Help Questions regarding Speaker and Display

flairmedk · Jun 26, 2011

We have two 3vo's and speaker volume is almost non exsistant as far as external. Ear piece is a little better but not great. I really hope this is something that can be fixed. Don if you are able to cut and paste to HTC Community it would be appreciated. flairmedk (androidforums)

faith1310 · Jun 26, 2011

Yea my e3d is not loud at all, not even my my ringtone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mauddib · Jun 29, 2011

Someone on here mentioned an app called Equalizer and it seems to have helped the volume for music and podcasts. Not if it will work for rintones or movies. I set everything to max and I can tell a difference.

jay7872 · Jun 29, 2011

For those who think the issue is holes in the case being too small iI can assure you this is not the case. I took both cases off evo 4g and 3d and evo 4g still out performed the 3d. HTC put a smaller speaker on the unit which is the culprit for the low sound..if you notice, some songs and especially voice calls crackle at the Max setting..I think raising the sound anymore even with a third party app will blow speaker for sure

novox77 · Jun 29, 2011

jay7872 said:
For those who think the issue is holes in the case being too small iI can assure you this is not the case. I took both cases off evo 4g and 3d and evo 4g still out performed the 3d. HTC put a smaller speaker on the unit which is the culprit for the low sound..if you notice, some songs and especially voice calls crackle at the Max setting..I think raising the sound anymore even with a third party app will blow speaker for sure

Yep, it looks like the culprit is too small of a speaker. If it clips at its max volume, there's nothing you can do to fix it. And it does clip. Which means that that is the loudest volume the speaker can handle physically.

If you try to pre-amp the volume, you may blow out the speaker. Be careful playing with equalizer apps.

jay7872 · Jun 29, 2011

Now the question becomes does a downgraded speaker outweigh the improvements?
for some it will, while for others it won't. Its really going to depend on the individual...

For me personally whom doesn't make too many phone calls, the low speaker isn't a major deal breaker although I wish it were louder..

K927A · Jun 29, 2011

The biggest issue with this for me is not hearing the ringtone. Isn't a feature of sense to ring your phone from a PC if you can't find it? How would you even hear the damn thing?
Seems like this issue is going to make it too easy to miss phone calls unless the phone is constantly attached to you. And you can forget about any alarm clock functionality if you're a heavy sleeper. (I know you can get a cheapo alarm clock anywhere but are you going to carry that everywhere with you?)

NCHornet · Jun 29, 2011

I remember back in the 1980's when big speakers, meant good speakers, lol!!!! Now in 2011 I have a set of speakers that is probably 1/10th of the size of my speakers back in the day. But the sound coming from those small speakers will blow the 80's speakers out of the water. So just being a small speaker doesn't have to mean low, or poor sound quality. You just need to use the right speakers from the start. For what these phones cost they should have better sound, no excuse not too. I have not had the clipping issues, even though my volumes are all max'd. I need to figure something out. I am tired of looking at the phone and seeing I missed several calls because I never heard the ringer. I even have it set to vibrate, but I don't feel it when it is in the Otterbox holster. I may have to start carrying the brick in my pocket. I never thought low speaker volume would have been a big issue with this phone. But what do I know???????????????

akayareal · Jun 30, 2011

I dont have the 3D and dont plan on getting it for these 2 reasons.

As far as the speaker and thinking a app will help, it wont. This is a hardware issue brought on most likely by the 3D cam set up. It seems like having the extra cam has not only forced them to get ride of the kickstand (because the battery now sits where the kickstand was mounted on the 4G) but also forced them to use either a smaller or lower powered speaker.

Its hard to make a argument of being a good multimedia phone if you have a weak speaker.

This can also be a result of the 1st batch of phones and may be corrected in a new batch of phones if enough complain.

EarlyMon · Jun 30, 2011

Everyone's mileage varies as does everyone' decision points.

I've yet to hear decent multimedia sound on a phone speaker in any case. I'm aware they've made surround-sound phones with purportedly decent speakers - I've just not heard them (and wish they would, for once, come out with a phone that adds features rather than simply trades them).

Alternatives are almost any headset for personal use and DLNA and MHL for other use cases.

I do recommend these, by the way -

EarlyMon said:
Still, streaming sounds like a nice option for desk/docked in the office - and one can do both.

And that brings up speakers, and I think I'd like you all to know how truly cool these very small spheres are -

http://gadgetynews.com/x-mini-ii-revenge-of-the-sphere-speakers-they-will-surround-you/http://www.amazon.com/X-Mini-II-Capsule-Speaker-Black/dp/B001UEBN42

They're inexpensive, one sounds great - you can daisy-chain them - and they pack a VERY surprising little whallop for a small size. They've become the darling in our offices, and you can find them on Amazon.

Hope that helps!

AndroidSPCS · Jun 30, 2011

EarlyMon said:
Everyone's mileage varies as does everyone' decision points.

I've yet to hear decent multimedia sound on a phone speaker in any case. I'm aware they've made surround-sound phones with purportedly decent speakers - I've just not heard them (and wish they would, for once, come out with a phone that adds features rather than simply trades them).

Alternatives are almost any headset for personal use and DLNA and MHL for other use cases.

I do recommend these, by the way -

Hope that helps!

I clicked on that link on my Windows PC (Gadgetynews)...UGH... popped up with a malicious malware ad.

I closed it right away. Warning about the link for others - the site itself may be ok, but whatever 3rd party ads they're running is taking over the browser (malicious forwarding to the 3rd party site), then pretending to be running a PC scan on your PC, warning that your PC has been infected!!!

EDIT: after closing it, clicked on the link again and it didn't happen, so it's when ever that 3rd party malware ad rotates through it will do it. WARNING!!!

EarlyMon · Jun 30, 2011

Whoa - that's new! Nice catch! updated above to just show safe Amazon link. Now for the other copies....

novox77 · Jun 30, 2011

Speaker update: it would seem that the speaker is physically capable of being a lot louder than it is during phone call mode. I just played a movie I put on my SD card, and the speaker was really loud.

So.... not sure what to make of that. I definitely hear plenty of clipping when my phone is on speakerphone. Maybe it's not clipping but some sort of resonance with the chassis.....

EarlyMon · Jun 30, 2011

novox77 said:
Speaker update: it would seem that the speaker is physically capable of being a lot louder than it is during phone call mode. I just played a movie I put on my SD card, and the speaker was really loud.

So.... not sure what to make of that. I definitely hear plenty of clipping when my phone is on speakerphone. Maybe it's not clipping but some sort of resonance with the chassis.....

How bizarre.

If it were the chassis, it ought be worse when louder with media.

How did they not use the same audio paths for phone/media? (I really don't want to have to go thru the schematics again.

)

In any case - your description says that for whatever reason, they did not.

novox77 · Jun 30, 2011

well I forget my physics... but is resonance solely a function of frequency? Or does amplitude come into play as well? I thought it was both. And if so, then perhaps once you pass a certain amplitude, the resonance stops. still doesn't make sense, cause movie volume fluctuates. I should be hearing the resonance here and there still.

I already proved to myself that playing the same mp3 file on both E4G and E3D showed that E3D was much lower in volume. I need to get this movie on my E4G and then compare. But still, it sounds way louder than call speakerphone volumes.

EarlyMon · Jun 30, 2011

novox77 said:
well I forget my physics... but is resonance solely a function of frequency? Or does amplitude come into play as well? I thought it was both.

Invert frequency, multiply by speed of sound to get wavelength. Resonances occur when physical structures dimensioned to wavelengths or even fractions allow mechanical amplification.

Amplitude only comes into play if the energy level overcomes the material elasticity and then the structure just rattles.

Wavelengths of dominant voice frequencies fall into the range of about 9" to 3" inches or so.

While it's theoretically possible for a wide range of resonances to cancel, when that happens they tend to get reinforced elsewhere - as a rule of thumb.

Given the wavelengths in question, I'd doubt resonances and go with your original call - some weakness in the phone audio amplifier path leading to poor volume and clipping.

Strictly a quick swag, tho - but that's what intuition dictates.

jdsingle · Jul 1, 2011

novox77 said:
Yep, it looks like the culprit is too small of a speaker. If it clips at its max volume, there's nothing you can do to fix it. And it does clip. Which means that that is the loudest volume the speaker can handle physically.

If you try to pre-amp the volume, you may blow out the speaker. Be careful playing with equalizer apps.

Thank you. You do not want any speaker that you ever come in contact with to be clipping. That's a great way to blow a speaker BTW. Using any amp is only going to make it worse if clipping is experienced without one. This is a hardware issue not a software one.

jdsingle · Jul 1, 2011

novox77 said:
Speaker update: it would seem that the speaker is physically capable of being a lot louder than it is during phone call mode. I just played a movie I put on my SD card, and the speaker was really loud.

So.... not sure what to make of that. I definitely hear plenty of clipping when my phone is on speakerphone. Maybe it's not clipping but some sort of resonance with the chassis.....

Once you've heard clipping it is hard to mistake it. Possible that the phone is using a different setting for amplification for each application. Although if you were sure it was clipping on a phone call and it wasn't as loud I find it hard to believe the other wouldn't have clipping too

inco9nito99 · Jul 2, 2011

Another proof is enabling the hearing-aid mode for regular phone calls. Speaker is a TON louder even at the weakest setting.

Bagua · Jul 2, 2011

jdsingle said:
Once you've heard clipping it is hard to mistake it. Possible that the phone is using a different setting for amplification for each application. Although if you were sure it was clipping on a phone call and it wasn't as loud I find it hard to believe the other wouldn't have clipping too

Had the same issues this is what I found, by no means scientific.

I raised the volume on my phone to max, this is what I discovered. Installed Equalizer app and raised the volume for all, the volume level on the far right, media sounds louder than without the app. Certainly enough for me to noticed a difference. Test the ringer volume and it sounded the same, so installed Quick Settings app ( it's free ) went to the phone ringer volume tab and noticed my ringer volume was at 5/7, I could have sworn I turned it up to max. I tested again and the volume is about 20% louder than before. Not OE level but better, I did all my testing 3 rooms away with the usual house noises,computer running,walls..etc,etc. Hopefully this will help.

DonB · Jul 7, 2011

BUMP this post again, those of you still concerned about the speaker issue should post in the HTC thread I create over at the HTC forum, you will see their response to an email I sent them, seems like they are not even aware of this issue, so we need you to post in that thread for them to take it serous. I am using EQ now so I can live with it for now, but I know many of you this issue is a deal breaker, so take the time to post and so something about it.

DonB said:
Guys and Gals, please post your volume issues, click HERE

novox77 · Jul 7, 2011

jdsingle said:
Once you've heard clipping it is hard to mistake it. Possible that the phone is using a different setting for amplification for each application. Although if you were sure it was clipping on a phone call and it wasn't as loud I find it hard to believe the other wouldn't have clipping too

The only way I can explain it is this: the clipping is already built into the audio stream before it reaches the speaker (ruling out my earlier guess of resonance cause that made less sense).

Let's say I take an mp3 file and up the amplitude until the file clips. The actual wave form is being cut off at the peaks (we haven't run it through any speakers yet). Now I save that file and play it back on my PC speakers with the volume turned low. I'm going to hear clipping. And it's not the speakers clipping. It's just reproducing the clipped sound wave.

So if the incoming call's sound wave has been inadvertently clipped, the speaker will just play those clipping sounds. So the next test is this: turn down the phone's speakerphone volume and see if we still hear the clipping. If so, the speaker has some room for amplification yet.

Skyphos · Jul 7, 2011

Its not much to add but I'll throw in my 2c. I would say playing music the 3vo does well...even comprable (from memory) to the OG. Now, speaker usage for speakerphone purposes sucks. I'm not sure if its the audio equalizer built in to the player helping out or if voice calls are dumbed down for a reason.

jay7872 · Jul 7, 2011

Eitherway I sure do miss my evo 4gspeaker..it was one badass speaker indeed

EarlyMon · Jul 7, 2011

I've noticed my speaker will - out of the blue - get stuck on low volume. Playing something thru the stock music player seems to clear it.

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