I see similar posts on the N800 forum, but I don't know if the N810 's is a separate issue. My N810 gives off a low hiss whenever the sound is active. For example, right before and after playing a sound. When I use canola, right before the song starts, I hear a hiss. If I click on pause, I hear a hiss for a couple of seconds before the sound is switched off. The hiss is there even while the song is playing. Of course, this is too low to hear from the internal speakers, but it's really noticeable(and annoying) when I use my headphones. Any known fix for the problem?

I think that's just how the N8x0's sound card works. Practically every PC has it too. It's the only thing that annoys me, as it's really apparent when I have earphones on low volume.

Yes, one possible fix is simply to listen at a higher volume, with an attenuator inline (or shunted) with the earphones. If your earbuds have a built-in volume control, for example.

I know, I wish I'd have bought the Sennheiser CX500s for just that. I've just never liked the idea of a built in volume control with the earphones, I feel that any extra sound processing just degrades the sound. Although, I don't think it would make any difference with a device like the N8x0.

Someone once posted that there was a setting in some obscure place in control panel (I think) that affected this. I can't find it now and was hoping someone would re-post that info in this thread.

Try playing with the screen tap sound. That is, off vs on.

that will not remove the issue, as its more a case of the sound hardware powering up and down...

Have you tried it or are you just saying?

tried it. the hiss comes from the sound hardware while idle, before its powered down to save battery. turning the screen sound off just removes the most frequent source of sound.

I think the hiss could come from the microphone part of the audio jack. Has anyone tried to use a headset adapter with good headphones to see if the problem goes away? I have no way to test it right now