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Verizon iPhone 5: repeatedly being told I sound "distant" or "under water"

E

exi

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 16, 2012
446
79
Months ago, I switched from AT&T to Verizon for a variety of reasons. Was great for awhile -- then I was made aware of an issue where portions of my multi-part texts to AT&T recipients would disappear into the ether.

And then, as recently as tonight, I was told yet again that I sound far away. This has been an on/off problem across two different iPhone 5s of mine, both on Verizon, over the past few months. For some people -- always on a GSM network, best I can tell -- I sound "distant" or "under water."

This never, ever happened on AT&T with the same people, as tested with my former AT&T iPhone 5 during a brief switch back.

Hard resets don't help. Neither does an iTunes restore -> "set up as a new phone." Seriously considering a return to AT&T, even as much as I dislike some of their practices in the past.

Anyone have any suggestions on things I could try to help fix this?
 
R

ross1998

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2013
961
201
This isn't a Verizon problem but does it happen when you call everyone or just curtain people, if everyone I would go to apple store and get it replaced again as you will be able to reproduce the problem in front of them
 
C

coolio93

macrumors 6502
Apr 15, 2013
304
50
Houston, TX
exi said:
Months ago, I switched from AT&T to Verizon for a variety of reasons. Was great for awhile -- then I was made aware of an issue where portions of my multi-part texts to AT&T recipients would disappear into the ether.

And then, as recently as tonight, I was told yet again that I sound far away. This has been an on/off problem across two different iPhone 5s of mine, both on Verizon, over the past few months. For some people -- always on a GSM network, best I can tell -- I sound "distant" or "under water."

This never, ever happened on AT&T with the same people, as tested with my former AT&T iPhone 5 during a brief switch back.

Hard resets don't help. Neither does an iTunes restore -> "set up as a new phone." Seriously considering a return to AT&T, even as much as I dislike some of their practices in the past.

Anyone have any suggestions on things I could try to help fix this?
Click to expand...

I dunno what is going on but I had a similar problem with sprint. It only happened 3 or 4 times in the few months I was with sprint. Makes me think it may just be something with the way CDMA works. I've switched to T-Mobile since and haven't had any problems. Nor did I have this problem when I was with ATT in 2012.

Just curious....Have you considered T-Mobile? They have HD voice and call quality is incredible.
 
C

CEmajr

macrumors 601
Dec 18, 2012
4,453
1,245
Charlotte, NC
This used to happen to me when I was on Verizon. Some people I would talk to sounded robotic or underwater. I assume it's the network since it never happened when I had iPhones on AT&T or T-Mobile.
 
S

sillywabbit

macrumors 6502a
Nov 10, 2012
592
4
exi said:
Months ago, I switched from AT&T to Verizon for a variety of reasons. Was great for awhile -- then I was made aware of an issue where portions of my multi-part texts to AT&T recipients would disappear into the ether.

And then, as recently as tonight, I was told yet again that I sound far away. This has been an on/off problem across two different iPhone 5s of mine, both on Verizon, over the past few months. For some people -- always on a GSM network, best I can tell -- I sound "distant" or "under water."

This never, ever happened on AT&T with the same people, as tested with my former AT&T iPhone 5 during a brief switch back.

Hard resets don't help. Neither does an iTunes restore -> "set up as a new phone." Seriously considering a return to AT&T, even as much as I dislike some of their practices in the past.

Anyone have any suggestions on things I could try to help fix this?
Click to expand...


It is not Verizon, it is an apple issue. Apple has some new updates,

Update your phone.

Be aware, after you update, you will have other issues,
 
E

exi

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 16, 2012
446
79
sillywabbit said:
It is not Verizon, it is an apple issue. Apple has some new updates,

Update your phone.

Be aware, after you update, you will others issues,
Click to expand...

The problem has been unchanged over the last several revisions of 6.0 / 6.1, including the most recent.
 
B

BoostDeuce

macrumors member
Mar 11, 2013
35
0
I have this exact problem with my iphone 5 from Verizon. First they would tell me it sounds like im really distant. Often times they don't reply to me, and they tell me they couldn't hear me talking, even though i'm talking in a normal voice.

But I can call Verizon tech support and whisper to them from a mile away and they can hear me loud and clear. Its so dumb. I can't have a somewhat private conversation with anyone because i'm basically having to yell into my phone for people to hear me.

I just need to go to a Verizon store and try getting it replaced I guess. I've had it just over a month.
 
C

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,155
By any chance are you using a case that protects the phone from the elements?

I work with a guy that uses a case that has a screen over the microphone. About once a month it gets clogged with dust even though you can't really see it. Once he cleans it out its fine again. When its like that it sounds like he is across the room talking at his phone.

Just a thought.
 
E

exi

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 16, 2012
446
79
cynics said:
By any chance are you using a case that protects the phone from the elements?

I work with a guy that uses a case that has a screen over the microphone. About once a month it gets clogged with dust even though you can't really see it. Once he cleans it out its fine again. When its like that it sounds like he is across the room talking at his phone.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Nope, no case on the phone.

@BoostDeuce, hope that works for you! What happened with me was that I was on VZW for a brief time and had people first tell me about this. I went back to AT&T for a short period and had that same person or two tell me I sounded much better despite otherwise similar circumstances (our locations, little background noise, etc); then, I went *back* to VZW and got the "you sound far away..." thing again.

I left AT&T for Verizon's "superior" coverage in so many areas per RootMetrics, widespread LTE, and possibly better building penetration. Not so sure it was worth doing.
 
SR45

SR45

macrumors 65832
Aug 17, 2011
1,501
0
Florida
coolio93 said:
Just curious....Have you considered T-Mobile? They have HD voice and call quality is incredible.
Click to expand...

HD voice is only good if the other party also has T-Mobil HD voice as well. Not for the other carrier phones sadly
 
pilot1226

pilot1226

macrumors 6502a
Mar 18, 2010
601
15
USA
exi said:
Months ago, I switched from AT&T to Verizon for a variety of reasons. Was great for awhile -- then I was made aware of an issue where portions of my multi-part texts to AT&T recipients would disappear into the ether.

And then, as recently as tonight, I was told yet again that I sound far away. This has been an on/off problem across two different iPhone 5s of mine, both on Verizon, over the past few months. For some people -- always on a GSM network, best I can tell -- I sound "distant" or "under water."

This never, ever happened on AT&T with the same people, as tested with my former AT&T iPhone 5 during a brief switch back.

Hard resets don't help. Neither does an iTunes restore -> "set up as a new phone." Seriously considering a return to AT&T, even as much as I dislike some of their practices in the past.

Anyone have any suggestions on things I could try to help fix this?
Click to expand...

Does this happen when you're using the speaker phone or only when you're using the regular microphone/ear speaker? I'd suggest for the sake of troubleshooting you try both. I'm wondering it if's something as ridiculous as you're just holding the phone in a weird way creating some type of reverb.

There's all sorts of software compression and coding that goes into the voice processing. Carriers usually set this up to be a utilitarian view: ie, best for the masses, but might end up hurting a few in the end.

So, try speakerphone, try speakerphone with it placed on a counter, try holding it a different way, etc.

If you have a microphone or bluetooth, try that too!
 
E

exi

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 16, 2012
446
79
Appreciate it. It's worse/worst when I'm using the handset normally; speakerphone seems to improve things. I never use BT so can't speak intelligently there!
 
osofast240sx

osofast240sx

macrumors 68030
Mar 25, 2011
2,541
16
exi said:
Appreciate it. It's worse/worst when I'm using the handset normally; speakerphone seems to improve things. I never use BT so can't speak intelligently there!
Click to expand...
i do conference calls with a beats pill, it's like the person is in the room.
 
ascNYC

ascNYC

macrumors member
Jul 15, 2010
72
38
Same Issue - Possible Cause

I too have had this "muffled" or "underwater" issue with my AT&T iPhone 5.

I believe the cause of my issue is blocking or partial blocking of the rear microphone (located between the flash and the rear camera lens). I find that if I am cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder or inadvertently have my finger over the mic that I experience this problem. Usually adjusting my grip (not blocking the rear mic) seems to fix it.

Not sure if this is the same issue but it has certainly been a problem with my iPhone 5 which I never experienced with my 4 or 4S.
 
A

awegew

macrumors newbie
Mar 15, 2013
26
0
The iPhone has never been a monster for voice quality. Go dig up a Blackberry from 10 years ago and it'll be night and day for handheld usage and even a bigger difference if you compare speakerphone quality. I'm hopeful this is something Apple addresses with their next phone.
 
D

Diseal3

macrumors 65816
Jun 29, 2008
1,072
95
Do you have a case on? If it blocks mic that's probably the issue.

Edit: nvm already mentioned. Could try a different handset to see if that's the issue, if not by all means go to a carrier that works better for you.
 
N

neutrino23

macrumors 68000
Feb 14, 2003
1,881
391
SF Bay area
Try calling a land line. That would isolate the phone issue. I used to have problems calling associates on older Blackberrys. They sounded really garbled, especially with a BT headphone.

I've had the last four iPhones. The iP 5 is by far the best sounding on my end, I don't know what it sounds like for those listening to me.

I've always been on AT&T. Do you know what kind of phones are on the other end? Are they also Verizon? It might be helpful to know if this is appending all the time or only with certain combinations of phones and carriers.
 
Prime85

Prime85

macrumors 6502a
Mar 1, 2012
652
0
exi said:
Appreciate it. It's worse/worst when I'm using the handset normally; speakerphone seems to improve things. I never use BT so can't speak intelligently there!
Click to expand...

Do you hold the phone with your shoulder? I have noticed that when i do that it covers the mic by the camera in the back and people cant hear me. Its the noise cancellation feature.
 
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