I recently connected my laptop (HP Pavilion) to my Vizio Plasma TV.
I get a great picture but I am experiencing backround or static noise when listening to the sound thru the TV or thru the surround system.
I have tried several different cables (just in case I had a bad cable) I have used contact cleaner on my laptop to insure the outlets are clean.
I have tried turning down the sound on the computer and up on the tv and visa / versa with no luck.
The static sound is noticiable when watching movies, as well as when I just have my desk top showing on the tv with no video playing.
Does anyone have any ideas? Radio Shack did say they sell a noise reducer that may help.
Thanks Dennis.
Dennis,
What connections are you using?
Dan
I use the mini plugs that I purchased at Best Buy. I've also tried using a conversion plug and going thru my surround sound system. This amplifies the backround/static while watching a movie.
I also took the laptop to my other tv using both the mini sound connection and the VGA for the picture.
While you are able to watch the movie, it just is annoying to hear the backround sound. Kinda like a bad phone connection in the backround.
I suppose it is possible that the sound card on my laptop is the problem and I may have to have that checked???
Does Windows offer any kind of download to improve sound??? Thanks Dan... Dennis.
That certainly is possible. Integrated audio in laptops isn't known for being super high quality. My first suggestion though would be to plug in a set of headphones and see if the static remains. If so, there's a good chance it's something with the audio chipset... or a physical problem with the laptop. If not, we may need to dig deeper.
There are (of course) a few other things to check:
1. Check your website manufacturer for the latest audio drivers for your laptop. If there are newer drivers available, download and install them.
2. Check your mixer settings and make sure the laptop microphone is muted and all other mixer settings are in normal ranges.
3. Playback a DVD through your sound system and listen for the static. Wiggle the cable in the jack (gently) and see if that reduces/increases the static.
4. Try a different DVD player application. Also, try and just play an MP3 file using another program to determine if the problem is limited only to DVD playback.
If you still have trouble in the end, buy (or better yet, see if someone you know has one of these you can borrow and test with) or try out a seperate audio card for your laptop. Creative makes a PCMCIA sound card called the Audigy 2 ZS, and an X-Fi version for newer ExpressCard laptops. Or, they also make a seperate USB sound device called the Live! 24-bit external. Any of those would byass the notebook's sound processor and give you better quality connections. You can see them by clicking here
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