Database Develop

Tips for Xperia (v) owners with incompatible headphones

Hello all, I need to post 10 messages before being able to post one useful reply in the development part.
Having no idea what to write about, I just transform my (unpostable) answer in a useful thread where more people will find it and where i might even get useful reactions so that we all learn some things.
Ok, to the point:
When using most unofficial headphones, the telephone won't recognise the plug layout.
Depending on the rom/firmware it hasn't got the same consequences.
Sometimes there is sound coming out of the headphones and sometimes there isn't.
With the official Sony roms it wasn't a problem before (just a popup message stating the buttons unavailable) but I had the no sound problem on my V after updating to 4.3 too.
I have an xperia v and before that I had an xperia p, an app called SoundAbout has solved problems for both models, with all kinds of headsets and every rom, both on dalvik and art, so it might work for other models too.
I found it here on xda frontpage a few years ago and it never let me down.
I'm not affiliated with the creators by the way.
We got a free licence for the pro version here ont the xda forum at the time but I lost it and the free version does just fine.
It really is very simple, you start the app and redirect media sound to the headphones.
Another thing that I discovered only last Sunday:
The disadvantage of the SoundAbout app is that the phone considers the outgoing sound as going to the phones speaker, and thus a lot of audio enhancements like headphone surround don't work, you only have the options for the speaker that will have effect.
But I'm running a new rom now, 4.4.4 neowave, the fastest and best battery by far of all roms I have tested.
This rom uses viper4android, where i found an option to lock the settings, so that it is possible to use the headphone options on the speaker sound, and thus for the headphones when used with SoundAbout.
I don't care about mic or buttons working so I have no info about that.
But the sound on my v is finally perfect with my highend headphones, after years of searching how to.
I hope this helps someone, and that it makes other people as happy as I am.

Comon peeps, more than a hundred views but not a single reply?
I don't want to make a 10 post monologue to get to the limit of being able to feedback in rom topics....
Doesn't anybody care about sound quality on his phone ?
Are people getting used to choppy badly decoded music that much?
Am I unique in carying and listening my music on my phone?

I just want to drop by and say that this works indeed for all my NeoWave users, Xperia T ones included.
So if you have any earphone issues, try this app! :good:

Thanks for dropping by
I'm glad it works on the T too.
Personally I tried almost all roms for the V that are/were available here on xda, I haven't counted but that must be more than 20 roms, not counting the updates, and SoundAbout always worked.
For my P also I tried a lot of roms and mods, and no problems encountered with SoundAbout (a lot with incompatible headphones on official roms).
It seems that it is not guaranteed that the mic and buttons work, even with the pro version that has more options, at least that is what I found reading around on the Web, but I'm quite curious about the actual pro version.
Is there anyone that has experience with the pro version ?

I have not tried the pro version, but I have another question..
Do you have any experiences concerning the trial version? Is the usage limited to a certain amount of days or does the app provide most of its features for an unlimited amount of time?

Concerning the media sound routing there is no limitation.
The free version has the following options :
Service - on(background), on(foreground) , on(auto restart), off
Media audio - let app decide, speaker, headphones, headphones (with mic)
Notification behaviour - block notification to speaker on/off
Notification behaviour - block ringtones to speaker on/off
Notification behaviour - speak caller name options
Wired headset behaviour - set detection options when plugged in
In the pro version there are
Phone call redirection settings
Extra settings for text to speach
Bluetooth behavior
Dock behaviour
So, with the free version the headphones do not work for phonecalls.
As I already don't use my headphones for calling, it does not bother me.
hat does work is the widget (1 tile) that toggles sound redirection.

That's great. So the functionality we need is not limited. :good:

It's not work on my T

weijianhui said:
It's not work on my T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly does not work?
It won't autodetect some headphones but if you set service to "on, foreground" and the media audio setting to "wired headphones" ?
Isn't there any sound coming through ?

Is there maybe an app that will make my Xperia V recognise my Nokia (TV Out) RCA cable?
Sent from my LT25i using Tapatalk

Knutselmaaster said:
What exactly does not work?
It won't autodetect some headphones but if you set service to "on, foreground" and the media audio setting to "wired headphones" ?
Isn't there any sound coming through ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will do that,thanks

Sym2Droid said:
Is there maybe an app that will make my Xperia V recognise my Nokia (TV Out) RCA cable?
Sent from my LT25i using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the jack has a standard layout, it will work.
Not sure that it will recognise it automatically though.

Sound problem when calling solved by custom ROM?

My friend has a problem with his galaxy s4 active. His microphone and speaker work perfectly when testing with music and audio recording. But when calling someone the speaker is dead silent and the other person can't hear him. I saw a bunch of threads where they reheat the audio IC and so on. He is running android 5.0.1. Now my question is: is this a software problem and can it be fixed by flashing CM? Thanks for any and all replies.
Edit: If you're wondering I know how to flash custom ROMs and have a lot of experience doing that.

I have the same problem, no sound when call via telephone app. Videos and music are prefect to. The best is when I use WahtsApp and call to someone everything is ok. So I think hardware is ok but something is blocking standard telephone application. I reset my phone (wipe) and reload rom but the problem wasn't gone.
I'm still looking for any solution so maybe someone can help.
Tx

Samsung headphones are not working too.

Solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ute-person-t3169864/post62150085#post62150085
And post 7

ungrillao said:
Solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ute-person-t3169864/post62150085#post62150085
And post 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply I was thinking it is a software glitch considering sound recording still works.
Sent from my Xperia M2 using Tapatalk

Change Bluetooth Codec

Hello guys !
I just updated my MIUI ROM from Android 8 to Android 9. Since I have this one, my Bose QC35 II connected via Bluetooth uses the SBC Codec, which delivers a bad quality comparing to AAC. I tried to change this via the developer options, but when I set to AAC it always comes back to SBC. When I was on Android 8, I had the AAC.
Do you know how can I change that ? I'm on MIUI 10.1.1.0 Global
Thanks a lot, hope my english is understandable

I didn't find a solution, always on SBC Codec which the sound quality quite bad. If anyone has a solution

Isn't Aac a iPhone/apple thing....?
Anyways you can force a specific output mode in developers settings.
My mi8 on global beta defaults to aptx when using my Bluetooth headset.

Stoffl_ said:
Isn't Aac a iPhone/apple thing....?
Anyways you can force a specific output mode in developers settings.
My mi8 on global beta defaults to aptx when using my Bluetooth headset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it isn't, it's a classical codec. I tried to force it, but it always goes back to SBC, here is my problem !

What I meant is that aptx is superior in every way.
But I guess the BT device your using is aimed at iphones and doesn't support aptx ?
Maybe try and switch to global beta and check if the issue was fixed.

Eozum said:
No it isn't, it's a classical codec. I tried to force it, but it always goes back to SBC, here is my problem !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing on my mi mix 2s. While everything works just fine with an Nvidia shield and Android pie. So it's xiaomi fault. I'm Very disappointed because SBC is really inferior.

Try developer mode!

Already tried on dev mod, doesn't change anything. When you set on AAC, the phone simply doesn't care, hope it will be corrected in an update !

Now I am having the same problem and couldn't find any solution. In Developer options, my arrangements revert to old ones when close, they don't stick. I have Android 8 MIUI 10 Xiaomi Mi6. Via Magisk Manager, I flashed codecs and necessary modules to my phone but nothing's changed. when i connect my JBL Free to my phone, SBC logo right next to the earphone's name is there. Before I lose my mind, someone please help me! I am inexperienced to this complex Android world :crying:

I'd start by posting in the correct MI6 subforum

You can use PowerAmp, it can force better audio codec (by cable and BT).

Have you tried it ? It doesn't work

Just a quick update, since the last update 10.2.3.0, i've got the AAC when using my Bose QC-35 The sound quality is waaaaayyyy better than before. Thx Xiaomi !

Eozum said:
Just a quick update, since the last update 10.2.3.0, i've got the AAC when using my Bose QC-35 The sound quality is waaaaayyyy better than before. Thx Xiaomi !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh great! Now I am on MIUI 10 MiRoom 9.3.14 custom rom. Can we apply 10.2.3.0’s bluetooth codecs to my rom? I do not want to switch my rom but if It is the only solution I will switch

vidanj said:
Oh great! Now I am on MIUI 10 MiRoom 9.3.14 custom rom. Can we apply 10.2.3.0’s bluetooth codecs to my rom? I do not want to switch my rom but if It is the only solution I will switch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know,, you should maybe wait for the next update of your ROM

Eozum said:
I don't know,, you should maybe wait for the next update of your ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't receive BT fix with my new update and I dont believe I will I bought Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds and I rarely have stutters thanks to aptX but if codecs were good I would have perfect connection with these earbuds.

I'm afraid you just have to turn on BT in order to change BT CODEC

External Microphone on 3.5MM audio Jack not working - Headphones worked!

Hello Guys,
I been searching alot in the forum and I can't seems to find a solution for this yet. Maybe I got too confuse after reading some threads here.
nevertheless, I just wanted to make sure that my external Microphone would work with the 3.5mm Audio input jack. I have tested the same mic with the correct cable and it works with my 1Plus5T / Samsung Note8 how ever no luck with the K20Pro.
Do I need to root the phone and use Magisk to fix this issue?
I am currently on INDIA Raphaline rom 10.3.5 I believe
please don't shot me guys.
Cheers

Jumundz said:
Hello Guys,
I been searching alot in the forum and I can't seems to find a solution for this yet. Maybe I got too confuse after reading some threads here.
nevertheless, I just wanted to make sure that my external Microphone would work with the 3.5mm Audio input jack. I have tested the same mic with the correct cable and it works with my 1Plus5T / Samsung Note8 how ever no luck with the K20Pro.
Do I need to root the phone and use Magisk to fix this issue?
I am currently on INDIA Raphaline rom 10.3.5 I believe
please don't shot me guys.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just received my Mi 9T Pro a few days ago and was researching this. Don't have a mic yet so haven't been able to try it. I guess evidently it will work with Open Camera as there's a setting for that. But I'm trying to see if it works with Gcam mods. I found this video but it's for the Gcam stock app. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cNyep1vADY Please let us know if you find anything.

BCE111 said:
I just received my Mi 9T Pro a few days ago and was researching this. Don't have a mic yet so haven't been able to try it. I guess evidently it will work with Open Camera as there's a setting for that. But I'm trying to see if it works with Gcam mods. I found this video but it's for the Gcam stock app. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cNyep1vADY Please let us know if you find anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there, thanks very much I wlll take a look.

Jumundz said:
Hello Guys,
I been searching alot in the forum and I can't seems to find a solution for this yet. Maybe I got too confuse after reading some threads here.
nevertheless, I just wanted to make sure that my external Microphone would work with the 3.5mm Audio input jack. I have tested the same mic with the correct cable and it works with my 1Plus5T / Samsung Note8 how ever no luck with the K20Pro.
Do I need to root the phone and use Magisk to fix this issue?
I am currently on INDIA Raphaline rom 10.3.5 I believe
please don't shot me guys.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue. Headphones work but the mic does not. Looks like a defective piece. Did not have time to head to the service center yet

shiwik said:
I have the same issue. Headphones work but the mic does not. Looks like a defective piece. Did not have time to head to the service center yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i read through post ~ need to use magisk to patch it and it would work . I don't want to root the phone . does i am still stock here i really hope is a defective unit. I didn't have a chance to try when I am using chinese firmware

Did anyone solve this?
I just bought this phone and have the same issue.

Major75 said:
Did anyone solve this?
I just bought this phone and have the same issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got my Mi 9T Pro a week ago and just bought a mic the other day but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I'll let you know. I think Open Camera has a setting for external mics. Gcam has a setting that pops up when a mic is inserted, but that's the stock software. Not sure if Gcam mods do. See above for video link.
Just saw this article that says an external mic won't work. Not sure how accurate it is. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ortant-video-feature/articleshow/70339311.cms

Same issue here. Discord with an external mic is not working, but in the miui recorder app it is. Did you try that?
I'm pretty sure its a MIUI bug since one year ago the poco f1 had exactly the same issue and it got fixed via update.

peter0010 said:
Same issue here. Discord with an external mic is not working, but in the miui recorder app it is. Did you try that?
I'm pretty sure its a MIUI bug since one year ago the poco f1 had exactly the same issue and it got fixed via update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. I tried in the recorder app. the external mic doesn't record. complete silence on playback.
My main problem is when i'm using headphones in a call...the other person can't hear me.

Major75 said:
Yep. I tried in the recorder app. the external mic doesn't record. complete silence on playback.
My main problem is when i'm using headphones in a call...the other person can't hear me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talkin about an actually mic? Or a headset?
I was talking about some regular headset with a microphone, if this change anything at all.

peter0010 said:
Are you talkin about an actually mic? Or a headset?
I was talking about some regular headset with a microphone, if this change anything at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the confusion. So my phone Mic is fine. When i plug in my headphones ( Samsung akg s8 ones with a external mic), the phone detects the headphones with external mic but the mic on the headphones doesn't work but I can hear music, voice calls through my headphones. Just the other person can't hear me through the headphone mic. Tried with the recorder app etc. The mic on the headphone doesn't work
I have tried 2 samsung headphones and 1 apple headphones. All with the same issue.
Tried all the headphones on another phone and all the headphones and mic work perfectly.
Does it need specific xiaomi mi headphones to work or something?

Major75 said:
Sorry for the confusion. So my phone Mic is fine. When i plug in my headphones ( Samsung akg s8 ones with a external mic), the phone detects the headphones with external mic but the mic on the headphones doesn't work but I can hear music, voice calls through my headphones. Just the other person can't hear me through the headphone mic. Tried with the recorder app etc. The mic on the headphone doesn't work
I have tried 2 samsung headphones and 1 apple headphones. All with the same issue.
Tried all the headphones on another phone and all the headphones and mic work perfectly.
Does it need specific xiaomi mi headphones to work or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, definitely not. Mine is some old one from oppo find 7, I think.
Thats weird that it doesn't work for you in the recorder app though, cause for me it does. Its just voicechat applications like discord for example which don't work.. and it really annoys me.
We should definitely report it to xiaomi via the feedback section at the bottom of the settings.
edit: seems like it is a known issue already
https://forum.xda-developers.com/k20-pro/help/issue-discord-k20p-mi9tp-t3965007

peter0010 said:
No, definitely not. Mine is some old one from oppo find 7, I think.
Thats weird that it doesn't work for you in the recorder app though, cause for me it does. Its just voicechat applications like discord for example which don't work.. and it really annoys me.
We should definitely report it to xiaomi via the feedback section at the bottom of the settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh is my unit defective? Idk if i should return it.

Major75 said:
Sorry for the confusion. So my phone Mic is fine. When i plug in my headphones ( Samsung akg s8 ones with a external mic), the phone detects the headphones with external mic but the mic on the headphones doesn't work but I can hear music, voice calls through my headphones. Just the other person can't hear me through the headphone mic. Tried with the recorder app etc. The mic on the headphone doesn't work
I have tried 2 samsung headphones and 1 apple headphones. All with the same issue.
Tried all the headphones on another phone and all the headphones and mic work perfectly.
Does it need specific xiaomi mi headphones to work or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been hearing different views from various folks on this forum. I have the Indian version of the K20Pro and i can confirm that the mic of an external headset (earphones or headphones) does not work. I can however listen to music and also hear the opposite person talk where i receive a call. However the opposite person cannot hear me - which is indicative that the mic does not work (or there is an issue)
On the positive side though, i flashed Revolution OS and this problem seems to have been fixed. I can now use any earphones (or headphones) to take calls and the opposite person can now hear me. I am doing an entirely clean flash (fastboot) now to check if that works on the latest Indian version too.

shiwik said:
I have been hearing different views from various folks on this forum. I have the Indian version of the K20Pro and i can confirm that the mic of an external headset (earphones or headphones) does not work. I can however listen to music and also hear the opposite person talk where i receive a call. However the opposite person cannot hear me - which is indicative that the mic does not work (or there is an issue)
On the positive side though, i flashed Revolution OS and this problem seems to have been fixed. I can now use any earphones (or headphones) to take calls and the opposite person can now hear me. I am doing an entirely clean flash (fastboot) now to check if that works on the latest Indian version too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Mi 9T global version with stock glonal MiUI 10.3.11 and I have the exact same issue as you're having. I'm going to try some xiaomi headphones and see if this fixes the issue. Thank you for your response by the way.

Major75 said:
I have the Mi 9T global version with stock glonal MiUI 10.3.11 and I have the exact same issue as you're having. I'm going to try some xiaomi headphones and see if this fixes the issue. Thank you for your response by the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect it is an issue with the global firmware. If may want to try some of the Chinese ones to see if that has solved this issue as most of the custom ROMs are based on the Chinese FW
Edit:
I have been running Custom MIUI with Chinese FW so far. Just did a clean fastboot of the indian version 10.3.5.0 and guess what - the mic works for calls!! Very strange as it definately did not work for me out of the box

shiwik said:
I suspect it is an issue with the global firmware. If may want to try some of the Chinese ones to see if that has solved this issue as most of the custom ROMs are based on the Chinese FW
Edit:
I have been running Custom MIUI with Chinese FW so far. Just did a clean fastboot of the indian version 10.3.5.0 and guess what - the mic works for calls!! Very strange as it definately did not work for me out of the box
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you do a factory reset or something? I'm not very familiar with rooting and running fastboot so i dont feel comfortable flashing any firmwares. I'm a noob. i know :laugh:

Some feedback, but probably not what you want to hear:
Had a similar problem with Signal - old headset worked fine on HTC-U11+ stock, on the K20 pro there was no microphone (callee said no sound at all) even though headset with mic was detected. A temporary solution was to partially pull out the plug which caused the K20P to show headphones only headset connected and I guess it used the phone mic.
However I purchased a Xiaomi headset which worked fine from the start, detecting headset with microphone and callee said mic quality was much better. Seems they may have pulled an Apple move and used non-standard pin connectors
Currently on 9.9.6 Xiaomi.eu ROM, K20Pro CN version (purchased in China) 8/128Gb version.

murakh said:
Some feedback, but probably not what you want to hear:
Had a similar problem with Signal - old headset worked fine on HTC-U11+ stock, on the K20 pro there was no microphone (callee said no sound at all) even though headset with mic was detected. A temporary solution was to partially pull out the plug which caused the K20P to show headphones only headset connected and I guess it used the phone mic.
However I purchased a Xiaomi headset which worked fine from the start, detecting headset with microphone and callee said mic quality was much better. Seems they may have pulled an Apple move and used non-standard pin connectors
Currently on 9.9.6 Xiaomi.eu ROM, K20Pro CN version (purchased in China) 8/128Gb version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't explain why it is working on mine with some random OPPO headset.

peter0010 said:
That wouldn't explain why it is working on mine with some random OPPO headset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please clarify as your last post states that voice comms apps, like discord did not work?
peter0010 said:
No, definitely not. Mine is some old one from oppo find 7, I think.
Thats weird that it doesn't work for you in the recorder app though, cause for me it does. Its just voicechat applications like discord for example which don't work.. and it really annoys me.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/k20-pro/help/issue-discord-k20p-mi9tp-t3965007
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it was Signal which was not working with the external headset mic, but then worked perfectly when I used the Xiaomi one. (not an advert, yet I really do like the Xiaomi headset (in-ear) and I am not unhappy that I purchsed it)
Also, and its been a long while since I had the Find 5, I seem to vaguely recall there was similar issues with headsets & micrphones on the early Find phones - maybe Xiaomi and Oppo use the same jack supplier?

Abysmal Bluetooth audioquality of headphones on the mi9 lite

Hey,
I switched from the Redmi Note 4 Global to the Mi 9 lite and everything about the phone is pretty great, except the audio quality over headphones.
I am a bit shocked how terrible it is in comparison. I used my QCY T1 and the Redmi Airdots - both bluetooth - to compare and an older cable bound pair of bose truesound inears.
Issue 1:
The software equalizer just doesnt work on the mi 9 lite. You can use the dials in any music-player app without anything changing actually in the sound. I tried phonograph and poweraudio pro. When I activate the software equalizer on the RN4 the difference is instantly recognizable and I do mean instant. Everyone would notice the sound changing. On the Mi 9 lite nothing changes when I change preset, bass, surround value or even the the actual frequency values.
Issue: 2:
The sound is really low on bass and there is an ever-present hissing on higher frequencies. The whole thing sounds muddy and poor on details.
How did no one notice this of all of those reviewers? The phone is basically DOA if you use your phone listen to music in any way. It basically sounds like terrible nokia headphones they added to the phone from 2003. I cant overstate enough how terrible the sound is.
Please help me understand. This should only be a DAC issue for the cable-bound headphones (the bose ones), right? Bluetooth doesnt actually change from digital to analog, does it? So is this just a question of fixing the bug that the equalizer doesnt work?

AgathoN667 said:
Hey,
I switched from the Redmi Note 4 Global to the Mi 9 lite and everything about the phone is pretty great, except the audio quality over headphones.
I am a bit shocked how terrible it is in comparison. I used my QCY T1 and the Redmi Airdots - both bluetooth - to compare and an older cable bound pair of bose truesound inears.
Issue 1:
The software equalizer just doesnt work on the mi 9 lite. You can use the dials in any music-player app without anything changing actually in the sound. I tried phonograph and poweraudio pro. When I activate the software equalizer on the RN4 the difference is instantly recognizable and I do mean instant. Everyone would notice the sound changing. On the Mi 9 lite nothing changes when I change preset, bass, surround value or even the the actual frequency values.
Issue: 2:
The sound is really low on bass and there is an ever-present hissing on higher frequencies. The whole thing sounds muddy and poor on details.
How did no one notice this of all of those reviewers? The phone is basically DOA if you use your phone listen to music in any way. It basically sounds like terrible nokia headphones they added to the phone from 2003. I cant overstate enough how terrible the sound is.
Please help me understand. This should only be a DAC issue for the cable-bound headphones (the bose ones), right? Bluetooth doesnt actually change from digital to analog, does it? So is this just a question of fixing the bug that the equalizer doesnt work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sound is incredibly good here on both wired and wireless headphones.

NaassomDourado said:
The sound is incredibly good here on both wired and wireless headphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking of buying this phone and audio quality is important to me. Could you tell us which wired and wireless headphones have you tried?
---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 AM ----------
AgathoN667 said:
Hey,
I switched from the Redmi Note 4 Global to the Mi 9 lite and everything about the phone is pretty great, except the audio quality over headphones.
I am a bit shocked how terrible it is in comparison. I used my QCY T1 and the Redmi Airdots - both bluetooth - to compare and an older cable bound pair of bose truesound inears.
Issue 1:
The software equalizer just doesnt work on the mi 9 lite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't good. Audio should be fine with good headphones without equalizer, unless your headphones require an amp. In any event, have you tried eqfy from the play store?

Have same problems. Is problem in miui?

No problems over here tho. I upgraded from a Redmi Note 4x as well but kinda forced since a very damaged screen. No problems with wired Xiaomi Mi in Ear Pro, Haylou GT1 and Audio Technica ATH-ANC700BT.
Well I did have a problem with settings since Bluetooth would become Choppy/stuttery. To fix that I had to turn off battery optimization for Spotify, YouTube and Music. Music quality seems to be decent but I can't remember stock Redmi Note 4 sounds cause Viper4Android was very sweet.

Okay, here's what I came up with after a few days of more testing:
The core issue is that the eq that comes with mp3-player apps doesnt seem to work - the dials for bass boost and surround sound are without any actual effect.
I rarely use spotify because I am oldschool and still use mp3's - so I cant say if the EQ works for spotify.
First I tried changing my country to USA and rebooted the phone and audio got way louder immediately. My Redmi 4 didnt have this BS.
Next I tried EQ-apps like "bass booster", "Equalizer FX" and one simply called "Equalizer". That kind of does the job, but is also only partially working. All of these apps come with a notification addition that give you easy access to their function. Most of them got an on/off switch there. Switching this on/off immediately makes the sound better and actually useable. BUT every other function of all of these app doesnt work. Dialing bass - doesnt work. Dialing surround - doesnt work. Selecting a reverb option like "small room" - doesnt work. Selecting a different EQ preset e.g. "Rock" doesnt change the sound one bit. Sliding the actual frequency bars up and down also doesnt work.
Also there doesnt seem to be a way to only use these apps when using bluetooth or any headphones at all. This means it ****s with the sound of the speakers. Well, who uses his speakers, you probably say now. Yeah, but it also disfigures ring tones and notification sounds. :/
Still, to emphasize again sound is better over headphones using one of these, though I dont know how exactly this works if all the dials are without an effect.
This leads me to the conclusion that the firmware of the Mi 9 Lite has a bug with its soundchip, probably in the way it can accept inputs or parameters.
barth2 said:
This isn't good. Audio should be fine with good headphones without equalizer, unless your headphones require an amp. In any event, have you tried eqfy from the play store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is 2,99 bucks here. Is it free anywhere? Does someone own this one and can test it? Its advertized as using 10 bands - whatever this means....
ice_doritos said:
No problems over here tho. I upgraded from a Redmi Note 4x as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well please dont say there is no problem. Try to actually use the EQ and tell me that changing the bass or surround levels does something noticable.
Navalny said:
Have same problems. Is problem in miui?
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Click to collapse
I had the exact same MIUI version on my redmi4 and it worked there. The only difference is the redmi had android7 and the mi 9 lite uses android 8. But I cant imagine the android version being at fault here, because then it would effect way more different phones?

AgathoN667 said:
This is 2,99 bucks here. Is it free anywhere? Does someone own this one and can test it? Its advertized as using 10 bands - whatever this means....
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Eqfy works for me but I'm on Android One with mi a3. Bass boost and surround and equalizer work. It has ten bands versus five bands that most equalizer apps have. It can automatically switch to a preset when you connect blue tooth or wired or disconnect. I listen to podcasts on speaker so I use it there too.
The downside is the UI is complicated and confusing and there are lots of settings in preferences and it takes a while to figure out. Because of the ten bands you pretty much have to use landscape and it's a full screen app so switching to it and switching back to another app is awkward.
You can try it and if it doesn't work get an easy refund right away within 2 hours. Beyond 2 hours you have to contact Google store and request a refund within 48 hours. Good luck

barth2 said:
I'm thinking of buying this phone and audio quality is important to me. Could you tell us which wired and wireless headphones have you tried?
---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 AM ----------
This isn't good. Audio should be fine with good headphones without equalizer, unless your headphones require an amp. In any event, have you tried eqfy from the play store?
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I tried JBL T110 and JBl Under Armour BT.

barth2 said:
Eqfy works for me but I'm on Android One with mi a3. Bass boost and surround and equalizer work. It has ten bands versus five bands that most equalizer apps have.
You can try it and if it doesn't work get an easy refund right away within 2 hours. Beyond 2 hours you have to contact Google store and request a refund within 48 hours. Good luck
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I was about to try that but then read by chance that the player Poweramp also has an integrated 10 band eq. I tried that one, it seems to work fully and do what I actually want from an integrated eq. Endless options and changing levels and turning dials does something. It even has a button linking to the android build-in eq menu and activating that one there / changing stuff suddenly works as well. Has me kind of puzzled? Maybe they changed the way in Android 8 how apps have to access the build in EQ and most player apps are not configured properly yet to use it fully?
Downside to Poweramp is that it says limited trial and the full app costs 4,99€ - I guess I will just spent that cash and be done with this problem once it locks me out.

AgathoN667 said:
I was about to try that but then read by chance that the player Poweramp also has an integrated 10 band eq. I tried that one, it seems to work fully and do what I actually want from an integrated eq. Endless options and changing levels and turning dials does something. It even has a button linking to the android build-in eq menu and activating that one there / changing stuff suddenly works as well. Has me kind of puzzled? Maybe they changed the way in Android 8 how apps have to access the build in EQ and most player apps are not configured properly yet to use it fully?
Downside to Poweramp is that it says limited trial and the full app costs 4,99€ - I guess I will just spent that cash and be done with this problem once it locks me out.
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That's good to know. With a working eq is the quality acceptable now? Comparable to your other devices? Have you tried on wired headphones?
Advantage of eqfy is it works with other apps -- Spotify, Google music, YouTube, etc. It's up to you.