I’m using iPhone SE w/ wired earbuds & lightning to 3.5mm jack dongle. I use it because I’m hearing impaired. If I go to standard mic call or speakers, both sides get through (but I struggle to understand) so I’d like to solve the problem.
I’ve tested on my Mom’s identical phone — it’s the dongle, but I’ve gone through 3 in 6 months. Is there some trick to keeping the sound working?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone SE
I understand your frustration. I just don't how to fix it for you. I'll hope that maybe Santa finds it in his budget to get you a nice pair (not el-cheapo, drug store Bluetooth) earbuds this year.
Take a look at this very affordable set of Bluetooth Earbuds from Soundcore --> https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Cancelling-Wireless-Environments-Bluetooth/dp/B0CQXG17RL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2EEXBXM9XN2UO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9FEkeegCaLLjlFbbkA08Xp2OPItwPrZ6q0cxtDDUnz45k-SJ0NJ1vd2MBhf1NcyabbXhDhEywVgO6CktRzsJsJJURi2Wq1vk9FaFyAd6bdJHsMpsy-dYV-uXsIGoOpJoXvXnr3v35kZODeBcbrxb1NVdEixHgIPnRoFarEQit4JA7eFoi0M9ygD4IyiUgDfYRQ3I1odGjtEvLstWTwaHTV7rx0uQjPFQ_s8WQZqkU-k.JKvzP4J-jKfB2yfT4fdCFEd1aPyEVe3Rug3kHvOagEE&dib_tag=se&keywords=soundcore%2Bliberty&qid=1731970258&sprefix=soundcore%2Bliberty%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-5&th=1
And they come with various sizes of ear tips, so you'd be hard pressed to not find ones which fit your ears well. They offer good battery life and Soundcore is highly regarded. $60 isn't much to pay for something which could solve your problems with your current wired earbuds.
They are Apple ear pods with a mic and I just dictated this post through them.
They were working just fine on calls until (I think) the connector failed just for Outbound voice day before yesterday. The connector works fine for everything else.
Oh I know — I actually have a really cheap pair (Sentry!?!) I got from some dollar store bin when I got the phone just to experiment.
I still use them occasionally with a ‘hearing app’ and park the phone by the TV so I can listen without turning the sound up much at night.
But the lag is horrible and the sound profile is way too bass forward; I can adjust for that some in the hearing app.
I’ve tried them on calls and it’s just no good.
Trying a ‘better’ pair is on my list, but not my budget just now. If I do, I really want to find the best ear fit for me (it’s been a problem w my deep but narrow ears for wired buds, too, going back to the first Walkmans 😝)
For now, I do more “stream TV or music” on my laptop listening with the wired Ear Pods (no lag, no dongle with older laptop.) I can on my iPhone, too. It’s just the calls that went ‘flooey’ this week! I’ve gotta find a solution besides buying new dongles by the dozen.
Thanks for listening to my little rant about this!
If the wired earbuds don't have a microphone built into them, callers won't hear you, but you will hear them. You need new earbuds which also have a microphone for phone calls to work both ways.
BlueKatKLJ wrote:
They are Apple ear pods with a mic and I just dictated this post through them.
they were working just fine on calls until (I think) the connector failed just for Outbound voice day before yesterday. The connector works fine for everything else.
Then they should work, since they are Apple. But wired Apple earbuds are quite old at this point, so it could be an issue with them specifically. That would be impossible for any of us users to diagnose from our living rooms.
True. This pair were a new purchase within the year, and every other use of the EarPods + connector seems fine still. (Videos, podcasts, Etc.) I even dictated some posts and texts, though I’m not sure if that uses the phone mic even when I’m connected.
I’m trying to do the diagnosis (cross testing with Mom’s phone) but looking for any insights. The way this conked out, I feel like there might be some software/ setting issue I’m unaware of. Losing JUST outbound voice on calls, and only through the wired set up, seems — odd.
I'm not aware of any setting which blocks the microphone on headphones from working during a phone call. I wish I could offer more guidance. I haven't used wired headphones on any iPhone in several years now. Bluetooth works so well.
Thanks for the input anyway. I figured it was a long shot to find anyone here who might have some insight.
I’ve tried wireless a bit, but find more cons than pros. The Apple ones (and some others) fall out of my ears, they don’t give me clear voices, the lag of my OWN voice in a conversation drives me batty, and the cost & battery life (and useful life of most wireless earbuds) just doesn’t work for me. Most are tuned for heavy bass, which is the opposite of what I need for hearing voices in a conversation. Those that give you some control of that don’t necessarily apply it to phone apps, just music apps.
I'll admit I haven’t ponied up for the newest version to see if the fit & lag have improved enough for me to spend that much.
These 1yo Apple wired ear pods with some cheap skins to keep them in my ears were solving it for me until this started. Arrrggghh!
Firs, you aren NOT limited to only Apple AirPods in Bluetooth headphones. And so much has changed in Bluetooth technology. I admit I've put some money into my Bluetooth earbuds, but my top 3 favorites are:
There are other much lower cost options which are really good for the money. Anker Soundcore BT Earbuds, consistently get great reviews.
Thanks. I know you can’t fix it. I appreciate the info you had.
The ear fit thing — I need someone to make an extra small, extra long set. Narrow and deep outer ear. The body of most earbuds are resting uncomfortably on my outer ear while the tip hasn’t even reached the rim of my ear canal.
Best fit I’ve had (still not great) has been cheap JLab JBud Pros that have a sort of “pop out” feature on the tips and soft wings to lock the bud in the outer ear.
Oh this is funny — apparently using the medical names of some of the outer ear parts were disallowed for posting. Sounded rude? what?
Edit to add: iPhone SE3, iOS 17.7.1
Callers can’t hear me but I hear them with Apple EarPods on iPhone SE
