iPod mini sound distortion issue

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iPod mini sound distortion issue

Many forum members have been reporting that their iPod mini is creating audio distortion when used. One such member claims to have discovered a major ‘design flaw’ in the iPod mini, which results in sound distortion when placing pressure anywhere on its surface or headphone port. The source of the noise may be a weak connection between the headphone port and the main circuit board.

“My iPod mini after two weeks of gentle use started to make horrible static noises; sometimes sound will disappear completely. Then the sound will return to normal, but any pressure as small as thumb pressure anywhere on iPod mini will make sounds to come back. Resetting iPod did not help. Guided by the detailed ‘iPod mini Autopsy’ posted here on iPodLounge, I disassembled by iPod rather easily. To check the reason of these noises, I started to play the iPod and disconnected the wheel, then the hard drive, but iPod was still playing (out of 25 min flash memory) and still making noises. Eventually, I narrowed the problem to a small little part that contains headphone and remote jack and metallic part in the shape of the white plastic top.”

“This small part attaches to main iPod board ONLY via small black connector that sits on on the main board. WHAT AN OVERSIGHT on Apple�s ENGINEER"S PART!!!
Their mistake is OBVIOUS. The small part with the headphone jack attaches via screews to the aluminium case, but does NOT screw to the MAIN board. Because of this any pressure on iPod case, dock connector, or simply plugging in and out headphones, creates TENSION between the small part and the MAIN board.

Since only the black connector sits between these two parts, it quickly wears out.
What is even worse is that the black connector is attached to the main board via ten very fragile copper pins that stick out of the main board (sorry for not using proper electronics terminology). With regular use, contacts get loose and slightest pressure on iPod creates nasty squeaky static type noises killing all the joy iPod brings.

I am sure this problem will surge in time. Future iPod minis need to have the part with headphone jack screwed to the main board (not just to the case like it is on current MINIs) OR to use FLEXIBLE cable. To rely on ten tiny fragile pins is just plain irresponsible.

If you have the same problem, I do NOT advise you to take apart iPod. The copper needles that stick out of the main board are very very brittle and once broken will require replacing the entire board.

Irakli Loladze”

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Comments

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Posted by kinenPAPIKO on May 10, 2004 at 5:59 PM (PDT)

82

This audio/headphone problem just started on my mini ipod.. I’m pissed… never had any problems with my 3rd gen

they better fix this before they release these overseas.. is this the reason for delay?

Posted by Matt on May 11, 2004 at 12:43 PM (PDT)

83

My mini iPOD developed the scratching/ distortion problem after one month of use. I am sending it in for warranty repair/ replacement. Does anyone know what Apple is doing to remedy the problem for returned units? Are they simply replacing them with another unit that will develop the exact same problem in another month, or have they actually corrected the design flaw (if there is one?)

Posted by Jon on May 12, 2004 at 5:22 AM (PDT)

84

you are all a bunch of idiots i have had my i pod for a year now and nothing is wring with it so plz stop complaining its a fault with some of you and if you no hgow to dissassemble it so y not to try to fix it haaa ?

Posted by dirty-devil on May 13, 2004 at 10:15 AM (PDT)

85

or may b it just a faulty song cause i as listening to cry me a river and it ahppend to me and all the other songs are perfectly ok so check it out

Posted by dirty-devil on May 14, 2004 at 8:15 AM (PDT)

86

Man and I wanted one tooo….

Posted by anon on May 15, 2004 at 11:21 AM (PDT)

87

has anyone here tried to buy a mini rom appleimports.co.uk? I used them and i still havent got it, that was about 7 weeks ago, they sent me an email saying it was delayed and would be sent ‘soon’ but nothing else has happened so far.. anyone know if its a scam website or is it a genuine excuse?

Posted by WHERE IS IT!!! on May 20, 2004 at 11:38 AM (PDT)

88

I have a second generation iPod, 20GB and experience the same issue. So I am not sure if it is a new problem. I notice this when using MDR-V6 headphones (with metalic mini-jack connector). When light pressure applied, strong electrical interference results. Interestingly though, the older the iPod gets, the less likely this is to occur.

Posted by xenon221 on May 20, 2004 at 1:18 PM (PDT)

89

ah, crap. i just paid $300 for my green ipod mini on eBay (literally, i bought it like 2 hours ago). so basically, i’m probably gonna get one that’s messed up, and when i want to go get a new one at the apple store, i’m gonna have to wait, just like everyone else, cuz they’re sold out. so i should’ve just waited in the first place and saved my $50 and stuck with my current ipod (10gb) instead of auctioning it on ebay for money for the mini. damn, damn, damn, damn, damn.

Posted by chuck on May 20, 2004 at 4:05 PM (PDT)

90

i owned my mini for almost 2 months. i seldom used it, but still loved it. until one day, i hear some sound distortion, bah…...... however, just for some songs at some random time. i can only hear the sound distortion like 5% of the total time i spend on my mini. should i go exchange?

Posted by jimmy on May 21, 2004 at 9:17 PM (PDT)

91

My parents just ordered an ipod mini for my birthday. Its not here yet, but after reading some of theses issues i began to get worried. Will I have these problems? Should I tell my parents to send it back?

Posted by long time mac on May 22, 2004 at 5:49 AM (PDT)

92

Are they going to try to fix the problems? Ihave wanted one for a while now and I don’twant to waste my money if they are not going to try to do anything about it.

Posted by mini lover on May 22, 2004 at 11:03 AM (PDT)

93

Koitsu, aren’t you slightly over-reacting here?

The vast majority of apple products do not exhibit engineering faults. Some do, and that’s a shame but It’s only been a handful of products out of the hundreds they’ve introduced since they started.

Your glad you sold your iMac? You’ll probably be kicking yourself when whatever you get to replace it gets filled with junk spy-ware and viruses. iMacs are one of the more reliable of Apple’s Products and if you had kept it it probably would have lasted you several years of heavy use!

Posted by Will on May 23, 2004 at 7:12 AM (PDT)

94

alright i go this sound problem today a couple hours ago and its bad but….whenever i put my mini in the dock its complely fine. This is weird, as soon as i take my mini out of the dock it starts up agian..whats going on?

Posted by d00d on May 25, 2004 at 8:27 PM (PDT)

95

Yes My one broke, got replaced and then that broke, this I find very annoying, particularly because I live in England and need an American mailing address, which I dont have and am therefore very annoyed

Posted by vERY aNNOYED iPOD MINI OWNER on May 26, 2004 at 6:23 AM (PDT)

96

Posted by vERY aNNOYED iPOD MINI OWNER on May 26, 2004 at 6:23 AM (PDT)

97

Hey! I used appleimports.co.uk too. Everyone who used them has this problem. DO NOT BUY FROM APPLE IMPORTS! JUST DON’T!! I am now outside my 30 day Paypal warranty and I dont know what to do! *sniff sniff* Help, anyone?

Posted by Lindsay on May 27, 2004 at 3:58 AM (PDT)

98

dang, i am not really sure i should pluck down 250 for an ipod, too much risks :( maybe ill get the 15gb with warranty extended from best buy, in reality its not that much bigger

Posted by madboy on May 29, 2004 at 5:33 PM (PDT)

99

Doh. I just bought a iPod mini, then my friend linked me to this site. I really like the thing right now, but this looks like a problem that I won’t be able to avoid in the future. If this happens to me, can I send it in to Apple to get a permanent fix for it or will it forever be doomed to break like this?

Posted by koneks on May 29, 2004 at 10:15 PM (PDT)

100

Is there any evidence as to whether or not Apple is fixing this; are the delays due to them fixing this or not?

Posted by ddpp on May 30, 2004 at 9:43 AM (PDT)

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