new G4 iPod and E3C- noise coming from where?

[appar111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentsg The tape isolation fix doesn't work for everyone. I have had several 4G iPods and I've tested them each with Shure E5c's and Etymotic ER-4P's. Each had the hard drive whine problem to varying degrees. One iPod (my current) only does it on the left channel. I can pull the jacks out and I can isolate with tape, but neither has any impact on the hard drive noise. I have also gone as far as to hook the iPods up to a spectrum analyzer to visually examine the noise. It's easy to see/measure the problem in that manner. Enough people have suggested isolating the headphone jack metal from the iPod metal to give it merit. I believe there is more than 1 problem and it's getting all rolled up since it's all "noise". B

I'm assuming that with headphones such as the Etys that have a really high sensitivity, they will still pick up these noises, regardless of the tape mod. Just to be on the safe side, putting a piece of tape over the headphone jack and then using a pair of headphones to "punch" through it would be a good thing to do regardless, since with some headphones like Koss KSC-35, Portapro, etc. there is a static issue when the metal on the iPod touches the metal ring on the headphone plug.

 

[KellDammit]

if you look at a top of a 3g and a 4g side by side, there is basically no difference. if it's a case of the metal ring touching the metal case, then the 3g SHOULD also exhibit the problem (which i will readily state is NOT the case. i have both sitting right here in front of me).
any time i hear noise like that in any audio path, i immediately start chasing grounds. they're usually the culprit. since the ipod's guts are probably grounded to the case somewhere, this would explain why the metal on metal would aggrevates the problem, and the partial disconnect helps (but does not completely alleviate) the problem. either way, the point is, you should NEVER hear noise like that in your audio path.
also, many (if not all) people who have this problem also report hearing it on the line out side as well. no case metal to touch there...
it looks like i'm gonna have to play ipod roulette...and i'm NOT looking forward to it.

kell

 

[ptt]

I've tried my 4G with the Ety ER6i, Shure E3c, and Grado SR60. The plug on the ER6i is very skinny and doesn't have a broad metal base, there is no whine from these 'phones.

The whine shows up with the E3c, which has a broad metal base on its right-angle connector. If I back the plug out even 1/10 of 1mm (or as little as I can possibly move it- basically a wiggle), the noise goes away.

The Grados also have a flat metal base on the plug, but they don't have the noise unless I physically push the plug a bit past its natural state.

So from this I can conclude that on my 4G at least, it has to do with metal on the plug contacting the metal case. I can also say it varies based on the type of plug, and that even individual plugs of a certain type may or may not have the problem depending on whether there is contact.

For me it is not a big enough problem to go thru the return ordeal. I'm going to return the Shures anyway and the other two don't really have a problem. There are reports that others have the problem even with the apple buds, or with scotch tape, they should probably get replaced. But my feeling is that there is variability in headphones and plugs as well as in iPods.

Peter

 

[delenda est Sony]

come on folks, don't put scotch tape over your new $300 DAP as a patch for Apple's manufacturing problem!

take it back, play roulette, and torture Apple with the added cost of fixing their screwup until you get one that works. Otherwise Apple (who was allegedly supposed to be nicer and more competent than the mean old IBM clone companies) will just continue to deny the whole thing.

My own 4G 20 is fine, but it annoys me that SO many people have this problem, and are treated shabbily at Apple stores while the manufacturer continues to stonewall...

des

 

[PinchyCM]

my new hp/ipod 40gb has the same issue.

i dont konw if i want to go thru the hassle, it's very minor and only happens when u go all over the HD, or start it up

 

[KellDammit]

if i push the jacks in a little farther than they really want to go, i get nasty noise, but it's not restricted to hard disk spin/up, etc. it's pretty much constant random static. the remote has tip, 2 rings and sleeve, and i suspect this noise has to do with the extra ring or sleeve making contact (which in normal cans, it shouldn't). i get THAT noise on either the 3g or 4g. that is definitely not the one that's causing all the excitement.

pulling the cans out just a bit from the jack doesn't eliminate the hd noise for me. have you tried the line out?

i shipped my unit back to apple today for repair/replacement, for the principle of it. my 2g and 3g work(ed) just great, as do all of my other portables...i can deal with minor issues, and not sweat it. i just don't see this as a minor issue, nor one i choose to tolerate. compressed audio's bad enough as it is!

that being said, it's certainly not the end of the world, either...

kell

 

[kartoffel]

I don't think it's the fact that the outside of the plug touches the base. It's actually the length of the plug. I'm not opening my ipod to see why but I'm almost positive thats the problem. The tape effectiviely shortens the plug. That may be why it doesn't work for some: they need more/thicker tape. I just put a small piece of tape on my e3c's I don't even know it's there most of the time and it all still works fine.

One day I'll probably return the unit but I'll wait until the problem is fixed by apple. I don't see the sense in playing the roulette right now.

It doesn't have anything to do with the sensitivity of the headphones because my itrip does it and I can hear it over my bad car speakers.

Of course I may be wrong but I don't think so.

Jeff