I just acquired a Cricket Zio yesterday and have been playing around with it for the past 24 hours or so. Got the CWM "easy" working, reset it to the factory 2.2.1 stock Cricket ROM (from this thread) and then installed OpenZio 2.1.2 without any issues. Runs fine at 729 MHz, again without issues.
But the one thing that's disappointing me - and I mean seriously disappointing me - is the absurdly low audio volume. Videos, music, streams, doesn't matter, it's just insanely low. Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions, I've got an HD2 that I've tweaked to hell and back oh, hundreds of times (currently the one listed in my sig), and we all know the HD2 can really crank out the sounds without problems. I have a set of Koss earbuds (IEMs, they go into the ear canal and seal it off), and I've got a set of Koss KSC-75 earclips (my primary listening device).
With either of those plugged into the HD2 or any other device I own, like my Dell Axim X51v, my original Motorola Droid, and several other devices including an iPod touch too, those earbuds and earclips bring out all the sound quality the device is capable of, without issues.
But I plug them into the Zio and it's... well... meh. With bleh on top of that...
I located the Louder Volume Hack in the hopes it would help, but it doesn't matter which version I try or on either ROM (stock Cricket or OpenZio) it just FCs and never runs.
So my question is: for those people that I've read posts by that say the Zio has 'excellent audio quality' I have to ask: am I missing something someplace?
I've enabled Stagefright (on the stock Cricket ROM and on OpenZio also), makes zero difference in audio quality or audio volume, although it does seem to smooth things out a bit. Let's face it: I don't know why people keep calling this phone "a beast" 'cause I see no evidence of it. But for $50 and a pure fully working fully functional Android phone, it's doing just fine.
Yes, I wish it had multitouch, yes I wish it was bigger, and yes, I wish it was faster (even overclocked and with all the tweaks I've been reading about it's still rather perversely sluggish even though the Quadrant scores put it above the original Nexus One, go figure).
But what I'd really love is to do something about that audio, boost it up in some manner that I might not be aware of just yet. The HD2? Oh, man that can push my KSC-75 earclips so high I can't tolerate it.
And again, I understand this is actually a very low quality Android phone, but can anyone make any suggestions that might help with the low audio volume issue? All the settings are maxed out and it's still just incredibly low (and yes, it's fairly tinny with hardly any bass at all but that's secondary to the actual volume itself needing some healthy raising).
If anyone has any advice, I'm listening... figuratively speaking.
I have noticed that after i flashed to openzio, awesome rom btw my volume is lower then what it was with the stock rom. Like for an example if i put the ringer volume to one notch below half way the ringer will not sound and the phone just vibrates. With the stock rom i can turn the ringer all the way down to it activates the vibrate only mode and then go up 2 notches and the phone would still play the ring tone on the incoming call. With openzio the volume meter has to be at least half way or over half way for the ringtone to sound.
Related
i know a lot of people were having issues with their speakers and notifications. ive never had that problem, however i do have issues with the in-call volume on my headphones.
is there a way at all to adjust the volume output on the DX? ive seen DSPmanager for other stuff along with the louder volume hack for other stuff, but nothing for the DX. as it is right now, if im driving any significant speed i cannot even use my headphones to talk on the phone as i cant hear anything. when using the phone itself its still very low but at least useable.
im also still looking for a global equalizer. the stock "presets" for sound are horrible at best to me and id prefer to have something i can adjust globally. i know mixzing along with a couple other media players incorporate an equalizer, but id really like something across the board if possible.
Interested in this as well. The sound and volume is sooooo poor it's a shame.
For such a powerhouse...one would think the device would have 1/2 way decent sound
Agreed. I'm really missing Audiobooster right now, as well as the volume tweaks available for my old TP2.
check out the last page here volume HACK for a true volume "hack"
Yeah that's a bit too desperate for my taste...
yeah im not looking for that kind of modding yet. its also not the issue ive got.
my speaker is fine but the outputs are for some reason being cut when i use pandora/music/youtube versus phone call volume. music is fine for me. im usually 1-3 steps below max volume depending on the music, but even when the phone call volume is at full volume it sounds like it's 1/2 as loud as it needs to be.
btw im using the older style earphones to do this. they actually somewhat work with droidshuffle or beyondpod pausing/playing and as a mic for calls.
The captivate is a great phone but the volume is much to low in almost all settings. For example, when my wife gets a phone call on her Samsung Epic (and has her ringer up all the way) it is a very loud crisp sound that can be heard in most circumstances. Contrarily, I can barely hear my Captivate if it is in my pocket if the environment is not relatively quiet. I have similar complaints about the volume in the media player, notification volume, etc.
I'm guessing that the hardware is capable of putting out much louder sounds and that there is a software limiter somewhere. How can I change the system to allow much louder volumes?
Thanks for the help...
Its probably something wrong with the settings or hardware on your phone judging as how the epic and captivate are from the same series of phones and constructed using the same parts. I have no problems with my sound and when i am listening to music i can still hear songs even if i am not even on the same floor as my phone in my house.
I would also like to know if there's a way to make the volume louder. I also find that the max volume setting is still too low compared to other phones.
My Captivate has plenty of volume with the stock ROM but with several custom ROMs that I've tried the volume is definitely lower. Are you still on the stock ROM?
I really can't stand the fact that the ringer starts in so low. Often by the time I hear it, the call goes to voice mail before I can fish it out of my pocket.
It'd be nice if there was a way to make incoming calls start out on high volume...
This was a link to a solution in another thread:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/volume-control/com.revsodev.volumecontrol
And here is a link to another thread with some good discussion on the topic:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=847980&highlight=volume
Hope that helps...
Would this work on my samsung captivate from rogers to make the speaker louder?
I bought a Galaxy Note a month or so ago. I'm not sure if this happened before the ICS update or if it came with it as it's still all a bit new. I'm wondering if the following behaviour is a fault (hardware or otherwise), is a setting that I can alter or if it "just is".
I use the Note a lot to play music especially at night as I'm going to sleep, when I have the Note on either the quietest volume setting or something close to it. I have noticed that when the volume level is low on quiet passages in the music it drops out altogether. This is quite noticable as any background hiss (on older recordings) drops to silent then comes back in again as the music approaches a louder passage. It does the same on video.
It can be quite annoying and very distracting. If I turn the volume up (past about half way on quieter, older recordings) the problem vanishes completly so it looks like an issue with the pre-amp or DAC?
I have tried different audio players and different headphones with no change. I have also tried playing music without headphones (using the in-built speaker) and think that does it also, although it's harder to tell.
The wierd thing is googling around I can't find anyone reporting the same problem, which makes me think I possibly have a fault. Any ideas? Could someone else with a Note on ICS try the same thing and report their findings?
Test is: find somewhere very quiet. Play some quiet music on the Note and turn the volume right down until it is barely audible with the earphone pressed in. Try different pieces of music and see if the sound drops out on quieter passages - for me, it does.
StarFishUK said:
I bought a Galaxy Note a month or so ago. I'm not sure if this happened before the ICS update or if it came with it as it's still all a bit new. I'm wondering if the following behaviour is a fault (hardware or otherwise), is a setting that I can alter or if it "just is".
I use the Note a lot to play music especially at night as I'm going to sleep, when I have the Note on either the quietest volume setting or something close to it. I have noticed that when the volume level is low on quiet passages in the music it drops out altogether. This is quite noticable as any background hiss (on older recordings) drops to silent then comes back in again as the music approaches a louder passage. It does the same on video.
It can be quite annoying and very distracting. If I turn the volume up (past about half way on quieter, older recordings) the problem vanishes completly so it looks like an issue with the pre-amp or DAC?
I have tried different audio players and different headphones with no change. I have also tried playing music without headphones (using the in-built speaker) and think that does it also, although it's harder to tell.
The wierd thing is googling around I can't find anyone reporting the same problem, which makes me think I possibly have a fault. Any ideas? Could someone else with a Note on ICS try the same thing and report their findings?
Test is: find somewhere very quiet. Play some quiet music on the Note and turn the volume right down until it is barely audible with the earphone pressed in. Try different pieces of music and see if the sound drops out on quieter passages - for me, it does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this happening on a fade out of a song (Bjork - Play Dead). On volume 1 the sound would cut out much earlier than on volume 2. It sounds like a classic noise reduction technique kicking in - designed to reduce hiss.
Not much pop music is mixed like this any more I don't think. You'd certainly notice it more on Classical music where the dynamic range is far greater than Pop.
krypton_the_slayer said:
I found this happening on a fade out of a song (Bjork - Play Dead). On volume 1 the sound would cut out much earlier than on volume 2. It sounds like a classic noise reduction technique kicking in - designed to reduce hiss.
Not much pop music is mixed like this any more I don't think. You'd certainly notice it more on Classical music where the dynamic range is far greater than Pop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect - yes, that describes my problem. And yes, it is classical music where I find it most noticeable (especially older recordings which tend to be quieter with quite a bit of background hiss). I wonder if there is any way to diable the noise reduction...?
Appreciate your help. At least I now know I don't have a faulty device. Massive thanks.
By the way the best answer I have so far is to play on higher sound levels and use an set of headphones with an old style (non digital) volume control to bring the sound back down to a reasonable level at the earphonesd. Pretty poor solution really - had hoped for better from my lovely new Note.
+1 big problem for my...and now...not solutions...waiting...
I have this issue since Samsung replaced my mainboard. It happens on stock ICS and CM9. I haven't tried Gingerbread.
Could this be a hardware problem?
Is there any fix to this yet, this is exactly my problem, good tip about using an in-line headphone volume control though
The same bug. Please fix it somebody.
I too have this problem with my new Galaxy Note (ICS 4.0.4). I'd be interested to hear from any Note users that *do not* have this problem when playing back audio at low volumes. If you don't notice the audio completely dropping out, please list what version of Android you're running. Thanks!
I guess we need some more experimentation to see if it's a hardware or software issue (or both).
naytheet said:
I too have this problem with my new Galaxy Note (ICS 4.0.4). I'd be interested to hear from any Note users that *do not* have this problem when playing back audio at low volumes. If you don't notice the audio completely dropping out, please list what version of Android you're running. Thanks!
I guess we need some more experimentation to see if it's a hardware or software issue (or both).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I am quite sure this is a software bug. When my note was using gingerbread, it was OK. It started to behave this wasy after the (official) ICS upgrade. Some of my friends are using unofficial ROMs (4.0.3 or 4.0.4) and it is ok - I tested it. So my conclusion is that samsung put some software trying to reduce noise in low audio volume, but it's not working as it should be...
More people are stumbling upon this noise gate problem:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=35861
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1717425
I experience it on ICS and also on CM9, only with headphones plugged in (not when listening to music via bluetooth on the Sony MW600).
It does not occur on Gingerbread, but I don't like to use that ROM as a daily driver...
Can anyone confirm if there are custom ROMS that do not have this behavior?
Or is there maybe some way to replace the ICS media playback service with the GB one?
Well, all ICS-based custom ROMs I've tried suffer the same irritating behavior.
And it also turns out that GB has the same kind of noise gate, but the threshold seems to be a lot lower and therefore it doesn't kick in that often.
But I've just installed a CM10 nightly, and that seems to solve the issue.
my 2 cents
I can confirm, that I have similar problem.
I have the problems only when watching movies. the sound just cuts off when the character stops speaking, so it cuts off the background sound.
I tried different kernels, ROM´s... same problems on GB, ICS, CM9...
I have a hillBilly solution that works for me! When ever the sound cutting starts, I just change the volume for one level. The cutting will off course repeat... but it's indeed better than listen to the clipping...
For black clipping I use highest brightness and film screen mode. It does the trick for me...
But it just pisses me of when I realize that I have the phone with ****ty screen, sound and bricking danger...
wtf sammy... i just cant belive that i paid 540 eur for this, its sad
DonLaDroid
please delete....
double post....
This is bugging me too.
Would this be something controlled by the kernel?
---------- Post added 1st September 2012 at 12:40 AM ---------- Previous post was 31st August 2012 at 11:48 PM ----------
Also being discussed at http://code.google.com/p/android/is...s Owner Summary Stars&groupby=&sort=&id=35861
Please, can anyone using a non Touchwiz ICS or JB Rom tell us if this is happening for them?
burtcom said:
This is bugging me too.
Would this be something controlled by the kernel?
---------- Post added 1st September 2012 at 12:40 AM ---------- Previous post was 31st August 2012 at 11:48 PM ----------
Also being discussed at http://code.google.com/p/android/is...s Owner Summary Stars&groupby=&sort=&id=35861
Please, can anyone using a non Touchwiz ICS or JB Rom tell us if this is happening for them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flashed latest PA, and its till there!
Im not an expert! Does anyone remember a background noise reduction option while making a call in GB??
I cant find it in ICS or PA. I think that this background noise redustion system is causing the cutting. It must be somehow connected.... im not an dev or anything but my gut tells me that this could be!
anyone?
Take care
DonLaDroid
OK all, let's figure out what ROMs don't have this problem, and start bugging the Devs to try to fix it on the others :laugh:
Well, I just noticed that the sound cut-off is also back on the unofficial 08/31 build of CM10. It was much less noticeable on the 08/28 build. :crying:
The difference between the two builds is a huge decrease in sound volume: build 08/28 was much louder than the latest one. Maybe the noise gate simply doesn't kick in so soon when the system volume is cranked up. You basically get the same effect when turning up the volume completely and turn it down with an inline analog control - as suggested by StarFishUK in post #3.
So my question would be what makes the volume louder on 08/28?
And how can I get that 'cranked up volume' on newer CM10 builds or preferably on ICS roms? Any ideas?
By the way, I totally agree with your 2 cents DonLaDroid. I never had this much trouble with my old Dell Streak...
Haven't noticed this myself (CM10), but i've noticed something incredible annoying in CM builds, and that's when i'm listening to music with headsets and i'm increasing the volume, it seems that it's "missing" a couple of steps. So when i'm increasing the volume it'll go from 5 to 8 in one step, and not 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,
It should be: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
But it is: 0,1,2,3,4,5,8
How to test this problem. ..
Go to a quiet room.
Set audio level to one (one click up from silence)
Play some music with soft passages.
For me, the sound shuts off during quiet audio for speaker and wired headset. Note that this isn't simply an absence of sound. The sound turns off then suddenly starts again in the middle of a louder passage.
Bluetooth doesn't have the problem.
A gentleman on one of the Kernel threads believes this may be a hardware issue. The sound clips to cover noise from the speaker.
All, it seems that this is a "feature" of our phone. We will need to contact Samsung for the word on if this is a hardware issue or of it can be fixed via software. Right now it seems this happens in all ROMs, Touchwiz or AOSP.
Workaround is to use Bluetooth or a wired headset with an analog volume control.
When I first got my phone music and youtube videos were really loud with the built in speakers. So much so that I had to turn the volume down a little bit for comfort. Now when I make sound it starts out very loud but quickly softens drastically. Like something is trying to auto normalize the sound to a much lower volume.
What bugs me is it used to work great. I'm on the same firmware version and such that I was on before.
Is anyone else having volume issues with their built in speakers?
youngm77 said:
When I first got my phone music and youtube videos were really loud with the built in speakers. So much so that I had to turn the volume down a little bit for comfort. Now when I make sound it starts out very loud but quickly softens drastically. Like something is trying to auto normalize the sound to a much lower volume.
What bugs me is it used to work great. I'm on the same firmware version and such that I was on before.
Is anyone else having volume issues with their built in speakers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm experiencing this too. I feel like it was designed this way. But I want to see some documentation.
Maybe you're just adjusting to the volume?? Kind of like when a fast car doesn't feel fast anymore.
Are you on a custom rom?
I'm on Stock ROM.
I know it isn't me just getting used to it. When I play some music it is really loud and vibrates my phone noticeably. After about 1 or 2 seconds though it quiets and my phone stops vibrating as much and I have a hard time discerning voices in the sound.
If I pause the video for a few seconds and start again the same thing happens. really loud then quieting.
If I turn down the video all the way then turn it up all the way fast the same things happens. I can feel the vibrations of the sound then they lessen and quiet down.
Interesting. I tried it this morning after a fresh charge and it works great now. I wonder if previously I was always testing at night when my battery was low. Perhaps this is some kind of built in battery savings scheme? When I was experiencing the issue I verified that Battery Savings mode was turned off. But perhaps this is something that auto happens when the battery is low?
I'll have to try again tonight.
I'm starting to have the same issue. Posting here for any updates, and I'll update as well if I figure out what's going on.
Me to guys....I thought I was going nuts today... Every roms got quiet audio and I'm just like wtf...so I flash stock images and STILL its quiet...I'm just wondering if its some kinda power save feature.
i've been looking through the mixer_paths.xml file to see if i can find headphones and speaker values to increase to increase volume and this mixer_paths file is different than what i'm used to with samsung and LG phones. i'm probably missing some values to see because i normally use 920 text editor but that app currently isnt working with android 5.0. has anyone found the values to change the increase volume?
I have the same issue. If i reboot the phone everything sounds great then shortly after the volume drops and its difficult to hear things. This happens evem during calls while using speaker phone. I've looked in all the settings and can not find anything to do with this. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank goodness I'm not the only one! I have this exact issue as well.
So this actually worked on my N6 maybe it will work for yours. After a reboot problem remains. I applied small pressure evenly to the speakers with my fingers and bam problem gone. I seriously hope we don't have bad hardware. Hope this helps you guys as well.
https://forums.motorola.com/posts/add203215b?commentId=837982 If you see Moto's Official forum lot of other people are having this same Issue
Add me to the list thought I was going crazy too
I'm pretty sure it's a software issue. On mine, the volume does the normalization thing, but if I switch orientations it goes back to full volume before dying down again. Hopefully it gets fixed soon.
Same issue here. Thought I was loosing my mind. The volume goes down tremendously after starting music via the speakerphone after about 1 or 2 seconds. I have completely reset my phone and toggled the power saving setting and I'm still having this issue. Getting very annoyed.
Same issue here. My battery was down to 4% and the volume started getting lower some times.
Also it seemed like turning the device (display rotation?, gyro sensor?) had to do with it.
I also hear some noise (crackling) when the phone is at full volume and it's not playing music.
IndoorSnowStorm said:
I'm pretty sure it's a software issue. On mine, the volume does the normalization thing, but if I switch orientations it goes back to full volume before dying down again. Hopefully it gets fixed soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here with the normalize issue...tempted to send my nexus 6 back to motorola but it was so hard to get this phone
Cant believe google has yet to address this... I hope its a software fix coming.. I cant even really judge the audio bc i cant play anything at max volume smfh
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
I think it's a software issue. Whenever I notice the phone's volume is lower than it should be, I press volume up and down repeatedly then it goes back to normal. Gets annoying though.
Anyone found a solution for this or it just is what it is? Also notice the volume increases when I rotate the landscape view..then normalizes lower after a few seconds...
I've hard reset....flashed a fresh copy of 5.0.1 still no solution? Could this be a hardware issue?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
I just recently bought a Nexus 6, and not to long after I bought it my phones volume started to get very low. When I was on a phone call and switched to speaker, the phone starts the audio off as low, but then gets higher after a few seconds. Now when I listen to music or watch netflix, the audik starts off high at full volume, but then goes very low as if the phone had a Automatic Leveler. Is there anyone way to fix this ?
cjegan2008 said:
I just recently bought a Nexus 6, and not to long after I bought it my phones volume started to get very low. When I was on a phone call and switched to speaker, the phone starts the audio off as low, but then gets higher after a few seconds. Now when I listen to music or watch netflix, the audik starts off high at full volume, but then goes very low as if the phone had a Automatic Leveler. Is there anyone way to fix this ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are on stock? i didnt experience it on stock, but did on aosp. on aosp its a bug, that was fixed by a few developers.
Im pretty shocked by the nexus 6 speakers.
1. Speaker phone only works on the top speaker.
2. Anything from the lowest volume till about 2/3rds is nicley scaled then it just jumps in loudness in the last 3 to 4 clicks.
3. The stock sound is shocking bad ! Sounds like they forgot to balance bass and treble.
4. My headphone jace only seems to work with some jacks, an aux lead refuses to work in all 3 of my work vans and my old HTC headsets but works with iphone headsets and some of my aony headsets ( these all worked in my N5 )
5. Where the freekin' EQ ! Really google cant make a EQ letalone a good camera app !!!!
I am on stock. No root, no unlocked bootloader.
The funny thing is, when in place my hand over the front camera lens, and curved around the front, the volume goes back up as if there was a auto level function. If I take my hand off of that speaker, it goes back down because I am in a quite room. Something's not right with that..
I'm not rooted and I have similar issues. When I get phone calls or texts the volume starts out really low then gets high and I can't stand it. Seems to have just started doing this. Same thing when I'm talking to someone, I get a call, I answer it and I can barely hear them then 1 or 2 seconds later it's fine. Driving me crazy. Would love to get this fixed.