Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

Hello, I just purchased a nokia n800 and I'm very satisfied with this fine piece of craftsmanship . However, i noticed a hissing sound - not like the one described when listening to music as mentioned in a previous thread.

The hissing sound starts and stops EVERY TIME i click something on the device. If I open up the internet, the speakers will hiss very low for 4 secs, then stop. then i will click the URL window, and the same thing happens. then i will click something else, same thing. However, it only happens when the volume is on. When I turn the volume OFF, there is NO sound.

So my question is - is this normal, or should i return my n800? Thanks a lot.

-Jacob

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

anyone know?

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

definitely not normal.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

can you elaborate please? i just spent 230 bucks and i'm panicking now.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

It's normal. It's just the crappy system sounds. Nothing to worry about.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

thanks, but by the way, when a page is loading, the hissing sound can continue for 10 seconds or so until it loads....is that normal?


Why did that other guy say it's not normal? Do you know what I am experiencing? When I sit up straight and use it at my desk, even at full volume, i can barely hear it. I have put my face near the system to hear it. Are you 100% SURE it is normal? I really don't want to take a train to J&R and inspect their floor model....

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

you think it's normal? a 4 second hissing?

i don't think it's anything to panic over, but "crappy system sounds" or no - i don't have any hissing sounds...

what OS are you using? OS2008 or OS2007? have you tried to change themes? IIRC, the system sounds change with the theme...

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

idk, the one it came with - it just arrived an hour ago lol - but i don't know who's word to take, the general's or yours.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

It's subtle, so if you don't hear it, then your hearing isn't up to the task. It's there, it's normal (release-day N800 here, always had it).

Would I say it was if I wasn't? :)

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

you always had the subtle hissing? i mean the hissing where it would last for as long as a web page loading? example: if it took 15 seconds to load a page, would you hear the hissing for 15+ seconds?

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

@Nirvanium17: As far as I know, The hissing sound that is "normal" is caused by the software part of the sound system continuing to output sound right after the "screen tap" sound. Try it with headphones as well. If it plays in your headphones you know it's a software thing. :) Also, see if it goes away if you turn off screen tap sounds in the control panel.

@NSchively: plug in some headphones, turn up the sound to moderately loud, turn on screen taps in control panel, sit in a quiet room and tap the screen. Now tell me if you hear a very faint hissing...

Of course if I'm wrong about all this, then Nirvanium17 and I have the same problem...

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

Yes, it's a software issue.

I haven't had system sounds on for a little while, so I don't recall. It's too noisy in here detect hiss at anything much further than a few inches away from the screen.

But, again, hiss when playing system sounds is normal. You could just turn off the keypress/screentap sounds if you don't want to hear it anymore.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

So what you meant was the barely audible sound that is only detectable when you put your ear next to the speaker? Why didn't you say so? Then, yes, I think that is normal and as the good Dr. noted, likely a function of the sound files; I remember something similar on early sound files on my old windows pc's.

if it isn't noticeable under normal operation, don't worry about it. As my childhood dentist told me when I confessed my teeth felt loose when I bit my blanket and dangled from my top bunk bed, "Well, don't do that."

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

When I put my ear up to the speeaker while typing this - a true contortionist act - I can hear it all the while while typing, for about 4sec after I'm done. But as you noted, you can't hear it when you're sitting upright. I think it's a function of the software and not any big hardware problem.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

I believe it actually has to do with the sound output (gstreamer?) rather than the files themselves, but, basically, yeah.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

I think it's just noise produced by the amplifier. A few seconds after sound output stops, it seems to be turned off again. So, I don't think software can do much about it other than maybe turn of the amplifier sooner. But this could lead to other problems like clicking.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

In my experience it's normal, but I need to be using 'phones to hear it. I'm guessing the sound system powers up to play the sound then hangs around on power for a few secs more in case another sound is needed.

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

mine has had this "bug" the whole time Ive had it, its most annoying when using headphones, and is just about unnoticeable in some situations, Id hope it would get fixed someday...


bhang

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

I just got mine and I haven't had any hissing things, any sound playing though pauses when I click the internet, but fixes it self, no real hissing though

Re: Nokia N800 odd hissing sound
 

I think the sound is normal. You hear it when browsing the web and it's because of the WIFI radio that interfere with the physical drivers in your headphones and device speakers.

I don't know if you own a cell phone but when you are receiving phone calls and the phone is near speakers or a CRT monitor, the speakers tend to hiss and monitor image will become distorted. I think this phenomenon is caused by EM interference. It is the same idea for the N800.

-JC