Steam Deck OLED 3.5 headphones static noise issue

[SomeOne [RB]]

So, the problem: there is a static noise when headphones are connected via 3.5 audio jack. I have a Steam Deck OLED 512GB bought in October, 2024. I have 4 different headphones at home and each one has that bloody noise. It's not constant though, I can't hear it when there is no audio output. For example, with "Menu Navigation Sounds" on, I can hear the static only when the sound is playing, but once the audio stops — static disappears as well, complete audio vacuum. But when I launch any game, even with the minimum volume level, I can constantly hear that static noise.

I saw a solution that you can lighten the audioboard screws a bit or isolate them using insulation tape. Lightening the screws didn't help, and before applying the tape I decided to put the audioboard out of the deck (so it is not touching anything but air) and plug in the headphones "on air" to test it — nothing changed.

I do not have any wireless headphones to test them (and won't buy any, as I don't like them and won't replace my newly bought earpods). I do have a 3.5-to-USB-C adapter though, and thought that this could be a workaround, despite it sucks as it eliminates the possibility of charging and playing with headphones simultaneously — but the SD doesn't recognize it. Restarting the deck with the adapter plugged in didn't help, neither changing USB Dual Role Device setting from DRD to XHCI (as it was already on XHCI by default, lmao). I'm frustrated as hell right now.

I've also tested different 3.5-to-3.5 connectors I have at home, even tried a monstrous headphones_to_3.5-to-jack_to_jack-to-3.5_to_SD which I found in my guitar cover, and guess what? You're right, nothing. Every headphones and adapter works fine with any other device and are in everyday use.

Is there anything else I can try before opening a support ticket? I wouldn't like to wait for a couple of weeks while they're repairing it, but I definitely don't want to have such an issue in my $640 device. I also saw some posts about new audioboards with that issue fixed available on iFixit or wherever, but it also will cost at least $30 and I'm not considering that as an option.

[WarnerCK]

Open a support ticket. There's a known issue with grounding on the original oled audio daughterboard. They made a revision that fixed it - you can either get Valve to fit it, or get your own replacement from ifixit and fit it yourself.

[N]

Originally posted by WarnerCK:

Open a support ticket. There's a known issue with grounding on the original oled audio daughterboard. They made a revision that fixed it - you can either get Valve to fit it, or get your own replacement from ifixit and fit it yourself.

When the hell did they come out with the revision? I just got mine like 2 months ago and it has the same problem!

my solution was to just use my portable DAC through the usb C port. I would have done this regardless of the headphone jack issue as I have a library of lossless audio on my deck and the audio board just doesn't give enough volume or fidelity for my bigass sennheiser headphones. Charging at the same time isnt an issue if you get a usb c adapter with multiple inputs. They sell them on amazon very cheaply. Mine even has a magnetic dongle that plugs into the port at a right angle so there's no stress or chance of breaking the port/sending your poor steam deck flying off the coffee table when your goofy ahh dog gets tangled in the cord (X_X)

[SomeOne [RB]]

Originally posted by N:

my solution was to just use my portable DAC through the usb C port. I would have done this regardless of the headphone jack issue as I have a library of lossless audio on my deck and the audio board just doesn't give enough volume or fidelity for my bigass sennheiser headphones.

Did you have any trouble connecting it via USB port? As I wrote in the post, I didn't find (yet) any way for my Deck to recognize it.

[N]

Originally posted by SomeOne RB:

Originally posted by N:

my solution was to just use my portable DAC through the usb C port. I would have done this regardless of the headphone jack issue as I have a library of lossless audio on my deck and the audio board just doesn't give enough volume or fidelity for my bigass sennheiser headphones.

Did you have any trouble connecting it via USB port? As I wrote in the post, I didn't find (yet) any way for my Deck to recognize it.

It looks like you only used a usb-c to 3.5mm dongle. I'm talking about a fully fledged DAC. Mine is from a brand called "Reiyin Audio." It has a big ol' volume knob on it and a usb-c to usb-c connector. I would attach a picture if I could, but you can buy them on amazon for like, $20-$30. I need to switch to desktop mode, but I'll edit this comment with a link after I do.


Edit: Here is the exact DAC I'm using. Been using it for almost 4 years now. It works in every device I've thought to plug it into, except for my xbox 360 and ps2 of course.

It works with my phone, my switch, my computer, my friend's PS5 and my steam deck.

It's currently mounted onto the back of my steam deck's Jsaux carrying case with bluetack, and the cable also has that magnet adapter I was talking about, as well as a splitter to give you more ports. I might as well link those too.

*******I am in no way affiliated with these companies*******

https://www.amazon.com/HanCenDa-Magnetic-Adapter-Transfer-Thunderbolt/dp/B0CQ4R3NCP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=11C4JNWCYT6NU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mxYd9k0WEh0exgBqUYwWglxbQhLgKn0BJ1HT-nLGWp77n-TvgjclBz9aH6XJsKgWHh5ZeaXpW3Xj8cDUUo_KgLuDK6kTt0xU6ZNtxvQcfsfJPnqdgcGu5CwGSApp28zszxgOmtgUAKA5jPnTH7QYb8SH1oxg7JjjKkXDqLiuPJngbIIcWxiSVaJ1IWycLeIsnAFLtCLnRs8gkVHP69a5r-tQRGXNBnz6dsP9k1ZGU_g.HIt8ZuBr2RvLG11ekvco9RkkNQfLDdW1cJGFxsIWdtQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=3%2Bport%2Busb-c%2Bmagnet%2Badapter&qid=1740968300&sprefix=3%2Bport%2Busb-c%2Bmagnet%2Badapter%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ44S8JJ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B0CH9T9ZB8&pd_rd_w=TCHuR&content-id=amzn1.sym.386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_p=386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_r=V6A319096R25ERAKHDRZ&pd_rd_wg=XMChq&pd_rd_r=ea7cfaf4-4adc-4d9f-91b7-e93b5ef4ddd5&s=electronics&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Reiyin-Optical-Coaxial-Converter-Optional/dp/B07ZVJJSKZ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1W8RRL0GNDUEN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NwBN-CytDqtBa7K5u7NrBxPqKr43ihyUvwe8fCCrc4FhZCtRgFtoFJocNzMmR50Jh_4ntVIpzfew74EgPbCC7D9RTNGhQKdxh1ww6mtomq4OM7j8t1KRFdV-QJUovWfsrUtWVv0-MuwgBHOqy50zBqbjS4Mg0w9lpg9GeHIRKarl82DDuHqhDb75SO3hTL8g.mid22Dy5iWDkAxpaaNWgGmF1IO8690bVRH8sPVFu9XE&dib_tag=se&keywords=reiyin&qid=1740967665&sprefix=reiyin%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-4

[tomboy WSO]

I had the same issue with my deck's audio. Present on the speakers and the audio jack. Went through support and they're letting me RMA it for a replacement, but the fact that a deck that arrived on march 6th, 2025 is still having the same type of audio issue is deeply concerning. Really hope the replacement doesn't have it too.

[Haruspex]

My day 1 OLED had some audio hiss when wired headphones were connected. I resolved this by opening it up and loosening the screws on the headphone jack daughterboard very slightly, like 1/16th of a turn. It's been fine ever since.

[SomeOne [RB]]

Originally posted by Haruspex:

My day 1 OLED had some audio hiss when wired headphones were connected. I resolved this by opening it up and loosening the screws on the headphone jack daughterboard very slightly, like 1/16th of a turn. It's been fine ever since.

Didn't help me though. Also I've heard that you can use some isolation tape under the screws in order to solve the issue, which didn't help me as well. So I've reached the Steam Support and they offered me a device replacement. Week after that I've got a brand new Steam Deck with no issues!