Q: iPhone 6s Distorted Sound

i'm not quite sure whether there is a problem with my phone..

after listening the same song from my ip4s, somehow it feels like distorted sounds as well..

it's just a bit more obvious in my ip6s, could it be due to louder volumes..??

I had the same issue with my new 6plus. All ringtones were distorted and speaker volume was relatively low. I took it to a local Apple Store and without hesitation the "genius" admitted that the phone was defective. I got a new one right there and it has performed flawlessly ever since. My recommendation: go report it and get a new good one.

Hi Guys !

I have read almost all of the pages of this topic 'cause I experience this "bug" too...

I have discovered that the sound was distorted when receiving sms, whatsapp, or when I am listening to music...

after testing some recommendations, I have tried something :

Settings > Sounds > Turn OFF "Vibrate on Ring"

The distorted sound is now gone..

Cheers,

eljumbo

eljumbo ..... if only it was as simple as that, we would all be sorted - I wish!

Tried messing with every setting for months and had 8 different replacement units. ALL defective speakers. That's eight faulty phones, yes 8!

Just play any music with piano content about 75% volume - shocking!

IF this was software relate, then I'm sure it would have been sorted by now ..... unless Apple can't fix it  

This is clearly a FAULTY SPEAKER issue that has plagued many, many units on the production line.

Why else would Apple have been so willing to keep sending me replacements if it were software related - and there lies your answer ...... faulty batch of speakers.

Some guys appear to have got lucky and not suffered any issues, which is why perhaps Apple haven't made a song and dance about it, because apparently not all units are faulty.

Just wish I could get hold of one  

Hi again all,

This is the update to my ongoing discussion I have been having with Apple support and engineering regarding this issue:

Apple advise that there is no point in exchanging the 6S at his stage as the issue effects all devices produced so far and indeed in current production. They have indicated that the issue is related to the internal sampling rate of the 6S speaker currently limited to 48kHz and incompatibility with various apps (including Apple) resulting in distortion of lower frequency spectrum content at higher volume settings. They have also indicated quite clearly that they are currently working on developing a solution to the issue that will eventually be rolled out in an OS update, but at the time of writing no timescales given. So i'm playing the waiting game to see what happens next.........

IGS T1 .... Interesting and certainly different to what Apple told me (no surprises there!)

If this was software related, how come some people don't have the 48khz issue .... It would effect everyone, but based on people's finding, it doesn't - some devices are okay. Pointing towards a faulty batch of speakers on the production line.

Secondly, why would Apple replace phones if they claim its software related - this would simply be a very costly exercise which offers no improvement benefits to anyone.

I have spoken to very senior Apple Support representatives and they had no idea of the speaker issue. At no point was the 48khz issue mentioned.

Unfortunately, I think whoever you have dealt with, has simply tried to 'fob you off' until such time as the speaker issue is resolved.

WIth so many versions of ios 9 having been released, Apple would have sorted it by now, had it been software.

FInally, why release a flagship device incapable of handling data outside 48khz

Not sure Tim Cook would be very happy if he was made aware that the device wasn't tested properly prior to release.

Sorry to dampen your hopes.

Further to my previous post ......

It should be noted that when using earphones, the iPhone plays music perfectly without any distortions, crackles or static type sounds.

It is the inbuilt speaker that has the issue above 75% volume - at which point it shouldn't be considered as being 'over driven'

If the iPhone was incapable of playing certain types of music, it would be clearly evident on BOTH speaker AND earphones - which it obviously isn't - again confirming a speaker issue - not a 48khz issue at all.

Music on iTunes should easily play on iPhones without any distortion or issues, simply because it has be tailored to play correctly on Apple devices.

I accept that 48khz sampling rate may be a factor for companies developing Apps, but it certainly isn't what is causing the problem here.

Hi GUE Diver....you certainly haven't dampened my hopes as they are quite low

The differing stories are certainly interesting as you say, however I don't see any evidence supporting the fact that all phones are not affected, unless someone has a 6S and can confirm that they do not have the issue? It is more likely that the issue is not being noticed or reported by most users. I am inclined to think that the reason Apple have been replacing phones up until now is because a lack of understanding as to the root cause, so therefore no corrective action rolled out and as you say lack of awareness, so their default policy is to replace to keep customers happy.

With respect to the software releases, it doesn't matter how many there have been if they have not yet resolved the issue. The internal sampling rate issue is related to the firmware and hardware driver for the internal speaker only, which is why  earphones or a Bluetooth device are not effected by the distortion issue.

However, although the sampling issue is a technically plausible reason for this issue I am yet to be convinced, and keep an open mind with respect to the software/hardware root cause. Whether hardware or software, I agree with you that it is quite astonishing that this rookie error could have gone unnoticed during testing.

Finally, you say you have talked to some senior support staff, so I am curious to know what advice they gave you and what their follow up on the case is?

I know have weekly calls scheduled with Apple support to keep me appraised of the progress of their investigation, so it will be interesting to see what they decide to tell me next

HI IGS T1 - I agree with your comments 100% and you certainly seem to be on the case with Apple

Just to give you some further info ...... I purchased my first 6S on the day of release (25 Sept) and soon noticed the issues previously described, which are not evident on my wife's 5s (albeit an older, though still currently available model).

I spoke to several Senior Apple Advisors who were in communication with their Technical Engineers and whoever I spoke with, they always claimed that it was the first time they had personally heard of the issue. Whilst I don't doubt their integrity, there does seem to be an issue with internal communications at Apple, if colleagues are not being made aware of current issues.

On one occasion, I even had an Apple advisor playing music on a 6S in their office and it too had the same issue. Surely this should have been enough to confirm a 'potential problem'?

I have had to jump through several hoops, including uploading a video capture of my device playing piano music and increasing the volume to show the fault, direct to the Technical Engineers at Apple.

That was 2 months ago and there still has been no update back from the Technical Engineers.

I took part in the Public Beta testing program (and continue to do so), providing feedback to the iOS development team. Once again, no update regarding the 'speaker' issue - despite my feedback on the issue.

Clearly, Apple definitely know about the issue (since late September) by now, but still haven't addressed it.

After 2 months of being advised to keep replacing my phone, and no update from the Engineers, I must confess to having 'given up' in my plight to try to assist Apple.

Hopefully this background will be of benefit and assist you when you next speak to your Apple representative.

I look  forward to a positive outcome for all 

I went to the Apple service centre today.

We tried with this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjncyiuwwXQ

At first, they said all 6s phones have the same sounds.

So, I asked if they have another 6s phone which I can try there, which they said No.

So, I went to the sales shop and then tried the same song there.

To my surprise, the song can be played without any distortions.

So I went back to the service centre and told them about my findings, they listened and listened the song again...

and then they did some diagnostic tests, then told me, no problem!

Which I disagreed and tell them if they can feel it themselves, the guy actually can feel the distorted sounds.

So he requested me to put my phone there 2-3 working days for their technician to check in detail.

It seems that they are reluctant to change new phone for me, so I took back my phone, still considering whether to go back to the store on Monday since they do not service on weekends...

abalone .... Just to clarify, you are saying that you tried a 6S elsewhere and it definitely did NOT have a speaker fault?

I had the same problem with my new 6S Plus. Took it immediately to the Apple Store in Durham , NC and they "genius" immediately realized that there was a problem. I went out from the store with a new phone free from that defect. It was definitely a bad speaker, typical of the "made in China" stuff.

yes, tested the same song with their 6S demo unit, no distortions at all.

i believe this is up to luck, the same brand of speaker some might be faulty.

it might be so coincidental that the demo unit is working perfectly fine.

but from the response here, it seems that about 50% of 6S are at risk with faulty speakers...

Arcturus and abalone_apple ...... Thanks guys, that really helps and confirms that there are actually iPhones with properly working speakers out there.

This will also help IGS T1, when next speaking to Apple - if they try to fob off with the 48khz 'excuse' etc.

My conclusion and to summarise, is that there is definitely an extensive number of iPhones out there which have inadvertently been fitted with faulty speaker components. Several faulty batches on the production line .....

It would assist if we could raise this matter with Tim Cook via email direct, since I guess this issue has not been brought to his attention!

Good information Arcturus and abalone_apple, and yes GUE Diver I totally agree with your summary.

So to my latest contact with Apple this morning.....still more smoke and mirrors but they have now backtracked on the 48kHz issue when challenged. They have now confirmed that it is a hardware fault with the speaker and want me to return my 6S to Apple for "testing", interestingly they stated that they can't guarantee the replacement they send me will not have the issue. I agree with you GUE Diver that this looks like either a batch issue or maybe components from different suppliers being faulty. I have told Apple that i am not willing to swap my 6S until they are in a position to assure me that the replacement will not have the problem......their answer......."we are not in a position to assure you of that at this stage".