iPhone 5 headphone volume too low

I'm an American living in Oregon (currently in Virginia) and I'm having the same issue with the volume. Should I be trying to file a class action?

lol

Can you tell me how to turn off the EU limit? Does it entail having to jailbrake the phone?

No it's in the music settings. No jailbrake here.

Settings: Music: Volume limit

What!? THAT'S the EU limit everyone's talking about!? That's a cinch to change! I'm having issue with it being too quiet even aside from changing that. I thought this volume limit was an actual hardware or software (programming or utility) issue. It's definitely still weaker volume compared to previous iPhone models (which had the same volume limit present in settings before).

If they followed the EU law it would be 85 db with the limit on and 100 db with it off. But if the previous models had the top level at let's say a possible Apple top level of 120 db it would still be a change.

I am playing with the EU level off and I can not go to full volume with the Earpods. One or two clicks down feels like the max I should use and still be comfortable. Why?

I have tinnitus in my left ear. Probably from listening very loud to music all my life. I'm 49 so I was in my teens when the Sony Walkman came out.

So play it safe people... 😉

I found this today because I finally got tired of not being able to listen to music, audio books and podcasts while riding my motorcycle. I had no idea what the Volume Limit meant on my iPhone, nor do I know how it got turned on, but I've beena month trying to figure out what the problem is. Thanks to this forum maybe I have it fixed. Won't know until I get back on mY Moto.

Hi...

With ios 7 is the same ? Anything Chang? Volume too low?

And with the new iphone 5s ??????

Hi Dudikowski,

The Apple Earpods are low impedance headphones so the iPhone 5 does play loud enough through them. That said, they don't fit everyone and more to the point even though the Earpods are a big improvement on the previous free ear buds, they are still not a true audiophile experience.

The higher quality headphones are generally of a higher impedance and many people, like myself, prefer over the ear headphones. These headphones cost anything from £150 £1,500 and then when people find that they are too quiet when plugged into the iPhone 5, people are getting justifiably upset. That is what this link is all about.

One of my best friends is suffering from some hearing loss and tinitus but he hasn't been exposed to loud music or loud environments whereas I also know people with excellent hearing who have been to lots of concerts and raves. Sure, it's not the same as working with a pneumatic drill but there isn't always an external reason for humans losing their senses.

Thanks. I just went from an iPhone 4 to the 5s. Audio is very important to me as I commute on noisy tube trains for two hours a day and it keeps me sane. I moved from a Nokia e71 way back which had the EU restriction and the iPhone 4 was a godsend.

All the iPhone 5s reviews I read praised the audio levels, but presumably these were US based.

The EU ruling is ridiculous. I'm in a noisy environment for two hours a day and blocking this out is a must. Seriously considering keeping the iPhone 4 on as an iPod - but why should I have to carry two devices again? It's not 2004!

Poor play EU and poor play Apple. I advise you to spend an hour on the Jubilee Line.

Over 10 months and still no answer from Apple. . .

Hi Riccardinho,

I'm normally an Apple admirer but I am shocked at Apple's burying their head in the sand attitude. I went from iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 so I know exactly what you mean.

Sadly whilst there is an EU ruling, the **** up appears to be Apple's and not the EU's. Apple appear to have attenuated their audio output referenced to the sound output of their ear-pods. This wouldn't be a problem if the impedance of the ear-pods were similar to expensive audiophole headphones but it isn't. The ear-pods are low impedance and therefore relatively efficient at producing sound.

Spending decent money on quality headphones is wasted if you have an iPhone 5/5c or 5s because you won't be able to get close to the 100dB that the "warnings" are telling us about. Apple has screwed up and are being negligent. Someone somewhere is not telling Tim Cook and at some point in time he'll get to find out but probably not until this story gets out and damages Apple's cred.

Please Apple, wake up and treat your customers with some respect or please stop saying that you love making products for people to enjoy listening to their music on.

I total agree with you. Just got the new iphone 5s and full volume when I use earphones is about 70% my 4s was much louder with better quality. I have been apple all the way never used windows or android but am really considering !!

I too have been suffering from the very low volume on a 5S IOS 7.0.3

It makes no sense in using your new iPhone if you can hear the traffic over your music on way home.

I haven't tried it with a phone call yet,

......

while writing this I just changed the EQ to Late Nite and it's massive difference to volume without having to increase the volume on the files synced to it even when selecting other EQ settings volume seems increased on them as well.

Hope this simple fix helps someone else.

I'll be gutted if it's still low with a phone call, I'll find out tomorrow.

Just got a 5S and the volume is weak. Disappointing to say the least. Switching to MONO in accessibility helped slightly.Then of course no volume limit or EQ. I also downloaded a couple of these crap volume booster apps. Minor improvements, still it's not as loud as the 4S.

Apparently this is supposed to help. It's a rechargeable headphone amp. £20. http://www.bigmouthstrikesagain.com/archives/5186

If you only play music through the official music app the app "Denon audio" seems like a good solution. However if you use other apps like spotify or YouTube it doesn't help.

None the less I shouldn't have to do this! Apple stuff is ******* expensive. With the amount everyone pays for it you would at least expect it to be of a better standard. It's not even like the gear lasts long. Laptops, phones, headphones, chargers all break so quickly.. Would be nice to know your getting what you pay for. Seems like all wer paying for is the name..

I'd rather have decent audio quality than a ******* finger print reader.

It's a real shame. Hopefully something can & will be done about it..

Gave up on apple after the iPhone 5 volume issue and the fact apple never provided a reason or even acknowledged the issue.

Not what you want to hear but im Enjoying my sony z1 and surprised just how good it is and just how android has overtaken ios.. HTC are producing a good sq so maybe its time to move on..