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516678
E6440 Speaker Pop
We are switching to the 6440 moving forward and out of the 3 that I've had in hand so far, all 3 have a random internal speaker pop. Audio plays fine, both internal and external. There's no distortion or crackle. I've updated the driver to no effect.
I can't replicate the pop and it's not just from system sounds. It pops when I just open a browser or click on start, etc....things with no audio associated. We're concerned that the internal speaker is not shielded properly and that it can lead to long term issues. We'll be ordering hundreds of these laptops over the next couple of years.
I've never had this issue with any of the previous models from the 6400 to the 6430S. Any idea what could be the culprit?
Chris Dubay
University of Texas System Administration
Information Services Specialist
JBsfarm
2 Posts
1
July 30th, 2014 08:00
ISSUE RESOLVED!
Dell released a new audio driver for the E6440 on 6.xx.14, uninstall the old audio driver in device manager. then install new driver. Reboot!
Dell replaced my Motherboard and speakers and it didn't do anything.
DELL-Arjun BV
78 Posts
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April 22nd, 2014 05:00
Hi Chris,
The symptoms show that there could be a possible setting concern where pop sound could be enabled to applications in windows. However, to verify that I suggest you to reduce the volume to zero and try opening the applications which were giving you pop ups and check the same.
If there is no pop up sound kindly check the application settings and see if there is a pop up sound enabled. Please check the settings and see if it helps.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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April 22nd, 2014 06:00
So it does not come through the headphones? That does seem like a hardware issue, but you could try using the native Windows audio driver (if you still get the pops that rules out a driver issue) and look at our Choppy/Skipping Audio FAQ. The faq has all of the solutions that other owners have found for noise issues, but like you indicated the recent Latitude models have not had much of a problem.
I would contact tech support about having the speakers replaced before ordering anymore units. There might have been a bad batch that got installed in your units. If that does not fix the problem and tech support cannot help any further, I would look at other models. In the past we owners have noticed that on most Dell laptops with noise problems, the owners end up owning the problem.
dubaycr
5 Posts
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April 22nd, 2014 08:00
It's not a system sound. It's not like a bubble pop, it's a static crackle that only happens on occasion, it can't be easily reproduced. That's what leaves me to believe that it's a speaker shielding issue...and the fact that it happens on 3 out of 3 6440's, but has never been an issue with hundreds of 6400, 6410, 6420, 6430, 6430S models.
dubaycr
5 Posts
0
April 22nd, 2014 08:00
So it does not come through the headphones? That does seem like a hardware issue, but you could try using the native Windows audio driver (if you still get the pops that rules out a driver issue) and look at our Choppy/Skipping Audio FAQ. The faq has all of the solutions that other owners have found for noise issues, but like you indicated the recent Latitude models have not had much of a problem.
I would contact tech support about having the speakers replaced before ordering anymore units. There might have been a bad batch that got installed in your units. If that does not fix the problem and tech support cannot help any further, I would look at other models. In the past we owners have noticed that on most Dell laptops with noise problems, the owners end up owning the problem.
[/quote]
I'll try the native driver today. It only happens on the internal speaker, not headphones or speaker bar. I wanted to wait to contact support since I can't easily replicate the issue and that's going to be the first thing they are going to want.
dallascowboyswo
2.4K Posts
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April 24th, 2014 09:00
Go to Control Panel, Device Manager. Click on sound and the adapter. Click on Details of the adapter and select the hardware ids Post the hardware ids here to see if we can find another driver. Do this for each sound adapter. What OS are you running?
DELL-Arjun BV
78 Posts
0
April 24th, 2014 09:00
Hi Dubaycr,
Kindly try the same steps recommended and use just native drivers and check the same which will allow us identify if it is a driver conflict or the speakers themselves. Observe it and let us know if the issue returns so we can check further.
IBI_CSD
3 Posts
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April 24th, 2014 11:00
Jim Coates
4 Operator
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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April 24th, 2014 14:00
Were the symptoms the same as those described by Chris Dubay? Or different, possibly due to an unrelated issue?
If would be helpful to know if the random pops described by Chris Dubay are widespread within this model line.
mkeeferIT
1 Message
0
May 6th, 2014 11:00
I have experienced the exact same issue. A sporadic periodic pop that is a crackly pop not just a pop. It happens at random and cannot be easily reproduced. I've tried different drivers to no avail. I have to start making a big push of this model laptop in our environment and it sure would be nice to know what to do to fix it. It seems more than a batch issue to me.
dubaycr
5 Posts
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May 6th, 2014 11:00
I've imaged about 10 of these now and they all have that same speaker crackle. I've tried multiple drivers to no avail. It's only the on-board speaker. External speakers or earbuds/headphones don't pop.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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May 6th, 2014 14:00
Has anyone had the speakers replaced yet?
dubaycr
5 Posts
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May 6th, 2014 14:00
Nope. We are on a tight deadline with getting these out to users, so I haven't bothered. Once I get one in hand that I don't have a rush on, i'll call Dell and see if they can send a replacement.
Onairek
1 Message
0
May 21st, 2014 10:00
How to recreate in win 7...
Start (menu) > Control Panel > Sound > Sounds (tab)
Select "Asterisk"
Click ">Test" button about once every 4 seconds (if you are too fast the pop will not happen)
You should hear the pop at the start of the sound about 1 out of 4 tries.
allianztech
1 Message
0
May 29th, 2014 09:00
We just got our first shipment of 30 E6440's, and are having this same issue. I was setting one up for myself and it drives me nuts.
Our current image is using Microsoft High Definition Audio Device driver.