USB Headset with distorted audio

October 2, 2006 2:42 PM

I just bought a USB Headset, but the audio through the earpiece is majorly distorted. Ive tried plugging it into my iBook and Laptop and it sounds fine. Whats my Desktop doing differently?

Its one of these headsets, the kind that was included with the original SOCOM on the PS2 (infact thats EXACTLY what it is. I have discarded the game and kept the headset).

High pitched stuff sounds tinny, bassy stuff is completely distorted. The mic works fine (actually sounds really great). Ive tried all the settings i can think of but cant seem to improve it :(

I'm using a Dell XPS 600 if thats of any use.

posted by lemonfridge to computers & internet (6 comments total)

My first thought is it has something to do with your soundcard. Is it a cheap one? An old one? Do other headphones do the same thing when plugged in?
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:43 PM on October 2, 2006

Could be as simple as, you've got the outgoing volume at max on your Desktop and it's causing the outgoing sound to distort?
posted by BorgLove at 4:26 PM on October 2, 2006

My first thought is it has something to do with your soundcard.

If its really a USB headset the audio probably isn't going through the onboard sound card at all -- the USB device is functioning as an external sound card (at least that's the way a USB headset adaptor I have functions).
posted by advil at 8:03 PM on October 2, 2006

It cannot use the internal sound hardware; the USB interface is exclusively digital.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:19 PM on October 2, 2006

Other headphones (either plugged into the speakers or headphone port) work just fine.

Interestingly if i Plug it into the USB Hub instead of into the USB port on the front of the PC it works perfectly. So i guess i have a fix - it's just not ideal.

(now why cant i get Teamspeak to use the headset and BF2 to use the speakers? grr!)
posted by lemonfridge at 12:49 AM on October 3, 2006

I had the same issue with a USB soundcard + regular headphones. Someone suggested it could be interference from the inbuilt wifi in my laptop. I got a USB extension cable, and it worked fine.
posted by girlgeeknz at 3:19 AM on October 7, 2006