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So I have this issue on my iPhone X- and here is how you can find out if you do too.
Listen to something on speaker phone or to a movie or song using only the phone’s speakers.
Go to settings>general>accessibility>Scroll down to the slide bar for speaker balancing and try listening to the music/movie on just the left side and then just the right side at max volume.
For me, the left speaker is fine, but the right crackles and has a lower max volume than the left. Sometimes changing the position of the phone makes the right speaker work better. Others on this thread have mentioned ‘breaking in” the speakers by turning the volume up on each speaker and letting base or treble heavy music play - that has not worked for me. This issue impacts voice quality on phone calls, and on my Bose blue tooth headphones there is no crackling but one ear has a lower volume than the others - and yes I tried flipping the headphones and it is the same speaker - so not my old ears. Apple is in for a rough ride as more and more of us discover this problem.
 
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A limited but increasing number of iPhone X owners claim to be experiencing so-called "crackling" or "buzzing" sounds emanating from the device's front-facing earpiece speaker at high or max volumes.

iphone-x-earpiece-800x565.jpg

Over two dozen users have said they are affected in a MacRumors discussion topic about the matter, while similar reports have surfaced on Twitter and Reddit since the iPhone X launched just over a week ago.

On affected devices, the crackling sounds occur with any kind of audio playback, including phone calls, music, videos with sound, alarms, and ringtones. The issue doesn't appear to be limited to any specific iPhone X configuration or iOS version.

"Love the phone but I was wondering if anyone has had any issues with the speakers slightly sounding a little crackling whenever max volume," said one MacRumors forum member with the alias ShadowYYZ. "Noticeable on certain songs and even my ring tone which was bought from the iTunes Store."

For those unaware, the iPhone X's earpiece doubles as a speaker that combines with the traditional speaker at the bottom of the device to deliver stereo sound. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 series also have stereo speakers.

MacRumors hasn't been able to reproduce the issues described. Apple didn't immediately respond to our request for comment on the matter.

While the sounds could be the result of distortion, especially since they occur at higher volumes only, several users are convinced that there could be a bigger software or hardware issue affecting the earpiece.

"I listen to a lot of music on the speakers of the iPhone X and I noticed the slight crackle right away," replied another MacRumors forum member who goes by the username Benz63amg. "Since so many of us seem to experience this crackle then my assumption is that it's software related rather than hardware."

A few months ago, several iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus owners experienced a similar "static noise" issue with the earpiece during phone calls. Apple acknowledged the issue and fixed it in iOS 11.0.2.

Since the crackling sounds on iPhone X don't appear to be limited to phone calls, it's unclear if the issues are related.

Apple has been replacing affected iPhone X units free of charge, according to customers who contacted the company. Apple also appears to be collecting diagnostic information so that its engineers can investigate the matter, as it routinely does with any potential software or hardware issues.

Like the green lines affecting some iPhone X displays, this is an isolated issue affecting a very low percentage of the millions of devices being manufactured. The majority of iPhone X owners do not appear to be affected.

If you experience this problem, we recommend booking a Genius Bar appointment with the Apple Support app or contacting Apple via phone, email, online chat, or Twitter to have your iPhone X replaced. Apple is known for providing good customer service, and it is often genuinely helpful in these situations.

Article Link: Several iPhone X Owners Experiencing 'Crackling' or 'Buzzing' Sounds From Earpiece Speaker

I experience the problem. It’s a vibration on the ear speaker when the volume is high. It’s not a distortion, is a different thing. Easy reproducible with this song: silence by marshmello.
Yesterday I got my unit replaced in Apple Store. The new unit has the problem as well, but less pronounced
 
To all the people saying "don't turn it to max setting", it should not crackle at any setting if Apple had selected good components and calibrated the settings not to push the speakers into a volume/frequency that can cause sound issues. This is not some 20-year-old Honda Civic where some teens put together random speakers and hooked them up to a 5000Watt amplifier. Company of Apple's calibre should have a team whose sole job is to test all the sound components to make sure that they function superbly in most common use cases such as listening to music, using the speakerphone feature, etc.
For what it's worth, i have over 11,000 Watts in my 96 sport Jeep Cherokee. 8k going to 2 18" subs, and 3k for Mids and highs, 6 8" mids and 2 super tweets. Rms, not peak wattage. My Jeep sounds extremely musical, no distortion. Point is, high power =/= distortion.
 
Let me remind you guys, my 6s plus sounded noticeably worse than my 6plus speaker wise and many reported the same

7 fixed it. 8 improves

x is a crap shoot.

My earpiece sounds full on calls and clear and as a speaker it’s great for
Voice and limited music. I dunno if I’ve cranked it but I don’t care to find out it’s loud enough I don’t really need to

It sounds better than my 7plus

Of all issues that could be wrong w a phone this is legit on the bottom of my
Personal totem pole of pursuing any sorta rabbit holes
 
I tried with the standard earpiece and can’t reproduce the problem. I even maximized the volume from speaker as well. At the moment, it may be isolated problem, but if I experience it i won’t hesitate to return it.
 
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Thank you early adaptors for guinnea-pigging

I'm a very happy early adopter. This phone is great. And, in my opinion is a tremendous upgrade to my iPhone 6. I had issues with my 6 in the past, and, if I have issues with the X, well, it's par for the course. But, I am very happy I decided to preorder my phone. It's been great! I'm just sorry that all those people who are afraid of the X won't be able to enjoy the new device. But, such are choices (Notice, I wrote people who are "afraid" of the X... This was not directed at people who can't afford or would prefer a smaller form factor phone).
 
It is piercingly loud playing songs on full blast but I hear no rattle or buzz or anything

My unit is good

YET another bullet dodged knock on wood
 
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ok you must have a hardware problem then since the speakers of the iphon x and 8 are best in class (until razer phone) even at max
I presume someone has already replied to this but the post you're replying to went right over your head !
 
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76 posts in and no predictable and obnoxious "thank you" to the beta testers? Unreal.
Thank you for beta testing this average phone, I really appreciate it. Please buy next years too, until Apple perfects it. :)

So it is acceptable to encourage Apple to produce:
a phone with a notch,
to rip us, the loyal customers, off by charging £1k when the phone only costs £300-£400 to make,
Remove Touch ID where other companies provide both,
Crackling sounds,
Green lines,
Lists goes on...

I do like Apple products but not the iPhone X, it’s below the Apple Standard and price is ridiculous.
 
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No iPhone X's yet in our house, but we are having strange connectivity problems with iPhones 6 and 6S when on our WiFi Time Capsules (in 2 different locations).

(Note the issues below happen with FaceTime Audio calls, video version has not been tested.)
1. Phone often drops WiFi in favor of 4G connection and then does not switch back (this is in addition to a long standing problem of a phone on a 4G FaceTime call refusing to switch over to the home TimeCapsule upon arriving home.)

2. Even when phone stays on the WiFi, it has interruptions that disrupt the conversation to the point of making it pointless and confusing. One must turn off the wifi switch in control center to force a 4G connection that then functions.

3. The problems don't always seem to present when I am called rather than calling. The same problems don't appear to be present when I call from my iPad.

Anybody else experiencing this?
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I’ve never had the need to max out the volume either.
Bear in mind, that there are folks with hearing impairment that need to have a reliable max volume option.
 
I’ve never had the need to max out the volume either.

This. I've watched numerous videos and made quite a few phone calls using the speaker and am yet to be in a situation where I need to crank the volume to hear properly. None of those times have I come across any crackling. I just played a video I shot of a thunderstorm and with the volume at full so the thunder can be heard it's fine.
Cranked Metallica's Ride The Lightning and it sounded fine too, pretty loud so I don't think I'd ever go full volume to listen to anything through the speaker anyway.
 
I had crackling / distorted audio on my iPhone x 256gb white. It was one of many issues like flash reflecting in the glass lens and showing up in pictures. Returned the X I'll stick with my 7 plus. The wider screen feels much more natural and the speakers are infinitely better on the 7 plus.
 
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