Really? You're comparing the speaker on a Garmin GPS to the speaker on the DX? From my experience a GPS speaker is always going to be louder. I don't think this is a fair comparison at all. You can fit a much larger speaker in a GPS than a smart phone.
Last edited by AJ_EVO; July 18th, 2010 at 02:06 PM.
i hear its the same speaker as the incredible, and from what ive read the DI is louder. some say it my be the hole covering the speaker or its default isnt set as high. BTW is there a way to set the default higher?
If it's a tiny hole problem, Motorola can offer a new cover with the correct sized hole. Apple is offering a rubber bumper for their antenna problems.
If Motorola sees this as a flaw they can alter the manufacturing process/design to enlarge the hole. The new Droid X's off the assemble line will be fine. The originals can get a new cover.
I suppose you don't really get any separation from a small unit anyway, but still for something that can play multimedia well, I'd have thought they would have included stereo speakers.
We'll probably be using our stereo BT headsets anyway.
If it's a tiny hole problem, Motorola can offer a new cover with the correct sized hole. Apple is offering a rubber bumper for their antenna problems.
If Motorola sees this as a flaw they can alter the manufacturing process/design to enlarge the hole. The new Droid X's off the assemble line will be fine. The originals can get a new cover.
i keep repeating to my self. "dont touch the dremel tool, dont touch the dremel tool"
at least till i google how to take the phone apart!
If you're too lazy to click the link, then #1) shame on you and #2) basically it's someone saying that when they called Verizon, the person they were talking to said Verizon is acknowledging this as a problem and is working on a fix which should be released soon. That to me sounds like an OTA soonish? I know what you're thinking: ".604" Well if you notice, the person posted the comment on 8/4/10 so it's obviously not that OTA that the VZW rep was talking about.
Here's the thing though: not all the Verizon ppl are acknowledging this yet, so it could have been a single misinformed rep.
Here comes me begging: Please please please pleeeeaaasse take a few minutes and call VZW and complain about the speaker issue. The more people that (civilly) notify Verizon that this is an actual issue, the better chance of getting it fixed.
Please note, you need to contact VZW, not Motorola: if there is to be a software fix, it will be b/c VZW recognizes the problem and contacts Moto to ask them to create an update.
I read elsewhere the issue isn't the speaker, but in the sounds on the phone itself. evidently they are too quiet, and if you put louder ones on, it resolves the issue.
Solution? Pandora/Slacker/Native Music Player/FM Radio App + Google Maps + AUX in.
That's what I use.
+1
I like the fact that the music will stop when the navigation is giving directions or if I call comes in, and then picks right back up when the other stuff gets done.
To the OP: If the stations you listen to are owned by Clear Channel then download the IHeartRadio app.
I read elsewhere the issue isn't the speaker, but in the sounds on the phone itself. evidently they are too quiet, and if you put louder ones on, it resolves the issue.
That's what I've found so far. If I put on my own ringtones they come through nice and loud but many of the stock ones seem too low in volume.
For me, the problem isn't the speaker but where it's located. When I put my DX on a hard surface or hold it in my hand, the speaker resonates. But when I leave it on a soft surface like my bed, car seat, or sofa, the sound is dampened quite a bit.
It doesn't seem to be an issue though. "Noisey One" and "tinkerbell" are quite loud, and Zedge (app market) has a lot of "business tones" that shriek.
Seems like theres a general consensus that the speaker can handle much louder volumes than it shows off with the stock sounds...
Think about what you're leaving out when you say "use louder ringtones: problem fixed".
Things not being addressed (can't be fixed and/or would take TONS of time to fix):
> youtube
> pandora/slacker/grooveshark/etc
> your entire mp3 library
> videos you load onto your phone
> speakerphone calls
Places you can't use the above features comfortably:
> The car
> The airport
> Restaurants
> Outside
> In public (I think you get the picture)
The point is, since we know the speaker can handle louder volumes, Motorola should be able to easily release software that increases how loud EVERYTHING can be set BY DEFAULT. The only way that will happen is if people make calls to Verizon and report this issue. Make sure they record it as an issue and don't just brush you off (but be polite about it at the same time).
Last edited by kwest12; August 9th, 2010 at 10:58 AM.
Seems like theres a general consensus that the speaker can handle much louder volumes than it shows off with the stock sounds...
Think about what you're leaving out when you say "use louder ringtones: problem fixed".
Things not being addressed (can't be fixed and/or would take TONS of time to fix):
> youtube
> pandora/slacker/grooveshark/etc
> your entire mp3 library
> videos you load onto your phone
> speakerphone calls
Places you can't use the above features comfortably:
> The car
> The airport
> Restaurants
> Outside
> In public (I think you get the picture)
The point is, since we know the speaker can handle louder volumes, Motorola should be able to easily release software that increases how loud EVERYTHING can be set BY DEFAULT. The only way that will happen is if people make calls to Verizon and report this issue. Make sure they record it as an issue and don't just brush you off (but be polite about it at the same time).
Personally I think the speak is plenty loud enough. If I'm watching a movie, playing a game, or listening to music on my phone, I use our BT stereo headsets 95% of the time. After all, the phone itself isn't even stereo, having only one tiny speaker. Why would I want to listen to quality audio that way?
There is nothing worst than sitting next to an @$$hat blaring some loud crap off his phone. Try sitting on the other side of your phone with it turned up all the way.. you get 50% more sound coming from it than just holding it in your hand watching.
If you are in a noisy crowded situation, you need to use your headset anyway, unless you want a 30 or 40 watt speaker system attached to your phone.
Have some common courtesy, and wear your headset if you want to listen to something loudly.
I DID think about what I meant when I said "use louder ringtones: problem fixed". All the alert and alarm sounds are easily replaced or enhanced by making them louder, so that is really a non issue. If you are using your phone as an alarm clock, then you need a stand for it, so it isn't laying flat on a table, drowning out 50% of the volume.
And using a headset resolves all other issues, because the volume control for them is perfect.
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I don't think it really matters whether or not you should be using your speaker in certain environments. If someone wants to use their phone speaker in public to listen to media, then they have the right to as far as I'm concerned. I would prefer that some didn't at certain times, but it's their decision. Our freedom to choose when to use our device shouldn't be limited by any possible faults of the manufacturer.
The fact remains that we've paid for a device that comes with a speaker. Part of the amount we paid went toward that speaker. It's only right that it should work correctly. Yes, we can modify the audio files in order to balance the issue and correct the problem to an extent, but I guess my point is that we shouldn't have to. Depending on how well my speaker works, I myself will probably modify some files when my phone arrives. I'll also increase the audio on whatever ringtones and alarms that I decide to add, but I wish I didn't have to. I guess it's just a hassle that I could do without.
I haven't been able to test the speaker on my own phone yet, but I'm sure I'll post back here with my experiences when it arrives. I hope it works alright.
Regardless of any potential issues with the speaker, we should all keep in mind just how awesome this phone is. One very slight defect shouldn't make us wary of using this truly incredible piece of technology.
I don't think it really matters whether or not you should be using your speaker in certain environments. If someone wants to use their phone speaker in public to listen to media, then they have the right to as far as I'm concerned. I would prefer that some didn't at certain times, but it's their decision. Our freedom to choose when to use our device shouldn't be limited by any possible faults of the manufacturer.
The fact remains that we've paid for a device that comes with a speaker. Part of the amount we paid went toward that speaker. It's only right that it should work correctly. Yes, we can modify the audio files in order to balance the issue and correct the problem to an extent, but I guess my point is that we shouldn't have to. Depending on how well my speaker works, I myself will probably modify some files when my phone arrives. I'll also increase the audio on whatever ringtones and alarms that I decide to add, but I wish I didn't have to. I guess it's just a hassle that I could do without.
I haven't been able to test the speaker on my own phone yet, but I'm sure I'll post back here with my experiences when it arrives. I hope it works alright.
Regardless of any potential issues with the speaker, we should all keep in mind just how awesome this phone is. One very slight defect shouldn't make us wary of using this truly incredible piece of technology.
Personally, I have had no issues with the volume when listening to streaming audio or my mp3 files. The only thing that I have found is yes, the stock ringtones are low in volume, but that's it.
People can use their device anyway they see fit, but if you're complaining (not you specifically) about low volume and set the phone face up, that is your problem. You know where the speaker is located as it didn't magically move to a new location after purchasing it. Same thing with using your phone as a speaker in a public place. IMO, the phone was never made to be a loud-speaker or radio in a crowded environment, but rather a personal media device, keyword here is personal.
The speaker works just fine. Perhaps Motorola chose to make ringtones that were not loud, that is their right, and you have the right to change the ringtones to something else.
In the end, I see not fault really for Motorola other than making their stock ringtone low in volume. Heh, I could careless about this one aspect of the phone as I've already change my ringtones, and agree with you on how awesome this device is.
The speaker does work correctly. Odds are Motorola development figured that anyone seriously using multimedia, gaming, or stereo music would be using a headset, or a exernal powered speaker system, since the unit does not have stero speakers. (Which DID surprise me coming off a 2 year old ENV2 with stereo speakers.)
So the only real volume needed for the speaker was alerts, and alarms, whch is fine. Motorola already stated in their own forums that the alerts were en fact released with too low a volume, and that the next update would include replacements for them which would be higher volume replacements.
I don't think it is a defect at all, but intended developement. While playing some audio from some apps, or music, you find the volume is plenty loud enough, and in some cases needs to be turned down to hear comfortably.
Since this an issue, does anyone know how to pull all the stock ringtones off, and replace them? If so, I'll pull all of them off, increase the volume on them, zip them back up, and make that download available for everyone.
It takes almost no time at all, and once you have the setup, I think I can even do it as a batch thing.
Last edited by Gareee; August 9th, 2010 at 02:12 PM.
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Right, sorry. I've actually already read that the speaker is fine, and that it's the stock audio files that came with the phone that are lacking in, "umph." It was actually in a thread on this very forum. I guess I'm being spacey today.
I don't think that I will leave my device laying down on a flat surface, screen up, while watching videos or listening to music though. I will either have it in the dock or in my hands so that I can properly see the screen. Even with my alarm, I flip the phone over so that the screen is facing down. I do it because I don't like any blinking LEDs when I'm trying to sleep, but I've also always done it because the alarm tends to be louder, regardless of how loud it was before. Nonetheless, I completely agree with you, Garee, about the device having been meant as more of a personal media device. It doesn't really come across as being something that you can easily show off audio-wise in a crowded bar.
I also now remember reading a user's comment on Motorola/Verizon possibly being able to fix this problem in the Froyo update. It seems like a fair argument, and I hope that it happens. It wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't happen, but it would be nice to know that they're actually hearing what we have to say about the device's performance. Even if the defect isn't physical, they should still be handing out bug fixes. I think that a fix for this problem would be really nice.
EDIT: Here's a tip actually. I do this with literally every media device that has and uses a speaker on the backside.
Cup or, "cusp," your hand around the edge of the device and redirect the audio toward you. It might sound weird or stupid, but it works rather well for me.
The position that this guy's hand is in is similar to what I'm talking about, but he's doing a much more loose fashion of it. Basically, place the tips of your fingers slightly past the speaker hole on the back of the device, then do a, "curve," of sorts with the rest of your hand until you nearly make a 90° angle. It will actually take the audio coming from the speaker and bounce it off your hand.
Like I said, it might sound weird or dumb, and it seems obvious or silly, but some may not immediately think of it. It works great for me, anyway.
Last edited by Paycer; August 9th, 2010 at 03:06 PM.
Gareee, I can appreciate some of the points you made, but I do think you're missing the point.
This device is easily capable of louder volumes without a problem. Motorola should have given us the capability to use that volume right out of the box. It should be up to the user whether or not they want to be an "@$$hat" and use it very loudly in public (personally, I exercise discretion, but I should be able to make that decision for myself).
I understand that the media volume for you may be acceptable in a quiet environment: I would suggest that you now try it outside, or in a car. Even better, try showing your buddies a few youtube videos that you thought were funny. Unless you want to be shushing all of them (including those 2 friends talking 10 feet away who aren't listening to the video) you probably won't be able to hear the videos. Now go try the same thing with the Droid (if you have one): you'll have little to no problem. Guess what, the DX's speaker is almost certainly capable of similar volume levels.
I realize there is always the option to use headphones, and if you're going to be going somewhere that you can plan ahead for, great. However, part of the reason a lot of people own a smartphone is for the convenience factor: you don't have to plan ahead to be entertained! (woo hoo! ....lol) By crippling the speaker, Motorola has stripped us of part of that experience.
As I said earlier, it comes down to this: the hardware is there: it isn't enabled right now, but it should be. You don't have to pay money to Verizon to call and complain, and it may actually make a difference, so why not do it? The reality of the situation, is that your DX is easily capable of more than what Motorola has currently allowed it to do: you are being shortchanged right now whether you feel that way or not.
The arguing in this really makes very little sense to me: we acknowledge that the volume is lacking b/c we agree that we need to ramp up the volume of the ringtones that we put on the phone. If you've used youtube, I absolutely defy you to tell me it plays at acceptable volume levels. If you've put videos on the phone, you probably have realized that it's very similar to the music and ringtone volumes. Heck if you know what you're doing you can even strip the audio and then add it back in to the video: it's the same as the ringtone volume. It's obvious that the DX can handle much, much louder volumes with ease, but it currently is crippled by the software. Defending your device is all well and good, but wouldn't you rather say it's the best instead of just "good enough"?
The arguing in this really makes very little sense to me: we acknowledge that the volume is lacking b/c we agree that we need to ramp up the volume of the ringtones that we put on the phone. If you've used youtube, I absolutely defy you to tell me it plays at acceptable volume levels.
Actually I never agreed that the hardware settings were the issue. Its the volume of the sound files that is the issue. I know, becuase if I load a sound file onto my phone that has a maximized volume, its 5 times louder then the stock sounds.
That means they need to modify the sound files themselves, NOT the firmware volume control in the phone.
Someone confirmed in a forum post that a verizon store actually just replaced the sound files on his Dx with new louder ones, and that cured his issue.
Both my wife and myself have no issues at all with the stock sounds or speaker on the dx. She can put an alarm on her phone and have to three rooms away in our home, and we can hear it quite well when it goes off.
As a matter of fact, I had it wake me up two days in a row, even though it was clear across our house.
When I mix down video files for playback on my phone, I always increase volume levels at the same time. I did that with my env2 as well. I usually increase volume about 800% for both devices.
Your view is that it is a firmware issue that needs an update to be corrected.
My view is that it is a simple software issue that can easily be corrected by any user right now, this minute.
I have a feeling that the froyo update was delayed because of many perceived "issues", that are in fact actually erronius user perceptions, or simply eople unfamiliar with using a smart phone.
I've made more then my share of mistakes on my Dx, but I'm also learning, and have not found any issue (other then the gps on sticking issue) that I couldn't work around.
The fact of the matter is if you are in a very quiet environment, the ringer may sound sufficient. Granted, some notification sounds are louder than others. Regardless if you use a louder ringtone, if there is any background noise, say like driving with the window down or music playing, the speaker is pathetic.
Whether it's an issue with the design of the speaker, the size of the opening in the back, the way the phone rests or the software, it needs to fixed. That's if the speaker can handle the volume.
I don't know anyone who leaves their phone screen side down so they can hear it ringing. Screen side up on any surface, with any background noise = impossible to hear.
Hey Moto, can you hear me now?
Last edited by TheXFactor; August 10th, 2010 at 01:47 PM.
@Gareee
Ok, I understand your opinion. Have you tried using youtube, pandora, grooveshark, etc to any extent? I personally have used youtube, pandora and grooveshark and all of them produce very sub-par sound on my DX. Each of these is much louder on the Droid by comparison and this isn't something the user can modify like a sound file. I have also loaded tv scene torrents (aka tv shows ripped by the most reliable and standardized encoders out there) onto my DX: they too play with sub-par volume (same as the streaming apps). I have not tried mp3s on the phone yet but I will when I get home. I fully expect to find that they are similar in volume.
While I have no problem with amplifying the sound on my custom ringtones, I do take issue with having to modify videos just to have them reach an acceptable volume (it shouldn't be necessary). I also do not have the time or the patience to amp up the volume of my entire music library for the DX. The biggest issue is the streaming programs that don't even give me a choice: they will forever be quiet unless something with the firmware is changed.
If it was clear that the speaker couldn't handle the louder volume levels, I'd shut my mouth and you wouldn't hear about it from me. This happens to be the very reason I haven't mentioned anything about the DX's vibration mode: it's so weak that is may as well not even exist tbh. Nothing has led me to believe that it's a firmware problem, so I doubt anything can be done about it: thus it's not worth mentioning (expect in a review). Based on my observations the speaker is definitely worth mentioning b/c it does seem to be a firmware limitation on the hardware.
PS: If it woke you up from across the house, I gotta assume that either you're a very light sleeper, have a very small house, have a large house that allows sound to permeate excessively well (hard wood floor everywhere perhaps?) or you have extremely good hearing (aka an extreme audiophile type). I mean even with a seriously amped up volume ringtone my phone wouldn't do that from across the house...
Last edited by kwest12; August 10th, 2010 at 02:07 PM.
I think people are focusing too much on notification loudness, while that is an issue as well, all volumes are too low. You can watch a youtube video and you can hear a youtube video but you can't do both at the same time.
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the DI is way louder than the DX (its one of the 2 things i miss from my switch--volume and sense). pandora, gmaps, youtube, notifications are very weak in comparison. maybe i just need a bigger volume rocker.
Motorola DROID X is an Android powered smartphone with a 1GHz processor, huge 4.3-inch display with 480x854 pixels resolution, 8-megapixel camera with 720p motion video capture and many other features. It's the newest addition to Motorola... Read More
Droid X Speaker
