Static sound coming from headphones on Windows 8 laptop

I just bought a Dell Inspiron 17 laptop with Windows 8.1. When I first plug my headphones into the audio jack it works and it's initially silent. However, after I finish playing any sound from any app through the headphones, a static sound constantly comes through them. It doesn't sound like the noise from a loose connection or anything. It sounds more like the sound of ocean waves. It lasts for about 30 seconds after having played any sound, and then it goes silent again. I've tested it with multiple headphones and I've also tested it with the speakers itself and it doesn't happen. It only does it when something is plugged into the audio jack.


The only clue I have is that when I had Windows 7, it used to recognize devices plugged into the audio jack as "headphones", but on this computer it lists it as "speakers." I'm not sure if this is just a Windows 8 thing or if it has something to do with the problem. I can still return the computer so I'm wondering if this is a malfunction or if it can be fixed through the OS.



Thanks.

The headphones not being identified as headphones is standard on many sound systems. Both my Win 7 and Win 8.1 systems do not identify headphones when plugged in.

Do you have different headphones you can try or can you try the headphones you have on a different PC? That will tell you if its the PC or the headphones. As it doesn't do it with the PC's speakers says its not a program causing it or some sound enhancement. Also with the headphones plugged in, wiggle the headphone plug to see if you hear any noise.

fireberd said:

The headphones not being identified as headphones is standard on many sound systems. Both my Win 7 and Win 8.1 systems do not identify headphones when plugged in.

Do you have different headphones you can try or can you try the headphones you have on a different PC? That will tell you if its the PC or the headphones. As it doesn't do it with the PC's speakers says its not a program causing it or some sound enhancement. Also with the headphones plugged in, wiggle the headphone plug to see if you hear any noise.

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Yes I've used two different headphones and they both work properly on my other computers. I've tried wiggling the headphone jack but it doesn't do anything. I've experience loose connections with headphones before and this doesn't sound like it at all. I think I should just return the laptop. I just wanted to make sure that this wasn't some minor problem that could be fixed by changing some setting. I am curious about it though just in case I experience it again.

One other detail that might help is that when I first play some sound from the computer, it doesn't play it immediately. For example when I click on the volume button and it makes the 'ding' sound, it lags for about half a second after clicking it. Then after it dings is when the noise starts for the next 30 seconds. It almost seems like the speakers went to sleep or something and have to be woken up to play the audio.

If you can return it without much of a hassle, that is probably a good move.