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Audio jack makes clicking sound with headphones and external speakers

Anonymous
2014-08-29T17:33:27+00:00

Hello all, 

As described above, I'm having issues with my 5-day-old surface pro 3 - specifically with the audio jack.

Here's what happens: I plug in my headphones/audio cable from my speakers into the audio jack ready to start listening to something (spotify, youtube, podcast, etc). If I wait too long however, leaving my computer idle such that no sound is coming from the pro 3, this sudden low frequency ticking sound starts up and continues at a pace similar to the range of metronome (meaning it varies). 

The funky thing is that if I change the volume, it temporarily stops (for like 3-4 sec). Also, playing music will halt the clicking sound for the duration of the song and stay quiet for a good 10-20 sec after the song ends. 

I have tried to test whether it was my sp3 or the external speakers by also testing my headphones. It is the audio jack on my pro 3. I should also note that I updated the firmware and software, and still this problems persists. 

I think it could be something wrong with the audio jack hardware component. The audio jack is really snug. I have to really force in all headphone and speaker inputs.

Has anyone run into this problem before?

Surface | Surface Pro | Sound and camera

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Anonymous
2014-08-31T00:58:17+00:00

Hi ryanmp1992,

Thank you for visiting and posting in the Microsoft Community! We appreciate your contribution in our forums! I can see that you are having problems with the audio jack on your Surface Pro 3 while you are using headphones or speakers. I can certainly see how this can be worrisome taking into consideration you have had the Surface for only 5 days. Please know I will do my best to assist and guide you in the right direction!

In this case, just as you mention in your post, this issue is, most likely, related to a hardware problem with the audio jack. Nevertheless, please try the following troubleshooting steps in order to make sure we have exhausted all options before contacting Support:

  • Make sure you have all and latest Windows updates installed. Please manually check for updates and install all that are available:
  • **Desktop> Swipe for Charms> Settings>Control panel>Windows update> check for updates>install.**Restart between layers of updates, even if not prompted to. Restart twice after the last update installs.
  • Additionally, try holding down the "Volume UP" and the "Power Button" at the same time for about 15 to 20 seconds.  It should do a reboot and if no activity, release and 'click' the power button one time.
  • As a last step, please try Refreshing/Resetting your device. Below you will find the support article with details instructions on how to do this:
  • Restore, refresh, or reset Surface Pro

If the issue persists after performing the previous steps please reach out to our Technical Support Team. Depending on what is most convenient for you, you can:

  1. Open a service request yourself, using our **Online Service Center**
  2. Contact our Technical Support team**here**

We hope this information is useful. Please keep us posted!

We are here to help!

Best Wishes,

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-30T01:20:32+00:00

    Guys,

    I believe I found a work around for this. If it is the same click sound I'm experiencing in my speakers as well. If the click sound happen usually as soon you hear a sound thru the speaker and you hear the click sound again 2 second after if stop playing this method may work for you.  I only experience this at the sp3 speakers but not or at least i am not able to hear it if I use the head phones.

    The issue here is that windows or the driver is turning on and off the sound card as needed when needed. The solution is to keep the sound card of the surface on all the time.

    This solution may or may not work for you...but if it works for you please post back your results. Also this solution may fix in some instances the systems and systems interrupt consuming a lot of cpu resources.  If you plan to use the internal microphone of the surface for skype and other things you may need to revert this back.  Ok here it goes:

    1. Go to the desktop.
    2. Right click on the speaker icon right beside the clock.
    3. Select Recording Devices
    4. Click on microphone (Realteck High Definition Audio)..highlight that microphone.
    5. Click on properties.
    6. Then click on the "Listen" tab.
    7. Place a check mark where it says "Listen to this device"
    8. On the "playback through this device" select: "Default playback device"
    9. In power management select: "Continue running when on battery power"
    10. Now go to "Levels" tab. (these next steps are important if you don't do this you may hear feedback).
    11. Turn the microphone level way back to the lowest settings and also mute the microphone on the button beside the mute setting.
    12. Click "APPLY" and Ok
    13. Check if this fix the click issue....if not restart the surface and check if the clicking sound is gone.

    This settings shall keep the sound card up and running all the time.

    Check if this works for you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-19T22:03:58+00:00

    It worked for me....  Edit the Windows registry at your own risk!

    Check out this article from Microsoft:

    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff536193.aspx

    Based on the article, I drilled down to: \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class

    I searched for "Realtek", which brought me to:

    \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}   (***Your key will probably be different from this.  For example purposes only!***)

    Then I searched for "ConservationIdleTime", which found:

    \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0007\PowerSettings

    I changed all three Binary entries:

    ConservationIdleTime = 00 00 00 00

    PerformanceIdleTime = 00 00 00 00

    IdlePowerState = 00 00 00 00

    That seems to have fixed it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-09-06T14:04:17+00:00

    Hello ryanmp1992,

    I have also this issue. The noise sounded like Heartbeats. I can bear it no more after a few days. So what i have done is let my Surface pro 3 changed.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-09-03T09:32:45+00:00

    Hello,

    I have the same problem as described.

    After an update of the Realtek driver (to the latest version 2.75 (6.0.1.7246, 14/05/2014)), the popping disappeared. So i don't think it's an hardware problem.

    But after a reboot, the problem came back. A re-update of the driver solved the problem, until a reboot... And again and again...

    Some other people get this issue (other forums)

    Do you have any solution or information from Microsoft?

    Best regards

    Julien

    Paris, France

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