Background whistle
I have noticed a 'whistle' like noise between tracks on music app (SE 2020) is this a developing fault or can it be 'cured' ?
iPhone SE, iOS 14
Question marked as
Hey Smoothpierre,
This is an interesting one! High pitched speaker sounds are generally caused by interference, incorrect sound settings, or a ground fault/loop. Physical issues with the speakers are usually more of a buzzing but whistling is not impossible. Make sure to take off any case and check for loose buttons/switches before testing and troubleshooting.
If you go to the Settings App > Music you have some limited EQ control. I have mine set for small speakers since I use the internal iPhone speakers most often. You can also try turning on or off Sound Check to see if it has an affect. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-the-way-music-sounds-iph5643d2c85/14.0/ios/14.0
If you notice the sound only when your phone is charging the issue would likely be a ground loop/interference and is not super uncommon or avoidable. iPhones have a lot of magnets inside wreaking havoc on the speakers already so when power is added it can just be a bit too much.
If you use a Bluetooth accessory there could be an issue with your connection, bluetooth hardware, or the accessory itself plus Bluetooth is not a great medium for audio quality. Here are some steps in an Apple Support article https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208896. "If you listen to music or other audio via Bluetooth headphones, and then you open an app that uses the Bluetooth headphones' built-in microphone, the audio quality and volume are reduced. You might also hear static or popping sounds. "
If you notice with plug headphones the most common issue would be dirt or grime in the Lightning Port or bad headphones. If you clean the Lightning Port be very careful. I personally prefer taking my iPhone in for service for anything beyond "dusting" with a very soft child's paintbrush. If the headphones are bad I recommend checking out AirPods. I recently bought the Pro's and they are better than I expected.
If its a software issue you first would likely want to see if an app causing it or iOS. To do this I recommend a backup, return to default settings, test, erase, test, then restore. Keep in mind the most important step here is the backup. A full backup with USB is your best option.
Return iPhone settings to their defaults If it goes away with this then its just a pesky setting
Erase iPhone If it goes away here then an app was likely the culprit. Check out the Settings App > Privacy > Media & Apple Music to see which app have access
Restore all content from a backup If none of that made it go away then iOS 14 is the most likely culprit. Apple Support would be your next stop so they can research and hopefully resolve for you in the future.
I hope you find this helpfull!
Scott (He, Him, His)