Lower headphone volume in Iphone 4s

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Jorge1981 Author

Level 1

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Lower headphone volume in Iphone 4s

Hello to everyone!

When using headphones connected to my iPhone 4s there is not the same volume level as it is with another iPhone 4s with same volume setting and same ios 7.1 version.

I just bought good quality headphones, SENNHEISER MOMENTUM OVER-EAR, they work very well so I am so happy with the purchase.

The problem is that I've compared the sound volume with two different iPhones 4s (my girlfriend's and mine) and I could hear a big different of sound level between them, one of them is crearly lower than the other , I am talking about 15-20% less.

I've been searching about this issue on internet but I couldn´t solve the problem yet even checking all the settings shown in diferent forums and web pages.

Aparently this issue can be fixed checking something called UE VOLUME LIMIT, I set that option off and the level above to maximum but I steel get the same maximun volume level.

This is what I have setted in the iPhone that has lower volume:

I restored the iPhone 4s but it didn´t make any change, even tried to set it as a new iPhone but it didn't help either.

Because I´ve got the two iPhones I am able to look for any diferents in the music settings but both of them are setted the same way.

Both are updated to the ios 7.1 version, there is only one thing in the settings that doesn´t show the same in both of them.

The one that has louder volume shows this in it´s music configuration:

As yo can see, the one with louder volume doesn't have the second line, just the upper line where yo can set the volume limit...

I am wondering if may be this is the reason, because is the only difference I found.

I understand that if there is a volume limit it is for safety reasons but depending on where yo are (at home or out in the street) the external noise makes the higher volume of my lower volume iPhone be not loud enough to listen music properly, and other situation is when it is not loud enough depending on the type of music your are listening, may be recorded with lower volume so this is why I need to get that 15-20% more volume as the other iPhone does so I can really enjoy my new headphones

(I apologice for my basic english level)

Hope some body can give me more clues to keep trying more ways to fix this.

Thank you very much, best regards

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.1

Posted on Mar 26, 2014 6:24 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 26, 2014 12:13 PM in response to Jorge1981

well since you disabled the volume limit on one iphone that is why the bar is not there on the second picture and would be a good reason why one is louder than the other (if its turned on of course) if its not turned on and its still a lot quieter it is most likely a hardware problem and you need to go get it fixed by apple

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Answer 2

Jorge1981 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2014 1:12 PM in response to Community User

Thank you for your answer

What I mean with the pictures is that the first one (my own iPhone) has the EU volume limit button, (wich is turned off, because if not, it wolud be even lower) and the second one (my girlfriends iPhone) doesn´t have that option at all, just the volume bar.

I,ve read that from 2013 models, the music devices were limited in sound level due to the european law about hearing safety.

The thing is that both iPhones were bought at the same time in 2012, it is true that apple changed my iPhone in the warranty time due to another issue with the wi-fi..., then may be from 2013, so that could be an explanation of why my girlfriend´s one (with same ios 7.1 version) doesn´t show that UE volume limit button, or at least, that is what I thought...

Anyway, we also have got the iPad Air, we bought it a couple of months ago but it doesn´t have that EU volume limit button... so I don´t understand it, ...that is why may be it is just a simple hardware problem as you say.

My only doubt now is, because it seems like more people have been affected by this issue and I also have read that some of them went to apple technical service, but even with a another new iPhone, they still had the same problem...

That is why I was expecting a software/configuration solution, but of course you can be right.

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Answer 3

May 3, 2014 12:30 PM in response to Jorge1981

Hi there,

I've noticed the same problem that you have. I got a new iphone 4 from Apple because my prevoius had a problem And it was still in warranty period. So in this new iphone the headphone/lineout volume its much lower than my prevoius phone. I already tried to enable/disable the "UE volume limit" but the diference is still there. Did you sort out What was the problem?

Regards

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Answer 4

Jorge1981 Author

Level 1

0 points

May 3, 2014 2:06 PM in response to Jorge1981

Yes, I have read something about it and it seems to be the reason:

Since 2013, started a new european law that sais that all the audio devices sold with earphones together (in the same box for example) must be limited with 18-20% lower volume at the (headphones out).

That's why my new ipad air sound louder as well, and it is because it was sold without the earphones.

The only solution that I found is to do the jailbreak, and maybe there is a way to disactivate the limit modifing a file or something like that but I don't want to do the jailbreak to my iPhone.

So other possible option is to buy a kind of a line amplifier to insert it between your headphones and the iPhone's jack. I am not sure if this works well because I've read that the sound gets distorsion and just louder volume.

The best solution seems to be to buy an amplifier that you connect to the dock and it uses its pre-audio out so it amplifies its self, giving a bether quality sound, the problem is the price, it uses iPhone,s battery or you have to recharge the battery of the amp as well and of course, the inconvenience to have to carry it.

Loocking at the situation I decided to use mi iPhone for listening music at home at night time and if I want more volume, use the iPad, laptop or listen it in the car...

I don't understand this law at all, my iPhone is limited while my iPad is not because it was sold with earphones... It also has the jack output to listen in with your own headphones, if the reason is the hearing safety, what kind of restriction is that?

iPhone's sound quality is good but I am very disapointed because I am affected by a ridiculous restriction, at least, we should have the posibility to choose when buying the iPhone , to do it with or without its medium quality earphones.

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Answer 5

Feb 1, 2016 9:29 AM in response to Jorge1981

Facing the exact same issue. I don't want o jailbreak my iPhone, but I will if there won't be a solution for this. I don't give a **** about the Stupid eu politicans, there should be an option to disable the volume cap.

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