News
Exclusive: iPod 4G Audio Problems?
In extended testing of Apple’s new fourth-generation iPods, iLounge has discovered and reported to Apple an apparent manufacturing defect affecting the headphone jacks of certain new iPod hardware. The defect manifests as audible static and noise interference in the earphones that is most prominent whenever a new iPod’s hard disk is accessed. Similar interference was not detectable through line out (Dock Connector) output.
Users of affected iPods will be able to hear a hard disk-like whirring sound in their earphones, coupled with several seconds of light static at the start of a song that has just been loaded. This should not be confused with the quiet hard disk loading sounds that an iPod makes, which sounds are not audible through earphones, or with normal static-like compression artifacts in your audio.
To test your iPod while eliminating the possibility that static from your music or headphones may be responsible, use iTunes to encode several three- to five-minute compact disc tracks using Apple’s Lossless Audio encoder, transfer them to your iPod, then connect the earbuds packaged with your new iPod. Find the directory or create a playlist with only the Lossless tracks, and skip back and forth between them. Hold your iPod at a distance or cover it up so that you can’t hear its normal internal hard disk sounds. If your iPod has a problem, at the start of each loaded song, you should hear a loading pause, then a whirring sound and light static in your ears at a normal volume level. If it does not have a problem, the song should load and play without audio interference.
iLounge has confirmed that this interference does not affect all new iPod hardware. Of the three units we purchased for evaluation, both of the 40GB iPods exhibit the same problem, but the 20GB iPod does not. Unfortunately, some new iPod users have reported that the problem exists in their new 20GB iPods, as well. The units we know to be affected were manufactured in China, shipped from Shanghai, and ordered directly from Apple.
An Apple representative is currently looking into the report, and the company has had no further comment. Please report your findings using the Comments link below.
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101
Just got mine, 20GB Gen4 from Shanghai. No problems yet.
I wish I’d kept my Gen3, though. The buttons had a much nicer feel, and backlight was way better looking!
If you’re looking to get one, order a Gen3 cheap on Amazon or something, they all dropped their prices.
Posted by CcntMnky on July 27, 2004 at 4:04 PM (PDT)
102
I get static coupled with high pitched squealing, both are slight and occur for about a second during disk access when jumping between normal mp3s. Mine is a 4G 20gb made in China, ordered from Apple UK store on 2nd day of release. Can also hear various electrical squealings when scrolling through notes, again slight. Headphones I use are Sony MDR-70.
Posted by vittore on July 27, 2004 at 4:24 PM (PDT)
103
Just got my beautiful 40gb ipod today… shipped straight from Shanghai to Seattle via Fed ex… so far it plays like a dream! LOVE it! I haven’t so far noticed any static and hopefully I won’t in the future, the sound is the most important especially if your going to chuck $400 to carry it around...Huge music geek here and am happy with my purchase so far. I haven’t gotten into my car yet and that will be the ultimate test....
Posted by jeswoo on July 27, 2004 at 4:25 PM (PDT)
104
I ordered my 20GB the day the 4G was launched. It came from Shangai (with a 2 day delay though - shipped on 4th day). It is flawless!
Posted by Herge on July 27, 2004 at 4:47 PM (PDT)
105
Ipod 4G 20GB purchased in Singapore AppleCentre, made in China. Soft audible “whine” can be heard for a 1.5s duration when the Ipod spins the hard disk to load a song.
Posted by Albert on July 27, 2004 at 4:56 PM (PDT)
106
Received 40GB Gen4 today via FedEx. First iPod I’ve owned. I’ve been building a large collection in iTunes over the last year.
I ordered through Apple Store on net last Monday. I tracked it from Shanghai, through Alaska and now I’ve got it. It seemed to fully charge, plugged into my USB port (on my Dell laptop) within about 3 hours. I transferred about 2000 AAC and MP3 files from iTunes effortlessly. Its running great and while using Apples included earphones, I can hear no sounds other than music, even when I run it through the above mentioned tests. So far, so good. I was very worried, but now a pleased new iPod owner. Cheers!
Posted by KCooper on July 27, 2004 at 5:07 PM (PDT)
107
I have a 4G 20gb ipod and while I dont have this problem, one thing I do have that did not happen with my 3G ipod is when the battery dies or if I reset the iPod, my Clicker settings are set to default and I have to go in and turn it off.
Posted by Dan Barton on July 27, 2004 at 5:21 PM (PDT)
108
My 40 gig purchased today at the apple store has this problem-damn
Posted by mike on July 27, 2004 at 5:27 PM (PDT)
109
Cassette adapters are prone to picking up noise… they act like a big antenna, and the sound they can create when hit with the right frequency is not unlike the sound one used to hear years ago when there was interference from internal wiring on car stereos from other car electronics.
Someone with the problem should sample the sound (between the fade and start of two AAC songs, and post the sound here so we can judge for ourselves.
Posted by thumbtwiddler on July 27, 2004 at 5:34 PM (PDT)
110
I have a new IPOD 20GIG and have this ‘problem’. This is my first MP3 player and thought is was normal. Glad it’s not.
Posted by Jim Pennington in St. Petersburg, Fl. on July 27, 2004 at 5:46 PM (PDT)
111
I have a 4G 40GB ipod and no problems when played with supplied apple headphones or the e3c but when I play the ipod in my car through the itrip the whine at the start of a track is loud!
Posted by Ian on July 27, 2004 at 5:47 PM (PDT)
112
Hi everybody,
I’m from canada and we are not presently able to get some music on Itune now. Could somebody can tell my where I can get the Lossless track to test my new 40g buy on Apple store, made in chine and ship from shanghai.
Thaks
Posted by Hugo Bergeron on July 27, 2004 at 5:52 PM (PDT)
113
You can make your own lossless track using iTunes, converting from a CD (see preferences).
But you do not need to do this, or actually use any large file, to hear the hard disk spin… merely skip songs until the memory buffer has to spin up the disk to find another song. (you can usually feel this, or physically hear it, even with the best ipods, in a quiet room, if you are listening for it.
Posted by thumbtwiddler on July 27, 2004 at 6:25 PM (PDT)
114
I bought 20GB from Apple Store. No issues… hope for those who have them they get resolved quick.
Posted by happywakko on July 27, 2004 at 6:27 PM (PDT)
115
I’m still waiting…
For those of you have had the problem, what has apple’s response been when you’ve contacted them?
Posted by Essdee on July 27, 2004 at 6:44 PM (PDT)
116
ok, i just got my ipod today and i haven’t been this excited in a long time (been single for over a year, if it makes a difference.) so, i fire it up. i love it. greatest thing i’ve ever bought. i’m listening to it right now, and i’ve gone through several songs and haven’t had any static. however, all of my songs are either 128/192 aac or mp3’s. i haven’t recorded in apple’s lossless. so, no static from me, but i haven’t followed the trend like the rest of you. i did have mine shipped from shanghai (engraving?) and bought it right off apple.com w/ the app as well. i have no troubles, and i’m very happy. hope this helps someway!
Posted by Cam on July 27, 2004 at 7:13 PM (PDT)
117
The static - whirring sound occurs with regular AACs and MP3s -
Posted by Johnny on July 27, 2004 at 7:18 PM (PDT)
118
4G problems in Nagoya Japan
I received my new 4G two days ago and I had so many problems with it. First, when using the USB port, it would completely freeze my machine. I tried all different USB ports and was not successful. All my other peripherals work fine in my USB ports. So I rushed out and scored a new Firewire card and installed it.
I had charged the iPod to full capacity before attempting any of this. I then plug it in to the Firewire card and go through the set up and updater software. I chose to manually sync my songs. I chose one cd to sync, it goes through the sync process, and then BAM! Crash. The iPod just freezes. Then the icon disappears from iTunes.
So I go over to Apple.com to see what to do and I follow the instructions. I continually tried to reset the machine, but no go. It just will not reset. So I let the battery drain all night and go through the whole process in the morning. Same exact thing. Man I was so disappointed. This thing came from Apple? People expect windows and pc’s to behave this way. But not Apple. My expectations for Apple are much higher. The whole experience was so frustrating and disapointing.
The next day I went back to the Mac store and explained what happened. The guys at the store couldn’t get it to reset either. So they ordered me a new one, which will take another 2 weeks to get. I’ve been an Apple fan for a long time, my first machine was an Apple IIe, so I’m giving them 1 more chance. If the next one gives me any hassle at all I will return it and I will seriously have to reconsider the Powerbook purchase I was thinking about.
Bill B
Nagoya Japan
Posted by Bill B Nagoya Japan on July 27, 2004 at 7:48 PM (PDT)
119
Yup...followed the instructions to reproduce on my brand 4G 40gig purchased from an Apple retail store. It exhibits noise (other than the whirring described) when loading lossless, but seemingly not when loading AAC 128 files. (It also makes noise whenever accessing the hard disk heavily, such as when rebooting, etc.)
Posted by What's the frequency, Kenneth? on July 27, 2004 at 9:16 PM (PDT)
120
Got my 40 GB 4G iPod yesterday.. tested it and all is good.. I am Happy camper…
As with all things, nothing can be perfect all the time… I am sure Apple did not intend for this to happen. An iPod uses so many parts from different manufacturers, not to mention the assembly process… some goofs are bound to occur. Cut Apple a little bit of slack… they will fix legitimate problems… I am confident of that. Thanks Apple for an awesome music player. :o)
Posted by C. Perez in Denver, CO on July 27, 2004 at 9:30 PM (PDT)
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