HTC Desire sound quality

[kaushal101]

Just wanted to make sure if this is a common issue or something wrong with my handset (so that I can try getting it replaced).

When I hear calls using phone's default speaker, the sound comes okay till one volume level. If I move up, the sound distorts.

If I use speaker-phone, things are worse. After a certain level, sound crackles a lot.

For music via phone's loud speaker, the sound doesn't crackle. But as identified by many, I can hear music with no bass & lots of treble.

Is this normal for Desire?

Comparing it with my wife's N95 (which has stereo speakers) was a nightmare for me.

 

[trevytrev]

I've just upgraded from a Nokia N95 and the speakers on that were definitely better than on the Desire, but as you say they are stereo on the N95. I think the speaker on the Desire is pretty crap but I very rarely use it so it's not really bothering me too much.

 

[kaushal101]

So, I don't need to go back and get the handset replaced?

 

[Ozor Mox]

The speaker quality isn't the best. I think it was probably better on my previous two phones, the Nokia N85 and Nokia 5800, both of which had stereo speakers as well. In fact, the Nokia 5800 is a music phone and one of its selling points was quality speakers, so it's fair enough really. You can always buy those little portable travel speakers to plug in for better quality.

I would say no, you don't need to return your handset.

 

[kaushal101]

The speaker quality isn't the best. I think it was probably better on my previous two phones, the Nokia N85 and Nokia 5800, both of which had stereo speakers as well. In fact, the Nokia 5800 is a music phone and one of its selling points was quality speakers, so it's fair enough really. You can always buy those little portable travel speakers to plug in for better quality.

I would say no, you don't need to return your handset.

Honestly speaking, I am not that worried about quality of music that comes out from Desire's loud speakers. If I want to listen to the music, I will be using headphones.

I am worried about the other two things.

1. Quality of call sound quality over the hands-free speaker-phone. This is worst if I turn the volume to max. Sound crackles a lot.

2. Quality of call sound quality via the phone's default standard speaker (the one which you put on your ear). Through that speaker, the sound gets crackled once I increase the volume to a certain level. Frankly speaking, I am most worried about this part because this is the one which I am going to use every day.

 

[Ozor Mox]

Honestly speaking, I am not that worried about quality of music that comes out from Desire's loud speakers. If I want to listen to the music, I will be using headphones.

I am worried about the other two things.

1. Quality of call sound quality over the hands-free speaker-phone. This is worst if I turn the volume to max. Sound crackles a lot.

2. Quality of call sound quality via the phone's default standard speaker (the one which you put on your ear). Through that speaker, the sound gets crackled once I increase the volume to a certain level. Frankly speaking, I am most worried about this part because this is the one which I am going to use every day.

Ah. Not sure I can help then really. I haven't used the speakerphone for calls yet, and I find the earpiece sound to be absolutely fine, though to be fair I don't think I usually have it on maximum, that tends to be too loud for me.

 

[kaushal101]

Hmmmm... I took my handset to a carphone warehouse retailer nearby. I showed it to the guy over there. And he confirmed that the sound is indeed a little distorted. I just got off the phone with mobiles.co.uk, and they have agreed to exchange it. Let me see how it goes and how the sound comes out from the new handset.

If things don't improve with the new handset, then I might have to accept the sound quality.

 

[whitworth]

I'm finding that as you say, when the volume is turned up alot on speaker phone there is alot of crackling. It doesn't seem as noticeable on mp3's although this is probably due to frequency. It would be useful to have something to compare to. Maybe its more of an issue with the audio setup of the phone having too much treble, a phone wide equaliser app would be greatfully recieved.

 

[kaushal101]

I'm finding that as you say, when the volume is turned up alot on speaker phone there is alot of crackling. It doesn't seem as noticeable on mp3's although this is probably due to frequency. It would be useful to have something to compare to. Maybe its more of an issue with the audio setup of the phone having too much treble, a phone wide equaliser app would be greatfully recieved.

I know exactly what you're saying. I am now in real double-mind about whether or not to go through the exchange hassle.

I'm attaching a sound recording of what I am experiencing at full volume through the loud speakers. You can probably try to compare and see if this is just me, or just you, or everyone is experiencing the same.

 

[Kopacabana]

I know EXACTLY what you are saying. You are not alone!

I received my new Desire on Tuesday and I have been infuriated by the appalling sound both from the loudspeaker and from the internal speaker.

I use my mobile predominantly as a phone (surprise surprise!). I work from home and have always used the loudspeaker, which, on my last 2 phones (Nokia E52 and SE K800i) was perfect. I find the Desire's loudspeaker unusable. Plus, when I crank up the volume on the internal speaker it distorts and crackles.

While everything else the Desire does is fantastic, I bought the handset to be used primarily as a phone. I don't listen to music or watch movies (I have a hi-fi and TV for that). I just like a bit on internet browsing on the move every now and then.

I posted a thread similar to yours on another forum and it seems many people are experiencing the same problems. However one reply was that the guy couldn't understand all the fuss - of course the sound isn't going to be great out of a tiny speaker, think about what else the phone does. Well if I look at my previous 2 phones the speaker's are tiny on them as wekk but they manage to reproduce excellent sound quality.

That's kind of hitting the nail on the head for me. If I wanted an all-singing, all-dancing internet tablet I'd have bought a tablet. I want a phone that works primarily as an excellent phone, with all the other stuff coming a close second.

I too am in 2 minds as to whether to send the phone back to Orange. I've got a couple of days left of my 7-day cooling-off period. The jury is still out.

 

[whitworth]

I'm attaching a sound recording of what I am experiencing at full volume through the loud speakers. You can probably try to compare and see if this is just me, or just you, or everyone is experiencing the same.

I can confirm that thats exactally how mine sounds in the same conditions. I'm also on orange.

 

[kaushal101]

Thanks for confirming my fears .

I think it might be a little difficult for me to live with this sound quality, as I am also going to use this device predominantly for phone calls.

I talked to HTC support. The guy (quite obviously) said he hasn't heard of any such sound quality related issue. He suggested that exchanging the handset might resolve the problem, which I am not sure knowing that lots of people are experiencing the same sound quality.

I have sent HTC an email with the sound sample and asked their opinion. In next 2 hours I will decide if I am sending this handset back for getting it exchanged or not. Apart from this little sound quality issue I am very happy with Desire so I will stick to it.

 

[Ashington]

Interesting stuff.

Was about to return my Desire to my local T Mobile store. The sound quality through the speaker is absolutely awful. I phoned my girlfriend last night (was in the car, Desire was in a car vent holder) turned on the speaker to have the conversation and we could not honestly hear each other.

I'm really surprised if this is standard on this phone, it makes it unusable in the car for phone calls, playing video etc. My previous 4 year old Sony Erickson K810i was fantastic compared to this.

Is it just my handset or are all Desire's like this?

There is another reason I am looking at too. Have noticed that most of the time the internet bookmarked windows display a white screen instead of the actual web page. Anyone else noticed this.

Thanks

 

[runamonk]

That's really odd. Perhaps a bad batch of speakers or something. I don't get any distortion while using the speaker phone or by playing music through the speaker phone.

I would send that puppy back.

PS: I bought an unlocked, unbranded desire.

 

[Ashington]

Im getting a noise now from the rattling camera on full volume

 

[kaushal101]

OK. I've sent the handset back to mobiles.co.uk, and will wait for the exchange to happen in next 3-5 days, hopefully.

Meanwhile I got back to my old SE P990i. And boy, does the sound quality feels better! Zero distortion or crackling.

I seriously hope the sound quality of my exchanged Desire is better.

Otherwise it would be a real nightmare to be stuck with an excellent device with such poor sound quality.

 

[Munchie75]

Have had my phone for nearly a week too after sending back the disastrous Xperia x10...

The Desire is an amazing phone, but the sounds quality during conversation is awful !!

I too am on Orange, so appears to be a theme here...(be interested to get a poll going of who is on what network, to see if it is an orange isolated batch of phones)

Thought originally it was the poor signal, but have checked with everyone i speak too, and they say they can hear me fine with no distortion or crackle !

p.s doesn't seam to make a difference what volume i have it set to

Arrrgggghhhh !!

 

[lekky]

Its not the best for sure, stereo speakers will always beat it. But I have used the loudspeaker for calls and it is acceptable for me, certainly not bad enough that I couldn't use it for a conversation..

It doesn't have much bass and i wouldn't use the loudpseaker for music, but things like youtube vids it seems perfectly acceptable to me. If all Desires were so bad during calls then i'm sure it would have been made more of an issue, i'd be interested to see if kaushal101's new phone is better than the last tho!

 

[DonaldGreig]

I've tried Three, Vodafone and T Mobile and the sound quality isn't great on any of them and I have to say, I'm back using my Blackberry Bold again, which wipes the floor with the Desire in terms of phone signal, quality, ease of use and sadly just about everything. Sold my iphone to get the Desire and I'm not sure it was the right move - but I hated the tied down aspect of the iPhone. Hmmmm.

 

[czechplastik]

I find during normal phone > ear calls the sound quality is excellent. No interest in loudspeaker calls but I did find music through the speaker was poor though again not something I would do very often anyway. Youtube sound was fine.

At the end of the day the phone does so many things very very well yet remains reasonably priced, something has to be compromised.

 

[NineToTheSky]

There might be a pattern. My Desire is SIM free, and while the sound from the loudspeaker is very tinny, it doesn't distort or crackle. The sound on Google Navigation on top volume is not a thing of beauty, but it's perfectly audible, for example.

 

[Bearo]

Ive noticed the sound quality on loudspeaker also depends on who im ringing, strangely! If i ring an old phone it sounds pretty terrible but when i rang another desire it sounded pretty good, even on loud speaker.
To be honest, im disappointed in the speakers performance but everything else the phone does is amazing so its not enough for me to sell up.

 

[casalaguna22]

Hey kaushal101,

Just wondered how you went with your new desire? Still crackling?

I have the same issue and I'm on Orange, I'm thinking of selling mine, but then buying a non branded model, I think it may be a bad Orange batch by the sounds of this thread..

But thought I'd first see how you got on??

Thanks

casalaguna22

 

[casalaguna22]

I'd love to hear from anyone who has had a crackling htc desire and have found a way around it. I think maybe the non branded desires may be a better way to go, could be a faulty orange batch?? but waiting to hear more from anyone out there?

thanks

 

[DonaldGreig]

Don't think it makes much difference - I have a non branded Desire and the sound quality is variable. Had a call with a land line tonight using a Three UK SIM and it was actually fine.