[Attention] Using VLC Media player could void your computer warranty!

[axarad]

We all have heard (and probably most of us use) the VLC Media player. The player supports almost all video and audio formats, has plugin support and it works on almost all platforms but did you know that using VLC could void the warranty of your computer speakers?

An interesting post shared by HN user Mikecane shows a discussion on the Dell forum user Jimco reports that the Dell Technical Support is denying warranty service for speaker damage if VLC is installed on the computer, this only counts for the Speakers, other part of the computer aren’t affected by this.

The reason why both Dell and HP deny warranty service if you have VLC is because the media player allows you to use a higher volume then 100% something that normally isn’t possible, by using the media player with a volume over the 100% you will eventually distorts the speaker output and if you are continuously using VLC with more then the max volume (100%) over a period of time then even if the volume is kept at a lower level sound would be distorted. This distortion is permanent.

But VLC can’t make the computers amp produce more wattage than it was made to produce, so where does the increased volume from VLC come from? it does so by increasing the signal’s amplitude to beyond the 0 dB limit. As Jimco demonstrates, here is an image of the VLC sound under 100%

Here is the same tune played on VLC with the sound at 200%

You can clearly see that in the second example the average amplitude is much larger then in Example 1. So how can you still get your computer speakers fixed if you have used VLC? Very simple, just remove VLC from your laptop or computer before bringing it to technical support.

Source

[someone there]

:D the last part is very interesting "Just remove vlc media " :D

This is only applied to laptops or note books not PCs isn't it?

I don't care my laptop is 6 years old and my pc is 8 years old beside I only use windows media player and media player classic which came with klite codec pack

Edited May 22, 2014 by someone there

[axarad]

Well,you're right it only applies to laptops and it doesn't apply to you either :lol:

[windowsvistas]

so pc's are safe right

i use creative speakers :unsure:

[AlexCross]

:doh: :medic:

[software182]

:snack: :wtf:

[H4rDw4rE]

so pc's are safe right

i use creative speakers :unsure:

PC maybe, but your speakers is not safe:D

This fenomena is not related to VLC only, there is many applications which can boost sound level beyond 100% (even codec pack can do that).

It is dell's stupid attack to the VLC.

[axarad]

so pc's are safe right

i use creative speakers :unsure:

PC maybe, but your speakers is not safe:D

This fenomena is not related to VLC only, there is many applications which can boost sound level beyond 100% (even codec pack can do that).

It is dell's stupid attack to the VLC.

You're right, in fact KMPlayer also can boost the sound beyond 100%, but the fact that VLC is more popular makes it the one that takes the blame

Edited May 22, 2014 by axarad

[H4rDw4rE]

so pc's are safe right

i use creative speakers :unsure:

PC maybe, but your speakers is not safe:D

This fenomena is not related to VLC only, there is many applications which can boost sound level beyond 100% (even codec pack can do that).

It is dell's stupid attack to the VLC.

You're right, in fact KMPlayer also can boost the sound beyond 100%, but the fact that VLC is more popular makes it the one that takes the blame

Agree completely!

[Cyberboom]

So how can you still get your computer speakers fixed if you have used VLC? Very simple, just remove VLC from your laptop or computer before bringing it to technical support.

Solution is a piece of cake ! :lol:

[Rok]

The reason why both Dell and HP deny warranty service if you have VLC is because the media player allows you to use a higher volume then 100% something that normally isn’t possible, by using the media player with a volume over the 100% you will eventually distorts the speaker output and if you are continuously using VLC with more then the max volume (100%) over a period of time then even if the volume is kept at a lower level sound would be distorted. This distortion is permanent.

You can clearly see that in the second example the average amplitude is much larger then in Example 1. So how can you still get your computer speakers fixed if you have used VLC? Very simple, just remove VLC from your laptop or computer before bringing it to technical support.

This is bound to happen, as so many tech savvy have come up. I've never heard such things ever before in my 34 years of computing. Don't take it personal, but look at the cases, so called software / hardware /computer engineers falling to the few hundred to thousands dollars phishing scams.

[Lacius]

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about the technical illegality of VLC Media Player in the United States.

[axarad]

The reason why both Dell and HP deny warranty service if you have VLC is because the media player allows you to use a higher volume then 100% something that normally isn’t possible, by using the media player with a volume over the 100% you will eventually distorts the speaker output and if you are continuously using VLC with more then the max volume (100%) over a period of time then even if the volume is kept at a lower level sound would be distorted. This distortion is permanent.

You can clearly see that in the second example the average amplitude is much larger then in Example 1. So how can you still get your computer speakers fixed if you have used VLC? Very simple, just remove VLC from your laptop or computer before bringing it to technical support.

This is bound to happen, as so many tech savvy have come up. I've never heard such things ever before in my 34 years of computing. Don't take it personal, but look at the cases, so called software / hardware /computer engineers falling to the few hundred to thousands dollars phishing scams.

Maybe you're right :unsure: but I know a guy who used to play multimedia files using VLC with volume over 100% and ended with his laptop speakers completely damaged in less than a year!

Edited May 22, 2014 by axarad

[eurobyn]

:wtf: are whe all try to break something as good as vlc ?

:wtf:

[H4rDw4rE]

The reason why both Dell and HP deny warranty service if you have VLC is because the media player allows you to use a higher volume then 100% something that normally isn’t possible, by using the media player with a volume over the 100% you will eventually distorts the speaker output and if you are continuously using VLC with more then the max volume (100%) over a period of time then even if the volume is kept at a lower level sound would be distorted. This distortion is permanent.

You can clearly see that in the second example the average amplitude is much larger then in Example 1. So how can you still get your computer speakers fixed if you have used VLC? Very simple, just remove VLC from your laptop or computer before bringing it to technical support.

This is bound to happen, as so many tech savvy have come up. I've never heard such things ever before in my 34 years of computing. Don't take it personal, but look at the cases, so called software / hardware /computer engineers falling to the few hundred to thousands dollars phishing scams.

Maybe you're right :unsure: but I know a guy who used to play multimedia files using VLC with volume over 100% and ended with his laptop speakers completely damaged in less than a year!

I have not seen many laptops which can even play multimedia at 100% clear and loud.

Laptop speakers is not recommended for hifi at all.

If you want loud sound then you have to use discrete amplifier.

eurobyn said good thing.

[Rok]

The reason why both Dell and HP deny warranty service if you have VLC is because the media player allows you to use a higher volume then 100% something that normally isn’t possible, by using the media player with a volume over the 100% you will eventually distorts the speaker output and if you are continuously using VLC with more then the max volume (100%) over a period of time then even if the volume is kept at a lower level sound would be distorted. This distortion is permanent.

You can clearly see that in the second example the average amplitude is much larger then in Example 1. So how can you still get your computer speakers fixed if you have used VLC? Very simple, just remove VLC from your laptop or computer before bringing it to technical support.

This is bound to happen, as so many tech savvy have come up. I've never heard such things ever before in my 34 years of computing. Don't take it personal, but look at the cases, so called software / hardware /computer engineers falling to the few hundred to thousands dollars phishing scams.

Maybe you're right :unsure: but I know a guy who used to play multimedia files using VLC with volume over 100% and ended with his laptop speakers completely damaged in less than a year!

The only point here is the so called geeks out there are suggesting craps to companies making a hell out of people's buying their products believing in the company. This will only distract people away from these companies as they are going to hurt the most the novice 'only.' Experienced people who have used these softwares at the highest settings despite knowing harm to their devices will definitely not leave any traces of these software before claiming warranty.