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pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
For what they are, I have a fairly decent set of inner ear ear-buds that I use when flying. They work great on my iPhone but when I tried them on my iPad, even at full volume, I can't get enough volume to watch a movie with them when on the plane.

What's the deal? Is it my iPad or just something that is sad but typical with them. Again, they work great and are VERY loud on my 3Gs.

Thoughts apprecited.
 
agreed

For what they are, I have a fairly decent set of inner ear ear-buds that I use when flying. They work great on my iPhone but when I tried them on my iPad, even at full volume, I can't get enough volume to watch a movie with them when on the plane.

What's the deal? Is it my iPad or just something that is sad but typical with them. Again, they work great and are VERY loud on my 3Gs.

Thoughts apprecited.

I've noticed the same thing, the volume is very low
 
I don't know but it's kind of annoying. I have the 3G version which I've read is actually louder than the WiFi only model, but can't verify though. I did do a side-by-side test w/ my original iPad before I sold it and the original iPad was a bit louder at top volume. Maybe Apple will address it in a future s/w update similar to how they adjusted the volume on the original iPhone.
 
I've noticed this too. I watch netflix sometimes when I'm going to bed, and I end up cupping my hand over the speaker to "redirect" the sound towards me. Kind of a pain.
 
The external speaker is about the same loudness from iPad 1 to 2, but the headset jack to headphones and speakers is about 1/3 lower volume on iPad 2 in my opinion.
 
ipad speaker volume is horrendous. just tried apple headphones. working as intended. also tried my klipsch s4's. i'm now almost deaf
 
I think it might be a design issue. If you cup your hand above the speaker when holding it the sound bounces off your hand & is louder. That makes me think the position of the speakers, and not the speakers or s/w, is the real issue. The iPad 1 speakers were at the edge of the case.
 
I think it might be a design issue. If you cup your hand above the speaker when holding it the sound bounces off your hand & is louder. That makes me think the position of the speakers, and not the speakers or s/w, is the real issue. The iPad 1 speakers were at the edge of the case.

You are correct sir, because the sound has more ports to travel trough now, it''s being directed everywhere, and not where it matters; to the user.
 
Just a guess, but can you change the maximum volume limit when you connect the iPad to iTunes. I know you can with an iPod.

If so, your max volume might be limited.
 
Also having "sound check" on in the iPod settings lowers the overall sound volume of your music to insure that if one song is louder than another, it won't blast in your ear
 
Thanks for the replies folks. I will have to try the official Apple headphones that came with our iPhones and iPods of days gone by. I'm still not happy as they are not as good or comfy to wear as the others I have.
 
Low sound fix

I had the same problem...low sound on movies. Made appt at apple store and was advised to update my software. I had a 3.0 version. Back up your photos and stuff to your computer and then do the update thru iTunes. Works like a charm! Took me a nite to do this but it works!:)
 
clean the jack

This was very frustrating to me. But I found that when I cleaned the earbud's jack's prong with alcohol, and then stuck it back in, the volume jumped to twice as loud.
 
This was very frustrating to me. But I found that when I cleaned the earbud's jack's prong with alcohol, and then stuck it back in, the volume jumped to twice as loud.


I haven't tried this with my iPad but I did it with my iPod Touch. Awhile back I knew that I had changed something on my iPod because it sounded lower than my iPhone. So I played around and noticed when I increase the Sound Effects volume that the sound increase when I use the earphones. If you are on the home screen or outside any App, click the side volume rockers. A "Sound Effects" screen will show. Increase the volume there. Or you can locate it inside Settings - General - Sound. Plug in your earphones and play a song, then adjust the music volume.

Remember you can't have a song playing, when trying to adjust the Sound Effects volume. For some reason, my iPod volume got louder after I adjusted it. Back to the original. Hope that helps.
 
Can anyone explain why the speaker on the iPad 3 is lower volume than the speaker on the iPhone 4S? That makes no sense whatsoever.
 
I just bought my iPad 3 and I must say that I am rather disappointed in the speaker volume. Is this common or should I take it back?
 
That was the most important reason I returned my iPad 3 to Apple. The speakers are facing in the wrong direction. Wish or hope that the iPad Mini will be different and have them facing me, not out in no where's vill...... :(

I know I can insert some nice headphones, but I don't like wearing them.
 
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