Comparison of laptop audio output and function generator



I am experimenting with an Instek oscilloscope. I have two sources.
One is an audio output from the laptop, and another one is a tone
output from a function generator.

This is a video of the laptop output:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8413182111152350269&hl=en

This is video of the function generator output:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3995690077431458348&hl=en

I just terminate the sources to a 1k-ohm resistor and put the
oscilloscope probes across the resistor.

Are laptop audio outputs really that "poppy" (intermittent signal
spikes)?

When I plug in a headphone to the output jack of the laptop, the tone
sounds clean. I was expecting to hear tiny pops.

If I were to take the laptop audio signal and re-route it to a
different circuit, how would I make the waveform "cleaner" like the
one from the function generator output?

I'm afraid that if I take the audio output of the laptop and connect
it to an amplifier, then the spikes will also get amplified and become
noticeable.

Thanks!

M

.



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