Anyone else finding that sounds are distorted on the new 17 pro max speakers? Anything from listening to voicemails or playing back videos recorded on the phone, seems to distort out of the top speaker or bottom. Volume isn’t even higher than half way, or close to it. Is there maybe a setting I need to change somewhere?
iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26
This seems to have helped the issue for me.. it will tell you online that in iPhone settings, under music, the equaliser (EQ) only applies when playing Apple Music. However I swear that this is not the case on this phone as if you put the equaliser onto almost any setting it will distort on a lot of other platforms or channels too as they are possibly already compressed to maximum levels and then any tinkering with the sound causes distortion. The solution that I have found is to set that equaliser to off or flat when not playing music. Try it out, see if it works for you. It seems to be some weird glitch where the equaliser settings now apply across almost the whole phone. I think this is responsible for the horrendous and unbearable distortion particularly on things like YouTube videos with a lot of spoken word content. Anyway, this kind of worked for me, after a lot of playing about as the audio quality was horrendous until I did this. Now it’s way better, but I wish Apple had bothered to find this out/explain this…
This seems to have helped the issue for me.. it will tell you online that in iPhone settings, under music, the equaliser (EQ) only applies when playing Apple Music. However I swear that this is not the case on this phone as if you put the equaliser onto almost any setting it will distort on a lot of other platforms or channels too as they are possibly already compressed to maximum levels and then any tinkering with the sound causes distortion. The solution that I have found is to set that equaliser to off or flat when not playing music. Try it out, see if it works for you. It seems to be some weird glitch where the equaliser settings now apply across almost the whole phone. I think this is responsible for the horrendous and unbearable distortion particularly on things like YouTube videos with a lot of spoken word content. Anyway, this kind of worked for me, after a lot of playing about as the audio quality was horrendous until I did this. Now it’s way better, but I wish Apple had bothered to find this out/explain this…
I have this exact issue. Sound (especially voice) is clipping / distorted. It’s on the top speaker on mine and is pretty bad. I was waiting for iOS update hoping that might sort it out but as it hasn’t I’ve raised it with Apple this afternoon. I’d encourage you guys to do the same
If you have a hearing or sound issue on your device then please try some of these processes to set it right
If the above options do not mitigate the issues then Contact your carrier and then Contact Apple Support
Yup. Found a few forums of people complaining about the same thing. Doesn’t happen with every video/sound, but nearly. Gotta keep it a little lower than 100% volume so it doesn’t sound too distorted.
Several other users have reported a sound issue similar to what you’re describing. Have you talked to Apple Support about the issue? What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far?
I thought i was going crazy! Apple store techs do too apparently. Ive noted this and the screen being not as responsive as opposed to iphone 14 pro max.. going back for ANOTHER apple store appointment. I regret this purchase so much.
yes same here on 17 pro , it gets distorted / clipping/ harsh /cracking sound on more than60% volume especially with commentator videos
Hi, has anyone found a solution? I have the 17 pro and the sound is so distorted. I noticed it even on a call. It’s not crisp like my iPhone 12 Pro. I am highly disappointed.
Hi, did you get it fixed? What did they say?
iPhone 17 pro max distorted sound
