Hello,
Did Samsung ever fix the low level volume fluctuation problem through the headphone connection on the 7.0+? Listening to lower level music files at lower volumes resulted in the volume jumping up and down slightly. The problem occurs regardless of whatever music player app is used. The files play fine on the Samsung Galaxy 5.0 player and other devices.
Thanks!
Update: It's not fixed.
This thread is the only reference I could find to this issue anywhere. Is it documented more fully somewhere else? Is Samsung aware of it and planning to fix it? Any references or other help would be greatly appreciated.
I've had my 7.0 Plus for about a week, and yesterday was the first time I tried listening to some classical music favorites featuring very soft choral passages. I couldn't. The volume surges every couple of seconds during soft passages. It sounds as if some demented engineer thought it would be a good idea to add an automatic volume equalizer to make sure the music never gets too soft. No. Very bad idea.
Until I found this thread, I thought I had a defective device or was losing my hearing. I'm glad that neither is the case. Again, please post links to further info about the issue. TIA.
Sun_Cat said:
Until I found this thread, I thought I had a defective device or was losing my hearing. I'm glad that neither is the case. Again, please post links to further info about the issue. TIA.
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I've had the same problem with 6210 from day one. Other than album art being screwed up, it's the only real annoying problem I've had with the box.
The problem may be in the default player. I use poweramp and don't experience that
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA
It's not just the default player. I've experienced it in the Rhapsody app too. Also see the OP, which says regardless of app and also strongly imples that the issue has been discussed before.
Sun_Cat said:
It's not just the default player. I've experienced it in the Rhapsody app too. Also see the OP, which says regardless of app and also strongly imples that the issue has been discussed before.
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I hear it using TuneIn Radio. Hoping for a fix with ICS.
UPDATE
I've found two earlier references to the issue:
A review on Amazon from last November (reviewer says he's notified Samsung)
A post by this thread's OP, also from November (like me, he thought it sounded like Automatic Gain Control; unlike me, he remembered the right name for that feature )
Again, any more references, especially from Samsung, would be appreciated.
ETA: I found one on the Samsung support page (search for the string "How can I stop the volume" and click on the text to open the answer). It was answered, not by Samsung but by an anonymous user, who said "Sorry charlie, but you've got a headphone jack with a malfunctioning sensor. Sorry!"
I suppose that's a plausible explanation, but against it is the Amazon reviewer, who said he had the same problem with two different units. And then there's me and the OP here.
redsmear said:
The problem may be in the default player. I use poweramp and don't experience that
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I installed Poweramp. Nice app, but it doesn't help with this problem at all.
To hear the problem you have to be playing music with sustained passages that are very soft. With most pop, rock, and jazz it won't be noticeable. That's probably why the issue isn't more widely reported.
Try this video in your YouTube app. If your Tab Plus is behaving like mine, you'll hear several volume surges during the first 20 seconds or so. ETA: Crap! I can't post outside links. Here's the last part of the YouTube URL, after the slash: watch?v=6-i1ESIRKdA.
One more clue
And I found one more indirect clue in the Samsung Troubleshooting Guide under the heading GT-P6210 Volume Drops When Headphones Are Plugged In:
The volume on your Tablet will drop 75% when you plug in your headphones. This is a preventive measure for acoustic shock to your ears. The volume can be increased after the headphones are connected.
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Obviously this proves nothing about the issue we're discussing, but it is suggestive because it tells us that something in the firmware is deliberately designed to mess with the headphone volume.
Aha, so it's not just me who noticed this "feature" then
For anyone who is experiencing this issue and wants to let Samsung know about it in one place, I've started a public thread on their Facebook support wall. You'll have to imagine the first part of the usual Facebook URL since I can't post links. Here's the last part, after the slash: samsungsupport/posts/10150588609036213
Nothing from Samsung Support on Facebook since yesterday morning. One other person has posted there (thanks, Mark, if you're reading this). It would be nice if a few others would chime in.
I'll chime back in. I'm glad somebody else has finally noticed! The problem also exists with the Verizon SCH-i810 (Tab 7.7) but, perhaps, to a lesser degree.
I strongly suspect the (Yamaha?) driver and/or its configuration -- see the original post from November that shows the (configuration?) files. I suspect that file may hold the key to the problem. Problem is, I have no idea what the numbers actually mean and didn't find any documentation for those numbers (data sheets, etc.). I did attempt at the time to tweak a few numbers using my "best guess" by comparing the entries for rx-speaker vs. rx-headphone vs. rx-headset. but no discernible effect was heard.
No prizes for guessing who was raising such a fuss in November.
The "Sorry Charlie" answer is incorrect and I flagged it as such.
UPDATE: I found the 7.0+ /etc/audio files and I have the 7.7 /etc/audio files. There are some differences in the numbers and the 7.7 audio files (LVVEFS) have some comments (!!!) in them so maybe I can track down pertinent parameters.
Anyone else have an opinion or another idea? Is this a waste of time?
Thanks again to everyone who posted here. If you've been watching the Samsung wall on Facebook where I posted last week you've noticed that they haven't responded at all except to ask one simple question, which I answered immediately. Since then, crickets.
If you're experiencing this issue and you feel comfortable saying so in public, please add your comment to the post on Facebook. Maybe we can guilt them into responding.
Thanks.
Sun_Cat said:
Thanks again to everyone who posted here. If you've been watching the Samsung wall on Facebook where I posted last week you've noticed that they haven't responded at all except to ask one simple question, which I answered immediately. Since then, crickets.
If you're experiencing this issue and you feel comfortable saying so in public, please add your comment to the post on Facebook. Maybe we can guilt them into responding.
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
They just answered about 1/2 an hour ago. They provide a link and ask us to go to the Samsung Service Facebook page and fill out a support form. Might as well. Keep the pressure up on someone over there.
Agreed. I just submitted their form with full details. We'll see whether they follow through.
A hint to anyone posting there: Samsung appears to be great at stalling by asking follow-up questions. Include as many pertinent details as possible in the initial post, such as model, wi-fi or data-enabled, serial number, firmware, streaming or stored music sources, which apps, etc., etc., and so forth.
Well, at least they're responding, but I'm not sure it's helping. This morning they replied to my original Facebook post:
We can suggest checking to see if the same problem occurs in a different set of headphones or speakers. If the problem persists we will suggest servicing your Tab.
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I've already checked with different headphones (not speakers; I've already told them several times that it's a headphones-only issue!), so I already know that the problem isn't due to one set of headphones.
This gives me zero confidence that they actually understand the issue. (Except that it's possible -- though in my view unlikely -- that it is a defective headphone jack.) I'm reluctant to send it in for service. The problem is subtle enough that someone lacking a trained musician's ear is likely to just say it's fixed and send it back. We already know that the fellow who mentioned this issue in his Amazon review got a second unit exhibiting the same defect.
Also, I have not heard from Samsung directly in response to submitting the official support form the other day, so I can't now tell whether or not this latest comment on the wall is coordinated with that other support request.
Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone here dealt successfully with Samsung support in the past, on any issue at all? How did you do it?
Sun_Cat said:
...This gives me zero confidence that they actually understand the issue. (Except that it's possible -- though in my view unlikely -- that it is a defective headphone jack.)
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I agree. I don't believe it's a headphone jack issue either. I'm going to wait until ICS comes out and then decide what to do if it's still an issue.
I've tried adjusting some numbers in the .txt files -- no change yet. Maybe I'm adjusting the wrong file. Who knows?
I'm surprised there aren't more complaints. It's easy to identify. Headphones, earphones -- doesn't matter. The problem exists with Samsung's earphones. They can't run away from that one. Doesn't the 7.0+ come with four audio files? I can't recall if the problem could be reproduced with those files, because the problem needs periods of relative silence to get into the "AGC" mode. I think the Samsung support is in typical "denial mode". Problem? What problem? Let's go through all the permutations of user error or workaround before considering that there is a problem. It's a matter of problem ownership -- and Samsung isn't owning it.
The questions I would ask are: "Have you tried reproducing the problem?" "Do you know how to reproduce the problem?" "Who has the capability to reproduce the problem, if you can't".
Yes! Just found the Samsung music files, going to try to reproduce with all Samsung supplied software and equipment.
UPDATE: Reproduced the problem on Galaxy Tab 7.7 with all Samsung supplied files/software/equipment:
MATERIAL:
1. Samsung supplied "Music Player", no EQ
2. Samsung supplied music file "Silky whisper.mp3"
3. Samsung supplied earphones, white with button and mic (I think it's pretty generic to Samsung)
Steps:
1. Start Music Player.
2. Make certain volume is all the way down and the sound is muted (slash through speaker)
3. Press the volume up button once, twice (once to unmute and one step higher)
4. Play music file. Note how the piano cuts in and out throughout the song, especially during the opening of the instrumental.
I suspect that Samsung is going to hand this issue off to Yamaha. The constant in this matter is the Yamaha-sourced audio chip/driver/library/configuration/firmware.
Here are some files to compare from /etc/audio (I added the model to the name):
TonyBigs said:
It's a matter of problem ownership -- and Samsung isn't owning it.
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Agreed. That's why my first question to them on Facebook was "Are you aware of the problem?" No way will I send my GT7+ to them for service until they take that step.
I'll try your steps later today and see if I get the same result. Maybe we can gang up on them.
I have one additional datum since last week. I've tried to reproduce it on Bluetooth headphones, and the problem does not show up. It's only there with plugged-in headphones.
I suppose this could be interpreted as evidence slightly inclining toward the "defective headphone jack" theory. But I still don't think so. If anything, I think it could be related to the Self Aware Volume Ghost on the Galaxy Nexus, which Samsung apparently did acknowledge. Except the Nexus bug was much more obvious since the volume control indicator actually appeared on the screen and changed.
Greetings all, first time post / long time watcher. Love the forums, been on Android since the very first G1 and these forums have been fantastic over the years.
I have Cyanogenmod 3.4.0 June 7th nightly and have been having this same issue since the first. Headphones work great for music, movies, etc... Even can hear emulated DTMF tones just fine, however when I get into a call there is no far end audio coming through, pretty weird. If i unplug the headset, i can hear just fine from the phone speaker. It is only when the headset is plugged in... What gives? Just wanted to make sure that someone was aware and that there is a bug worth fixing. I noticed in the nightly thread (which i am not authorized to post to yet) that others have complained about this as well. Wish I could collaborate there, but alas I cannot so here I sit on Q&A.
Outside of that, GPS issue is a bother. Must disable "Wi-Fi & mobile network location" in order to sync up with a GPS. Doing this kills the location features which is a super downer, so I find myself toggling this on and off all the time just depending on what I need to do.
I am able and willing to provide technical feedback in the form of logs, images and whatever is needed to help resolve. Just let me know what I can do. Thanks a bunch!
Robert
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
At least you have that. Nothing fixes mine. Won't even see one bird. ..
Having the same problem with GPS
ogonzoo,
I'm having the same problem with GPS. So far, I haven't been able to get it to work except by toggling off the Wifi/Mobile Network location. I did run across a post mentioning a possible fix involving a Touchwiz ROM, but I'm not sure I understood.
I found this other thread seeming to explain the procedure for actually implementing that fix, but I don't know how to apply it to the Cyanogenmod Nightly ROM (assuming that's even possible). Hopefully someone else here will.
EDIT:
Apparently, there's a pretty extensive discussion of this problem in the thread where I read invisiblek's post (first link above), starting at about page 31. It seems to be an acknowledged bug and the Cyanogenmod devs are supposed to address it in a forthcoming build.
I have posted a similar post in the CRV Owners forum, but I thought this forum would make more sense since it's filled with a bunch of hardware-hacking programmers!
The interface between my car and my phone (LG G2 Lollipop stock) is abysmal. I have seen a number of posts on the web about this issue with modern cars, but no real solutions. The following is a list of what I would like the interface to be between the phone and car. Then at the end of the email I'll flame a little about the "why"s.
GIve me a button to allow me to talk to my phone directly without the HondaLink getting in the way. There was a similar issue with a Volkswagon and a solution using Tasker to intercept the call. That solution doesn't work with my Honda and is a kludge.
Always have the phone interrupt the radio (whether it's a call or audio, e.g. Google maps navigation). For me, the information coming from the phone will always be more important than the music or talk show on the radio.
Mirror the phone screen onto the car screen when I'm driving (so I can see my map when I need to)
When I receive a call, let the phone do the talking (the phone can speak the caller's name to me and can send the caller's name over the bluetooth connection) and let me hit a button to answer it.
Has anyone successfully hacked into the firmware/software in the CV-R to fix these issues? Is it possible? At this point, based on my research, I see no other option. If there is another option that doesn't involve replacing the system or "just dealing with it," I'd love to hear it.
The "why"s:
My phone is custimizable, has all of my contacts, recognizes my voice, has GPS, accurate and up-to-date maps, and does everything that I need a phone and navigation system to do. The Honda solution tries to duplicate all of that functionality and does it very poorly. As one user wrote last year, my $50 bluetooth headset can listen to my phone and pipe in navigation directions and let me know when I get a call. It is a joke that an expensive car can't even get that part right. The fact that I can't put my phone screen on the car screen while I'm driving is idiotic. Now I've got to find some way to hold my phone up for navigation. I don't want this post to degenerate into a series of posts and counter-posts on whether drivers can handle the increased cognitive demand. I've been driving long enough to see that the majority of drivers are not paying any attention at all to the road anyway and no one seems to care.
The hardware in the CR-V seems to be capable of doing the things that I have listed above. So, if the Honda programmers can't get it the way I want it, the only solution is to take the programming away from them and do it ourselves. Has anyone done this yet?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Here, check this out.
Me:
When two BT devices capable of telephony functions are connected, the second one connects as "Connected (no phone)", and its telephony function cannot be used.
Example (picture attached). If Huawei Watch is already connected, when Jabra Talk attempts to connect, it will connect as described above, and one cannot make or receive phone calls on Jabra Talk (but still can on the watch.)
Oneplus support:
Thank you for taking the time to send us this email as well as the screenshot that you provided. I understand that you want to use both of the Bluetooth devices for easy access and getting in touch with loved ones for helping us keep on track with our daily activities.
I would like to inform you that the OnePlus 6 can actually connect to two Bluetooth devices. However, by default, you can only choose one for making and receiving calls. Just choose which you preferred to use by toggling the "Phone calls" under each setting of the Bluetooth devices.
This bug was not present in 5.1.5. They introduced it in 5.1.6/7.
This bug is present in all Pixel phones because it's a buggy Google code that Google simply does not care to fix.
Samsung fixed this in their phones.
So, I am guessing OP had this fixed in 5.1.5, but then they just lazily copied and pasted that Google garbage code.
And they don't know how to fix it now. So now it's a freaking feature.
UNBELIEVABLE!
I have the same problem with my Huawei Watch and my cars hands free system
I tried to disconnect the watch with Tasker as soon as my hands free system connects, but it never worked reliable (because the watch connects again immediately and takes over the call functionality)
I guess we need to wait until we get Android Pie because as far as I know this problem is solved with Android Pie
MJFox78 said:
I have the same problem with my Huawei Watch and my cars hands free system
I tried to disconnect the watch with Tasker as soon as my hands free system connects, but it never worked reliable (because the watch connects again immediately and takes over the call functionality)
I guess we need to wait until we get Android Pie because as far as I know this problem is solved with Android Pie
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Click to collapse
I hope so. But I'm not that hopeful - I think it's a Google bug, and they simply don't care to fix it.
Meanwhile, I have to disable the phone functionality on the Watch so I can use my hands free car kit.
It's so disappointing, especially since this stuff always worked with Samsung phones, OOS 5.1.5 (the bug was introduced in 5.1.6/7) and even the early Pixel, pre Android 7.0.2.
nabbed said:
Here, check this out.
Me:
When two BT devices capable of telephony functions are connected, the second one connects as "Connected (no phone)", and its telephony function cannot be used.
Example (picture attached). If Huawei Watch is already connected, when Jabra Talk attempts to connect, it will connect as described above, and one cannot make or receive phone calls on Jabra Talk (but still can on the watch.)
Oneplus support:
Thank you for taking the time to send us this email as well as the screenshot that you provided. I understand that you want to use both of the Bluetooth devices for easy access and getting in touch with loved ones for helping us keep on track with our daily activities.
I would like to inform you that the OnePlus 6 can actually connect to two Bluetooth devices. However, by default, you can only choose one for making and receiving calls. Just choose which you preferred to use by toggling the "Phone calls" under each setting of the Bluetooth devices.
This bug was not present in 5.1.5. They introduced it in 5.1.6/7.
This bug is present in all Pixel phones because it's a buggy Google code that Google simply does not care to fix.
Samsung fixed this in their phones.
So, I am guessing OP had this fixed in 5.1.5, but then they just lazily copied and pasted that Google garbage code.
And they don't know how to fix it now. So now it's a freaking feature.
UNBELIEVABLE!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if Google's code is garbage, I suggest you stop using android and start making your own good code!
nabbed said:
I hope so. But I'm not that hopeful - I think it's a Google bug, and they simply don't care to fix it.
Meanwhile, I have to disable the phone functionality on the Watch so I can use my hands free car kit.
It's so disappointing, especially since this stuff always worked with Samsung phones, OOS 5.1.5 (the bug was introduced in 5.1.6/7) and even the early Pixel, pre Android 7.0.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disabled the phone functionality too
I had a Samsung phone before as well (Note 8) and with that I had no problems with my hands free kit but instead the smartwatch lost the phone functionality after a few hours so I always had to reconnect it (basically the same problem but the other way round)... it's very frustrating that such a pretty basic thing doesn't work properly
I also tried this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.myklos.btautoconnect
but it didn't seem to make any difference, it didn't seem to make anything at all
I read that Android Pie is able to connect to more than one Bluetooth headset at a time so this should fix the issue after all
kewlest22 said:
if Google's code is garbage, I suggest you stop using android and start making your own good code!
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Click to collapse
I had a Pixel XL for over a year. Only kept it for Project FI. Bug ridden POS.
Sold it for half going price just so I could feel clean again.
Even if Samsung *used* to have sluggish Touchwiz in the past, at least it didn't have deal breaking bugs.
Don't even have to make my own code - some XDA roms had fixed this bug, as opposed to Google.
MJFox78 said:
I disabled the phone functionality too
I had a Samsung phone before as well (Note 8) and with that I had no problems with my hands free kit but instead the smartwatch lost the phone functionality after a few hours so I always had to reconnect it (basically the same problem but the other way round)... it's very frustrating that such a pretty basic thing doesn't work properly
I also tried this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.myklos.btautoconnect
but it didn't seem to make any difference, it didn't seem to make anything at all
I read that Android Pie is able to connect to more than one Bluetooth headset at a time so this should fix the issue after all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am almost positive that if you had a somewhat similar problem on a Note 8, it's probably Google's fault.
I don't really use the 2 BT phone functionality for more than 30 min on average, but I've never had any problems on Note 7, GS6 or GS9, or even on a Pixel pre 7.0.2 android, when this bug was first introduced.
After 7.0.2, bluetooth stuff just broke everywhere. This bug, constant disconnects and reconnects, for some people music skips, for some doesn't even work, BT UI in Settings just crashing etc.
It's like Google replaced their BT programmer with a monkey at that point, or even a monkey's nephew.
So just because you cannot use 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously to make phone calls, it's a deal breaker??? Lmao please please please go back to Samsung so we don't have to hear the whining anymore. Good luck with those bootloaders
Does anyone else have this problem? I just got the Galaxy 4 smart watch (bluetooth, not lte version) a few days ago. When I initiate a call from the watch it dial and says "See phone" and the call is now coming through the phone. I can click a button on the phone to send the call back to the watch but obviously this defeats the convenience of not needing to have the phone in arms reach.
My husband figured out that its some kind of interference with other connected bluetooth devices (even though they are off), like my car and handsfree earpiece. If I unpair each of those items, calls work as they should. As soon as I re-pair another bluetooth device the problem resurfaces. I'd rather not have to pick one or the other to work if I can help it. Samsung support hasn't been able to fix it. Any ideas?
I should have clarified, I'm wondering both who does and who doesn't have this issue. Please comment even if yours works perfectly.
Samsung support seemed to suggest it was a software issue thar might be able to be fixed in a future update but I'm not sure if its an issue for anyone other than me.
Maybe you should take a look at this topic https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...hange-default-behavior.4369423/#post-86031957