Issues with Dell Studio XPS 16 IDT HD Audio

Hello all, I purchased an XPS 16 mid-July

Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (3MB cache/2.4GHz/1066Mhz FSB)
Obsidian Black with Leather Accent
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz (2 Dimms)
Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16" WLED LCD 720p (1366x768) w/ 2.0 MP camera
ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 - 512MB
320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bit (with free Windows 7 upgrade by October 2009)
8X DVD+/- RW (DVD/CD read/write) Slot Load Drive
Intel 5100 WLAN Wireless-N (1x2) Half Mini Card
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1+EDR)
HD audio

and I've noticed some issues with my audio.

in short, many system sounds (logon/logoff/skype/facebook) are accompanied by a brief static blip before and after the sound (like it's initatiated and ended), and this becomes a bigger problem when I'm watching a movie or listening to music: When a system sound comes on, it interrupts what I have on already, causing a hiccup or break, and then returning to my previous sounds/audio.

I recently took a look at my IDT HD audio program in Control Panel. I could disable the enhanced audio, but then when the system sounds come on again, the window "flashes" a bit, the sound interrupts again, and the enhanced sound automatically re-enables itself! I am pretty sure this is the root of the problem. I turned off IDT HD Audio in my startup/services, so now I'm running on regular sound, and the audio interruption/hiccup issues are gone.

Did anyone else here notice similar issues with their XPS 16 IDT HD audio? Thanks.

 

Yeah I get this also. Eventually this causes the IDT audio driver to crash. I've noticed that when I get an audio alert on Skype (which bypasses the Windows sound API) if I have any other audio playing at the time after the first few notifications the driver will crash. I've created a frankenstein driver using the most recent IDT driver I could find ( v10.0.6209) and it had the same problem.

Therefore it must be a setting in the config files which is causing the problem (W92HDM66.INI or WRT.INI or STWRT64.INF) as I've tried the latest custom driver by Pieter ( v6.10.6187.0) and the problem disappears. Problem is sound via the Windows sound API is very distorted and then on reboot the driver doesn't load, which I'm working on.

EDIT: Similar problem here and looks like it might be caused by Intel Matrix Storage Manager.

EDIT: I've switched to IDE mode and removed Intel MSM and the problem persists. Disabling the notification sounds in Skype seems to stop the driver from crashing but there is obviously something seriously wrong with the IDT driver running on Windows 7.

 

"I turned off IDT HD Audio in my startup/services, so now I'm running on regular sound, and the audio interruption/hiccup issues are gone."

- entrance002

Entrance002,

How do you disable IDT HD audio and just run on windows? How do I keep it from starting up?

I want to see if I can run my bluetooth headphone that way because IDT won't recognize them but windows does.

Thanks

 

Just uninstall the IDT driver from Add remove programs.

 

Hi there:
All I did was go to Start > Run > msconfig

Go to services, uncheck the one related to IDT audio
Go to startup, uncheck the one related to IDT audio

I didn't bother seeing which one or both are responsible for turning the IDT audio on, so I just have them both unchecked for now.

Now my sounds can overlap normally when other sounds come up like in Skype. Hope this helps.

 

The service named "Audio Service" which is what I assume you are referring to is purely jack monitoring, nothing more. The startup application is the system tray icon for quick access to the IDT control panel. Disabling them both will not disable the IDT driver. Not sure how you got sounds to overlap by disabling them??

EDIT: Or are you talking about the "Andrea ST Filters Service".

 

I can try selectively re-activating one of them, and see what results I get. As of right now, the "IDT HD Audio" in Control Panel is "inactive"--I open the application, the "enable" button is lit up green, but you can't unclick it anymore as before, so it appears on but it is actually off, so it's not functioning at the moment. The audio I get is fine and overlaps. I'll let you know what happens if I turn on the services/startups again.

 

Got it:

I turned on Audio Service and the interrupted audio (with the popping/crackling) is back again! Clearly something wrong with this here...anyone else having this problem with their XPS 1640? (i.e. if you use skype, play music, then login to skype and logout, it should happen when those sounds come up)

 

I always disable that service anyway as it's so badly written.

However it makes no difference to my audio pops and driver crashing on Win7.

What OS are you using?

 

oh i see.

i am using x64 Vista. I think you are right that it is related to the audiojacks because when I had this service on: I would use my headphones, but when a system sound like in Skype plays, it transmits the sound briefly onto the SPEAKERS during the hiccup, and the resumes back to the headphones. Bad hardware??? I'm still trying to get an opinion by other XPS 16 owners to see if they noticed such flaws. If there are few of us out there who have these issues, then maybe we can get this sound device fixed or replaced under warranty??? It really sux to be experiencing simple sound issues on a high-end laptop like the XPS 16. I wasn't expecting this.

 

I has this issue too.

Easy way to test is plug speakers into one of the audio jacks. Click on the volume icon and just click on the slider to make a windows sound. And you hear a blip.

It only does it the 1st time; the following clicks afterward are normal.
After a while, try again and problem is back.

 

**Static/pop/blip issue FIXED**

I did a search and found out that HP also had this issue as they use IDT too for their audio.

I uninstalled the IDT program as stated in that post.

Laptop will have no sound. After that, reboot.

Load back into Windows and windows will automatically find a HD Audio driver and install it. After that, problem will be fixed.

 

yes.. but after that.. you can't manage the different volume for the 2 audio jack..

i've tried to use the modded driver that are here: http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/23790-sigmatel-idt-modded-drivers-for-win-7-and-vista/

But nothing change.. tried only the latest 6187 build..

Anyone wanna try??

The file ini need to be modded to support the external jack for headphone and mic..

Follow this topica anyway..

 

I had the same issue.
However, I turned that service off as well. And it seems fixed now.

 

Yeah I've tried that modded driver too and it had the same problem. Disabling either of the IDT related services didn't work either. It's damn annoying.

 

for me the problem is that now (also with a fresh windows 7 installation..) when installing the idt driver (downloaded from dell site for windows 7).. after a moment, a window allert me that the softwar driver is not made for the hardware that i've in the note!!!! WHAAAAT???

what do you say me??

I need to use the speaker, the headphone (also both..) and mic..

heeeelppp

 

I have an HP HDX 16t which is pretty equivalent to the Dell XPS 1640 and I'm experiencing the same exact issue with the IDT software. I have tried disabling it from the services. Now I'm gonna unitall IDT completely and just use vista HD drivers.

 

hey everyone, thanks for the input.

I managed to find a solution to this, which is simply uninstalling IDT Audio altogether (uninstall application/software), reboot after. After Windows/Desktop loads again, it will soon detect uninstalled driver, and it'll do a default install of the sound driver (not IDT). This gives me regular audio without all of those issues (I don't care too much for the IDT HD features). I'm so glad I was able to get this issue resolved without resorting to hardware repair or whatnot.

My friend ordered his XPS 16 recently, reported same issue with his IDT HD Audio, and recommended this simple fix for me. =)

Looks like IDT has some work to do.

 

Having the same issue here on three identical build Dell 1640s. First I thought something went wrong with my install of Windows 7 x64 because it was the first time I installed it from USB, but after reinstalling I noticed it was that damn IDT HD Audio driver .
I just use the driver Windows 7 installs automatically now, but would rather have a decent IDT HD Audio driver

 

But without IDT HD driver can you use the 5.1 channel output?

 

yeah that's pretty ty people have to uninstall their sound software to get the sound working properly. Are all features available with just base Vista drivers?

 

lol, good question, haven't tried that...

 

No you lose 5.1 analogue output, all the SRS effects which are great for gaming when using headphones, mic noise cancellation etc etc.

Simply uninstalling the IDT drivers is NOT a solution for a lot of people.

 

IaTa, have you come across a solution yet? Seems like we both are on Windows 7 and the same problem. Please let us know, thanks!

 

loha what problems are you having with the driver?

 

Well its working better than it was before. It is still a bit buggy with Skype.

 

Hi, I got my XPS 16 day before yesterday and it's having the same problem. I skyped my parents and when I tried to adjust to volume, the delay of changing came and then suddenly my whole windows hung, forcing me to reboot ! (my first windows crash =( ) So anyone found a solution for this ? I don't really want to uninstall the driver as it will deter the quality of the sound right =(

 

To answer your last question: All you really lose is the 5.1 audio capability if you uninstall the IDT driver and let Win do a default detect/install of a driver for you. (You also don't get those "SRS" enhancements, but I don't really care for those). I can't say the sound is any worse. It's just as clean. I listen to a lot of electronica music so it really tests the bass and treble, and it's crystal clean right now without those IDT drivers. Skype works fine.

 

Or just disable audio notifications in Skype and it works fine.

 

On my XPS 16 (when using the IDT drivers) the sound likes to crash... anything that loads sounds will crash.. volume control won't work, etc. Generic Windows 7 drivers work fine (rolling back the driver). This happened with Vista as well IIRC.

Is there another version of the IDT drivers that will not do this? I get somewhat better battery life with the IDT drivers because of the power management ability.

 

Yes the latest version (A15) fix those problems.

 

Pretty sure I'm using that one...

 

My audio skips and , that's cool. What I don't like is the way SRS Premium makes the audio sound. I disable it on the IDT control panel, but after reboot it's re-enabled. Is there a registry switch or something to target this specific feature only? I have Sound Blaster X-Fi MB btw, out of that I like to use the Crystalizer only.

 

A solution has been found. If you want to disable SRS Premium sound effects, change the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IDT\Apo\LFX\Speaker1\plugins\SRS and D-WORD string "load" to 0. Viola!

 

yea, I remember having the re-enabled problem, too, back when I had IDT installed. I'll try the new bios fix sometime. right now, I'm doing fine w/o IDT driver and using standard audio =)

 

what new bios fix??? A11 it's right??

 

hmm iaTa said A15 did the bios fix, but I looked afterwards and didn't see A15 on the website?

 

IDT audio drivers I was talking about.

 

Guys did you managed to resolved the problem.
I bought studio xps 1645 yesterday. I am facing the same driver problem. after restarting my laptop the problem again appers.

 

The solution for me to those annoying 'blips' (which seem to come out of the computer speakers even when I'm using headphones) was to write a service which played a silent sound file (set to loop). No more blips for me

(I would give the file to you, but I can't seem to find a way to install the service on a computer which doesn't have a variety of Visual Studio installed on it)

 

I disabled the IDT audio service and did that registry tweak. No pops, clicks, crackling or skips. I did not uninstall the IDT driver so I could keep that functionality. Works great!

use this. It works "A solution has been found. If you want to disable SRS Premium sound effects, change the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IDT\Apo\LFX\Speaker1\plugins\SRS and D-WORD string "load" to 0. Viola!"

 

omg, just another ty thing adding up to the range of probs im having with my sxps16!!!
Is there no working idt driver up to now which doesnt cause this crappastic hickup issue?

thnx in advance for any hints ;D

 

Disabling part of my sound card's functionality is not an option I'm willing to settle for. Is there some sort of device conflict or otherwise that may be causing this?

 

You are only disabling a poorly written autojack detect function which is the cause of most of the problems. All it does it detect what you plug in and automatically adjusts to whatever kind of device it is, rather then you telling it what kind of device it is. Big deal.

 

tenknics the reg fix you quoted disables SRS audio effects though which is what Hepatic is talking about.

 

Sorry I got the 2 mixed up. The SRS fx are crap anyway. The point remains the same. Its not a feature of the soundcard but yet the software the runs it.

 

I personally like the SRS fx. I mean compared to the default, don't you find them to produce a much more robust sound?

 

Yes I do too loha especially the headphone virtual surround sound which is excellent.

 

Yea its awesome with a good set of headphones, which is the latest driver you have?

 

I use v10.0.6255 from here.

That's the latest driver I can find which officially supports our IDT configuration.