Help Speakers are Terrible

[mxs102]

Maybe I got a bad device, but I am extremely disappointed with the audio quality of the external speaker.

As soon as I got in the car after my purchase and began to check out the ringtones I thought the speaker sounded a little low. Upon further testing, I found the speaker to be just garbage. Even if the volume isn't exceptionally loud, the audio is FAR from clear.

I did a comparison test with my original droid incredible (the device I just upgraded from) and even THAT has a far superior sound quality.

This is honestly quickly becoming a deal breaker for me. I can deal with not being able to enjoy listening to Pandora frequently, however, even ringtones don't sound as well as they should. I could potentially not even hear my phone ring due to this issue.

The lack of quality is disturbing to me. Seems like a demonstration of cheap Chinese manufacturing and a Verizon ploy to pass on another low quality Beats Audio device.

Has anyone else experienced this issue, or should I go get another one because I might have a bum device?

***EDIT/UPDATE:

So I lived out a full 2 weeks with my original purchase to test it out. The speakers were still bothering me and the haptic feedback on the keyboard seemed a little excessive. Tonight I went back to Best Buy to exchange the device for another Dinc 4G, just to do more testing.

The speaker STILL sucks so I've come to the conclusion that HTC simply opted to use a shittier quality speaker to save money.

On the other hand, I think the other phone I has wasn't put together well because this phone feels lighter and the haptic feedback is nicer.

Conclusion: I think I'll be searching for a new device, too many shitty flaws for me to be truly happy. I'm very disappointed. ***

 

[hilmar2k]

I would say the speaker is slightly better than that of the Inc2....but that isn't saying a whole lot. I just got mine, so I'll have to do some comparison.

 

[mxs102]

I never have heard the incredible 2, but I always was fairly impressed with the sound from the original incredible.

I have heard that beats audio is supposed to enhance the headphone listening experience which I haven't tried, but that isn't the point. The external speaker just isn't up to snuff.

 

[valorian]

Yeah, the speaker quality on the DInc 2 is not all that great either. These phones may use the same type of speaker.

 

[vzwuser76]

To tell you the truth, I've never heard a decent speakerphone speaker. Usually if it's loud it sounds tinny, or if it sounds full it's quiet. Even the speakerphone on my cordless at home sucks. Of what I've had, I believe the Thunderbolt had a decent speaker as far as volume, but it had 2 speakers instead of 1. In reality it's kinda hard to expect a decent amount of sound or quality out of a speaker that's a 1/4" or smaller in diameter though. Especially expecting it to be louder than a typical room.

I kinda stopped worrying about this feature a couple phones back. Unless they change to another speaker tech, they're always going to sound like s**t.

 

[jamala00]

Yeah, the speaker quality on the DInc 2 is not all that great either. These phones may use the same type of speaker.

I had the Org Inc and now the Inc 2 and the speakers on the Org Inc were much better. I like the Inc 2 but kind of wish I would have just bought another Org Inc when my screen on mine died.

 

[mxs102]

To tell you the truth, I've never heard a decent speakerphone speaker. Usually if it's loud it sounds tinny, or if it sounds full it's quiet. Even the speakerphone on my cordless at home sucks. Of what I've had, I believe the Thunderbolt had a decent speaker as far as volume, but it had 2 speakers instead of 1. In reality it's kinda hard to expect a decent amount of sound or quality out of a speaker that's a 1/4" or smaller in diameter though. Especially expecting it to be louder than a typical room.

I kinda stopped worrying about this feature a couple phones back. Unless they change to another speaker tech, they're always going to sound like s**t.

I have to agree with you not to expect great quality out of something so small, but if my 2 year old phone sounds better than what's touted as latest and greatest...it's a problem.

Regardless of volume, music should play clearly. Even on the original Incredible I wasn't getting studio quality sound (which I don't expect), but when I play a song, any song, I can still enjoy the music. With the Inc4G some songs become grainy and garbled and it's almost painful to listen to.

If anyone has any interest, one of the songs that I used to test the speaker of the Inc4G is "Until the End" by Breaking Benjamin. All of the instruments just seem to blend together and become noise; terrible. The original Inc can play this song with near perfect clarity.

 

[vzwuser76]

I have to agree with you not to expect great quality out of something so small, but if my 2 year old phone sounds better than what's touted as latest and greatest...it's a problem.

Regardless of volume, music should play clearly. Even on the original Incredible I wasn't getting studio quality sound (which I don't expect), but when I play a song, any song, I can still enjoy the music. With the Inc4G some songs become grainy and garbled and it's almost painful to listen to.

If anyone has any interest, one of the songs that I used to test the speaker of the Inc4G is "Until the End" by Breaking Benjamin. All of the instruments just seem to blend together and become noise; terrible. The original Inc can play this song with near perfect clarity.

See I thought the same thing (garbled sound) from the OG Incredible. The Inc2 was so low it was almost useless, the Tbolt was loud but tinny sounding, & the Rezound is about as loud as the OG Inc, but a little better in the sound quality. But I haven't seen a phone yet where I'd want to listen to music over the speakerphone. I'd rather use the DLNA and route it to my blu-ray player and turn on the home theater, or use a 3.5mm audio out cord and plug it in to a car or shelf stereo unit. The sound out of these phones really isn't much better than those $40 mp3 players. I had a lot higher hopes for the Rezound since it was touted for music, but the Beats stuff is for headphone or audio out.

 

[mxs102]

But I haven't seen a phone yet where I'd want to listen to music over the speakerphone. I'd rather use the DLNA and route it to my blu-ray player and turn on the home theater, or use a 3.5mm audio out cord and plug it in to a car or shelf stereo unit. The sound out of these phones really isn't much better than those $40 mp3 players. I had a lot higher hopes for the Rezound since it was touted for music, but the Beats stuff is for headphone or audio out.

That's all well and good and something I do from time to time, but rudimentary things like playing a song/video on YouTube, listening to Pandora on the beach, or hell even hearing your ringtone should be an enjoyable experience. The Inc4G just doesn't cut the mustard here. If you can't provide volume, at least give me clarity.

 

[vzwuser76]

That's all well and good and something I do from time to time, but rudimentary things like playing a song/video on YouTube, listening to Pandora on the beach, or hell even hearing your ringtone should be an enjoyable experience. The Inc4G just doesn't cut the mustard here. If you can't provide volume, at least give me clarity.

I'll agree with ya there. It seems like the only things the OEMs need to still work on is battery life, external speakers, & getting out updates in a timely manner.

 

[phillychower]

eh i use the speaker for brief listening to podcasts and on calls, it seems fine to me... coming from Inc1

 

[ONJFan]

that is what I enjoy the most with my original incredible, the volume is a loud but it is also clear. in fact, I usually am turning the volume down a lot because it's so loud. I have found the speaker volume on my original incredible to be the best I've ever had on any cell phone.

it's possible that if you contact h t c or verizon about the problem with the speakerphone they may do a software update to help it.

 

[ONJFan]

I also wanted to add that is what I hate about a lot of phone reviewers, they don't let you know a lot about the important things like how is the speaker phone how is the battery life how was the multitasking and how is the call quality.

instead all they do is scroll left and right look at the app drawer scroll up and down or left and right about a 100 times for 4 minutes and call it a video.

 

[mxs102]

eh i use the speaker for brief listening to podcasts and on calls, it seems fine to me... coming from Inc1

I just made my first phone call using the speaker phone on the 4g and it was very hard if not near impossible at times to hear what the person on the other end was saying. Several times I had to turn off speaker phone so that I could have him repeat himself.

that is what I enjoy the most with my original incredible, the volume is a loud but it is also clear. in fact, I usually am turning the volume down a lot because it's so loud. I have found the speaker volume on my original incredible to be the best I've ever had on any cell phone.

it's possible that if you contact h t c or verizon about the problem with the speakerphone they may do a software update to help it.

How could a software update affect the sound quality of the phones hardware?

 

[undergone]

To me, this phone has a better speaker than the previous Incredibes. You might have a bad speaker or we could just have different preferences.

 

[Codec]

use Volume+, it really helps on my nexus, which speaker is low, but with this app, it makes it very loud
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...51bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5URVNULmFuZHJvaWQubHZoIl0.

 

[mxs102]

*bump for update* -- See OP

 

[ArtificialMind]

More proof that the Incredible 4g uses cheap low quality parts, everything on this phone screams low quality other than the S4 chip.

 

[hilmar2k]

I have no issues with the speaker. Much louder, and at least as clear as the Inc2. I haven't used it a ton, but so far I am satisfied.

 

[mxs102]

I have no issues with the speaker. Much louder, and at least as clear as the Inc2. I haven't used it a ton, but so far I am satisfied.

I don't know anything about the Inc2, but the OG Inc had an awesome speaker.

Go on YouTube, search for "Until the End" by Breaking Benjamin and get ready to experience the garbled shitbox that is the Inc 4G's speaker. I'm sure it'd break up with nearly any rock song. I've even experienced it with certain low notes while playing dubstep tracks. Maybe you just have lower expectations for your phone speaker, which is fine, but I don't even find it satisfactory to play ringtones.

 

[hilmar2k]

Maybe you just have lower expectations for your phone speaker, which is fine, but I don't even find it satisfactory to play ringtones.

Or maybe you have unrealistic expectations. :dontknow:

It's a tiny speaker, it's never going to reproduce high fidelity sound at any sort of volume.

 

[ArtificialMind]

Or maybe you have unrealistic expectations. :dontknow:

It's a tiny speaker, it's never going to reproduce high fidelity sound at any sort of volume.

You're not getting it. The quality of the Incredible 4g is junk and the point is, if the original Incredible had a good speaker why couldnt they use a quality speaker in the Incredible 4g? Its because the Incredible 4g uses cheap low quality parts, other then the S4 chip.

 

[today]

It's just opinions. Everyone has them. I think this device speaker is pretty good. But then again I was very pleased with the speaker on the og incredible. It is just a tiny little thing, but sounds a little cleaner than the og. Prefer it turned down a notch. It then is the same as og at full volume. JMO. Definitely a cleaner more satisfying experience with headphones though.

 

[Triska]

My speaker isn't great. Much worse than my original Dinc. I've gone back to my Dinc as a music player since it is almost painful listening to music on the 4G. It sounds fine with headphones though.

 

[hytekjosh]

My speaker seems OK. I just streamed two hours of UMF (Ultra Music Fest) 2012 at full volume.