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Static noise on SteamDeck 3.5 headphone jack with low impedance IEMs
Your system information
- Steam client version: 1682708537 build from 2023-04-28
- SteamOS version: 3.4.6 build 20230313.1
- Opted into Steam client beta?: No
- Opted into SteamOS beta?: No
- Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: Yes
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
I changed my ear phones from KZ ZS10Pro to Shure SE 535 IEMs, both plugged in through the 3.5mm headphone jack of the Steam Deck. Instead of delivering clear sound, there is now a constant static noise in the background, when using the deck.
Note that this seems to be a well-observed issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/u76bat/investigating_white_noise_static_in_the_35mm/
The issue persists regardless of KDE/desktop mode or SteamOS/big picture mode which can be verified through KDE System Settings -> Audio -> Test on the headphones; despite speculation otherwise elsewhere (e.g., on Reddit).
It does seem to be relevant however, that the head phones are low impedance (that is, rather sensitive). RMA also does not help.
Steps for reproducing this issue:
- Plug in a low impedance IEM
- Unmute the device, and
- Play a sound, either the Vol± sounds or a quiet scene from a game
I have a similar issue, but it disappears if I put the deck to sleep then wake it again.
Edit: This doesnt always work. I am able to reproduce the issue more consistently by plugging in headphones while music is playing, then the hiss occurs. If stop the music, replug the headphones, and start it again, the hiss is gone.
https://github.com/OpenNuvoton/Nuvoton-ASoC/blob/main/nau8821/k5.4-5.10/nau8821.c
This is the chip used in the deck (nau88l21)
The driver here is not the driver in the deck, but it mentions this:
/* Default oversampling/decimations settings are unusable * (audible hiss). Set it to something better. */
I have not found the driver in Steam OS yet, but I assume it's some combination of wrong driver and driver with a faulty sleep mode implementation that forgets to call this function.
Running into this same issue with the exact same IEMs. OLED model 3.5.7. LCD doesn't experience this.
In my case I ended up rma'ing the device with valve and they presumably swapped the audio chip (and possibly other components, my controller test screen looks like it's rendered wrong, with the image being too small etc ), but the headphone jack doesn't seem to have static anymore. My speakers do instead, but I can live with that as they're speakers and not used for low volume listening.
Can confirm having same issue 512GB OLED with Preview v3.5.7 and Build 20231122.1
Same exact scenario for me as @tonycassara, with my Moondrop Blessing 3 IEM's it's barely audible, and mainly in the Steam Library screen when no other audio is playing.
I can hear the interference with my cheap Skullcandy ear buds (which worked on my 512GB LCD Steam Deck with no issues) but not with my Sony MDR-7506 headphones.
IEMs tend to be more sensitive than headphones which is why it's more prevalent with them. I'm hoping this is a driver issue that can be resolved over update!
This was just posted on Reddit, I'm going to wait a bit before attempting it. https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/188fxu1/fix_audio_cracklingstatic_on_35mm_headphone_jack/
I tried the tape fix, wasn't 100% fixed for me. Others have said it's 100%.
I tried the tape fix, wasn't 100% fixed for me. Others have said it's 100%.
So, I think the tape fix was based on the premise that it's a grounding issue. I no longer believe that's the case (or the entire story), I think a lot of it has to do with the distance of the screws to the OLED screen. If you plug in headphones while it's on and back those screws out, you should hear the problem go away. I used heat-shrink tubing (as suggested here: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1235#issuecomment-1839820226) to create a tiny washer and give the screws a little space, that worked.
I tried the tape fix, wasn't 100% fixed for me. Others have said it's 100%.
What headphones/iems you have? I was planning to get the deck but with my iems with an average impedance of ~9ohms the issue is pretty off-putting....
Will just have to see how good the fix that valve repair services will be, and hopefully they will implement the fix on a new minor revision of the oled deck.
Valve stated to Gamers Nexus that they'll be repairing the units with this issue: https://youtu.be/VSSb-t76EpU?t=283
I can confirm that it's an issue with impedance. I have Shure SE535 IEMs with about 35 Ohm impedance and got myself some impedance adapters from Hong Kong: https://penonaudio.com/3.5mm-impedance-adapter.html
The 20 Ohm one was too little but already at 75 Ohm (making a total of 110 Ohms) there was no buzzing background noise noticeable.
This is on the non-OLED deck/standard deck.
So the only solution is to replace audio board, or buy some impendance adapters? I have shure 215 iem and have similar issue.
There is also the option of a USB-to-3.5mm dongle. Using one of those will use completely separate outputs and drivers and of course you get to have the fun of falling into an audiophile chipset hole.
