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

[toneLA2]

Turn small speakers to max volume and you will hear some distortion and/or hissing/white noise.
Don't get the fuzz about it, that's completely normal and happened with every phone I've ever owned.

So you’re saying it’s normal that my year old iPhone 7+ is allowing me to be on a call on speaker at max volume when this $1200 newly released phone does not?

That’s an interesting take on an issue dozens of people are experiencing and reporting.

Whatever floats your boat, I’d say. But a blanket statement telling it is normal for ‘such small speaker’ to distort sound making it unbearable to use it properly as a ‘phone’ when the next tiny speaker of previous generations iPhone allowed me this convenience sounds oblivious at best.

But hey, I’m happy your phone doesn’t give you any trouble so far. You’re one of the lucky ones.

 

[forerunnerg34]

Seems like people somehow feels obligated to love the iPhone X and iOS because they have talk so much about it in the past, that today they just don't want to accept reality and to force themselves on thinking that iPhone is more than what actually is. iOS used to be a solid, fast and easy to use iOS, you were exited with every new release, now is a slow, buggy complex to use and I fear every new release because I don't want my devices to become slower just to get nothing new. Face ID may be faster (for the moment), but is has many shortcoming in usability, if iPhone catches someone looking at it it will try to unlock, after multiples failures it will request a password, a phone that you can mess up just by looking at it, without event touch it, but hey you have the notch!, I love it when watching videos, I didn't even noticed it after a few days (yeah right, nobody will believe that). What was wrong with TouchID? if you keep developing that technology it would become even faster, but no, they needed something else to make it feel new and fresh. I would dare to image that among those who claim love for their phones there is a little bit of frustration here and there every time they use the phone, however they refuse to acknowledge that.

 

[Robert.Walter]

I have a similar issue, but have not found a solution to this, which is frustrating! I have Airport Xtreme, iPhone 6S Plus, iPad Pro 12.9 2nd gen.

My issue (rare, not often) is when I am on WiFi, I am not actually connected for some strange reason (tested using safari) so I use 4G instead for few minutes then switch back and the issue is resolved. This could be an iOS 11 issue, like with any major iOS update, you will need to wait for a fix. I advise you that in the future do not update until the major update is stable. Please note that I do not follow my own advise lol

LoL. In a public beta tester and have dutifully reported these issues. It seems to be getting worse not better.

 

[The Cappy]

Just because you can turn it up to 11 does not mean that you should turn it up to 11.

Good Lord. An intelligent comment. Restores my in comments sections

 

[michael31986]

So cleaning the grill helps. Lol

 

[ErikGrim]

Perhaps this is related to my Apple TV outputting crackling and distorted high frequencies?

 

[doelcm82]

You’re welcome.
I’m one of the millions who are enjoying their iPhone X issue free.

Mine's still on order. I hope it's one of the millions like yours, and not one of the dozens with this problem.

 

[Carlanga]

Just because you can turn it up to 11 does not mean that you should turn it up to 11.

If it lets you turn it up to 11 then it should sound fine.

Apple response will probably be lowering the max volume in a software update.

 

[michael31986]

If it lets you turn it up to 11 then it should sound fine.

Apple response will probably be lowering the max volume in a software update.

hmm doubt it.. this isnt effecting all iphones. The speakers are meant to be 20% louder than the 7, so i think if you have a huge defect then go return it.

 

[Tech198]

Ok boys and girls, after jrshelbys post above about cleaning the grill with alcohol I decided to give it a go, on my way to grab the alcohol I spy'd a can of compressed air, i thought.. hey why not.. stuck the red tube right up to the ear piece, gave it a nice long shot, moved it around in a clockwise fashion to hit it at different angles... Put a youtube song on, max volume, sprayed again same clockwise fashion.

Guess what...

The crackle is GONE!

Tested on youtube videos, music and just talking and a phone call - all at max volume.

Cheap and easy - love to know if this works for you too.

Permanent fix? I dunno.. but it worked for now!

Can't do more damage could it than it currently is? Well, i guess it could not work at all.

 

[5105973]

Turn small speakers to max volume and you will hear some distortion and/or hissing/white noise.
Don't get the fuzz about it, that's completely normal and happened with every decently loud phone I've ever owned.

The only way to prevent this is limiting max volume.
See the last steps as a sort of bonus for situations where you really need them.
They could've just lowered the max volume to prevent this issue - I'd rather decide for myself.

I thought that, too. But as I read through all the posts and caught onto what people are describing, it would seem there is some kind of defect happening, perhaps even more than one kind.

And actually I found out I can indeed turn my iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung S8+ to max volume with no distortion or hiss on most songs I like. There are a few songs I like that do sound like crap at any volume and worse on highest volume but that’s more down to my bad taste in music than a material defect.

 

[alphaod]

It seems a lot of people are having random problems that I don't seem to have.

 

[Maverick2300]

It only happens to me when i am on any phone call and the speakerphone is ON at Max volume, the hissing sound comes from the earpiece, since the first day i got it

I wasn't able to reproduce it with a movie or any type of music.

I’m having this issue too, and specifically, mostly on the ear piece when on speakerphone on a phone call. Also to a lesser extent when playing music. Same set up on iPhone 8+ has no issues.

 

[patricem]

Mine sounds muffled, like the other person is talking through a sock. People also tell me I sound like I'm down a hole. I'm probably going to return it.

My problem too!! I love the phone...but I cant hear the caller! Its so muffled and crackly. This is not about listening to music or turning the volume up to max etc, its about talking on the phone. Ugg I dont want to return/exchange but I am going to call tomorrow. People on the other end say can't hear either.

 

[Mechinyun]

Can't do more damage could it than it currently is? Well, i guess it could not work at all.

Doubt its gonna hurt anything.. but mine is working ok now.. so it was worth it to me

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

Poor attempt at the Cook comment and your FM Chip Post has no correlation to the article. This is not an issue caused by interference by a poor signal or reception. This is software related.

The crackling is caused the Speaker at max volume, which can occur during any Audio being transmitted through the Speaker itself.

I already knew what you said. My comment was clearly a joke. Don't you speak in Apple EMOJI yet?

 

[JimmyHook]

A whole 2 dozen? Lol. Just so we are clear, out of millions of sold phones, a few here and there have issues that can be resolved by talking to Apple. Not sure what the problem is. Here’s the truth. Every single device in history and every single future device that will ever be made until the universe dies in the big chill WILL HAVE AN ERROR RATE. Full stop. A small percentage of every device will have issues. 24 out of millions hardly qualifies as noteworthy. Every iPhone will have a -gate because pseudo-journalists who make a living off of click bait will blow things out of proportion in a desperate attempt to get you to click. So, I use ad blockers. Anyway, the iPhone X is the single best smartphone in the history of smartphones. Apple Support is better than any other company’s support. Go to the Google store with your Pixel 2 XL’s pathetic excuse for a screen and tell me how that works out for you. Or the Samsung store to have your Note 7 that’s on fire looked at...

 

[rajat8676]

Whatever the amount of money one pays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a perfect phone. Apple’s quality control needs to step up its testing effectiveness.

 

[KiwiAdventure]

Whatever the amount of money one pays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a perfect phone. Apple’s quality control needs to step up its testing effectiveness.

I have a new X and its perfect

 

[Dave.UK]

I'm not dismissing the complaint nor downplaying the crackle issue, but who the heck is listening to music through their phone speakers these days?

People that forget their headphone adapter?!

 

[rajat8676]

I have a new X and its perfect

Perfect, everyone can now ignore the issues.

 

[Starfyre]

Don't have this problem here.

 

[ThiGeever]

No one should have their phones at full volume anyway. With all the messages and notifications we get these days, phone sounds are starting to become noise pollution. Put your phone on vibration and be happy! - but by all means, get it replaced if it's interfering with your phone calls

 

[MH01]

No.. you know very little about audio..

They distort when you over load them.
But apple can directly control that so there is no reason at all for it to be happening.

Distortion an can caused by both too much and too little power....at max volume , do your research please

[doublepost=1510556175][/doublepost]

Understood.
However your personal use case is irrelevant in regards to someone else's personal use case and has no bearing on whether there should be distortion or crackling or hissing at max level on iPhone X.
The question shouldn't be " Why are you using max volume?'
The question should be "Why is this happening and is this normal for a mobile phone, is it normal for Apple?"
Once that is addressed and answered from a recognized authority there may be some satisfaction for some.

What you do with your high end audio equipment is your business and anecdotal.
Again this irrelevant as to whether a device should have issue at max volume.

Let's get back to the device, we are getting side tracked. The sound of my iPhone X at max volume has a background hiss, and I would not say the playback is ideal, though absolutely fine for a phone conversation, which i do admit , I am yet to try a few times to gather for feedback

How is your experience with the speaker in the X
[doublepost=1510556682][/doublepost]

My IQ is fine, but my age may betray me here. Those of us from a different generation with a different experience of older radios and sound systems are used to speakers distorting and crackling at maximum volumes. Until I saw this thread I didn’t really know it’s now expected that you can play these little tiny cell phone speakers at full volume and not expect to hear a hot mess.

Same here. Was kinda shocked that in 2017 , people have not experienced distorting / cracking of small speakers at max volume , something most of us grew up with.

Yup we are.....older

 

[YaBe]

It's not an issue . Speakers hiss and distort at max volume (unless you spend mega money)

You mean like a 1200$ for a phone? Wich its primary function is .... well hearing and talking to people?

How can it not be an issue?? I mean I am sure people would scream scandal if it was Samsung having this "non issue".

Well let the "beta testing" continue .

So to recap we had:

Oled issue (wich people say it is a non issue because all oled do that)
Speaker issue (wich people say it is a non issubecause you have to spend mega to have good speakers.. oh and one of my favourite No one should have their phones at full volume anyway....wich sounds like "You are using it wrong." yes blame the user!!)
Green band on the screen (wich people say it is a non issue as it happens...)

I wonder what "non issue" iphone advocate are gonna find next, I mean I love Apple, and have been Apple only for a decade, but I cannot defend them (not that they need me to) when they release a problematic device.

Keep telling yourself it is normal and it is not an issue.