iPhone (iOS 5) High Bass Audio Distortion

Hi. I have recently bought apple iphone 4s 64gb hoping I can get a much better sound quality for my VSONIC GR07 headphones (I had samsung galaxy s2 previously). But to be honest I am a bit dissappointed. Especially the bass. They are kinda... weird. A bit low (galaxy s2 had higher bass volume imo, of course both phones without eq) and also a bit distorted. I'm listening to apple lossless.

I tried to check the Smart Encoding Adjustment in the iTunes Import Settings -> MP3 Encoder -> Custom MP3 Encoder window. I feel better low fequencies, but maybe it's only an illusion.

Any update on this? And does anyone know whether this is an Ipod or Itunes problem?

I think this is an iPod issue. Whenever I play Pandora I get a lot of distortion, but less so than from iTunes. This leads me to believe it is a firmware issue and not hardware. I definitely noticed the change after the iOS upgrade.

I'm a loyal Apple-phile owning an iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro and always thought highly of the programming skills of Apple. Now . . . ?

Anybody here know anything about this issue?!

You have got to be kidding me Apple!

I thougth this would finally be fixed with the release of iOS 5.1, but NO!

I am so pi$$ed right now, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS $H!T! 😠

After updating my iPhone 4 to IOS 5.1 and listening to music 2 full days, I have heard 2 songs with distortion and that was in highs not in bass. I think it may be these files that are not OK, because killing the music app did not change anything on those songs as it used to do when running IOS 5.0.1. On my part I can almost conclude that this bug is fixed.

The distortion is still there and even more so if you up the volume in iTunes options which is what most people are complaining about. All of my music was set at 100% in the iTunes option menu and all sounded great until I stupidly updated to ios5 plus many people have notice that the bass EQ has been adjusted but not in a good way. I passed on the opportunity to upgrade to a 4s and now I'm seeking an alternative because apple seem to not pay any attention to this problem even tho many of us have complained to genius bar and via apple feedback. Really poor handling of it all that's the impression I'm left with.

Yes, I must admit that I am not using the Volume option, although I had this problem with Volume set at 0% with IOS 5.0.1 but not anymore.

OK! It took some time but disortion is still there. It only happens after some listening and to get rid of it I kill the music app and restart the music.

So yes the problem is still present. :-(((((((((((

Has anyone here updated there iPhone to 5.1 yet? Has it fixed the distortion problem?

Updated my iPod Touch and the problem is the same.

Upgraded to ios 5.1. Still exactly the same on iPad 2, 4s and 3GS in my household. All headphone audio distorted if any bass. Come on apple, this is a disgrace.

It's the same thing with The New iPad. Who is this affecting? New product same problem, why is not more being said about this?

I have updated both my i-Tunes and i-Phone recently and have 10.06.0.40 and iOS 5.1 installed.

I note that the audible software is licensed by Apple from a company called Audible when I look at "About i-Tunes" under the Help menu in i-Tunes. I would suggest that if a problem exists, these are the people who would be able to resolve it, at the request of Apple of course.

I am using Windows XP operating system, therefore i-Tunes has been adapted by Apple to run on my machine compared to a Mac.

My music files are in AAC format and not MP3.

Like everybody else here, I have noted a degradation in the quality of music in terms of audible THD, in both bass and mid-range in the last 6 months. I have been listening to both Mumford and Sons and Chris Isaak and male vocals on both are distorted. There are specific tracks which really show up the THD.

I have tried to be objective and to isolate the source of the THD:

1. i-Tunes with and without Sound Check > No THD improvement.
2. i-Tunes Sound Enhancer at low-mid-high position >No THD improvement.
3. i-Tunes with and without the Equalizer.
4. Reduction in i-Tunes pre-amp signal (left hand slider) using i-Tunes Equalizer. Set to Manual I noted big improvement in THD at - 6dB or lower.
5. Variation in specific frequencies of the pre-amp signal, using i-Tunes Equalizer. Set to Manual I noted big improvement in THD by reducing -6dB to frequencies of 500hz or lower.

Conclusion: The results of my crude test would suggest that the preamp signal has been boosted and is saturating/clipping causing audible THD. Why? Possibly because i-Tunes is a common platform for all Apple products and there is different audio hardware and drivers in each product, notwithstanding music equalizers in each product. The i-Tune preamp settings are possibly a compromise - not a good one - for all their products giving rise to the THD noted by everybody. It is difficult to believe Apple is not aware of the problem but resolving the issue for all their products would probably be difficult and costly? Come on Apple, come clean with your customers and remember i-Tunes put you where you are today and generates massive sales for you!