iPad mini retina speakers/volume

Doesn't seems to have any improvement. Very disappointed.

I wasn't talking about the IOS 7.1 software udate, but about the two new references

which appear in following list.

http://www.inquisitr.com/1166740/references-to-unknown-ipad-models-found-within- ios-7-1/

Does somebody know if these new models integrate a better speaker unit ?

I have the same issue, the volume was terrible. I'm in Thailand and I bought it here as well. I realized that I have a sound problem when my friend was watching to his iphone 5s and I told him that mine that he could use mine, and wallah, the moment he heard the volume he said what's wrong with your volume? and we compared and wow, mine can be considered mute on its highest level. the rmini volume was indeed problematic. hope apple can fix this issue.

I also have the same problem with the volume of my iPad Retina and it really annoys me. I feel like I was sold a pup. However, let me put another point of view. Is it possible that this is the way Apple designed the iPad Retina and it is NOT a hardware or software design fault?

There are loads of posts all over the Apple Forum, and elsewhere, about this issue and it really surprises me that Apple have not commented on any of them. (Well there are that many that maybe I’ve missed Apples input).

Let me put forward a few suggestions as to why this might be the case. (I don’t necessarily think it is the case, what I’m trying to do is shift the focus from ‘the volume is crap’ to understanding ‘WHY the volume is crap’

With all the bits and pieces that Apple has stuffed under the hood to make things fit Apple had to put in smaller speakers.

Cost. To keep costs down Apple decided to put in less expensive and smaller speakers and concentrated more on the output from headphones, docks and that sort of thing.

The machine does throw out great sound, if you are wearing ear phones

Like many on this board I’ve been to see the Apple tech guys and they’ve played around with it for a while, carried out resets etc, with it but eventually saying there is nothing wrong with the machine. Do these guys know their business and have they just been told ‘this is how the Retina was designed.’

We’ve all watched exposes on our televisions and read them in newspapers so if there was a fault in the Retina and Apple knew about it and tried to suppress it then I’d be more that surprised that some investigative journalist hasn’t latched on to it. That there hasn’t been a whistle blower somewhere deep within Apple who will out the truth! On that front I’d be surprised if the like of Microsoft saw a blatant hardware fault that they wouldn’t leak it to the public.

Talking about investigative journalism there are very few bad reviews about the iPad that I’ve seen. I live in the UK and the main independent consumer body in the UK, Which?, gave the Retina a 3 Star rating out of 5 and said the following about the machine. Pros: Super-sharp screen, speedy processor, good camera for FaceTime, sleek design. Cons: Expensive, no means of expanding memory, no HDMI output. All of which I’d agree with. In seven customer comments on Which? Review I was the only one to comment upon the volume.

Let me take a look at it from Apple’s viewpoint. From what I can see Apple haven’t made any official comment on this issue. Neither have I seen any unattributed comments from Apple employees, because from their point of view this was how they designed the machine

I’m no geek, all I know is how to work my computer and iPad. I don’t know why it happens and to be honest I don’t really care. Let some of these thoughts exercise your minds and let’s know what you think.

Kevin

If you notice the half volume for speakers is really soft compared to the output when using earphones at also half volume. Maybe this is just to sell out on their other speakers that can boost up volume. Still not satisfied, mh iphone4s is much louder <\3

No updated hardware yet. I just got mine a few days ago and I have the volume problem as well. I got it to use as a phone replacement so the sound issue is kind of a big deal. From the posts I have read in this thread doesn't seem like getting another one will help.

I just got my Rmini about a week ago. I do notice that my daughter's original iPad mini is a bit louder (just a tad bit), however, it sounds like the sound quality on the Rmini is much better. Just my 2 cents...

Nonetheless, I hope this is simply a software issue that gets addressed on the next iOS update.

For everyone here, how noticeable is the sound volume between the two?

The sound using the speaker on my Mini is okay, not great. I listen at the upper end of the volume spectrum (a notch or two below max). I am not particularly hearing impaired, but listen with a pair of 73-year-old ears.

With earphones, the volume is well more than I need.

George

Which mini do you have? Retina version?

Retina. 32GB. iOS 7.1.1

Hi

- followed this thread pretty closely.

- just purchased ipad mini retina display - i am in canada

- 128gb cell wifi ipad mini retina

- yes the volume is a little on the low side

- i have an iphone 5s and the 5s does seem louder.

- the iphone 5s seems to be more tuned for mids and highs

- the sound quality on my ipad mini retina 128gb is actually pretty good better than my iphone 5s but the over all volume is sligthtly lower - the ipad mini retina seems to have a lower frequency response and had better lows and an overall "fuller" frequency range.

- i do wish the ipad mini retina was louder in volume. i usually seem to listen to mine at 1 to 2 notches below max and sometimes need to put at max - this is a bit disappointing to me - i am going to keep mine thought bc i enjoy it otherwise.

- i did take mine to the local apple retail store and did a head to head with 3 different i pad minis on display (a 16gb ipad mini non retina, a 16gb wifi ipad mini retina, and a 16gb wifi cell mini retina). - mine sounded the same as both mini retinas that were on display - the 16 gb non retina mini was a touch louder .... yes there was a difference and the 16gb non retina ipad mini was louder but i did not think it was grossly louder..

- i also went to a chapters book store where they had ipad minis on display and compared using the same songs in the stock playlist - the 16gb non mini retina seemed to be a bit louder and more tuned to mid and lower frequencies (but sounded a little muddy to my ears) - the ipad mini retina on display seemed to be more tuned to highs and mids and sounded a little more "tinny" and hollow (it did lack bass). - i did not have my ipad mini retina with me so i could not compare mine to the demos on display.

- my decision: i ended up keeping miy ipad mini 128 gb retina cell wifi - to date at least.- yes i wish the overall loudness was better - i am not disappointed with the sound qualitiy though - i actually find mine to have a nice frequecny response just lower volume output than hoped for. - the frequency range and sound quality is actually quite acceptable for me and better than my iphone 5s - but the 5s is definitely louder by a little bit - i would say 20 per cent louder but did not measure the decibel output a max volume - this is a subjective observation only.\

- fyi - i dj and do some amateur music production - i do use the dj and music apps for fun (but not in a professional setting)

- as others have stated the volume curve seems exponential and does drop off rather quickly as you turn it down.

- as the speakers are so close together on the unit the stereo setting is a waste for the built-in speakers in my opinion and i find setting to mono as others have suggested does marginally help to increase volume output somewhat however if you are using headphones you would definietly benefit from settgin this back to stereo - this is what i do - toggle back and forth depending on whether i use headphones or the built-in speakers

- hope this info helps you guys - yes not a perfect product but i chose to keep me - and yes over pirced in my opinion. = just my 2 cents - none the less i think will keep it.

cheers

btw ipad air was the loudest i did check this one against all versions of the mini at the retail store side by side but the ipad air is too big for my liking.

- i am not sure if there is a second newer batch (of which mine could be from???) - as i mentioned i recently purchased mine. - i am still running ios 7.0.4 firmware by choice for various reasons... this is what it was shipped with (pre installed). - i asked the apple staff but of course they did not say whether there was a new batch or not and said there is no way of knowing lol - your guess is as good as mine and the apple staff does not seem to divulge any information and did not admit to any known volume issues - not surprising.- they did say they received a shipment about 2 to 3 weeks ago but did not say if mine was from the new shipment and they also said there is no way to tell or identify if mine was from a new shipment - your guess is as good as mine

best of luck

cheers

Appreciate the feedback. Very helpful. I ended up keeping my mini with retina too. I do agree with the sound quality. It's very good...even though it's not as loud as the regular mini.

I have the same problem. Maybe we should all write a feedback directly to Apple. I will certainly do it.

We all can use the Feedback Page:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

And please..... Write it out loud, ..... so they will ear us even if they use the Ipad Mini retina 😉

Mine too.. just got my mini retina 2days ago, the sound of the speaker was really good and high till the 3 day.. It sounds so low now, my iPhone 4s sounds way better and it produces stronger sounds! Is this an issue with the hardware?? I hope not..