jamieclarke

Q: Problem with video audio sync using Bluetooth headphones

I have recently bought a pair of beats studio wireless headphones but when using my ipad there are sync issues with video and audio. Many apps have the problem but sky go seems to be the worst followed by YouTube. Apple video is not too bad but not perfect.

iPad, iOS 7.1

Posted on Apr 2, 2014 12:50 PM

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Q: Problem with video audio sync using Bluetooth headphones

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  • by 2008flhrse4,

    2008flhrse4 2008flhrse4 Jan 2, 2015 9:04 AM in response to jamieclarke
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    Jan 2, 2015 9:04 AM in response to jamieclarke

    I too have a pair of Parrot Zik headphones with sync issues. This is using an iPad Air 2. When I contacted their technical support asking if there was a resolution, or one coming, this is the response that I recieved:

     

    Hotline US <usa_support@parrot.com>

    9:24 AM (1 hour ago)

     

    to me

    Hello,

     

    Unfortunately no, that is the nature of Bluetooth streaming.

     

    ref:_00DD0ltXz._500D0o5Vpg:ref

     

    I have other devices that play perfectly, so I just don't buy it.

  • by clifton_icloud,

    clifton_icloud clifton_icloud Jan 2, 2015 11:05 AM in response to 2008flhrse4
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    Jan 2, 2015 11:05 AM in response to 2008flhrse4

    Hi @2008flhrse4,

    I am not familiar with the Parrot Zik headphones so I can't really pass comment. I was active in this discussion thread following a purchase of a pair of Beats Powerbeats 2 earphones which initially had an audio delay with video of around 3 seconds, something I felt was inexcusable, and clearly I was not alone.

     

    I didn't jump ship immediately as the earphones were great in the gym and the sound was really good too so I stuck with them hoping they would release a fix. This came about 3-4 months after I bought them, but I couldn't wait the full stretch as there was no certainty that the issue would be resolved, so following another persons advice from this forum, I sent my powerbeats 2 back to amazon, who refunded me within 48hrs which I was utterly amazed at as we are talking 3 months or so after I bought them not within the normal 30 day period, and then went and got myself the new Plantronics Backbeat Go 2 earphones. Absolutely no audio sync issues from the start although I'm still trying to find the ideal setup and earplug as they aren't the wrap over ear fittings that the Beats are.

     

    However, if I can shed any light on the issues, it seems to be a mixture of the firmware of the earphones as well as a bluetooth/software issue on the phone/tablet/laptop side. With the Powerbeats 2, Apple released a software update for both iOS and OS X and then the final fix came after a firmware update was released by Beats for the earphones themselves through their firmware updater software. Obviously with Apple owning Beats it makes things a little less difficult for specific issues to be dealt with for Beats products and other earphone manufacturers aren't going to have the advantage Beats do so the likelihood of a combined QA process to uncover these sorts of problems  with the hundreds of products out there is less likely I'm afraid.

     

    In those scenarios the QA processes are likely to revolve around the target market for the product in order to get the product to market ASAP.

  • by MadKelva,

    MadKelva MadKelva Jan 6, 2015 2:18 AM in response to cdopat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 2:18 AM in response to cdopat

    Having iPhone 6, iPad Air (first generación) and MBP Retina. All with latest firm for iOS.

     

    Bought yesterday. Before update video delay was simply horrible. About 2-3 seconds.

     

    After firm update on Beats I can say that video delay is close to be solved but still present. Very very little, but still present. We are talking about 1 millisecond or something like that. I cannot say if this is a normal BT issue due this is my first wireless earphones.

     

    It's clear Beats and Apple tried to solve the problem so I'm not sure if they can do anything else with BT wireless current technology.

  • by clifton_icloud,

    clifton_icloud clifton_icloud Jan 6, 2015 3:21 AM in response to MadKelva
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    Jan 6, 2015 3:21 AM in response to MadKelva

    Hi @MadKelva, I think this is likely now to be 1 of 2 options, 1) hardware limitations with the bluetooth in either the IiOS devices or the ear phones or 2) issues within iOS directly.

     

    There is the possibility that the latter is still a problem as there have been lots of pairing issues with IOS and the iPhone 6 with CarPlay and other inCar systems. Having said that the millisecond delay is likely to be within the acceptable range for QA testing but thats purely an assumption, however you just have to type iOS and bluetooth problem to see hundreds of posts all over the internet describing a variety of bluetooth issues.

     

    As I have mentioned before though, I exchanged my PowerBeats2 for Plantronics BackBeat Go 2's and there isn't any noticeable delay so I would lean towards an issue with the hardware in the PowerBeats bluetooth chip but it is yet another extremely frustrating example of Apple rushing products to market to stay with competition rather than innovating.

  • by MadKelva,

    MadKelva MadKelva Jan 6, 2015 4:13 AM in response to clifton_icloud
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    Jan 6, 2015 4:13 AM in response to clifton_icloud

    Hi @clifton, I agree with you.

    I tried to test with several apps after updating (YouTube, VLC, CineXPlayer, several TV streaming platforms...). Here an example that there is something related with iOS and not with BT technology (in my opinion):

    - YouTube: perfect, not delay.

    - VLC: a little (very little) but perfectly visible delay.

    So... it seems that Beats/Apple guys tried to fix the problem as much as they could... My question is why they couldn't fix the issue for all possibilities...?? As you mentioned I think this issue is linked to iOS + BT performance/way of working...

     

    PS.: For potential customers. I'm a really fan of Apple products and I consider myself a very demanding person too. So I assume 99% of potential Beats buyers won't perceive the same current video issue as I do. After lots of tests I decided to stay with Powerbeats assuming the (very) little delay I can feel sometimes.

  • by clifton_icloud,

    clifton_icloud clifton_icloud Jan 6, 2015 4:33 AM in response to MadKelva
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    Jan 6, 2015 4:33 AM in response to MadKelva

    @MadKelva I did the same tests. I also tested it on my wife's HTC One M8 and there was no delay.

     

    I was surprised they didn't pick these issues up before launching the product because I think many of the people that have been frustrated by it would have just appreciated some helpful response from Apple or Beats. I tried and got a very standard response but you could sense from the tone of the call they knew of the issue, just wouldn't say. Personally, I think that was the wrong decision. Had I known there was an update which would almost fix it completely I would have kept my PowerBeats but they just fobbed me off and after 3 months I got fed up and changed.

     

    I too am a huge Apple fan and always will be, I think those who have been so from the start expect the quality product we always received from them in the past but it seems as though mass production has just dropped the standards a bit. Yes, competition is fierce. Everyone is claiming the next big thing which is really just a slight update on something we may have had previously. I remember getting my first iPhone and it was a great feeling. It was amazing, the excitement of having something which changed how mobiles would evolve in the future. I want that feeling again, and not the worry about quality, compatibility issues etc... Perhaps thats where Apple really miss Steve Jobs, the perfectionist?

  • by itsalwayssomethin,

    itsalwayssomethin itsalwayssomethin Jan 6, 2015 7:19 AM in response to clifton_icloud
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    Jan 6, 2015 7:19 AM in response to clifton_icloud

    Agree that it's an iOS issue.  Used the powerbeats^2, firmware updated, with my Note 3 phone and Note Pro tablet - no issues. With both my iPhone 6 and iPad Air I have audio/video sync issues.  The firmware update helped, but didn't fix the problem.

  • by MadKelva,

    MadKelva MadKelva Jan 6, 2015 7:23 AM in response to itsalwayssomethin
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    Jan 6, 2015 7:23 AM in response to itsalwayssomethin

    Same for me (having a Powerbeats2) after some additional tests on Samsung Galaxy S4. Not any delay here. Only persists on iOS devices.

  • by z-crew,

    z-crew z-crew Jan 6, 2015 12:03 PM in response to jamieclarke
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    Jan 6, 2015 12:03 PM in response to jamieclarke

    I have the same problem with Photive BTH3 bluetooth 4.0 headphones.. please reply for any solution

  • by 2008flhrse4,

    2008flhrse4 2008flhrse4 Jan 6, 2015 12:11 PM in response to jamieclarke
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    Jan 6, 2015 12:11 PM in response to jamieclarke

    Evidently if you own Parrot Zik headphones you are out of luck.  Here is the response I received from their "help" desk.

     

    Hello,

     

    Sorry for the inconvenience, Bluetooth music and Video have different codecs and the headset was mainly designed for audio. Video works, but video streaming will have a delay.

  • by itsalwayssomethin,

    itsalwayssomethin itsalwayssomethin Jan 6, 2015 2:22 PM in response to 2008flhrse4
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    Jan 6, 2015 2:22 PM in response to 2008flhrse4

    Interesting.  I think the response is: "Well, Samsung seems to have figured it out...."

  • by bstacks,

    bstacks bstacks Jan 9, 2015 11:48 AM in response to itsalwayssomethin
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    Jan 9, 2015 11:48 AM in response to itsalwayssomethin

    In case you haven't found this already. I did come across a firmware update that does help, but still needs improving.

     

    http://www.beatsbydre.com/support/how-to/firmware-updates-beats-updater.html

     

    notes about firmware update: Improved audio syncing when watching video content on certain source devices*, specifically Apple products using iOS software

  • by itsalwayssomethin,

    itsalwayssomethin itsalwayssomethin Jan 9, 2015 1:12 PM in response to bstacks
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    Jan 9, 2015 1:12 PM in response to bstacks

    For those of us who have updated the firmware, there is still an issue and it seems to be with iOS,  There is no sync issue using the same apps on a Samsung device.

  • by MadKelva,

    MadKelva MadKelva Jan 9, 2015 5:06 PM in response to jamieclarke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 9, 2015 5:06 PM in response to jamieclarke

    As the last comment, last update DOESN'T fix the sync issue on video with last iOS versions (with iPhone 6, iPad Air, MBP Retina... So last hardware devices too). Just give us a better sync but not 100% perfect...

    Why can't Beats/Apple fix the issue completely?

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