Samsung R610 Sound Problem

I recently bought a Samsung R610 Notebook and it’s a pretty good laptop but seems to have one major problem. If I connect an audio cable to the headphones/audio out socket and connect it to a amplifier stereo sound is fine. However, if I then plug the laptop into the supplied mains adapter there is major interference to the sound. Crackling/white noise sounds. This is extremely annoying as one of the main reasons I bought the laptop is to play Mp3's and stream spotify through it. I tried plugging a Creative X-FI go USB sound card in and using that instead of the regular headphone connection on the laptop but it made no difference, interference is the same.

Of course I can play Mp3's fine etc with the power cable out, but the battery only lasts an hour and a half or so. Plus it should work when on power right?

I rang Samsung support and they said it is most likely the power adapter itself causing the interference and advised me to physically shield it with a bowl and some tinfoil. However, thinking about this it seems highly unlikely. If I connect the power adapter to the mains and locate it right next to the laptop but don't plug it in then there is no interference. As soon as you connect the power cable into the laptop the interference starts. Covering the adapter with a bowl or stretching it away from the laptop makes no difference. To my mind it must be the power circuitry in the laptop itself that is somehow affecting the analog sound output.

I have tried plugging a Lenovo laptop plugged into same audio cable, same amplifier etc. There is no interference.

Also I should point out that you can hear the interference as soon as you plug the cable in and boot the laptop. You don't have to be running Itunes or whatever.

Anyone had a similar issue? At the moment I think I will be ringing Samsung support back and demanding a replacement...

 

Can you try using a different mains outlet for one of your items of equipment? I'm sure this problem is coming through the earthing system. Both the computer and the audio equipment are connected to the mains electric earth and then the cable between the two also has an earth connector which forms a loop. Stray currents can pass round this loop causing the interference. You need to break the loop somewhere, but sometimes using different mains outlets for the different equipment (which makes the loop bigger) can cure the problem. Otherwise cutting off the moulded on mains plug and fitting your own without the earth (green / yellow) wire connected will definitely break the loop.

Computers with 2-pin power connectors don't suffer this problem, which is why I prefer them, but the majority of manufacturers provide earthed power supplies.

John

 

Hi John, thanks for you reply
I tried running an extension cable from a seperate power ring but still no joy. Spoke to Samsung support again and they are now recommending shipping laptop and power supply back for investigation (its still under warranty). They haven't heard of the problem before, but suspect the system board.

 

Got around the problem by replacing the three pronged clover leaf cable that connects to the laptops supplied power adapter with a two pronged cable which I had from an old digital cameras battery charger. A bit of a squeeze to fit it but it did the trick. Laptop sounding perfect now...

 

Thanks for the update.

Glad to hear that you've cured the problem.

John