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

Reply
359 replies

Jul 12, 2009 8:58 PM in response to Thanar

Thank you all for posting which models work, especially Thanar & Solid Swede! I have been looking for the perfect headset because I was experiencing many of the same call quality problems that are described here. I think apple may agree to swap out my 3G to try and see if it may just be my phone. But my headsets work fine with my other phones in the same places. For some reason bluetooth sounds poor on my 3G, running latest 3.0 software. Apple, please keep working to make bluetooth features better.

Jul 13, 2009 6:04 AM in response to Thanar

What i figured out, its not a RAM problem.
I have free my ram and test and there is no change if i have a lot of free ram or not.

I got some minor improvement when i disable so many process as i can (mail etc.) so the disturbing dstutting does not happen so often. But still happens.

Looks like a priority problem to the processes...
May some of the main process cath up to many CPU time but I'm not familar to track that.

Cheers

Jul 14, 2009 1:00 AM in response to Thanar

Hey guys,
i keep on looking in the internet and i found the solution for Iphone OS 3.0 im using plantronics voyager 885 and having the same problem low voice on the other end and crappy voice too but for me this method work i hope yours work too..

1. go to Settings> General> Bluetooth> forget device (delete your bluetooth headset)

2. Turn "OFF" bluetooth

3. Press and hold both "Home" and "Power On/Off" buttons for 12 seconds.
(you will see iPhone rebooting with Apple icon)
4. After reboot, Turn "ON" bluetooth

5. Re-pairing your Bluetooth device.

6. Normal Bluetooth headset's microphone volume is BACK!
Enjoy.

Jul 20, 2009 6:53 AM in response to Thanar

HI everybody again,

Thanar is right the method i use was not for long...

so i decided to go to the mothership here in japan, Apple Ginza store and ask them if they have a solution for our problem.
they try my plantronics voyager 855 on there iphone 3G, iphone 3GS and you know what STILL THE SAME PROBLEM they say that maybe my headset have a problem, but i bring my old windows mobile htc phone and its working perfectly! they even bring there out there bluetooth (bluetrek sugar headset) and its more worse all of the model they have no audio at all so guy apple have a very big problem with this bluetooth thing and I'm pist off somebody should do something about this!. they shouldn't put bluetooth on this iphone is not working basic stuff!

Jul 29, 2009 12:42 PM in response to Thanar

Hi, I think the problem with using BT headset with iPhone is that iPhone mutes the microphone when there's no sound AND also when the other person is talking. Think about it for a minute. That's probably the reason why some experience less problems while driving a car. The surrounding sound kind of keeps the "chanel" open. But when the other person talks, the sound still fades away. Anyway, it's a non acceptable lack of funktion that Apple doesn't seem to bother. That's quite annoying.

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Bluetooth audio quality concerns

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