Speakerphone - heard better on Razr. Your thoughts?

[allen099]

Hey guys. I received my Nexus One yesterday, and I was wow'd with all the features and openness that it has. This is my first Android smartphone (it's not even close to being worthy of a "superphone" moniker), and I'm migrating from the iPhone.

After playing with it for an entire day, I've concluded that it's a great data device, and even the battery does a pretty good job of holding up. However, where it fails is audio. I think that HTC really put the "phone" aspect on the backburner with this phone. I bought it unsubsidized for the full $530 price, and when I tried playing some music through the speakerphone (which I do at night before bed), it sounds HORRIBLE. It's not even bad, it's awful. Anything that comes out of that speaker, whether it a phone call, podcast, or music, it all sounds so flat (no bass, treble, etc.) I'm not expecting a full-fledged stereo here, but honestly, the speakerphone on my mom's Razr sounds better.

I read the Engadget review before the phone shipped, and they did say it was "tinny", but I thought "ok, how bad can it really be?" They showed me...

What do you guys think? I haven't noticed anyone really talking about this on forums, so I'm guessing either people don't use the speaker or maybe mine is defective, though I doubt that last part. Everything else works ok. Thanks!

 

[MartinS]

Using a mobile phone speaker for music is never going to be a great experience...

 

[jbrinkley]

second htc, same crappy sound

I use the headphones alot

 

[jodaboda]

Yes, but even voice sounds bad. I've been spoiled with Nokia phones, and even my (pretty small) Nokia from 9 or so years ago sounded better than this. And new Nokia phones like the N series and the 5800 sound downright phenomenal next to the N1.

I literally thought I had done something wrong, or that the phone was broken or there was an error in the connection, the first time I answered a call with speakerphone on the N1.

I suppose it's one of the prices you pay for such a slim phone that's loaded up with great hardware. It's not a dealbreaker for me, but for someone who insists on good speakerphone quality, there's no way you'll be happy with the N1.

 

[iPhoneMilk]

I literally NEVER talk on the phone anyway, i'ts been that way for the last 4 years since i really got into smartphones.

If you're using a smartphone right anyway you should be doing less talking anyway.


I use maybe 30 minutes a month.. lol

 

[allen099]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm coming from an iPhone 3GS (I really dislike AT&T in NYC). The speaker on iPhone is great. I'm able to listen to podcasts and such in the car while i drive. Granted, this was the best speaker I've heard on a cellphone, I'm not expecting the same for any future phone that I buy.

But I am looking for something *decent* even, and I feel bad that I paid full-price for this phone, and this is what HTC gives us. It's just disappointing, mostly because of the hype I suppose. Although I feel the hype was almost warranted for every other aspect of the phone.

 

[jameskk]

I agree the speaker leaves a lot to be desired. I missed 3 calls yesterday because I never heard it ring or vibrate in my pocket. The Droid or iPhone 3GS have very good speakers IMOP.

 

[allen099]

I literally NEVER talk on the phone anyway, i'ts been that way for the last 4 years since i really got into smartphones.

If you're using a smartphone right anyway you should be doing less talking anyway.


I use maybe 30 minutes a month.. lol

Haha, business, my friend. I need a smartphone so I can talk to clients and at the same time have email, web, etc. I don't think there's a "right" way to use a phone, but I am at the same time understanding that people do less talking nowadays. Nevertheless, it's still a phone. And that's partially the reason for buying this and not an Archos device with 3G on it.

 

[omatix]

Coming from an iPhone 2G, it sounds awesome. You're right though: it probably isn't as good as it should be (my brother's Nokia 5800 series is better).

As long as I can hear it in the car, I'm happy enough though.

 

[Biohazard]

Disregarding the speaker, how is sound quality and music through the 3.5mm jack (Basically how good is it as a mp3 player/PMP)?

 

[DellyBelly]

I have to agree here; so far i love the phone. But speakerphone use is pretty much out of the question for me; the quality and "tinny" sound is pretty bad. Ring volume is a little light also which means I have to keep it up to max to really hear it consistently.

The sound quality from the 3.5mm jack sounds good though; haven't really used it for any heavy tremble or bass but it's clear and hasn't "cracked" at fairly high volumes listening to normal stuff.

Also concerning the player; i really don't see much wrong with it. I export my itunes playlists to my androids SD card whenever i update anything on itunes (obviously not as "Smooth") but I don't change playlists that often.

 

[allen099]

The 3.5mm jack sounds good. I've called HTC and they initiated a swap for me. The rep tried his own phone and didn't hear what I was talking about. I went ahead and posted a Youtube video documenting the difference between iPhone 3GS and Nexus One. Have a look, maybe you guys will see what I mean. It goes Nexus, iPhone, Nexus, iPhone: YouTube - Speaker Comparison between iPhone & Nexus One

 

[jameskk]

The 3.5mm jack sounds good. I've called HTC and they initiated a swap for me. The rep tried his own phone and didn't hear what I was talking about. I went ahead and posted a Youtube video documenting the difference between iPhone 3GS and Nexus One. Have a look, maybe you guys will see what I mean. It goes Nexus, iPhone, Nexus, iPhone: YouTube - Speaker Comparison between iPhone & Nexus One

be sure to let us know how the replacement unit is.

 

[jpw]

The 3.5mm jack sounds good. I've called HTC and they initiated a swap for me. The rep tried his own phone and didn't hear what I was talking about. I went ahead and posted a Youtube video documenting the difference between iPhone 3GS and Nexus One. Have a look, maybe you guys will see what I mean. It goes Nexus, iPhone, Nexus, iPhone: YouTube - Speaker Comparison between iPhone & Nexus One

Excellent comparison, I did not expect the difference to be that big.

Edit: I tried playing a song and my speaker sounds the same as yours. Either the N1 skimped on the speaker or the iPhone's is really good.

 

[raremage]

Haha, business, my friend. I need a smartphone so I can talk to clients and at the same time have email, web, etc. I don't think there's a "right" way to use a phone, but I am at the same time understanding that people do less talking nowadays. Nevertheless, it's still a phone. And that's partially the reason for buying this and not an Archos device with 3G on it.

QFT. Good Lord, they are phones, not just PDAs with data connections.

Having said that, the call quality to me is pretty good - certainly no worse than other smart phones I've used. For listening to tunes, of course, I use a headset.

 

[allen099]

Excellent comparison, I did not expect the difference to be that big.

Edit: I tried playing a song and my speaker sounds the same as yours. Either the N1 skimped on the speaker or the iPhone's is really good.

The iPhone 3G/3GS speaker is a great one, and it's fair to let people here know that I'm not comparing the Nexus One to that particular phone. It has exceptional sound and maybe it isn't fair for the Nexus to live up to that expectation...even with a $530 price tag :-/ ... after all Apple is considered a premium company for a reason. Based on HTC's previous Android devices (like the Hero, etc.), they still have 65k color screens. They seem to skimp on some stuff for whatever reason.

As a previous commenter asked, I will definitely update this forum when I receive the replacement Nexus, which will probably be Monday or Tuesday.

 

[allen099]

QFT. Good Lord, they are phones, not just PDAs with data connections.

Having said that, the call quality to me is pretty good - certainly no worse than other smart phones I've used. For listening to tunes, of course, I use a headset.

I'm with you 100%, the call quality is actually REALLY good, and this is with an AT&T SIM running on EDGE. We are also in agreement that music should be listened to through headphones, and I've got a very good set which I love and use every single time i'm out.

However, this still does not excuse a company from charging over half a thousand dollars (and more with tax) and putting a crappy speaker into it. If ALL speakers on the market were bad, obviously my point would be moot. Even the Droid has a clearer speaker than the Nexus One.

That said, I love every other aspect of the phone and OS, and I'm happy to leave AT&T and their 99% dropped calls in NYC. If my phone is a fluke and HTC sends me another one that's good, I'm heading into a T-Mo store right away for that Even More Plus (contract-free) $60/mo plan.

 

[MartinS]

To be fair, the iPhone speaker is also terrible, flat and just at a deeper level so it sounds like it might be better than the Nexus One.

P.S. I think it should be the law that no phone can play music through it's speaker. That'd sort the school kids out walking around playing their tinny crap in town - really annoying!

 

[allen099]

To be fair, the iPhone speaker is also terrible, flat and just at a deeper level so it sounds like it might be better than the Nexus One.

P.S. I think it should be the law that no phone can play music through it's speaker. That'd sort the school kids out walking around playing their tinny crap in town - really annoying!

If only record players fit into backpacks

As far as iPhone speaker goes, the 2G (aka 1st gen iPhone) had a low speaker. That was my first iPhone, and as soon as I bought the 3GS this past June, I was completely blown away. It sounded great, at least to my ears. It's good enough anyway where I can keep the volume low at night and still fall asleep to music while hearing virtually no tinnyness. We're all different, I get that. But the Nexus speaker, I think everyone can hear that it's not as robust.

 

[MartinS]

I agree, but as someone who would never even use packaged ear-phones, they all sound crap.

 

[mkrmec]

Who the hell even listens to music or anything thru the speaker.. lol that's just bonkers.

 

[omatix]

Is it possible that it's "tuned" for voice calls, and not music? I'd rather the midrange frequencies be clear (for voice) than to have a full range that's quieter or distorts while still at lower volumes.

That said, I've no idea if this is a logical tradeoff, and I'm definitely not trying to make excuses if the N1's speaker is simply worse. But I thought I'd throw the question out there. How does the 3GS compare for speakerphone (voice) vs the Nexus One?

 

[allen099]

Is it possible that it's "tuned" for voice calls, and not music? I'd rather the midrange frequencies be clear (for voice) than to have a full range that's quieter or distorts while still at lower volumes.

That said, I've no idea if this is a logical tradeoff, and I'm definitely not trying to make excuses if the N1's speaker is simply worse. But I thought I'd throw the question out there. How does the 3GS compare for speakerphone (voice) vs the Nexus One?

Hi omatix. The Nexus One doesn't sound that great on voice calls as well, and I've tried with people from multiple networks including a land line. That is eliminated in my mind. I earlier posted a Youtube video that I made for a comparison of both speakers. The order of testing is Nexus, iPhone, Nexus, iPhone. Here it is: YouTube - Speaker Comparison between iPhone & Nexus One

 

[omatix]

Hi omatix. The Nexus One doesn't sound that great on voice calls as well, and I've tried with people from multiple networks including a land line. That is eliminated in my mind. I earlier posted a Youtube video that I made for a comparison of both speakers. The order of testing is Nexus, iPhone, Nexus, iPhone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIpaNbvJtW4

Fair enough - that sucks. It seems at least usable for me, though, and definitely not a dealbreaker. This phone does seem to have some shortcomings, but the positives outweigh the negatives for me so far.

 

[wonderbread]

So, the regular non speaker phone speaker is ok? Like, the one you use when holding the phone to your ear on a call.