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ARB-82 Author

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

47 replies

Jan 20, 2016 5:45 AM in response to ARB-82

Can confirm that in my 2013 Volt running iOS 9.2.1 there is no problem with the sound with screen locked or unlocked.

Jan 21, 2016 1:25 AM in response to ARB-82

Yes, fixed on Fiat Bravo also with 9.2.1

Jan 25, 2016 3:18 PM in response to TheTominator

I recant my earlier excitement. After several songs, a very light clicking/garbling started up again with the screen locked. Same behavior as before, but fainter sounding.

Again, this does NOT seem to be fixed.

2011 Saab 9-5, iPhone 6s iOS 9.2.1, Apple Music

PAC0315

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2016 2:26 PM in response to ARB-82

Confirmed not fixed in 9.2.1. Delayed onset, then constant unless screen is illuminated.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2.1, 2012 Chevrolet Volt with Bose stereo, Apple USB-to-lightning cable and K-ble USB-to-lightning cable, various streaming and non-streaming audio sources.

Feb 22, 2016 1:12 PM in response to ARB-82

Have the same issue, but not with a car audio system. The issues happens with a Creative Sound Blaster E5 Amp/DAC (A MiFi on my iPhone 6S running 9.2.1 (Verizon). I do not see the issue with my Pioneer App Radio 4 while connected to Car Play via the lighting port. It seems like the audio is being interrupted by another background process that is temporarily taking complete control of the phone, resulting in a short delay in the audio transmission (which sounds like static).

This is an issue that should be priority for Apple, since they are pushing new Lighting only headphones/audio devices.

Feb 22, 2016 1:47 PM in response to csiffring

I do not have the the same problem on an iPod Touch 6th Gen running iOS 9.2.1 connected to the same Sound Blaster E5 device, using the same cable, playing the same song.

legendmc

Level 1

11 points

Mar 3, 2016 6:20 PM in response to Willy82

+1 - 2013 Chevy Tahoe... All Apple devices (iPhone 6, 6S, iPod touch Gen 5) with 9.xx have this issue... This is the first I have heard of the problem being related to the auto-lock... I will check it out...

Found an iPod touch with IOS 8.4... No problems with IOS 8 or iPod Classic.

Mar 9, 2016 9:22 PM in response to ARB-82

Have there been any updates on this issue with any of the iOS 9.3 updates or betas? I'm still at iOS 8.4.1 until I see some confirmation in this thread that apple has resolved these audio issues.

Thanks.

Mar 21, 2016 9:38 PM in response to ARB-82

Ok, iOS 9.3 is officially out. Can anyone confirm if the audio bugs are still present? I appreciate the input.

Thank you!

PAC0315

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2016 5:30 AM in response to warpbrained86

I think it may be fixed! I listened to several songs this morning on the way in to work with the screen off the whole time. It may just be my excitement that this is fixed, but I think maybe the audio was clearer/fuller sounding too.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3, 2012 Chevrolet Volt with Bose stereo, K-ble USB-to-lightning cable, streaming Apple Music.

Mar 22, 2016 9:29 AM in response to ARB-82

NOT fixed in iOS 9.3.

I was excited to try on iOS 9.3, seemed to be fixed.

Seems to be no issue for a while and then Buzzing and crackling with the device locked. Happened at first when I received an email. Clear sound while connected via Bluetooth.

Extremely disappointed that this is not fixed.

iOS 9.3, iPhone 6s, Sound blaster E5 Amp directly connected via USB host.

ARB-82 Author

Level 1

24 points

Mar 27, 2016 2:43 PM in response to warpbrained86

I can confirm that the problem has now been solved for me. I have listened to a 2-hour long podcast and some Apple Music streams for the past few days without any issues whatsoever. This includes locked and unlocked mode.

iOS 9.3, iPhone 6S Plus, Opel Ampera (Chevy Volt) with Bose sound system

ilzai

Level 1

8 points

Apr 6, 2016 4:08 AM in response to csiffring

Sad to confirm this nasty phomenoma with iPhone 6s plus @iOS 9.3.1 (paired with Sound blaster E5 via lightning)

I have two other external DAC:s that do much better, but none of the DACs play absolutely clean when iPhone's screen is off :face palm.

Ipad Air2 and 5th gen iPod touch do play nice with all of my DACs, screen off / on -makes no difference.

Got firmware updated on SB E5 with no difference. . .

Good luck on dropping out the headphone jack on iOS devices if this is what's to come...

i guess that's not gonna happen anyway, but man this is irritating . . .

ARB-82 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2016 4:18 AM in response to ilzai

The fact that your iPad Air2 and iPod do work suggests that it's not a software related issue. I tested 9.0/9.1/9.2 on both iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6S. The issue was identical on both devices. After upgrading to 9.3 the issue was completely solved for both devices. If 2 iOS devices with the same iOS version both work fine, and one doesn't, there's probably a different issue for you.

Apr 6, 2016 4:45 AM in response to ARB-82

@ARB-82 You make a great point about one device working and another not working. I'm not very knowledgeabl about the inner workings of the phone. I had thought it something specific to the iPhone that was interfering with the lightning audio signal. I have noticed an iPod Touch and iPad mini do not exhibit the same behavior. Maybe the cell signal is getting in the way of the audio or there is software specific to an iPhone? Any thoughts, you seem to know more about how the software works and it would be helpful to the community to find a solution.

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