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iPhone 6s Distorted Sound

Hello All,


I have just received my iPhone 6S (iOS 9.0.1) and i'm really enjoying the new features, however I've noticed that when I have my Ringer Volume turned up full there is a slight crackling/distortion when playing sounds from the bottom external speaker.


The best way I've found to reproduce this issue is by going into settings, turning the ringer volume to full (having the ringer volume anything below full will stop the distortion) and then playing the ringtone "Opening", the speaker will make a minor distorting sound at the high points of the ringtone.


I've spoken to a friend who has a 6S Plus and they have reproduced the same issue, I would like to ask if anyone in the community could try the ringtone above and let me know if they get the same problems with the speaker?


Thanks in advance

Craig

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.0.1

Posted on Sep 26, 2015 10:51 AM

Reply
364 replies

Mar 29, 2017 1:39 PM in response to Craigus91

The ringer switch on the left side of my iPhone 6s Plus broke. It's apparently not a fixable item and since I was still under warranty, they replaced it. Restored my phone but all the sounds were REALLY loud. My wife could hear me typing while I was upstairs (she was downstairs with the tv on). Couldn't resolve it. Then it started acting wonky (got the white "Hello" screen, then 3 minutes later it was fine, amongst other ghosts in the machine). So I had them replace it again. After restoring it from my iCloud back-up, SAME thing ... super loud. But following the advice here, I reset it (General / Settings / Reset All Settings), it's a normal sounding iPhone again ! Thanks to all for their input !

Jun 27, 2017 1:27 PM in response to Craigus91

I know the question has long since been resolved. But I had a something kinda similar happen with not being able to hear when making and receiving phone calls unless I put the phone on speaker with my iPhone 6s Plus. And tried to fix the problem myself and ended up voiding the warranty because I damaged the ports on the bottom and it cost me $150 via my phone insurance with Asurion. So if anyone has any issue I'd highly recommend calling your phone carrier and see if it can be replaced under warranty instead of trying to fix yourself.

Dec 6, 2017 9:41 AM in response to VagelisDer

i've had real problems with music sounding distorted but only on some tracks...was driving me nuts. Tried all the suggestions around disabling/enabling EQ and sound check....however I noticed in accessibility under 'hearing' I had MONO enabled. Changing this to OFF has totally fixed my problems, I've also been able to mess up others iphones to give them the same symptoms by enabling MONO - this gives me 100% confidence this has been causing the problem. .....i realise yours is an old issue but adding to this site incase it helps others !!


thanks


Matt

Sep 29, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Craigus91

Hey Craig,


This is also happening to me on my new 6s (not the plus). I did reproduce the exact same distortion using your method of playing the ringtone "Opening". I have noticed the distortion to be the most pronounced on certain notes in music that I play (on loud) through the speaker instead of ear phones. It is very noticeable, and it would be nice to know if I should return the phone while I still can (and swap it for another 6s or 6s Plus). Any thoughts on if this is a hardware issue or maybe software (IOS 9.0.1)? Maybe it is just a 6s issue and not with the 6S Plus since that phone has a different speaker arrangement? I would appreciate any advice!


Thanks,

Jeff


iPhone 6s, IOS 9.0.1

Sep 29, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Jeff.Tarver

Hi Jeff,


Thanks for taking the time to respond, by the sounds of it you have the exact same issue as me as mine is definitely worst at the "highest" points in the ringtone. Fortunately a lot of people at the place I work have also purchased new iPhones so i've had the chance to compare it with them and I can confirm that it appears to be an issue with the speaker on my device as i've tried mine next to a 6S Plus and a 6S and neither of my colleagues have reproduced the problem. I have tried a factory reset and this has not fixed it either. I've got a Genius Bar appointment on Friday (the soonest appointment they had!) so hopefully I can get the device replaced.


So to cut a long story short; book a Genius Bar appointment because the speaker should not sound like this.


Thanks

Craig

Sep 29, 2015 1:32 PM in response to Craigus91

Hey Craig, I am not too sure that going to the Genius Bar will help because I decided to check another family member's new iPhone 6s using the same criteria - sound all the way to loud, ringtone, "Opening" - and got exactly the same result = distortion in exactly the same places. I believe that "maybe" it is just the iPhone speaker is not high quality. Did you actually listen to other peoples iPhone 6s to be sure you are comparing apples to apples? Either I am correct, or we as a family just happened to buy 2 lemons that have exactly the same problem. Your thoughts? Jeff

Sep 29, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Craigus91

This issue happened to me when I restored my iPhone 6s Plus from a back up I did from my iPhone 6 Plus. My message sent sound was super loud and it sounded like my speaker was blown. I reset my phone and set it up as new and everything sounded perfectly fine. Restored it again from a back up and it sounded crappy again. So I left it at set up as a new phone and just loaded my pictures and other data from my iCloud account. All I had to do is redone load my apps again. Pictures, Notes, Contacts and other important files came back like nothing was wrong. I'll just leave the phone as it is now.

Sep 29, 2015 8:22 PM in response to Craigus91

My new 6S also has distortion, which I originally noticed when receiving a phone call with the Opening ringtone. Mine will also give distortion on the text message sending sound. I plan to book a genius bar appointment to hopefully get it resolved. I'm trying for Monday, so Craig, please report back with what happens at your appointment on Friday!

Sep 29, 2015 9:57 PM in response to Craigus91

Craig (and anyone else having this problem),


I have tried several different ways to recreate the distortion I am experiencing on my iPhone 6s. I want to see if what I am hearing is the exact same distortion as yourself. The best way to illustrate it is to make sure your volume is on loud, go to Sounds, then go to Ringtone, but try the "Slow Rise" ringtone. That particular ringtone consistently hits a particular note or sound that causes the distortion over and over throughout the ringtone as it hits that particular note. It is like the distorted sound I have heard from an inexpensive speaker when music is hitting certain low notes that causes vibration, and therefore distorts the sound. Please try that ringtone "Slow Rise" and see if you get the same results as myself. Let me know your results, and I will probably make a Genius Bar reservation and see what Apple can do to fix the problem. By the way, the problem does not exist when using the ear phones - just the speaker.


Thanks!

Jeff

iPhone 6s, IOS 9.0.1

Sep 30, 2015 11:37 AM in response to Craigus91

@Slayer, unfortunately that did not work for me.


@Jeff I also got distortion with that ringtone but it is much more noticeable with "Opening."


My closest apple store has no appointments for a week, completely booked solid, so I am going to try to see if my carrier (Verizon) will swap it. If not I'm going to try walking in to the store and seeing if they can help.

Sep 30, 2015 11:53 AM in response to Jeff.Tarver

Hi Jeff,


Sorry for the delayed reply, you may well be right on your theory that the speaker may not be of very good quality as I only got a very brief opportunity to check a 6S of a friend (the only thing I know for sure is that the 6S Plus does not experience this issue). If it is indeed a manufacturing then I'll confirm this on Friday at the Apple Store by having a check on the display models. Whatever the outcome I'll let you know what I find out on Friday.


Thanks

Craig

Sep 30, 2015 11:57 AM in response to Romba1182

Hi Romba,


The behaviour you're experiencing is exactly what I have as the distortion is also very prominent on the message sent sound for me too. I thought my phone may have been an isolated case but by the responses here it's looking like there may be a "bad batch" or just a general speaker issue. I'll make sure I let you know the outcome of my appointment on Friday.


Thanks

Craig

iPhone 6s Distorted Sound

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