Zune 30 Audio Trouble

My zune 30 sounds like the vocals are using an echo or reverb fx through ear buds - it is VERY annoying.  It sounds fine when the zune is hooked to my stereo (??!!). 

I have tried all file types and bit rates has no effect.  

I have tried 7 different ear pieces ranging from $9 - $100.

I have loaded the new firmware twice.  

I have reset the machine dozens if times. 

I have tried various eq settings with the same results.

The radio sounds GREAT with all earbuds (??!!).

THe video sounds TERRIBLE - like the music.

If it is insturmental it sounds good - that makes me think it is a DSP issue.  

In all cases it sounds great through the stereo - that makes my think it is an output impedance issue (I find that hard to believe especially when the radio sounds fine.)

OK - suggestions???

Mike 

I think Minh had this problem, try putting his name in the subject see if he solved it?

Rossj wrote:

I think Minh had this problem, try putting his name in the subject see if he solved it?

How do you go back to 1.4?  After I do a hard reset (to wipe it) the zune software pops up and installs 2.3.  I don't get a choice

thanks

bjklabs wrote:



How do you go back to 1.4?  After I do a hard reset (to wipe it) the zune software pops up and installs 2.3.  I don't get a choice

thanks

THanks...... 2 crappy zunes for sale.....Mike

Minh wrote:



bjklabs wrote:  How do you go back to 1.4?  After I do a hard reset (to wipe it) the zune software pops up and installs 2.3.  I don't get a choice thanks

It's rather technical, but here are the instructions. I was able to downgrade to 1.4, but it didn't fix my audio problem.

And here is my original thread. No solution though. Anyone want to buy a crappy Zune?

The weird thing is when I pipe the Zune output to the sound card's line-in, everything sounds perfectly. I think it may have something to do w/ the Zune's headphone detection do-hicky. An unnecessary point of failure, MS?

bjklabs wrote:

My zune 30 sounds like the vocals are using an echo or reverb fx through ear buds - it is VERY annoying.  It sounds fine when the zune is hooked to my stereo (??!!). 

I have tried all file types and bit rates has no effect.  

I have tried 7 different ear pieces ranging from $9 - $100.

I have loaded the new firmware twice.  

I have reset the machine dozens if times. 

I have tried various eq settings with the same results.

The radio sounds GREAT with all earbuds (??!!).

THe video sounds TERRIBLE - like the music.

If it is insturmental it sounds good - that makes me think it is a DSP issue.  

In all cases it sounds great through the stereo - that makes my think it is an output impedance issue (I find that hard to believe especially when the radio sounds fine.)

OK - suggestions???

Mike 

Vasudev wrote:


Are you still getting Eq settings for your Zune 30 even after upgrade ?

Lloyd_Humph wrote:

And how much you selling it for? If I could get it to work I'd bet you'd be annoyed

I'm just asking you an eventually stupid question out of nowhere.
Might it be, your Plug for your earphones is somehow not as well conducting as it should? Even if it's just one of the channels?

Dodo wrote:

I'm just asking you an eventually stupid question out of nowhere.
Might it be, your Plug for your earphones is somehow not as well conducting as it should? Even if it's just one of the channels?

Minh wrote:



Dodo wrote: I'm just asking you an eventually stupid question out of nowhere. Might it be, your Plug for your earphones is somehow not as well conducting as it should? Even if it's just one of the channels?

Now, I don't think it's the earphones at all, because the FM radio works perfectly. So it's entirely the MP3 chips. I guess Zune just can't play MP3s.

CannotResolveSymbol wrote:



What bitrate and sample rate are your MP3's encoded at?  Maybe you've accidentally encoded them at some nonstandard bitrate or sample rate.

I've had the exact same problem with my daughter's Zune 30; right down to "it's fine connected to a stereo [yes, even from the mini-plug]".  It is about 1 yr. old now and developed this problem about 3 months ago.

After puzzling over this and examining the unit, I've found that the mini-plug jack on her unit appears to be just a bit out-of-round and not quite flush-mounted with the case.  The jack sits just a little counter-sunk toward the back of the unit.

To this end, I plugged the earbuds in and started applying thumb pressure at the top of the molded plug housing, from the back forward, and VOILA!, I get full sound from the earbuds.

All I can see in that direction (inside the jack, toward the back of the unit) is one contact, placed rather high for a mini-plug.  I would venture to guess that this has something to do with how they detect the difference between earbuds and, say, feeding a stereo input.  I'm not sure what the exact mechanism is (impedance matching, voltage feedback?) but as long as pressure is applied in that direction, the earbuds work fine.

Until we can get back to the retailer, a rubber-band, while not too attractive (and much to my daughter's chagrin), has proven a very effective temporary fix.