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

Jan 4, 2010 7:29 AM in response to Thanar

So maybe I should wait up on buying my Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980?

Thanar Author

Level 2

302 points

Jan 4, 2010 10:11 AM in response to slowman21

It depends...

I believe bluetooth will SOME DAY work as it was supposed to work from day one. The big question is WHEN will this beautiful day come! Until then, my experience shows that, no matter which bluetooth headset you buy, you'll sooner or later end up having issues with it.

So, if you are thinking that by the time bluetooth works right on the iPhone your HBH-DS980 would be rendered obsolete by some newer model, I guess you should pass. At least until the next iPhone software makes it to the public.

Jan 4, 2010 10:48 AM in response to Thanar

This discussion is about a wireless (cordless) headset per the definition of Bluetooth (an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances).

The corded hands free headset sounds fine as you mention. The corded headset is currently the option for hands free that provides the best sound but of course has the restrictiveness of a wire.

Message was edited by: breinders

Jan 4, 2010 11:41 AM in response to breinders

Disregard my previous post until I figure out how to delete or edit it.

Sorry Thanar - I replied to your post thinking it was posing a question to the forum. I just realized you were seeking clarification regarding a previous post and didn't need an explanation of what the forum is discussing.

Message was edited by: breinders

Jan 4, 2010 2:08 PM in response to Thanar

Is it so difficult for apple to fix this problem??
I have a handsfree from plantronics, PROplantronics, and I changed it 3 times, because I thought the handsfree was broken.

Now I know that, its my 3gs!
I talk allot, about 4-5 h. So I must have a working phone!
It seems that 50 euro phones work better than the iphone!
How is that possible?

Now I have to use my old ericsson.

APPLE, FIX THIS! IT HAS ALLREDY GONE 12 MONTHS!!!

dreamed

Level 1

0 points

Jan 5, 2010 7:05 AM in response to Micha Danel

Hello

I have bought the new headset Plantronics Discovery 975.
I have terrible echo when I call (nobody can hear me correctly...).
More, I have tested with a Sony Ericsson HBH, I have the same quality of sound.
It's definitly a problem with the Iphone 3GS.
I have restarted, repaired, restore it, NOTHING works.

It's unbelievable,
Please help me

suparuss

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2010 6:38 AM in response to dreamed

I am relieved to find this forum, I have been experiencing the same problem on my brand new iPhone 3Gs

I sent the following message to iPhone feedback, although I don't see there being a fix any time soon

"When I use my bluetooth headset to make a call with my brand new iPhone, people complain that my voice is too quiet and that it sounds "distant".

I have conducted the following tests:

1) Different noise environments: this occurs specifically when there is background noise on the other persons end (ie. they are driving or in a crowd) - if the conversation starts in a quiet place and moves to a noisier one the quality of my voice downgrades considerably

2) I have tested several different bluetooth headsets with my iPhone and they all experience the same problem

3) I have tested each bluetooth headset with different phones, using my SIM card. No problems at all

4) Different iPhones: 3G, 3Gs, original. All experienced the same problem

5) I have tried a reset of my iPhone, no change

6) I have disconnected and reconnected bluetooth headsets. No change

I can only assume there is some kind of noise/echo reduction feature which I would like to be able to disable

This has been experienced by many other iPhone users who have posted on this Apple forum, posts dating back years
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1804116&start=255&tstart=0"

Jan 14, 2010 5:25 AM in response to Thanar

It seems that this issue will go on for ages ...

Aronis

Level 1

77 points

Jan 26, 2010 10:40 AM in response to masterstif

I've been round and round with this issue also.

My original Iphone with Apple's BT headset was fine. Excellent audio volume in the car. With the 3Gs and Apple's BT the audio volume is not enough. This is also a problem with my motorola headset which while a bit louder than the Apple one is not loud enough to use in a noisy environment. I use the wired headset with mic. That's a different story since the Apple wired headsets last about 3 months before something breaks. (great sound quality though)

So when is Apple going to admit in print that they deliberately limit the volume on the BT headset to appease some BS government sound level regulation???? The loudest setting on a cellphone headset or phone itself should read something like "Too &^*(&%^ Loud" so that when you need "Too ( ^()&^ Loud" you can have it that way. Like when your driving down the highway and cannot simply put the phone to your face because that's "Too Dangerous" yet fiddling with the BT headset is "Safe."

Mike

RZ500

Level 1

0 points

Jan 26, 2010 10:47 AM in response to Thanar

I´m testing with an old BT from Hitachi, and the same as the old BenQ it works great, definitely is something with the BT 2.0 software.

Message was edited by: RZ500

durancd

Level 1

4 points

Jan 26, 2010 2:15 PM in response to RZ500

Just for clarification, the major audio quality issue has to do with the bluetooth device's voice input, not the volume of the output. I don't doubt that there are people who have issues with poorly amplified output, but the bigger issue is the poor performance on handling voice input through the mic.

Thanar Author

Level 2

302 points

Jan 27, 2010 2:14 AM in response to Thanar

It is possible that the next iPhone software version will be announced today; we will be waiting for the update, in case this issue gets resolved...

Jan 28, 2010 12:59 AM in response to Thanar

Well, no new firmware for us yet 😝

Jan 28, 2010 5:36 AM in response to Thanar

And it's also funny the fact that iPad will have mobile phone capabilities, which means that in any way they will be in terrible need of a decent BT headset use.Cause as u may know iPad is huge, can't be held as you do with a mobile device.
Will they manage to figure that out, considering all those problems with bluetooth?
That's interesting!

Jan 30, 2010 7:18 AM in response to Thanar

Maybe I am in the wrong thread but I think not.

My beef is not with attempting to use my stereo bt headset for voice calls but for what nature intended it to be used for, streaming stereo music.

I updated to 3.1.2 the other day (no reason just noticed it was available) and I think the cutting out while streaming music to my has gotten worse. So bad, in fact, that I give up and I'll have to take the retrograde step of going back to a wired headset.

I know Apple now think they are a mobile company but someone in their organisation really ought to purchase the most basic Nokia headset with stereo BT capability to see what stereo bluetooth actually means!

I absolutely will not even consider an iPad until such time as Apple fixes all stereo BT issues including supportinG AVRDP.

LouisB

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Bluetooth audio quality concerns