[Q] Choppy Audio Playback - Xperia Z Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello, I've searched the forum and read general tips on choppy audio playback, and tried some of those suggestions (turning off notifications, limiting background processes under the dev options), and am still having really bad choppyness on audioplayback. I've tried on a number of apps (google music, rocket player, walkman, ), all with the same problems.
The audios are all vbr, non DRM. MP3 and M4a. I do have the files on a separate card I guess. That is something I haven't tried changing... But goodness, the phone only has 16GB onboard. Even my ancient iphone was more than that. The card is class 10 so not slow.
EDIT: I've also tried with the onboard memory - Same deal. I just did a restore via the phone - same deal. I'm on FW434. I'm going to try reflashing the FW tonight (just via the sony update service).
I've got it so that even with next to nothing running other than system stuff, I'm getting random choppy playback. It is driving me nuts. If I can't fix it I'll have to go back to my old iphone.
I mean there is plenty of RAM, and the CPU is understressed.
Any ideas? Anyone else get this?

Oddly enough, I get this ONLY when using the headset. When I use a 3.5 to 3.5mm lead to play music in my car, it all plays without a hitch.

robogo1982 said:
Oddly enough, I get this ONLY when using the headset. When I use a 3.5 to 3.5mm lead to play music in my car, it all plays without a hitch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, so I'm not alone.
On 3.5mm you mean via the usb connection?
I tried another rebuild last night. Same deal. It still does it.
FFS, this is on stuff I've had for years. I'm trying to listen to the Portishead self titled album. Had it for years, listened to it about ten times, no issues on my iphone and ipods. I can't take it. This phone has broken me and I have to go back to an iphone just to preserve my sanity.

No problems here even when using headphones. You should take it back and get it fixed/replaced.

shadowboy23 said:
No problems here even when using headphones. You should take it back and get it fixed/replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I think it must be. Was suggested elsewhere I've asked about it. I'm taking it back today.

That's good. Make sure you let them hear it (music being choppy) and be FIRM that it is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE when you are paying money for it.

They took my word for it, but I left the album on the main memory I was testing with.
It was so random though. After I prepped it to return (sim out, SD out) I tried again and it didn't do it for 12 minutes, so I put the SD in and tried again, and got it happening, then took the SD out, played from main memory, and it did it within 30 seconds then.
It is more like audio drop out than a pause. Eg, not affecting rhythm, just no sound momentarily. And headphones and loudspeaker. Like something amiss in the audio circuitry.
I hope it comes back fixed. It was within the Optus 30 days replacement time, but they weren't a "merited Yes Optus store" so couldn't replace on the spot.
I sure hope it comes back fixed. I was just starting to get used to the thing, even with the annoying-ness of needing three audio players instead of one... (music, aax audiobooks, and m4b audiobooks)... But the whole iphone to android exp[erience has been such a shock. The only thing I'm real happy with (other than the physical size and design) is the discovery of dolphin. What a great mobile browser

Mobe1969 said:
Yeah, so I'm not alone.
On 3.5mm you mean via the usb connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite in the same boat with you. My audio occassionally stutters, doesn't drop out. When I said 3.5mm lead, I meant a lead which has a 3.5mm jack on one side and a 3.5mm jack on the other side. One end goes into my phone, the other into the AUX plug of my car stereo.

Ah right. Yes that sounds different to what I'm experiencing. That sounds more like a headphone type issue. Must admit the actual socket doesn't seem particularly robust.

Ah well, I'm still waiting on my phone to come back. Two damn weeks now. I keep hoping, and then hoping that they will have fixed it I've found it slow and small going back to my iphone for a while now...

Argh, over three weeks since I put it in for repair. I just called and it left Sydney Friday, so should have it tomorrow or Wednesday. I just hope the audio is fixed.

Got it back.
Still the same damn issue. They didn't even bother taking it apart or testing it. Just "updated sw to latest", which it already bloody was.
And I got a new fault now. My SD card crashes the phone. And Ive tried everything, to formatting it (low level) to exfat to make the experia prompt to reformat via the notifications, and it would crash midway through formatting.
I'm so sick of this. I can't take it. I just want to be able to have a phone with more than 16gb memort, and listen to music without dropouts

Related

3.5mm plug issue: Auto starting Music Player

Is there a way to disable the music player from starting up automatically when I plug a speaker/head phone into the 3.5mm plug? I don't know what the phone is doing, but I don't always want to play music when I plug in a speaker to the phone.
jchap2k
im also having that issue and also the slightest movement of the headphone jack makes the music player constantly skip songs and its very annoying. We need to find a fix for this.
This also happen on bluetooth as well. When i get in the car and phone connects to radio the media player starts as well. Sucks, i haven't figured out how to stop this media player from auto starting.
? What, your guys music players starts automatically when you plug in the headphones?
Mine doesnt, and I wish it did. lol
Had this problem as well. Was more noticable when JIT was enabled on CM5.0b2. Haven't noticed it on 5.0b3 with JIT off, but that doesn't mean it's fixed... very annoying. As a work around (which might be why I'm no longer noticing it) I created a playlist with a single, short sound effect as the only 'song' in the playlist. I never use the default music player, or any player for music on my phone for that matter, so this was a pretty simple one-time work around. I remember when we had a very similar, if not the same problem, on Cyanogen's G1 rom, and I had used this same workaround.
jmotyka said:
im also having that issue and also the slightest movement of the headphone jack makes the music player constantly skip songs and its very annoying. We need to find a fix for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've noticed the same thing on mine, too.
Omfg... I been having this same problem! I thought it was just me. LOL. Lets get this fixed pl!
SpyderMS said:
Had this problem as well. Was more noticable when JIT was enabled on CM5.0b2. Haven't noticed it on 5.0b3 with JIT off, but that doesn't mean it's fixed... very annoying. As a work around (which might be why I'm no longer noticing it) I created a playlist with a single, short sound effect as the only 'song' in the playlist. I never use the default music player, or any player for music on my phone for that matter, so this was a pretty simple one-time work around. I remember when we had a very similar, if not the same problem, on Cyanogen's G1 rom, and I had used this same workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine did this on the stock ROM. Now I'm on CM5B3+highmem, and haven't noticed it yet.
SANTilt said:
Mine did this on the stock ROM. Now I'm on CM5B3+highmem, and haven't noticed it yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I first noticed this problem on CM5B3. Happens any time I connect the phone to my speakers.
Weird, my Nexus doesn't do this. In fact I just added a feature (not released yet) to have it as an option! So, WTF?
I can't recall for sure, but I believe my phone did this when I had the stock rom on it. But since I started using Cyanogen's rom, I have yet to experience this.
cyanogen said:
Weird, my Nexus doesn't do this. In fact I just added a feature (not released yet) to have it as an option! So, WTF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder why some experience this and some don't. Did you try twisting the plug around once plugged in? Plug movement seems to trigger it for me, but once it starts I can't get it to stop until I just unplug the phone from the speakers.
Mine is completely random, and to make things worse, it's doing it to Pandora as well. I'll run through my '6 skips' an hour in mere minutes, and on accident. Very, very annoying... It happens not only randomly, but sometimes when I pick up the phone, or touch the 3.5mm jack in any way, but not 'every time' I touch it... it's incredibly odd... I really hope it's not a hardware fault
Ive actually been wishing for that option on my Droid lol. Lucky!
Are you guys using the stock headset? i think it only does it when you do. If you use others, it doesnt?
ArronL said:
Are you guys using the stock headset? i think it only does it when you do. If you use others, it doesnt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not using a headset at all. Just a 3.5mm->3.5mm jack in my car
ArronL said:
Are you guys using the stock headset? i think it only does it when you do. If you use others, it doesnt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this issue when I tried to connect my phone to a Altec portable speaker.
SpyderMS said:
Not using a headset at all. Just a 3.5mm->3.5mm jack in my car
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine skips with a similar setup. Sometimes twisting the cable around in the jack helps. Still annoying.
I have seen this 'issue' reported on 3 other phones so far, the Tmobile Pulse (UK), Hero, G1, and now the Nexus One.
However the main thread i can think of was over at the MoDaCo forums, for the pulse.
http://android.modaco.com/content/t-mobile-pulse-pulse-modaco-com/301335/the-headphone-bug/
I have the same problem too. Gets real annoying when listing to an audiobook that's 10hrs long and it all of a sudden skips to the beginning. I think it has to do with how the headphone controls are implemented in hardware - shorting out the channels together or to ground - I lost my original headphones - and haven't wired up a pair to test. I think that "cheaper" headphone cables have less insulation between the channels which then shorts. I noticed this with a cheaper 1/8" to 1/8" adapter.. vs a sony gold plated one. (the channels were in separate insulation on the sony one). If there was only a way to turn off the headphone controls in the default media player, then it wouldn't happen... maybe i'll just remove it from the phone all together.

DIY speaker replacement?

I've had the hero for several months. Love it. All that there good stuff. Today, I was listening to Pandora while at work (like I do everyday). Then, the song started cutting in and out. I assumed it was because I was in a basement. I got outside. Same problem. I've rebooted the phone several times. No sounds through the external speaker seem to work. Speaker phone included. The ear speaker works normal for making calls and such.
Does anyone know of a place that sells replacement speakers? Or if you've had this problem. How much does Sprint charge to replace the speaker? Will they?
Should still be under warranty with sprint. Speaker has blown on several peoples phones.
Before you go to the trouble of having sprint replace your phone I would suggest you listen to music thats on your sdcard for a day. Being as it streams from the internet I have had Pandora cut out on me fairly often when it syncs data.
nebenezer said:
Before you go to the trouble of having sprint replace your phone I would suggest you listen to music thats on your sdcard for a day. Being as it streams from the internet I have had Pandora cut out on me fairly often when it syncs data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
was the first thing i tried when it happened. music on the phone, notifications, and speaker phone. along with anything related to the external speaker. doesnt work. :-(
Just thought I'd update. They fixed it. At no charge. I don't know if it was because I have insurance or if it was warranty, but they did fix it for "free".
Zexter said:
Just thought I'd update. They fixed it. At no charge. I don't know if it was because I have insurance or if it was warranty, but they did fix it for "free".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same for me. Speaker blew, I reloaded 2.1 and took it in, they replaced the speaker (or replaced something) for free in about an hour. Wish they would have let me watch the procedure though.
I had a similar problem on my first hero with the headphone jack cutting out. Sprint replaced the phone with no problems

[Q] Horrible sounding audio

I was wondering if anyone else has been experiencing really bad audio quality on the captivate, or if anyone knows what might be causing it?
I tried looking for info but all i found was regarding bad audio on froyo.
Im running 2.1 JH3, and I had the problem with JF6. I was using pandora and it sounded horrible (with both roms). I tried some other audio from the web today and it still sounds bad. Any ideas?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Go into the settings for pandora and check the better audio quality box. I've noticed with out that pandora sucks
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I tried that, and it isn't just with Pandora. This is the only thing making me miss my iPhone....
Is it like cracking and popping?
Also you should try these threads
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=758326
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=735918
What I'm hearing, is that when I some music files, it sounds like it is really low quality. Like an mp3 compressed to 48k (or less). The singing in a song is hard to hear, it all just sounds muddled. Listening to music in the browser and Pandora both had this effect. I haven't loaded any mp3's yet (been busy learning and rooting, etc) but I have downloaded a few ringtones, and they don't seem to experience this issue.
Listening to Pandora has been both through the built in speaker, and the headphone jack to a speaker system. Horrible on both. Also, I was using Google's Listen to listen to the most recent episode of the Engadget Podcast, and with the volume all the way up on both the Captivate and the sound system, I still couldn't really hear it. I unplugged and listened to it over the phone's speaker, and it was audible enough to hear, although not at all loud, even at max volume.
Thanks a million for the links to those threads! I searched and searched and couldn't find anything relevant to my issue. Did you have prior knowledge of those threads, or did you find them by searching? If so, I'd like to know what keywords you used (if you don't mind). I'm always trying to improve my ability to help myself, so I'd appreciate it. It's late now, so I'm going to fully read those threads and try the fixes in each tomorrow. I'll report back. Also, I'll test my wife's Captivate to see if it has the same problem. **** it, I'll do it now.
Results: Pandora sounds fine through the internal speaker, when plugged into the speaker system (iPod dock w/aux in) it immediately sounds like ****. Perhaps the bad quality is only when plugged in, I might have just thought the internal speaker sounded bad because it's tiny. I'll retest my phone in the morning.
Well i just kinda stumbled onto the thread when i was looking to see the source of the crackling and popping I sometimes hear. Though you could scroll down to any page of a thread and see the tags associated with it.
And to me it honestly sounds like a singular issue with your captivate. The sound is loud and clear on mine. Even Pandora is fine for me
I did some more experimenting. At first I had hope about the headphones EQ fix, because I figured out that it only happens on audio that is plugged in to the ipod dock. When using a headphone to tape adapter in my older boom box, the audio sounds fine. I'm going to try switching out the cables and try the other input on the dock.
And, it happens on both mine and my wife's phone.
Thanks for the info!
OK, I'm an idiot. It was the 3.5mm cable (exacerbated by the samsung EQ issue). Thanks everyone for the help.

Phone is not outputting through speakers anymore?

For some reason, my phone seems to think that I have headphones connected all the time. If i plug headphones in, I get sound through them, but once I unplug them, it still carries on as if they weren't taken out (Poweramp pauses on headset disconnect - which it isn't), I have tried rebooting and it has had no effect. I'm on Crystal PA, if that helps. I have no idea whats triggered this, Ive been using Poweramp player on all my androids for a long time, I doubt the app is causing it. The speakers are just not switching back on after the headphones have been removed.
Could this be a hardware problem?
Probably. Are you using Viper Audio or have the FauxSound app installed? Check those apps.
Bruno_Puzoni said:
Probably. Are tou using Viper Audio or have the FauxSound app installed? Check those apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aha, never thought about that, I know Crystal PA has viper installed but Im not using it, I was using MusicFX, Ive switched to viper and installed the viper driver and i got sound out of the speaker for a few seconds then it went back to thinking there's headphones connected. This is such a random problem! I havnt touched any of the audio settings since I installed this rom about 2-3 weeks ago, just left things on default.
I think im going to have to wipe and reinstall a ROM and see if that fixes it, i semi messed up this install by trying out the Supercharger script which seems to have made my UI even more flakey rather than improving it.
I really dislike how every ROM Ive tried out on this phone lasts for a few weeks before it gets glitchy with UI crashes and general slowness. And this is not a dig at the devs at all, its not their fault, there is just something deep in this phone which seems to screw it up. The temptation to drive an axe through this phone is growing!
So I've just gone into recovery, wiped system, factory reset and wiped dalvik cache, installed FXP349 CM11 and the same issue is there, sound just wont stop outputting through the headphones, if I turn the ringer volume up, the phone outputs through the speakers, but if i get a call, the phone ignores the earpiece and automatically uses the headphones port to output (doesnt matter if the headphones are actually plugged in or not). I have to switch to speakerphone to hear what people are saying (it sounds very bad quality).
So i guess this means its a hardware problem, Im going to have to try and open up the phone, see if i can see anything broken in there.
Does anyone have experience with any of this?
user154 said:
This may sound stupid but its not just a bit of crap thats been compacted into the jack? I am having the same problem and suspect that may be the cause. I have had this problem before with a phone, but tried to get the foreign material out of the jack with a pin, I ended breaking the jack by pulling part of it out along with whatever was in there. I haven't attempted to clean out my sp's jack yet but am sure thats what it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this was my first idea, I tried spraying compressed air into the jack hole but nothing came out, I also tried a cotton swab in the hole - again nothing. I cant see anything foreign in the hole, so Im thinking the port itself is broken in someway, outputs fine but the port just isn't detecting me unplugging headphones. Ive looked at a dis-assembly guide but it means taking off bits of protective film which I don't know if you can just stick them back on.
Im going to make a nandroid backup of my phone in its current state on the latest CM build and then try going back to original Sony software with an FTF, just to see being put back to stock state will change anything. (my friend thinks its some kind of low level software problem). I dont have high hopes but its worth a shot.
EDIT: So moving back to full stock Sony software with an FTF of 12.1.A.1.205 firmware has had no effect, this must mean its a hardware issue.
So weirdly today, after plugging my phone into a car aux cable and playing some music through it, it magically fixed itself? it snowed a bit the other night and i got pretty soaked by it cycling to work so I think it could have been moisture in the phone or something, its the only explanation I can think of. Its working again now.

Galaxy Note 5- Audio Glitches When Listening To Music

Audio issue - please help
I just bought the note 5 from tmobile 4 days ago. It's an amazing phone, however I am having an issue with the audio. I'm not sure if it's something internal or if my earphones are broken. Basically when I play music through my earphones, the song plays normally. But at random moments I can hear random noises. The noises come in at random moments in the song.
I noticed this pretty soon, but didn't make much of it at first. Now, on my bus ride to school it's finally gotten to a point where I can't take it. The music gets warped for like a millisecond, but that happening multiple times in a song just got a bit too much.
I have not checked if this happens when using the speakers or using another pair of earphones. I'm using the pair that came in the box. As I said I'm on the bus, so I can't blast music through my speakers. However I was playing music yesterday through speakers in my room and now that I think about it I didn't notice any warping. When I get to school I'll borrow someone's earphones to see if my pair is just broken.
But yeah are any of you having this problem? It's a big deal cause I listen to music a lot through my earphones.
Love your thread, man. This happened to me too but I wasn't 100% sure and I couldn't reproduce it. Now I know it's a problem. I just hope it's on everyone's Note5 too because then it would be a software problem that'll disappear soon. Otherwise we may have to go for exchanges. What ROM are you on? I'm 100% stock N920CXXU1AOH2.
KarimSalloum said:
Love your thread, man. This happened to me too but I wasn't 100% sure and I couldn't reproduce it. Now I know it's a problem. I just hope it's on everyone's Note5 too because then it would be a software problem that'll disappear soon. Otherwise we may have to go for exchanges. What ROM are you on? I'm 100% stock N920CXXU1AOH2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% stock with no root N920TUVU1BOH4
Really hoping this is a software issue..
I just registered to say I'm having the same exact issue when listening to music through the headphone jack no matter if I use headphones or the Aux input in my car. I hope this is a software issue and gets fixed soon.
I haven't seen this issue yet but I havent been listening to much music lately anyway. Will check it and get back. I am more concerned about the S-Pen sensitivity issue. Also started a thread for it here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note5/help/samsung-galaxy-note-5-s-pen-sensitivity-t3205683
It was happening to me on stock not rooted with Bluetooth and pandora. It was only happening with WiFi on but I haven't noticed it since I'm rooted on custom kernel and rom
I think it happens only on certain frequencies because when I listen to podcasts I never have the issue.
Yes I'm having the same problem when playing music through the auxiliary port or the phone's speaker it's self. Randomly sounds like someone has the hiccups in the background. Have you found a fix?
---------- Post added at 03:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:56 PM ----------
CultRoger said:
I just bought the note 5 from tmobile 4 days ago. It's an amazing phone, however I am having an issue with the audio. I'm not sure if it's something internal or if my earphones are broken. Basically when I play music through my earphones, the song plays normally. But at random moments I can hear random noises. The noises come in at random moments in the song.
I noticed this pretty soon, but didn't make much of it at first. Now, on my bus ride to school it's finally gotten to a point where I can't take it. The music gets warped for like a millisecond, but that happening multiple times in a song just got a bit too much.
I have not checked if this happens when using the speakers or using another pair of earphones. I'm using the pair that came in the box. As I said I'm on the bus, so I can't blast music through my speakers. However I was playing music yesterday through speakers in my room and now that I think about it I didn't notice any warping. When I get to school I'll borrow someone's earphones to see if my pair is just broken.
But yeah are any of you having this problem? It's a big deal cause I listen to music a lot through my earphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I'm having the same problem when playing music through the auxiliary port or the phone's speaker it's self. Randomly sounds like someone has the hiccups in the background. Have you found a fix?
From what I've come across, it seems like an issue with VBR MP3 files. I was able to fix it using Poweramp as my music player, as it uses a different audio processor than the stock Samsung one.
Also, the update released a few weeks ago also seems to have fixed the issue.
I had the same issue in the older firmware of my Note 5 920I. The latest update OJD fixes the problem. Not facing anymore glitches now. It's definitely a software bug and has been solved by Samsung. Please update your device normally. No root required.
Use Don't Pause
There's an app called don't pause. What it does is when youre listening to streaming music that when you get a notification that you wont get the gap in space (pause) in the music. The paid version removes ads. Ive been using it since the KitKat days with my Note 3 and it works well.
Radio
can I add radio app to not 5 ?
I face audio prob too. Note5 no root, stock 5.1.1.
When I feed digital signal to ext. dac, if use Scale up 385khz then pop and click happen (i use Neutronmp).
When scale up 88khz this phenomenon reduce and when no scale up used, sound is smooth.
Also hf player upscale to 192khz is ok.
Note2 and Lenovo A7-30 and S4 is okay when do the same thing with same neutronmp version.
No solution till now
Depending on if the issue is with your actual audio or if its coming from the music player will be two different things. I always recommend doing a quick restart on your phone or trying to leave it off for a little bit if its having any issues. Usually this will work if there is an overheating issue. You should also try doing an update which can fix problems in the software. If its with your actual music player then these are some of the best music players for the galaxy note 5 hands down https://fliptroniks.com/best-music-app-for-galaxy-note-5/
Having the same issue on Note 5 which I bought on 7/21/2017
CultRoger said:
I just bought the note 5 from tmobile 4 days ago. It's an amazing phone, however I am having an issue with the audio. I'm not sure if it's something internal or if my earphones are broken. Basically when I play music through my earphones, the song plays normally. But at random moments I can hear random noises. The noises come in at random moments in the song.
I noticed this pretty soon, but didn't make much of it at first. Now, on my bus ride to school it's finally gotten to a point where I can't take it. The music gets warped for like a millisecond, but that happening multiple times in a song just got a bit too much.
I have not checked if this happens when using the speakers or using another pair of earphones. I'm using the pair that came in the box. As I said I'm on the bus, so I can't blast music through my speakers. However I was playing music yesterday through speakers in my room and now that I think about it I didn't notice any warping. When I get to school I'll borrow someone's earphones to see if my pair is just broken.
But yeah are any of you having this problem? It's a big deal cause I listen to music a lot through my earphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Guys,
I am also experiencing the same issue when listening to music via the headphone jack. Something that I noticed was, when the screen is switched on, it works perfectly. As the screen is switched off, the music gets warped and scratched.
Anyone found a solution for this problem?

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