HUMAX DRT800 hard drive noise

[wmshax]

I've just purchased a new HUMAX DRT800. Though I'm liking TIVO, I'm finding the constant hard drive noise hard to bear, particularly since it's in a bedroom. The noise is somewhere between a low whine and a hum, and it's fairly constant, though it's at different frequencies. I've now read many of the posts about the DRT800 and its noise problems. I'd prefer not to go through the fal-de-rol of a return (or the hassle of dealing with HUMAX customer service for a brand new unit), so has anyone come up with a solution for the noise other than return?

Seems like so basic a quality control issue that HUMAX would have addressed it by now. It's certainly left me with a bad feeling about TIVO hardware.

Thanks for your help, wmshax

[Alfred Lanning]

As many times as I read about this issue, one thing puzzles me. I have owned six TiVo units, and unless I am close to them, extremely close to them, I can't hear anything.

The question is am I deaf, or are you to close?

[wmshax]

I sit across the room (at least 10 feet) from the TV in the bedroom, and the noise is clearly audible to me and to others. It's certainly louder than the hard drives on any of the computers I've had in my home (and that includes a rather noisy Dell I had a while back).

Once again, has anyone found a home-grown solution for this problem, other than hoping that Humax will supply a less noisy replacement?

wmshax

[ThreeSoFar]

Replace the drive, a larger one while you're at it to increase the size.

I like Samsung drives--they're in all of our TiVos.

My DRT800 had I think a different sound problem. The drive seeking sound (not a whine, almost percussive) was amplified by the case, it seems.

When I did the upgrade I spaced the bracket away from the case where it is affixed with four screws with 00 sink washers--thick hard rubber washers. Got a package of ten at I think HOme Depot for $4 or so. It helped that sound tremendously.

See the upgrade forum for DIY upgrades or for links to companies that do it for a fee.

[dfreybur]

Originally Posted by Alfred Lanning

As many times as I read about this issue, one thing puzzles me. I have owned six TiVo units, and unless I am close to them, extremely close to them, I can't hear anything.

The question is am I deaf, or are you to close?

Maybe a matter of background noise levels? At a coffee shop with WiFi
I'm lucky to hear someone speaking. At home in the bedroom where
the loudest background noise is the fridge motor in the kitchen I can
hear stuff a lot quieter than a laptop drive. The hard drive in my Humax
is louder than either laptop, quieter than the desktop. I've never been
willing to run the desktop in the bedroom; I've always been willing to
run the laptops in the bedroom; show there's some threshold of sound
involved.

I noticed it the first few nights then it became background. I think of
it as a small white noise generator now.

On the other hand the DVD while recording is far too loud unless there's
something going on in noise. I'll only record stuff while Live TV is showing
or I'm out of the room.

[jonhunt]

I thought about spending a couple of dollars on some sound proofing material to insert into the case, but my wife wanted to spend $900 on a TV armoir. We compromised and bought the armoir.

[Tivo Irish]

Originally Posted by wmshax

I've just purchased a new HUMAX DRT800. Though I'm liking TIVO, I'm finding the constant hard drive noise hard to bear, particularly since it's in a bedroom. The noise is somewhere between a low whine and a hum, and it's fairly constant, though it's at different frequencies. I've now read many of the posts about the DRT800 and its noise problems. I'd prefer not to go through the fal-de-rol of a return (or the hassle of dealing with HUMAX customer service for a brand new unit), so has anyone come up with a solution for the noise other than return?

Seems like so basic a quality control issue that HUMAX would have addressed it by now. It's certainly left me with a bad feeling about TIVO hardware.

Thanks for your help, wmshax

I had the same issue with my HUMAX DRT800! Humax told me it was the fan. I knew it was the hard drive. Only after I complained several times did they agree to replace the machine. The new one is a quiet as my other three machines.

I do understand that HUMAX is no longer offering a TIVO! But, I could be wrong.