Audio Issues after Connecting Headphones to a Dell Monitor
Summary: The following article provides information about audio issues when plugging a 3.5 mm audio cable direct to a Dell Monitor.
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Symptoms
Distorted, low volume, interference, or humming issues when connecting an audio peripheral directly to a Dell Monitor
You may experience an audio issue if you directly connect the 3.5 mm audio cable from your headphones or travel speakers to a Dell Monitor:
- Distorting the audio output
- Low volume output
- Interference to the audio output
- A humming noise coming through the audio
Cause
Note: Dell devices such as laptops, desktops, and tablets audio ports are 3.5 mm combination ports. They support multiple uses. However, certain Dell monitors do not support the connection of headphone or travel speakers to the 3.5 mm Line-Out port.
The Line-Out connector can cause interference and distortion with headphones or travel speakers due to:
- Impedance mismatch: Higher output impedance of the Line-Out against the low impedance of your headphones
- Voltage levels: Lower voltage output from the Line-Out may not drive audio devices like your headphones as good as it should
- Interference susceptibility: Higher impedance and lower signal strength makes the Line-Out prone to electromagnetic interference through your audio
- Ground loop issues: Multiple ground paths can introduce a hum or abnormal noise to your audio
- Signal-to-noise ratio: External outputs such as your headphones are designed for a better personal listening quality
Most Dell monitor Line-Out outputs do provide some form of amplification with volume control through the operating system. However, keep in mind that these ports are not tuned or intended for use with headphones or travel speakers.
Resolution
Note: Ensure that you Check the monitor documentation of your Dell Monitor for audio output capabilities if you are experiencing an issue. (For example: Audio distortion, or low volume levels within the monitors direct audio output.) Monitor Audio Line-Out connectors are not suited for headsets.
Dell Technologies recommends the following methods of connection to improve the quality of your audio:
- Connect your headphones, headset, or travel speakers to the 3.5 mm audio jack on your desktop, laptop, or tablet device.
- Use a USB to 3.5 mm audio adapter to connect your headphones to a USB port on the monitor.
- Use a digital signal chain over either USB Type-C or Thunderbolt for maximum quality audio output.
Dell has Monitors that are designed for conferencing or gaming. They can contain audio ports that are intended for Headphones and headsets use. These are not Line-Out ports. You can identify in your monitors manual if this capability is integrated into your monitor. There is also a physical icon beside the ports on the monitor to help identify them:
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Affected Products
Alienware and Dell Gaming Monitors, S Series, UltraSharp Premier (UP) Series, UltraSharp (U) Series, Dell 24 Video Conferencing Monitor C2422HE, Dell 27 Video Conferencing Monitor C2722DE, Dell 34 Video Conferencing Curved Monitor C3422WEArticle Properties
Article Number: 000253639
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 13 Dec 2024
Version: 2
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