iPhone 6s Distorted Sound

experiencing horrible speaker distortion on sent text message tone and ring tones (particulary Opening tone and Slow Rise which exhibit the "issue" best). When volume is at max or even at 75-80% volume it sounds horribly distorted at the peaks of a tone or sound. It's almost as if the speaker is crackling. I tested the same sounds on a 5s with IOS 9.1 and the sound was NOT distorted so it's obviously a hardware issue but hoping it's a glitch but doubtful. Took the phone to apple the guy (of course) just ran it through some diagnostic test and just told me everything passes. I said well that's great but did you listen to it?! With idk about 100 talking screaming people in the store he puts the phone to his ear and listens to the two tones I mentioned did it the worst and tells me everything sound terrific (I know all mighty apple has no faults) I looked at him and said well there's about 12 people directly around you in a store full of customers and your going to tell me you could hear what I am talking about.."well the phone was right up to my ear" I just shook my head and said your wasting my time and didn't even ask me what he could do for me since the computer told him everything was fine but yet I have found multiple threads on Apples forum site that mention the same type of distortion which didnt affect the 5S. Not sure what to do at this point...this is my 4th 6s from Verizon and they all have done it. I even restored the phone via itunes and no avail. Extremely disappointed...miss my perfect 4s.

also to add I was at BB a few days ago and listened to the 6SP then a 6S and could NOT hear it on the 6SP. Knew I should have kept That gargantuan phone for a reason just not portable enough like the 6s

this this phone ***** Apple went down since SJ died

A Simple example of this distorted sound - click ringtone from iTunes Store - K.I.T.T.'s Eye Sound

doesnt matter any more...not like Apple will fix it anyway. I should have gotten a note 5. Apple is just terrible lately. My iPad mini 4 is just as slow as a 4 year old iPad 2. A8 is crap unless they hinder the mini so you buy the air which wouldn't surprise me. My speaker on my 6s is just crappy sounding. The 6s plus IMO resolves this issue but it's the size of a tablet basically and the frame rate it horrendous on that sooooo ur SOL either way

HI All,

This is an update to my original post a few weeks ago. Since raising this issue officially with Apple I have been in dialogue with a senior case handler who despite not giving too much away has been very helpfull and is taking the case seriously. It's a long story, but the advice I was given was to not bother taking the phone to an Apple Store or get a replacement, because at this point in time there is no corrective action from Apple. This is quite telling in itself. Instead, I have been asked by Apple engineering to provide evidence of the issue in the form of video demonstrating the problem, which I have done. They also want to capture my phone so that it can be analysed. Now, I am going along with this process to see what the end game is from Apple now they have taken the case this far, but I find it hard to belive that until onw engineering have been unaware of this issue which is what they claim. I have also pointed them to this forum. I will post an update when I have one.

I have just purchased a 6s plus (iOS 9.1) and it doesn't have any speaker problems that are being experienced by others with the Opening ringtone and various youtube tracks, however I have a music notation app called Notion which distorts beyond usability when playing back any instrument sound. This app on my old iPhone 5s and iPads produce perfect sound.

I'm not 100% convinced that it's completely a hardware issue. Device drivers, audio codecs, iOS and app software can interact with various hardware configurations in unexpected ways to cause bugs. I'd be surprised if Apple weren't aware of this problem and that could explain the delay since the last iOS update despite there being numerous bugs with their new devices. (Apple also have to investigate and resolve problems with the iPad Pro locking up after a full charge.)

Interesting ... I too send a video upload at Apples request showing the issue with piano music (Agnes Obel, Chord Left track etc) and went though the Capture Device scenario back in early October. So the guys at Apple have clearly known about this issue long before now.

Apple Support followed up by simply putting me in touch with the online Apple Store for a series of replacement devices - all of which exhibit the same issue above 75% volume.

I Sincerely hope that your Apple representative fairs better in this case.

ios 9.2 Beta 4 makes no difference at all, so I'm still inclined to conclude it is a hardware issue or design fault causing the crackling vibration noise evident as distorted sound.

GOOD LUCK

I noticed that after a reset iPhone, the volume slider is in the middle. not to the max. Maybe if we move it in the position of maximum system Ios 9 gives too much power to the possibilities of the speaker? Maybe it software error. We are waiting for the final version 9.2, and we'll see what happens. As the settings are up to 65% it is operating normally.

Best Regards

Two weeks ago I posted that my problem was gone after 9.2 beta 4 and now.......... they are back....... same music, same iPhone, same cracks and horrible quality again. Very strange. Tested two friends with iPhone 6's and....same problem. I just cannot remember I had this horrible sound with 8.4...... I SOOO want it to be a software problem.......

Too many people in this Discussion got (several) new iPhones with the same problem, the new 6S had te problem too, so I think we sadly must conclude the 6/6S have horrible speakers........ (unless the final 9.2 solves the problem...... 😀 😀 😀 😀 )

I find it hard to believe you are experiencing issues with friends' iPhone 6. We are all experiencing distortion due to the new hardware/design in the 6S and 6S+.

Want to keep focus and stressing the 6S audio issues here in this thread.

Hi, same prolem here... today I got 6S 128GB.. and sound is absolutely terrible.. in higher volume distorted, cracking.. I can not believe that such an fault can pass through quality control.. off topit, also the Apple Leather Case that i bought with iPhone smell like glue or some toxic chemical, but not only from close distance but also from far away... really bad..

back to topic.. tomorrow i will go to local apple shop a test if there i can found any good 6S.. but I think from what i have read here, I will not found a good one..

It simple. Start a class action suit. pretty sure it against the law to sell a product with defect and do nothing about it. a $1200 dollar product.

HI there

I am having the same problem with my recent purchase, twice I have had the sound / speaker issue and what I have done is to just reboot the phone. I hope indeed this is a software issue rather than hardware.... 😟

I Discovered this: after the 9.1 upgrade, the opening ringtone issue has been fixed, while in the opening ringtone Of whatsapp the issue is still there! same ringtone, same volume the first one do not distort and the second do distor. This make me think to an software issue. am i wrong?

Hi all, i buy two (iPhone 6S Rose Gold 64 GB and iPhone 6S Silver 64), iOS version on both 9.1, sound quality is bad... i try all fix what i find on internet - no luck. I think this is hardware problem.... All we can do is just wait and hope that it is a software error that could be fixed by Apple. Please advise if there is any change, because of ignorance or return the phone back or worth the wait .. Frustrated Apple

I just updated iOS to 9.2 on iPhone 6s plus. No change in the distorted sound.

For what it's worth, I have not had any problems with sound quality from ringtones or youtube videos, but I have a music notation app called Notion which is sounds terrible when playing back piano or orchestral music via phone speaker but perfect on headphones.