy 14?

 

I noticed a high pitched sound with my Audio Technica M50's and I can now see it's caused by the metal plug touching the metal surface of the laptop.

edit: This only happens with the laptop on A/C power.

 

I have a slight hiss with these ear buds: Newegg.com - SENNHEISER CX280 3.5mm Connector Canal Headphone with Volume Control