Help Loud Popping between songs Unbearable.

[NickNas]

So I finally gave up my Gen 1 Droid X and got the S4. Love the phone and I am sure it will last for years.

Problem though. DAILY I use my phone for NAV and as the Music source in my car. I bought a adapter that connects my phone onto my Cars Bose system and it has always been flawless and CRYSTAL Clear.

Until the S4 I get Buzzing and even that old fashioned Whirring sound where you can here it actually run with the engine like an old AM radio.

When I get THAT to stop in between every single song or if a notification sound plays I get a LOUD popping sound.

Pro player and car dock ultra is what I use like I have for years with no problems.

HUGE disappointment especially for a phone that is supposed to be the best of the best.

Any Ideas?

 

[NickNas]

WOW 40 views and NO one else is having this problem or am I the only one who plugs this phone into their cars system?

 

[rushmore]

Based on the package of what you do, it seems kind of niche. I do not get any noise via 3.5mm going to headphones or to auxiliary sources, but tend to use the radio or a cd when using gps.

 

[ALurker]

Some phones are more susceptible to ground loop interference (caused by the alternator I think?) than others when connected to the audio system in your car. This might be what you're experiencing. It typically sounds like hissing or whining but I guess could cause popping as well. I've had this problem in my car using only certain phones and I bought a PAC ground loop isolator a year or two ago and I haven't had a problem since.

 

[Heinegrabber]

Same problem. I also get it when I connect to my SAMSUNG 7.2 reciever.

 

[NickNas]

Some phones are more susceptible to ground loop interference (caused by the alternator I think?) than others when connected to the audio system in your car. This might be what you're experiencing. It typically sounds like hissing or whining but I guess could cause popping as well. I've had this problem in my car using only certain phones and I bought a PAC ground loop isolator a year or two ago and I haven't had a problem since.

Ordering one right now . Thanks. We shouldn't need to do this with the best phone made. I didn't need it with the Old Droid X first Gen.

NN

 

[Goodspike]

Based on the package of what you do, it seems kind of niche. I do not get any noise via 3.5mm going to headphones or to auxiliary sources, but tend to use the radio or a cd when using gps.

I don't get any noise using either 3.5 to a cassette adapter or using Bluetooth.

I would suggest to the OP though trying a different music player.

 

[joeelectro]

I love my Samsung Galaxy phone (SM-J327A Android 7.0), but it seems to have a problem when connected with an audio cable to an external amplifier such as a stereo receiver, car stereo or PA system. When idle, the phone produces 154 mV of DC on the headphone jack! When a song starts, this DC voltage drops to ZERO. At the end of the song, the voltage returns until the next song starts playing. This transition from 154 mV to zero and back produces 2 pops between songs and is VERY audible and annoying, especially on a PA with subwoofers! This is a shame because the audio quality on the phone is actually very good except for this issue. (I have also noticed the pops when moving around the interface when a song is not playing, so I do not think the MP3 app is at fault.) Passive headphones like earbuds will pull the voltage to zero, so I built a cable to do the same thing, and the pops are finally gone. I am making the cables available on Ebay for anyone who would rather purchase one than build it themselves. Just search for "Samsung phone pop eliminator" .

 

[mikedt]

I love my Samsung Galaxy phone (SM-J327A Android 7.0), but it seems to have a problem when connected with an audio cable to an external amplifier such as a stereo receiver, car stereo or PA system. When idle, the phone produces 154 mV of DC on the headphone jack! When a song starts, this DC voltage drops to ZERO. At the end of the song, the voltage returns until the next song starts playing.

A DC voltage which is used to power the microphone in phone headsets, that usually have a four conductor TRRS type jack.

This transition from 154 mV to zero and back produces 2 pops between songs and is VERY audible and annoying, especially on a PA with subwoofers! This is a shame because the audio quality on the phone is actually very good except for this issue. (I have also noticed the pops when moving around the interface when a song is not playing, so I do not think the MP3 app is at fault.) Passive headphones like earbuds will pull the voltage to zero, so I built a cable to do the same thing, and the pops are finally gone. I am making the cables available on Ebay for anyone who would rather purchase one than build it themselves. Just search for "Samsung phone pop eliminator" .

Of course PAs, car systems, etc. don't really like DC voltage been fed into them, and that's why there's the pops, buzzing, etc. when the headset mic feed voltage isn't blocked.

This is the problem the OP was having I think.

 

[joeelectro]

I always thought the microphone voltage was on the ring closest to the sleeve on the TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) cable. But I am seeing the stray voltage causing the pops between the sleeve and the tip and the ring of a standard TRS cable.
Phone manufacturers should assume there will be times when the phone is functioning as an MP3 player and could be plugged into external amplification. As a sound engineer, I do this frequently...

 

[mikedt]

I always thought the microphone voltage was on the ring closest to the sleeve on the TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) cable. But I am seeing the stray voltage causing the pops between the sleeve and the tip and the ring of a standard TRS cable.
Phone manufacturers should assume there will be times when the phone is functioning as an MP3 player and could be plugged into external amplification. As a sound engineer, I do this frequently...

I suspect it's not a problem that afflicts all devices, like the OP reported it happening with a Samsung S4 but not with a Moto Droid X. and yours is a Samsung as well. I've plugged various phones into external powered speakers, car systems, PAs, etc. and not had any problems. Which have all been Oppo, Lenovo, and now a Huawei phone. A phone should detect if what's plugged in is a headset with a mic, or is something else that doesn't have a mic in it and then presumably doesn't try to send voltage down the line.

 

[joeelectro]

I totally agree. My Samsung Galaxy phone has the problem severely, and I also tested a new Samsung Galaxy Tab A also had the problem but not as prominently. I have not tried other brands of devices...

 

[joeelectro]

I totally agree. My Samsung Galaxy phone has the problem severely, and I also tested a new Samsung Galaxy Tab A also had the problem but not as prominently. I have not tried other brands of devices...

Just to clarify--I have not tried other ADROID devices to test for the problem. I have used a Windows phone and an iPhone in the past without this issue (hope this does not get me kicked out of the forum!!)

 

[joeelectro]

Android, not adroid. Sorry, it's late...

 

[mikedt]

Going back to this subject, this is a possible reason why I've never had this problem myself, and not aware of anyone else around here who has....

Apparently there's two different ways that mic and ground connections can be made with TRRS jacks. Maybe it's the "CTIA/AHU" standard is the one that causes the pops, but not all of them, e.g. iPhones?

 

[joeelectro]

Hi Mike-
Thank you for your help on this mystery.
I think you nailed it! The CTIA/AHJ looks to be the current standard, and evidently we have been using the wrong audio cables all this time. We should be using TRRS cables not TRS. If I can round one up, I will give it a try and see if it solves this issue....
One other thought--If a TRS audio cable plug is inserted into a TRRS jack on a phone, would not the longer sleeve on the TRS plug simply short the Ring2 connection to the sleeve (which should short the microphone connection to ground for either standard)?
-Joe