Level 2

302 points

Bluetooth audio quality concerns

OK, I'm opening a new thread with this one, since I would really like to gather opinions of people who are also facing bluetooth audio quality issues.

Since I got my iPhone 3G, and paired it with my bluetooth headsets, people have been complaining that the couldn't hear me well. My voice would crack up, or even not make it at all to the other side. I got a couple of new bluetooth headsets, only to find out that it wasn't the headsets' fault. That said, I would like to add, that all the headsets that seem to misbehave when paired to the iPhone, work great when in use with my older SE mobile phone.

I did some testing and found out that, the issue of my side cracking up or not sounding at all would only arise when the OTHER party was in a noisy environment (usually trying to talk to somebody in a Mall would do the trick). That said, I would also like to add that when talking through the iPhone itself (even on speakerphone), would work fine!

I am suspecting that there is an echo cancelation feature build-into the iPhone that revs up when talking through a bluetooth headset and seems to cut-off my headset's input level when strong noise it detected from the other side, presumably to avoid echo. Seems like this feature is badly tuned, in a way that communication can no longer work in an syncronous way.

What seems strange to me is that, after updating to v2.2 of iPhone software, the issue seemed to have gone away; however, it looks like it's back!

This whole situation could also be connected to various bluetooth quality issues many people are facing when using bluetooth car kits. I would suggest you try and connect such issues with the NOISE on the OTHER END.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I will try and put together a Skype call that would hopefully demostrate what I am trying to say.

iPhone 3G v2.2

Posted on Nov 26, 2008 4:23 AM

359 replies

_Mac

Level 1

4 points

Oct 12, 2009 1:05 AM in response to Thanar

STILL working!
Made several calls during the weekend with my iPhone 3GS & Apple BT headset, also tested some calls in my car (Nokia Carkit) - still works great! Regardless of noise or not in the background.

Almost an BT-headset issue 😉
The only time I had any trouble was when I discovered that the BT headset don't get charged when the "travel-loader" is connected to a Apple docking-station - really stupid! Of course one want's to charge the iPhone AND the BT-headset over night! FYI simple solution: disconnect the docking-station...

Otherwise my BT is still working. Also done several synchronizations without any trouble. More reports to come with other headsets (got 12 more BT-headsets due to this issue!)...

Oct 12, 2009 1:22 AM in response to Ronald Hatcher

Is there any evidence that Apple look at this thread or are we wasting our time (and money!!)?

Thanar Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 12, 2009 2:10 AM in response to _Mac

I would recommend while testing the other headsets that you DO NOT delete the currently working headset from iPhone's bluetooth list. I tend to believe that once it works fine, it will probably continue to do so until you erase it from the list, in which case it's a 50-50 shot.

_Mac

Level 1

4 points

Oct 12, 2009 2:22 AM in response to Thanar

@Thanar
Thank's for the tip, I'll keep it paired for now. But to really get to the bottom of it, we should try and release it and then pair it again - after pairing som other BTs. I'm just happy that it works now with my 3GS but don't see why, unless 3GS has another firmware for BT than 3G...

@pdeseymour
Yes, I believe Apple is watching this thread. I proof of that is that I got "censured" on some posts here a while ago. So keep this thread running...

Thanar Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 12, 2009 2:55 AM in response to _Mac

No, 3GS isn't free from this issue. My brother, having a recent Plantronics headset, hasn't yet been able to get rid of the issue. What's more, after many e-mails to Plantronics, they informed him that they intent to contact Apple directly in order to work together on this.

Oct 12, 2009 4:15 AM in response to Thanar

Well, problem is back for me. I didn't erase the headset i just tried to connect via the phone (the auto-connect wasn't working)and after that...kaboom..., I don't know if that somehow affected the performance of the headset but I'm just putting down my experience.
The dissapointment keeps on going on. You have a phone that the only things it can't actually do is fly and connect properly with bluetooth headsets.... how lame is that tell me 😝
Thnx for making me reset my iphone for no apparent reason.

Message was edited by: masterstif

Oct 12, 2009 4:59 AM in response to Thanar

Tried to operate it away from the wifi router of my work and results were still really poor. Well i give up on this matter, I ain't gonna loose any more costumers cause Apple can't make something THAT simple to work.
Maybe some other guys are gonna loose their costumers too...

Oct 13, 2009 8:00 PM in response to masterstif

Apple products "just work". Yeah, right. This Bluetooth problem *****. I have tried and tried to work with Apple on this issue but it's not working out for me. I'm going to call them one more time tomorrow and see what happens. I have tried the follow steps:

1. Different areas, therefore different towers. Not a network problem.
2. Three different model Bluetooth headsets. On one, I tried three different ones of the same model, including one that was new out of the box. (Plantronics, Motorola, and Samsung). Not a problem with the BT headset.
3. With and without 3G on. Wasn't that.
4. With and without WiFi on. Wasn't that.
5. With and without Location Services on. Wasn't that.
6. Two button reset. Wasn't that.
7. Sim card in a different phone. Works fine in different phones.
8. Replaced the iphone. Wasn't that.
9. First iphone was on 3.1. Second one was on 3.0, upgraded to 3.1.2. Wasn't the OS version.
10. Other callers are on AT&T so it's not a carrier to carrier issue.

So, with all the discussion about this and the information I have provided, it appears the iPhone just plain ***** with Bluetooth. Actually, mine has even had similar problems using the handset but I use BT almost exclusively. Additionally, there is no excuse for them to not have an option to turn off BT redial. Oh wait, maybe they don't care about that feature since the Bluetooth feature on the iPhone TOTALLY *****.

I had the same problem with my Blackberry Pearl on Alltel. I had to go into the device options and change "Echo Control" from "Automatic" to "Off". But of course, Apple doesn't let us have any type of granular control...why would they do that? Their products just work! Whatever.

Prove me wrong...anyone...I dare you. I double dog dare you.

null

Oct 13, 2009 10:37 PM in response to Thanar

troyy0206
Couldn't agree more. Seems that Apple developers are unaware of the modern way of living, where blutetooth communication is almost essential for businessmen.
This thread exists for a whole year and there is not a permanent solution!!!!
That is dissapointing, isn't ?

Thanar Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 14, 2009 10:52 AM in response to troyy0206

troyy0206,

Although I am generally happy with the Apple products, I admit that this bluetooth issue has been going on for quite a long time.

I also find interesting your experience around the "Echo Control" option of the Blackberry that was producing a similar effect when on, since I've been talking about this issue being a drawback of some "echo cancellation" technique used in the iPhone since day one. An option to turn it off would be a bliss.

Bottom line, although I still believe Apple to be a great company, I agree that they have lots to learn from others.

P.S. turning off bluetooth redial would be quite useful for me as well, but that's another story. Have to make it work first, just as you said.

Oct 15, 2009 1:45 AM in response to Thanar

I hope this is not like a silly way from Apple to choose their original headset..
I can't see any other real reason.LOL

Oct 15, 2009 4:45 AM in response to troyy0206

Just to add to the analysis. I am having the same issues with my Bluetooth phone connection as mentioned in my earlier post. However, sound quality over B/T when playing music or other non-phone sounds is perfectly OK. So, doesn't this prove that this is not a radio issue and therefore nothing to do with external interference? To my mind, this proves that this is deep within the firmware where there is some sort of application clash!

Just my two-pennyworth!

Thanar Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 15, 2009 5:12 AM in response to masterstif

Their original headset has been discontinued. Apart from that, there were plenty of issues with the Apple Bluetooth Headset, as well!

Oct 15, 2009 10:42 AM in response to Thanar

3.1 and still no fix........they've really dropped the ball on this issue

Oct 15, 2009 10:57 AM in response to Thanar

Yes, the echo control option on the Blackberry did the exact same thing when it was on, but only on the Alltel network. I was with two other CDMA carriers (Verizon was one) and it was the opposite--without Echo Control on, the other person heard all the bg noise. I have a call in and supposedly it's being escalated and they are supposed to call me back. I told them that "with a thread that has over 23,000 views, SOMEONE at Apple knows something about this and I want to talk to them." When I questioned them about this thread, it was like I was talking to some political radical because they wouldn't acknowledge my question of facts, just kept rambling about trying to upgrade the firmware in my BT headset. We'll see if they actually call me back.

That said, I bought a Sound ID 300 Bluetooth yesterday and it's working fine so far. Hopefully this will get me around the issue until they actually fix it. The down side is that I had a chance to buy about 15 bluetooths for $5 each last year and now I have all those for spares that I can't use unless they fix it.

The other part of my bad experience was that I was out of town and did not have a good backup of my phone. The only thing I really didn't have were my pictures that I had taken on that trip. The guy says, "Well, why don't you just email them to yourself?" So, I took about 20 minutes to attach them five at a time to emails and send them. Then, the guy takes my phone and does a wipe on it before any of the emails had time to go out so I lost ALL my pictures. I have worked with MANY companys with support...Dell, Microsoft, Cisco, Compaq, HP...you name it...Apple support (for someone like me that REALLY needed support) is as bad as the rest, if not worse.

The other theory I have is the same thing but possibly the opposite scenario causing it. When I think back to the past couple of weeks of complaints, the complaints were almost all from my girlfriend, but she didn't always have the problem. However, the times that she did complain I was in a VERY quiet environment rather than her being so much in a noisy environment. Once I was in my car in a parking garage with no noise and most of the time I was at my desk not typing or anything. I haven't had time to test it and may not now that I have a workaround...but I wonder if extreme quiet on my end and any noise at all on her end was causing it to cancel my voice out along with the noise from her side? When I was driving in my car I didn't seem to have a problem or if I was outside or in a mall I didn't seem to have the problem...something to ponder...

Message was edited by: troyy0206

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Bluetooth audio quality concerns