Low external microphone sensitivity - Samsung Galaxy A30 Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone - I encountered the problem of the low external mic sensitivity on my Galaxy A30S. I had built a converter cable which allows to connect an external mic with 3-connector plug (called TRS for Tip, Ring and Sleeve) to the 4-connector input on the phone (called TRRS for Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve). I initially tested it on 2 much older galaxy phones - a GT-I8190 and a GT-S7560 - both very ordinary phones. Any external mic through my converter works perfectly on those old phones, thus my huge disappointment when I discovered that the much newer A30s is much less sensitive to an external mic. The A30s appears to be similar to the S9, released only about a year apart. A gsearch showed that the S9 has the same problem.
It certainly appears then that the newer phones have a problem with an external mic. Not the kind of problem that many people will pick up on, so I doubt that Samsung will even become aware of this issue. Possibly a software bug which unintentionally lowers the mic sensitivity when an external mic is detected.
Any ideas?

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[Q] Samsung Dock audio 'POP' problem

Hi Guys
I have my Notes dock connected to a pair of active studio monitor speakers (Cakewalk). When the 3.5mm audio jack is connected to the Notes 3.5mm out on the top of the phone all is well.
When I connect via the docks 3.5mm out (and set the Notes audio to dock out) I get an audible 'pop' from the speakers when the screen is touched - seems like a surge of power from the sound card audilbe from the USB but not from the phones own 3.5mm out.
When the phone is awake using fairly regular touches there are no pops, only when it is dormant for a few seconds does it make you jump out of your skin
I have had the same set up running perfectly using an HTC HD2 and Kidiggi docking cradle.
I don't know if it is the Dock or my Galaxy Note at fault
Any help is appreciated
SG
I'm experiencing the same issue.
Audio ouput through the Note's own 3.5mm jack is popping as well. Doesn't matter whether I'm using passive headphones or an active speaker.
The Note I had before I got a replacement had this too, so it seems to be a general problem :/
Edit:
Forgot to say that it seems that the speaker output gets disabled when there is no sound for about 2 seconds. As soon as something makes a sound the speaker gets enabled again and produces the popping sound.
So while listening to some music or watching videos there is no popping at all. Only when the playback starts.
I have the same problem with my SGN. It's much more noticable, when I connect car charger, but without it it's still there, but u need to focus to hear it. Any of you found solution to this?
squicky said:
I have the same problem with my SGN. It's much more noticable, when I connect car charger, but without it it's still there, but u need to focus to hear it. Any of you found solution to this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, unfortunately not... :/

[Q] Razr I Audio Issues (3.5mm Jack)?

I've been having a problem with my Razr I which was purchased around the 11th October from Handtec, and I'm just trying to work out whether this was a faulty handset or whether it's common for the device, or affects a certain batch.
The issue is high levels of hiss / interference when a speaker is connected to 3.5mm jack while audio is not playing. Hard to describe the sound as it changes, however it's somewhere between hiss, ground loop and EM interference.
There's also an unpleasant thump when audio output turns on (i.e. just prior to playing audio) or off (a few moments after the audio output is stopped).
The hiss/interference noise reduces significantly immediately before and after playing audio i.e. it seems to go down to an acceptable level once the audio chip is taken out of 'sleep' mode and made active. I can only assume that this is because a noise cancellation circuit is removing the interference once the audio chip is activated, but that while it's inactive the unwanted signal is making its way down the cable connected to the 3.5mm jack.
This happens regardless of whether the device is connected to wall socket - and I've tested with a battery powered speaker - so this isn't a ground loop issue as far as I know. It is most noticeable when connected to an external speaker that's turned up to a decent volume, but is also audible through headphones. Please note that different headphones will show the issue to a different extent, as the impedance of headphones can vary quite widely. Through small earphones, the sound isn't too offensive, but through an external speaker or decent headphones it's completely unacceptable.
I tried temporarily disabling the MusicFX app and doing a factory reset – no luck with either unfortunately.
There is a report on gsmarena from someone who noticed the hiss. They got a replacement and there was no hiss on the replacement handset.
The thing that's confusing me is that this seems like two separate issues - though I may well be wrong.
1) poor EM shielding and/or cancellation circuitry inactive when audio is not playing and
2) no soft-start / soft-stop when capacitor(s) on the audio chip is charged/discharged and/or DC offset on the signal coming from the audio chip.
The phone's in the box ready to be posted back to Handtec, but just wanted to try and understand whether anyone else has experienced this issue? Just to note that although I haven't been through the returns process just yet, support from both Motorola and especially Handtec so far has been great.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1930361
---------- Post added at 12:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------
tomrazri said:
There is a report on gsmarena from someone who noticed the hiss. They got a replacement and there was no hiss on the replacement handset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was me. the replacement was much better. still not upto gnex audio via headphones standard but the positives elsewhere on the phone (vs the gnex) mean i can live with the slight drop in audio quality.
Ah ok that's promising cheers. As you've mentioned in that thread, it's only really a problem when music's not playing and when the audio chip is activated/deactivated. No realm qualms with the quality of the audio chip itself as i wouldn't expect a studio grade dac in a phone, just the interference / lack of soft-start that was the dealbreaker. Fingers crossed my replacement will be from a different batch
my first unit came from clove. my replacement from amazon uk. good luck
Sent from my XT890
---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:28 PM ----------
build date on my replacement unit is sep 22 if that helps
tomrazri said:
I've been having a problem with my Razr I...
...The issue is high levels of hiss / interference when a speaker is connected to 3.5mm jack while audio is not playing. Hard to describe the sound as it changes, however it's somewhere between hiss, ground loop and EM interference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having exactly the same problem with my XT890 - bought from Amazon round 10th Oct., device build date is 22 Sept.
tomrazri said:
...seems to go down to an acceptable level once the audio chip is taken out of 'sleep' mode and made active. I can only assume that this is because a noise cancellation circuit is removing the interference once the audio chip is activated, but that while it's inactive the unwanted signal is making its way down the cable connected to the 3.5mm jack.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my case the hiss is present only in sleep mode with no music on. I can hear silent thud roughly 3 secs after pressing power button to enter the sleep mode followed by the annoying hiss (only on left ear though). It's not loud at all, in fact it's barely noticeable during the day. It only drives you insane if even subconsciously.
---
tomrazri said:
This happens regardless of whether the device is connected to wall socket - and I've tested with a battery powered speaker - so this isn't a ground loop issue as far as I know. It is most noticeable when connected to an external speaker that's turned up to a decent volume, but is also audible through headphones. Please note that different headphones will show the issue to a different extent, as the impedance of headphones can vary quite widely. Through small earphones, the sound isn't too offensive, but through an external speaker or decent headphones it's completely unacceptable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is where the problem lies. First I thought its down to frequency response or even impedance. I think its due to different 3.5mm jack layout. I have no problem what so ever on my Klipsch S4A (10-19khz, 18ohm, 4 rings jack) but on my Koss PRO 4AAT (10-25khz, 250ohm, regular 3ring jack) its simply unbearable.
Shall I try to send it back to Amazon in hope the new piece will be flawless?
denny76 said:
In my case the hiss is present only in sleep mode with no music on. I can hear silent thud roughly 3 secs after pressing power button to enter the sleep mode followed by the annoying hiss (only on left ear though). It's not loud at all, in fact it's barely noticeable during the day. It only drives you insane if even subconsciously.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i 'think' i had the same hiss you are talking about on my first device. it was certainly noticeable as i mentioned before and unnacceptable i have no hiss on my replacement unit.
3 secs after any music has come to a stop, it sounds as if the internal amp (?) 'clicks' off. that 'click' is/was present on both devices i had but as that does not interfere with and music playing, i don't see that as a problem.
who knows if we are all talking about the same 'hiss' or not
Hiss on Razr I
I had exactly the same problem on first device but on replacement that hiss gone but not all together but 10x better . I have got 64gb micro sd card full of music and I love chillout stuff where any extra noises spoils listening pleasure . Btw my device was prom phones 4 u
Replacement received. Hiss/EM interference and the pop still there :crying:
ooo that is bad luck. as you got both from handtec, i can only assume they had a faulty batch that moto fixed on newer builds.
denny76 said:
First I thought its down to frequency response or even impedance. I think its due to different 3.5mm jack layout. I have no problem what so ever on my Klipsch S4A (10-19khz, 18ohm, 4 rings jack) but on my Koss PRO 4AAT (10-25khz, 250ohm, regular 3ring jack) its simply unbearable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you first thought it could be the impedance but you forgot it or what? It's quite common problem that not all the amplifiers like all headphones. Can happen with hifi equipments too, but mostly mobile devices just don't have good enough output for high impedance headphones. Low impedance headphones are a bit more battery friendly.
I think people just looks silly walking around with big-ass-headphones. About the same as using tablets as cameras.
Anyway, my phone does have slight hissing noise with 18 ohm headphones, but I can live with it.
Sure I think this is probably not an issue for a lot of people, as I want to be able to output to speakers rather than just listen on earphones.
Agree big headphones look silly, I'd only wear them on long train journey's not strolling around
If it doesn't affect the way you use the phone that's fine, and for those people I don't think it should influence their buying decision. The gsmarena review calls out aux audio quality as an issue though and measures it in comparison to other phones, and it doesn't fare so well. It'd be interesting to know whether the situation's improved in later revisions.
If the interference and pop happened with other devices I'd understand it, but I've had no issues with various other mp3 players, smartphones and tablets feeding the same headphones and speaker systems.
Oh well, hopefully be able to buy in a month or so when I'm reassured they've fixed it.
tomrazri said:
If the interference and pop happened with other devices I'd understand it, but I've had no issues with various other mp3 players, smartphones and tablets feeding the same headphones and speaker systems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm confused by what you say above 'not having issues with other smartphones'. i thought this was your first smartphone purchase according to your review on amazon...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R15W...e=UTF8&ASIN=B008QBBDQ0&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=
Perfect form factor and excellent battery life. Despite being a bit of a geek, this was the first smartphone I've bought, because it ticks all the boxes that no other smartphones have so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, phones of friends don't have the same issue. It hasn't been a problem with some models of HTC, iPhone and Samsung that I've tried with the same speaker systems. I imagine there are plenty of older Motorola handsets that don't have the same issue too so it's nothing against them.
Posted this question on Motorola customer care, but recived a useless anwser. I don't know phone internals, but my guess is problem lies in incorects volume regullation. Just like with with connection of PC with amplifier, if you would turn your amplifier to maximum volume and try to regulate volume only with PC volume controll, you would get similar noise.
Here is my post to Motorola: h**ps://docs.google.com/document/d/1R5ngSJzSjmjbsHPTqnEaUDa3h7oR4OC8l13hK-512uI/edit
and attached noise record: h**ps://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4n8pwAEMymPdHpXUmJHeEV3eVk

[Q] Video but no sound with HDMI output

The issue is that if I plug the HDMI cable out to a screen that the picture comes through fine but no sound does. I have tried the same video just on the tablet speaker and it's fine. I've tried with headphones and it's also fine. I looked at the sound levels within settings and there's no issue there. I checked the HDMI cable out on another device and again no problem. My searches on the problem so far have been fruitless and I'm hoping that one of you fine people will be able to provide me with a solution that will work.
As an extra piece of data, I mentioned that I had tried with headphones and they work fine, but in something either related or unrelated to the HDMI issue when I attach a small travel speaker out to the headphone jack nothing comes out of that either, although powered noise reduction head phones and ear buds work from the same jack with no problem. It's really perplexing. Never had an issue with any of these things (using the exact same speaking/wiring etc) with my Transformer Prime so I'm not sure what kind of compatibility issue there might be. I shouldn't think it would be sound drivers/codecs because the device itself already generates the correct sound.
Thanks in advance guys!
talion777 said:
The issue is that if I plug the HDMI cable out to a screen that the picture comes through fine but no sound does. I have tried the same video just on the tablet speaker and it's fine. I've tried with headphones and it's also fine. I looked at the sound levels within settings and there's no issue there. I checked the HDMI cable out on another device and again no problem. My searches on the problem so far have been fruitless and I'm hoping that one of you fine people will be able to provide me with a solution that will work.
As an extra piece of data, I mentioned that I had tried with headphones and they work fine, but in something either related or unrelated to the HDMI issue when I attach a small travel speaker out to the headphone jack nothing comes out of that either, although powered noise reduction head phones and ear buds work from the same jack with no problem. It's really perplexing. Never had an issue with any of these things (using the exact same speaking/wiring etc) with my Transformer Prime so I'm not sure what kind of compatibility issue there might be. I shouldn't think it would be sound drivers/codecs because the device itself already generates the correct sound.
Thanks in advance guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using AOKP? Me and Someone else found this is the case. It seems to be working in cm11 nightlies afiak.
Everything is stock, right out of the box.
apparent solution was to return the tab to the store and exchange it for a new one. No issues now.

Headphone port depth

Hey all,
So I searched the forum and found quite a few headphone port issues discussed, but no mention of my exact problem. And yes, I looked inside my port and scraped around with a toothpick... there is nothing immediately obvious obstructing the port- hence the need for my post
My headphone port seems to be short on depth. I have a pair of headphones with an inline mic. There are perfectly fine for listening to music (they even snap into place as they should). But the mic doesn't work. I don't use that often so i forgot about it.
Well the other day I bought a selfie stick (I know... I know... don't kick me! My fiance and I travel a lot and sometimes it is impossible to find someone to take a photo for you in front of a landmark). I bought a wired one to avoid the battery drain of BT (which I don't use much except in the car). Well, the shutter button on the stick doesn't work with my N6. I have 5 camera apps installed and all have the volume buttons mapped to the shutter...I tried it with my fiance's LG G4 and my old GS2, it works on both of them.
So while trying to trouble shoot this issue, I plugged my headphones into her phone and made a call... low and held, the mic worked. Next I searched the forums and Google and found the issues of clogged ports. Mine isn't. And I used a bright halogen light to peer inside. Nothing but port. So I measured it.
Here is the interesting part, my first measurements just involved watching how far the jack entered the port. I tried my phone, my S2 and the LGG4... the S2 and the G4 both ingested the entire jack. My N6, about 1mm was left out. So I measured by inserting a tooth pick and measuring how far it went in, sure enough, my N6 is about 1mm shallower then the others.
I did find one post here on XDA where people suggested that you had to press very hard to fully insert a jack. I tried, I nearly broke the headphones in the attempt... and no change.
Has anyone else had this exact issue? Were you able to solve it?
Has anyone attempted to replace the port?
Just a bump...
Anyone? TIA
Those mics don't tend to work in most cases if they work on an iphone vice versa, there are converters on dx.com as example. Sony headphones are known to work fine on android phones, I got a sony mdr-1 with an inline mic and controls that works fine on my n6.
If you want I can send pictures of the headphone jack connector when the back panel is removed, my back panel is currently loose after replacing the battery and I'm still waiting for the replacement ^^
seahorsepip said:
Those mics don't tend to work in most cases if they work on an iphone vice versa, there are converters on dx.com as example. Sony headphones are known to work fine on android phones, I got a sony mdr-1 with an inline mic and controls that works fine on my n6.
If you want I can send pictures of the headphone jack connector when the back panel is removed, my back panel is currently loose after replacing the battery and I'm still waiting for the replacement ^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, the photo would be great.
The headphones I have work on two other Android devices, as well as the selfie stick. So it doesn't appear to be a comparability issue with Android.
Thanks!
So,
When I had a Moto X (V2) I asked moto about the volume controls and was told that they did not implement them, as it was not an Android standard feature. My guess it that it is the same with the Nexus 6 (I now use bt headphones, so haven't tried). My guess is that the microphone doesn't work on your headphones (try another set) and that the volume control over the headphone jack is not implemented.
Note10.1Dude said:
So,
When I had a Moto X (V2) I asked moto about the volume controls and was told that they did not implement them, as it was not an Android standard feature. My guess it that it is the same with the Nexus 6 (I now use bt headphones, so haven't tried). My guess is that the microphone doesn't work on your headphones (try another set) and that the volume control over the headphone jack is not implemented.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Note Dude.
Thanks for responding. It's an interesting theory, but I have an inline volume control on this headset that does indeed adjust the volume. So, it's really just the mic.
Thanks, though!

headphone issue - no sound at all

Hi, I had an 4GB Alpha for a week but have just sold it today (I realized I still prefer my Xiaomi Max). The guy who bought it contacted me after a couple of hours because he can't get any sound out of the headphone socket. He tried it with several headphones which work without issues with other phones (as far as I understand he tested it with Samsung and Sony headphones) and I have no idea what setting to change (he tried the volume buttons trust me) - any ideas how to make the headphone socket work? I had no idea about this issue as I don't use wired headphones at all. Btw the phone detects the headphones as the headphone icon is displayed when a headphone is connected.
obermotz said:
Hi, I had an 4GB Alpha for a week but have just sold it today (I realized I still prefer my Xiaomi Max). The guy who bought it contacted me after a couple of hours because he can't get any sound out of the headphone socket. He tried it with several headphones which work without issues with other phones (as far as I understand he tested it with Samsung and Sony headphones) and I have no idea what setting to change (he tried the volume buttons trust me) - any ideas how to make the headphone socket work? I had no idea about this issue as I don't use wired headphones at all. Btw the phone detects the headphones as the headphone icon is displayed when a headphone is connected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine work just fine. received the phone the week before Xmas and it got 2 updates since then. Tried with Samsung, AKG (both in hear) and JVC headsets and had no problems whatsoever. Maybe you/he can solve the problem with this last system update via OTA or could be a hardware failure. In my Samsung A5 2017 only the Samsung headphones would work because the jack was a tad longer than the AKG's. The latter would spring back after being inserted and only one channel would work.
pause for effect
I have found that inserting the jack but pausing before pushing in for the "click" allows the phone to detect the headphones. Logo shows in the status bar. I don't even think about it anymore when I do it. Not ideal but workable. I use an old pair of Samsung earbuds.
Hope it helps

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