Speakers

[slaxx]

I just got a new pair of Z-2300's tonight, and tried them first with my latest gen iTouch (4G).  I noticed several immediate problems with the speakers right out of the box,

1. Turning the volume knob with the iTouch attached and playing music would cause noise on the speakers.  I tried removing AC power and turning the knob back and forth several times to no avail.
2. I also noticed that holding the iTouch while playing music would almost completely kill any output; instead I only heard noise in the speakers;
3. Touching the disconnected 3.5mm plug with power in produces noticeable hum on the speakers.

I believe the first two problems are caused by the iTouch 4G, since connecting to my computer solves those two problems.  Perhaps because the iTouch is wrapped in metal, and it appears that the 3.5mm connection comes into contact with it (then the metal backing comes into contact with my hand if I'm holding it).  I could understand how I'm causing some connectivity problems there.  However, I searched out this specific problem and could not find it mentioned in the forum, hence me mentioning it here.

The third problem, however, seems strange.  What would touching the (powered yet disconnected) 3.5mm plug have to do with causing noise in the speakers?  Is this a normal problem, or should I seek warranty replacement on them?  I don't think I've ever had a pair of speakers hum when touching the disconnected plug.

Thanks for any and all help.

[BLH]

#3 Normal.  AC hum from your surroundings. Has nothing to do with your crackle with the iTouch 4G

I did some searching and I think I may have found something.

Is the 3.5mm jack also used for hands free phone use?

If so it has two ring connectors along with the tip and ground sleeve.

You maybe shorting one if the iTouch signals to the sleeve.

Did Apple indicate you can use a standard analog stereo plug in the unit?

Maybe they have an adapter from the four connection 3.5mm to a three connection audio output only.

Can you try the speakers on another audio source like an MP3 player. To find out if it is the speakers or the combination of the ITouch with the speakers.

[slaxx]

Yeah, the iTouch 4G supports both mic in and sound out, so it can handle both the 3-ring as well as conventional 2-ring (those rings on the 3.5mm plug) headphones.  However, I normally use a standard 2-ring plug with my iTouch and have never had a problem.

However, I really think #3 may be a problem.  If it was only AC hum from my surroundings, why is there only noise when I touch the 3.5mm plug?  Shouldn't noise happen regardless of the connection type?

Also, this is some very loud noise.  Simply touching the plug causes it.  In a strange test I did, I found that rolling my finger from top to bottom causes the noise to move from the right speaker channel (touching bottom of plug) to the left speaker channel.  Is that normal operation?  Because I don't think I've ever had a pair of speakers that did that before.

[BLH]

#3  When you touch the metal connections on the plug. Your body is acting like a big antenna.

My Z-2300 buzzes the same as yours does when I touch the metal contacts.

Though it does seem to be quite sensitive. Maybe it is the design of the Z-2300s

As you rolled you finger from the tip to the ring and then shield. I could see the hum going from one channel to the other as the ring and then tip is touched.

Could be the way the shield is connected when in the iTouch is picking up noise.