CarPlay voice audio quality when connected via USB is poor vs. Bluetooth on Pioneer AVH-4200NEX

I was using an official Apple cable from my iPhone. I changed it to a shorter (50cm) MiFi certified cable and this seems to have fixed the issue. The audio quality is now even better than the Pioneer Bluetooth. I'm not sure how long this will last but I'm glad it worked! Even though the official cable was almost new it might have been worn off enough so that the newer one worked better. Or a shorter cable allows for better communication between the devices...

hope this helps! (The cable I got is the delayCON and I got it from Amazon)

I received an interesting piece of information from the Genius Bar tonight and I think it may be the root of all of our problem here. Under Cellular | Cellular Data Options | Enable LTE, there is the choice of Off | Voice & Data | Data Only. My phone was set to Voice & Data and was advised to change that to Data Only should I experience any robot like phone quality. She said it hits iphone 7 and 8's (I assume X as well) especially hard.

So try turning that setting to Data Only and see if the phone quality improves. My initial tests didn't show any robot-ing but I haven't tested it long enough to tell for sure if it solves the issue.

Kenwood DNX-994S with an iPhone 8+

Adding to the list of disappointed customers. Just installed a Pioneer SPH-DA120 AppRadio 4 and the audio quality over the lightning cable with Carplay is horrendous, even with my rather elaborate sound system (external 5-channel amp, 8" sub, aftermarket components). I feel bad because I first blamed the installer, figuring he must have screwed something up or pinched a cable or something. Connected to BT and the sound was superb.

I could give up the carplay and connect via BT but problem is, the head unit I got doesn't have its own stand-alone GPS. I didn't think this would have been a problem because I figured I'd use carplay for GPS...what another royal screw up by Apple for this to be an issue.

Mine works well on Bluetooth ... or you can selection option to answer calls on iphone and listen to music on bluetooth ....hope that helps

Hello Servie,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

I understand that when you use the USB cable for your iPhone in your car with CarPlay the audio is poor. I know how important it is for you to hear your calls clearly. In a situation like this I recommend the steps in the following article to help resolve the issue.

Set up CarPlay to use with your iPhone

Specifically the Get Help section:

Get help

If CarPlay doesn't work like you expect, here’s what you can check. After each step, try using CarPlay again.

1. Make sure that Siri is turned on.
2. Restart your iPhone and your car. Depending on your car, you might see the CarPlay Home screen when you turn it on. If you don't, look for the CarPlay logo on your car’s display.
3. If possible, connect your iPhone to a different USB port in your car.
4. Try a different Lightning to USB cable. Make sure the cable is certified.
5. Update to the latest version of iOS.
6. Check your car’s manual for help. You might need to install firmware updates for your stereo.

Cheers

I'm having the exact same issue. I just upgraded to iOS 11 (IPhone 7), and I have a brand new 2018 Audi A3 and the carplay sounds horrible with the USB cable. This is a high quality cable provided by Audi, but it sounds amazing on bluetooth, and horrible on the cable. Can you guys please fix this issue?

I am in the same boat!

BRAND NEW Hyundai iLoad MY18 model... Apple CarPlay in factory head unit!

Phone calls through the USB cable running CarPlay is UNUSABLE!!!

It is quiet... static... and just BAD!!!

One of the reasons I upgraded to the new model iLoad (already had a 2013 model) is to have the CarPlay features...

And well it is CRAP!!!

Apple is losing its quality in EVERYTHING!!!

COME ON APPLE!! RESPOND PLEASE!!!

FIX YOUR S#*T!

Yeah, it's pretty pathetic. I have just downloaded iOS 11 so I'm going o see if that helps at all.

Hello,

I have the same issue with an Iphone 8 on the lastest version, voice quality over CarPlay is very poor....

I using a Pioneer SPH-DA120 with an official apple cable.

BR

Matthieu

I have this same problem with a Kenwood DNX-994S. Carplay voice is horrible, but bluetooth is just fine.

I have a 2016 Honda Accord with CarPlay and have the exact same problem. Everything including music sounds great, but audio quality on phone calls is terrible compared to Bluetooth. I had thought it was a problem with my unit on my car, but it looks like it is an Apple issue. Hopefully it will improve with ios 10. it makes CarPlay unusable to me, which I otherwise like.

I Have the very same problem here. I got a brand new Pioneer AVIC F88 DAB especially for the Carplay capability. Unfortunately the call quality is so poor I had to disable Carplay and I'm now quite frustrated. I hope Apple can fix this glitch or tell us how to fix it.

Recently installed Kenwood DDX6702S in vehicle. I am having quite a different experience with carplay. The audio quality via usb cable is poor. I get much better quality and clarity via bluetooth connection. Using usb lightning cable that came with phone and shorter cable from Anker. Neither have worked well as far as music quality. Apple Carplay works fine as far as making calls, receiving and replying to text msgs, etc. Seems odd that a bluetooth connection would out perform a direct cable connection for music data transfer. Any input?

Thanks for the input. I have bought a few cables now, all certified, with shortest length being a 1 foot cord. Unfortunately none of them have helped. Hopefully it will improve for me with iOS 10 and perhaps with getting the newest iPhone coming out next month (I'm currently using iPhone Plus S). Frustrating. Whenever I am going to place a call I now just disconnect my lightning cord and use Bluetooth, then plug it in when I am done with the call. Bluetooth call quality is vastly superior.