iOS 9.2 Distorted audio on Lightening to USB (garbled or skip/seek like noise)

Question

Level 1

24 points

iOS 9.2 Distorted audio on Lightening to USB (garbled or skip/seek like noise)

As a follow up to this thread: iOS 9 lightening to USB audio clicks and pops

SITUATION
iPhone 6S Plus, iOS 9.2, Opel Ampera/Chevy Volt, Original Apple Lightning-USB cable

ISSUE
Distorted audio - stuttering and seek/skip like sounds - will occur when playing audio files over a Lightning to USB connection. The issue will arise anywhere between 3 and 15 minutes into a track or audio file. The issue will arise only when the phone is locked.

REPRODUCTION

1. Play a long audio file (>5 minutes) on a LOCKED iPhone running iOS 9.2 and wait for the audio to distort.

2a. Once the issue occurs, UNLOCK the phone and the issue will be resolved immediately.

2b. PAUSING the playback and waiting around 5-10 seconds until playing again will also resolve the issue temporarily.

3. Once the phone is LOCKED again (either auto-lock or manual) the issue will come back immediately.

NOTES
The issue can be predominantly heard using spoken word media. The issue will happen with music, but due to high dynamics certain music types can have, the issue might be less noticeable.

If you have a similair issue, please post your findings in this topic.

iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 9.2

Posted on Dec 9, 2015 1:03 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 9, 2015 1:08 PM in response to ARB-82

+1

2011 Saab 9-5, iPhone 6s, iOS 9.2, Apple Music

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Answer 2

Dec 10, 2015 6:29 AM in response to ARB-82

Same here.

2013 Buick Regal, iPhone 6 Plus, Original USB Cable, iOS 9.2, Apple Music & 3rd party music apps

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Answer 3

vxm8

Level 1

0 points

Dec 10, 2015 6:32 AM in response to ARB-82

I have exactly the same issue. And the click and noise are worse that before, when the phone is locked.

I have an iPhone 6 and a 2011 Saab 9-5.

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Answer 4

Dec 10, 2015 4:04 PM in response to ARB-82

Me too.

2013 Chevy Avalanche, iPhone 6 Plus. iOS 9.2

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Answer 5

Dec 12, 2015 1:14 PM in response to aebailey40

Same issue in a 2012 Chevy Volt with Bose premium audio. iPhone 6 iOS 9.2

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Answer 6

Dec 13, 2015 12:40 PM in response to ARB-82

+1. Same issue with a USB audio interface, Apogee One. Started when I upgraded to 9.2

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Answer 7

Dec 15, 2015 6:34 AM in response to ARB-82

I have the same problem on ios 9.2 iphone 6 in GMC Terrain 2011. I listen to audiobooks with ibooks when I drive and consider this now a safety hazard as you have to unplug your phone every 10-20 minutes to fix this issue. This new problem started with ios 9.2 when the previous issue of constant clicking and static was fixed.

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Answer 8

Dec 15, 2015 6:42 AM in response to houston78

The workaround that I'm currently using is setting the phone so it doesn't auto-lock to the home screen (Settings -> General -> Autolock). If the phone doesn't lock the problem never occurs. Annoying, but it works.

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Answer 9

Dec 19, 2015 1:11 AM in response to ARB-82

I dont get the same issue with the music at all in my Saab 9-5 with Harman Kardon. After the ios9.2 came, all the distortion we got from the ios9 came just disappeared. So finally its possible to listen to music again in my car.

Anyone tested the ios9.2.1? Iam actually anxious that the problems get back again..

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Answer 10

BDGroov

Level 1

0 points

Dec 19, 2015 6:28 AM in response to ARB-82

2011 GMC Terrain with Pioneer, iPhone 6+ and all my music is ALC.

Thanks Apple for fixing the constant "pops and clicks" problem!

This new iOS 9.2 problem is exactly described in the first post.

I have found that "pausing" the music for 5 or so seconds also resolves the problem temporarily.

With a 6 song drive to and from work, this issue does not kill me like the pops and clicks did, but it sure is aggravating.

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Answer 11

Dec 20, 2015 10:31 PM in response to TrulzDaddy

Ok.. heres the issues.. I wrote that I didn´t get the same problem in my Saab with Harman Kardon as you got. I have to correct that.. It seems now that the Issue occur when I'm using Spotify, Soundcloud and iTunes with closed screen. When I use Tidal (mode:HIFI) which is lossless I have not got the Issue yet. Thats why I didn't think I got the same problem as all of you. I almost never use Spotify/Itunes, and Soundcloud I have not tried since the upgrade to 9.2

With Spotify the digital horrible scrubbing/scratching occurred just after 2-3min. With iTunes I thought that It wouldn't happen because it played 4-5 songs, and suddenly it came from nowhere.

With Soundcloud the Issue came just before the first song where going to skip to the next song.

We really need a quick fix for this APPLE. Why did iOS 8.4 work.

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Answer 12

Dec 27, 2015 8:30 AM in response to ARB-82

I am trying to listen anything with my iPhone 6S Plus iOS 9.2 in a Fiat Bravo. I can listen some seconds, after that I have to reboot the device but the problem persist. The problem started when I updated to iOS 9.2. My wife's iphone 6 with iOS 9.1 has no issues.

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