Quiet call volume - Xperia Z3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi. I have problem with very quiet calls. It's really hard to speak with someone when I'm outside because I can't hear them. I think it's not speakers problem, because they play music properly. I'm now on eXistenZ Marshmallow, but I had this problem also on stock Sony Marshmallow. Do anyone know how to repair it?

Did you replaced the screen ? it's common , the speaker become faulty when you change the screen

I'm not sure because I'm second owner of this phone, but I think screen or speaker was changed in Sony service.

Solved
I one had that problem.
It was really annoying and made me nervous ...
I did a lot of searches and tried everything that could solve the problem, no success. I almost gave up.
I finally found a thread here in xda that gave an unexpected solution, it worked like a charm.
The solution was to clean up the speaker using a needle or something similar. I actually found the speaker was almost totally covered with dust turned into a solid paste because of sweat, water droplets, ...
I'm very satisfied by the result. I would like to give credits to the guy who wrote this first but I don't remember the thread where I found this solution. Sorry.
I hope this will help whoever has the same problem.

I have already tried that, no improvement. Maybe there is any app or mod for increasing speaker volume?

szerwony said:
I have already tried that, no improvement. Maybe there is any app or mod for increasing speaker volume?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem and a needle didn't solve the problem. I looked under a Microscope and the needle tip was still too big for the tiny speaker protection matrix. What I did is I used a chewing gum (works also with something other sticky like blue tack) and pressed it in the speaker and when I took it out, loads of dust was sticking to the chewing gum. I repeated the process a few times and the speaker volume was ok again.

Related

[Q] Speakers distorting and cutting out

Not sure if I have titled the thread correctly if not please can a mod correct.
I am wondering if anyone else is having/had issues with speakers distorting then cutting out when playing any form of audio?
Asus support advised factory reset which didn't fix.
Have DOA code but figured I'd check here before I actually DOA it.
Many thanks
Rikkia
Sounds like a hardware fault and a return is in order unfortunately.
Agree with you stuntdouble,
however now the issue is raised, its in the search should anyone else have problems and need a reference to prior issues.
Interestingly I tried to do a Left/Right audio test and was getting nothing from the left. not sure if its linked in any way to the balance issue I have seen suggested as awaiting a fix.
Roll on Monday when new one should arrive!
Yeah Im one of those with the right speaker louder than the left. The left still works, it's just annoyingly low volume level. Still hoping its a software fix issue, I dont want to have to send mine back. No popping/distorting or cutting out as you describe thank goodness.
i had my first unit for 2 days and it was perfect but the right speaker crackled and then cut out completely. Tried to sort it doing the usual but ended up contacting Comet who had no problem replacing. Was disappointed with carrier as box was water damaged when it arrived but new unit is great apart from some creak. Im just a bit worried about turning the volume up now in case a speaker cuts again!
Did you guys have issues with the sound distorting and crackling all the time? Or did a reboot solve it?
I'm asking because it seems every now and then my audio will crackle and have some static and a reboot fixes it.. not sure if its software that's causing it or what
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
I too have improper sound levels, one speaker is louder than the other.
I tried testing my the left and right channel speakers using moboplayer. My observations are that when only the right channel was on (green indication) that the sound actually cam out of the left speaker. Same if I checked only the left channel, the sound came out of the right speaker. This was also true when using headphones. Left chanel only then sound came out of headphones identified as "R" for right channel.
Is the right speaker on the TF not on the bottom right side of the TF as you look at the screen?
Anybody else notice this anomaly? or do I have things backwards?
rikkia said:
Not sure if I have titled the thread correctly if not please can a mod correct.
I am wondering if anyone else is having/had issues with speakers distorting then cutting out when playing any form of audio?
Asus support advised factory reset which didn't fix.
Have DOA code but figured I'd check here before I actually DOA it.
Many thanks
Rikkia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh~ You can contact RC (repair center) to fix this problem.

Ear piece speaker buzzing?

Hi,
I've had two Moto G's. both have been returned/replaced due to the ear piece/speaker buzzing like a kazoo when someone speaks/audio is heard through it.
I can now only assume it's dust that's caused this to happen, as I use my phone in a reasonably dusty environment occasionally through work.
Has anyone noticed similar problems? Anyone know ways to prevent/cure this should it happen again?
I came here to post this same thing. Mine was fine until shortly after the latest ota. I plan on calling Motorola soon, just haven't gotten around to it.
Sent from my XT1034 using Tapatalk
Aerogriff said:
I came here to post this same thing. Mine was fine until shortly after the latest ota. I plan on calling Motorola soon, just haven't gotten around to it.
Sent from my XT1034 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could have changed after an update for me too. The only physical change could be the dust, but this seems unlikely because it excluded to a fairly modest amount very briefly!
iamtherealmungo said:
Hi,
I've had two Moto G's. both have been returned/replaced due to the ear piece/speaker buzzing like a kazoo when someone speaks/audio is heard through it.
I can now only assume it's dust that's caused this to happen, as I use my phone in a reasonably dusty environment occasionally through work.
Has anyone noticed similar problems? Anyone know ways to prevent/cure this should it happen again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have the same problem! I got a new moto g because the 1st one was doing this cracking sound during calls both on 4.3 and 4.4!
The one has the same problem AGAIN!! i am very angry with this because i feel like the phone is fake and very cheap with this extreme bad sound i will try contact motorola
Στάλθηκε από το XT1032 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk
I'm also having this problem. In fact, I'm on hold right now with motorola as I call to swap my second phone for the same reason. I started having the problem on my first phone a few weeks ago. The second phone had the buzzing problem as soon as it arrived. In both cases the phones have buzzed intermittently and tapping them face down hard against my palm seems to stop the noise for a bit. That isn't a good option because you have to tell the person on the other end to hold the phone away from their ear while you do it. It suggests to me that there is something like sand in the speaker.
We have three phones. One other has had almost no use, while the third has had a huge amount of use as phone and audio player using the headphone. Yesterday the speaker on that last one stopped working altogether. It only works with headphones. I assume it doesn't recognize the headphones have been removed. I don't believe it had the buzzing problem.
I love the phones otherwise.
I have sucessfully solved the problem in two moto g's
Hello to everyone.
First of all, I'd like to thank to everybody that have been developing the threads that as made this possible.
I have read many pages trying to understand the problem.
But I'm going to explain the whole process. I HAVE DONE THIS WITH SINGLE CHIP MOTO G 16GB AND MOTO G 8GB BOTH GSM!!!!
You can find the problem starting the call in a quiet place and you'll see that the sound is good, then in the same call you put some music playing around you and you'll start to have the issue. Try it and you'll find that is what happens.
I've seen mostly on Ebay, that this earpieces are selling like cakes, but definetly you don't have a broken earpiece, and you can test it activating SETTINGS-» DEVELOPER OPTIONS-» USB DEBUGGING, then you go to the dialer an dial this code *#*#2486#*#* or you may see in app drawer an app called CQAtest, it's the same thing, but this is only possible with USB DEBUGGING ENABLED.
Now that you have entered in the test menu you see two bars, select the first one, then select AUDIO, after that you see EARPIECE, click on it and make the BUZZ TEST, when it starts you should put your phone next to your ear. You'll be listening an harmonic sound that starts on a lower frequency and goes to an higher frequency, and it wil be repeating itself.
In this step you can for sure know if you earpiece has problems, if you don't listen any distortion in the loop that it's played, THEN YOU HAVE A FULL OPERATING EARPIECE. Otherwise, it's faulty and you should replace it ( I REALLY DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE A FAULTY EARPIECE).
OK. Now that we have tested the earpiece and we found that has nothing wrong with it, we have to take another steps.
THIS INVOLVE FLASHING THE WHOLE FIRMWARE TO JB 4.3 BUT IT WILL WORK REALLY BEATIFULL
I've taken the Android 4.3-Blur_Version.14.91.11.falcon_umts.Retail.en.DE that is the one that really solve the problem, from sbf.droid-developers.org.
Both Moto G's were UK retail one with 4.3 first version (never updated, that so it couldn't install apk's unless they were downloaded from Playstore or GDrive) and the other one with 4.4.2, this can tell us that it is not a problem caused from updating firmware.
I really think even Motorola isn't aware of this problem caused by a little piece of software on the phone.
BEFORE YOU FLASH THIS FIRMWARE, YOU CAN TRY IF IT SOLVES THE PROBLEM GOING RIGHT TO THE SPOT.
Go to SETTINGS--» SOUND--» AUDIO EFFECTS.
Now you'll see a switch that can be turned to OFF, you can try this at first, go back all the way until the app drawer, search your dialer and make a call, could be to your voicemail or another service from your operator that you're sure you aren't paying. Iniciating the call in a quiet environment you can listen well but if you put some music to play from a radio or something that it is near from you, that will increase the surrounding sound and makes the problem reapears, if the switching OFF AUDIO EFFECTS doesn't solved the problem. Try this several times to make sure that the problem it is still there.
If the problem persists go to SETTINGS--» SOUND--» AUDIO EFFECTS and you'll see WIRED STEREO and SPEAKER. In the Speaker badge set Equalizer to OFF and repeat the process of the call in quiet and during the call add surround sound with a level that can match the volume of the call. Then again, if the problem resides in there it will reveal himself right in that point. Try this several times to make sure that the problem it is still there.
If the problem it is there after this whole process and tests, then to get rid of it FOR SURE, reflash or downgrade to the firmware I've mentioned before. After reflash, Go to SETTINGS--» SOUND--» AUDIO EFFECTS, select the SPEAKER badge and turn the equalizer to OFF.
Make the tests I've mentioned before in call quiet, and with surrounding music and you'll be pleased that THE PROBLEM HAS GONE FOREVER.
Hope I've helped.
Cheers
I'm on my 2nd Moto G due to the buzzing earpiece problem. My Moto G is running stock non-rooted 4.4.3.
I used the sequence you mentioned to run the BUZZ TEST and I didn't hear any distortion at all! Amazing!
I'm having some trouble following your instructions though. I did turn off Audio Effects completely. However, the problem still persists. Can you explain why this would produce a buzzy sound in the earpiece?
Possible Solution
Hi everyone!
I found a peculiar solution. Maybe don't work for everyone, but worked with my Moto G and it's very easy to perform.
First, some comments about my case:
I've followed every step described by @jomedeiros ...I performed the CQAtest and the buzzing noise is clearly heard in the BUZZ TEST, especially in the low frequency sound at the begin of the harmonic sound. I should clarify that the buzzing sound was almost unbearable, like a broken speaker.
My Moto G is running stock non-rooted 4.4.4 (latest ota).
I set all the audio effects OFF, equalizer to OFF, etc... etc... But the buzz was still there.
My solution?
Vacuum cleaner!!!
Yes, too easy right? But works!!
I removed the back cover of the Moto G and with the crevice tool accessory, aspirate all the sides of the phone, then for several seconds on the rubber piece where the cancelation mic was, and specially all over the earpiece metal grid, then tapping the phone face down hard against my palm and aspire the earpiece again, from one side to another (gently taking care not to scratch the glass with the vacuum accessory).
In the first round with the vacuum, the buzzing sound drops significantly, and with one second attempt, the earpiece returned to the original sound, clear and undistorted.
Well... In my case should be only dust, but worth the test because here in Argentina the technical service it can take up to 90 days :/
Perhaps it's worth noting I'm designer and don't spent too much time in dusty spaces. Maybe the little dust in the pockets is enough!. Who knows!
jomedeiros said:
Hello to everyone.
First of all, I'd like to thank to everybody that have been developing the threads that as made this possible.
I have read many pages trying to understand the problem.
But I'm going to explain the whole process. I HAVE DONE THIS WITH SINGLE CHIP MOTO G 16GB AND MOTO G 8GB BOTH GSM!!!!
You can find the problem starting the call in a quiet place and you'll see that the sound is good, then in the same call you put some music playing around you and you'll start to have the issue. Try it and you'll find that is what happens.
I've seen mostly on Ebay, that this earpieces are selling like cakes, but definetly you don't have a broken earpiece, and you can test it activating SETTINGS-» DEVELOPER OPTIONS-» USB DEBUGGING, then you go to the dialer an dial this code *#*#2486#*#* or you may see in app drawer an app called CQAtest, it's the same thing, but this is only possible with USB DEBUGGING ENABLED.
Now that you have entered in the test menu you see two bars, select the first one, then select AUDIO, after that you see EARPIECE, click on it and make the BUZZ TEST, when it starts you should put your phone next to your ear. You'll be listening an harmonic sound that starts on a lower frequency and goes to an higher frequency, and it wil be repeating itself.
In this step you can for sure know if you earpiece has problems, if you don't listen any distortion in the loop that it's played, THEN YOU HAVE A FULL OPERATING EARPIECE. Otherwise, it's faulty and you should replace it ( I REALLY DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE A FAULTY EARPIECE).
OK. Now that we have tested the earpiece and we found that has nothing wrong with it, we have to take another steps.
THIS INVOLVE FLASHING THE WHOLE FIRMWARE TO JB 4.3 BUT IT WILL WORK REALLY BEATIFULL
I've taken the Android 4.3-Blur_Version.14.91.11.falcon_umts.Retail.en.DE that is the one that really solve the problem, from sbf.droid-developers.org.
Both Moto G's were UK retail one with 4.3 first version (never updated, that so it couldn't install apk's unless they were downloaded from Playstore or GDrive) and the other one with 4.4.2, this can tell us that it is not a problem caused from updating firmware.
I really think even Motorola isn't aware of this problem caused by a little piece of software on the phone.
BEFORE YOU FLASH THIS FIRMWARE, YOU CAN TRY IF IT SOLVES THE PROBLEM GOING RIGHT TO THE SPOT.
Go to SETTINGS--» SOUND--» AUDIO EFFECTS.
Now you'll see a switch that can be turned to OFF, you can try this at first, go back all the way until the app drawer, search your dialer and make a call, could be to your voicemail or another service from your operator that you're sure you aren't paying. Iniciating the call in a quiet environment you can listen well but if you put some music to play from a radio or something that it is near from you, that will increase the surrounding sound and makes the problem reapears, if the switching OFF AUDIO EFFECTS doesn't solved the problem. Try this several times to make sure that the problem it is still there.
If the problem persists go to SETTINGS--» SOUND--» AUDIO EFFECTS and you'll see WIRED STEREO and SPEAKER. In the Speaker badge set Equalizer to OFF and repeat the process of the call in quiet and during the call add surround sound with a level that can match the volume of the call. Then again, if the problem resides in there it will reveal himself right in that point. Try this several times to make sure that the problem it is still there.
If the problem it is there after this whole process and tests, then to get rid of it FOR SURE, reflash or downgrade to the firmware I've mentioned before. After reflash, Go to SETTINGS--» SOUND--» AUDIO EFFECTS, select the SPEAKER badge and turn the equalizer to OFF.
Make the tests I've mentioned before in call quiet, and with surrounding music and you'll be pleased that THE PROBLEM HAS GONE FOREVER.
Hope I've helped.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you send me another link for the Android 4.3-Blur_Version.14.91.11.falcon_umts.Retail.en.DE ? this site is off sbf.droid-developers.org.
thanks
ruibvb said:
Can you send me another link for the Android 4.3-Blur_Version.14.91.11.falcon_umts.Retail.en.DE ? this site is off sbf.droid-developers.org.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello everyone.
In the case of the moto G that had the 4.4.2 version, I've downgraded to this one, 4.3.
What is the cause of this problem?
I really don't know, but before reflashing with the mentioned firmware, I have tried all kind of things, also the vaccum cleaner (BUT BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU USE THE VACCUM CLEANER, IT CAN DAMAGE FOREVER THE EARPIECE) including reflashing with the original firmware (UK) among others and the only solution untill today remais the same. Reflash with the firmware 4.3 bold mentioned in the first post that I' ve wrote.
I can tell that both phones still working very nice until today, and the problem of the earpice has never happened. But both are in the version 4.3. and so far I can tell, everyone that has upgraded their phones have tons of problems with them, so mi wife and my mother prefer to stay with the 4.3 version (so do I because I don't like of what they have done to Android from the 4.3 to the day of today, I have a Note 2 and I'm still with the 4.1.2, because they've messed the Android system in the upper versions and I refuse to upgrade. So this are preferences of each user).
XDA doesn't let me post the direct link here to download the firmware.
So maybe throug pm?
Hope I've helped. Cheers
Another solution
ANOTHER SOLUTION TO SOLVE THE BUZZING BUZZ EARPIECE MOTO G
I have the same issue that many of us had, the buzzing earpiece.
SOLUTION:
- I bought 2 earpiece from ebay 3€ both.
- Then I dissasembly the phone, like is this youtube tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycER7MH61l8
Its simple you only have to care about the conector, but slowly Ive done it.
- To desatach the battery I use a cut credit card to lift it up and to unglued the black conector from the screen. (i didnt use the hairdrier)
- Then I put the 2 earpiece BUT still making the buzzing noise!!!!
. Then I move the metal spring conector on the earpiece to make it stronger and turn it the other way to use the other 2 conectors that are in the motherboard.
- And voilá, the noise is gone!
The original earpeice probably was working, but I broke it when taking out.
(I know theres some mistakes, but you undestand)
jomedeiros can't put links so here the link for the rom
https://meocloud.pt/link/ba12605f-3e...ail_DE.tar.gz/
thanks to him
Is upgrading moto g to marshmello will solve the buzzing sound problem
Does upgrading to marshmello helps
Earspeaker always bRRRzzing
I post in this old thread because is the only I found googling which try to give some (and different) solutions to the earspeaker making "GRRRR".
My XT1032 has the problem. My first attempt was to wipe, than to reset, then to change TWO earspecker (one from England as OEM and one sold as compatible from Italy), then to try the simcard into another phone (and it works very well inside an Y300, I can't believe that into MotoG 2013 VS Y300 match the first loses ) then to unlock and install a Cyanogen, then rotating the speaker during assembly (in the printed circuit there are 4 fields to give connection and only a pair is used at time), then moving the 2 spring connectors to try to give better stronger connections. From one try to the other the problem persists also using the service menu. So at the last point I revert and changed again the speaker with the original piece. Vivavoice is good and the ear phones too, no distortion.
My conclusions? The original speaker is bad (and I can see that the transparent sheet of nylon is not well plain), the second was worse but very similar in results, the last was really bad and if with the original I obtain a distortion in a window in the low harmonic with the compatible I obtain a distortion in all the low harmonic, from start to the middle.
So, now, the question to anybody who has similar problems: maybe the two earspeakers I bought were not good, or maybe the circuit (I think the ampli) is broken?
Changing the phone because it works very well but not well as a phone is a bit..... frustrating, the battery (original) is good for my needs and the screen too, but trying to change other 1, 2, ... 10 earspeakers without a reply is a dead end....
Solved
moxmose said:
I post in this old thread because is the only I found googling which try to give some (and different) solutions to the earspeaker making "GRRRR".
My XT1032 has the problem. My first attempt was to wipe, than to reset, then to change TWO earspecker (one from England as OEM and one sold as compatible from Italy), then to try the simcard into another phone (and it works very well inside an Y300, I can't believe that into MotoG 2013 VS Y300 match the first loses ) then to unlock and install a Cyanogen, then rotating the speaker during assembly (in the printed circuit there are 4 fields to give connection and only a pair is used at time), then moving the 2 spring connectors to try to give better stronger connections. From one try to the other the problem persists also using the service menu. So at the last point I revert and changed again the speaker with the original piece. Vivavoice is good and the ear phones too, no distortion.
My conclusions? The original speaker is bad (and I can see that the transparent sheet of nylon is not well plain), the second was worse but very similar in results, the last was really bad and if with the original I obtain a distortion in a window in the low harmonic with the compatible I obtain a distortion in all the low harmonic, from start to the middle.
So, now, the question to anybody who has similar problems: maybe the two earspeakers I bought were not good, or maybe the circuit (I think the ampli) is broken?
Changing the phone because it works very well but not well as a phone is a bit..... frustrating, the battery (original) is good for my needs and the screen too, but trying to change other 1, 2, ... 10 earspeakers without a reply is a dead end....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, problem solved: this time the eraspecker from eBay was good! It come, again, from england. The first two were simple broken new guarenteed not working special price original best than sh**t Pentium inside tax free etc etc. Maybe some rule should prevent to sell broken new spares damn!

crackling speaker on s7

hello guys,
so yesterday i got a phone call and i answered it then i noticed that the caller's voice was not right and it persisted till the end of the call . when a hung up my speaker was having like a crackling / static noise like when i got the call (from the receiver) . i restarted my phone , booted to safe mode , cleared cache . nothing helped , i let it sit for like 3 h and it was gone , and today my phone was okay when suddenly the crackling/static speaker and receiver came back so i did a factory reset but nothing changed and after 1 h it was okay again .
i have never encountered this problem before
my phone : samsung galaxy s7 2 months old
and it has never been dropped
and i noticed something but idk if it helps : when the phone warms up a little bit this happens (not always) and when it cools down it works again
PLEASE I NEED ANY KIND OF HELP
update i new where was my problem :
i had covered my camera and heart rate sensor with piece of transparent paper . and when i removed it the sound went back to normal . then i put it back again to test it out and i had the same results . so it solved
yeah i'm gonna revive an old ass post to say that ANYONE who wants to protect their S7 camera and plans to put some kind of piece of transparent paper or film ie Armor Suit, that is too big, behind their phone WILL experience this problem. I don't know why, but you will literally experience a phenomenon where it seems your phone receiver got damaged or something...
Anyone else with this problem i hope you read this, it took me all sorts of fixing to finally figure it, including changing roms, going stock, air blowing the receiver, putting a magnet near it, and more...
7121 said:
yeah i'm gonna revive an old ass post to say that ANYONE who wants to protect their S7 camera and plans to put some kind of piece of transparent paper or film ie Armor Suit, that is too big, behind their phone WILL experience this problem. I don't know why, but you will literally experience a phenomenon where it seems your phone receiver got damaged or something...
Anyone else with this problem i hope you read this, it took me all sorts of fixing to finally figure it, including changing roms, going stock, air blowing the receiver, putting a magnet near it, and more...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was exactly my problem it drove me nuts ??
My sister had this issue and it was do to her equalizer settings like soundalive being set to custom in stock tw music player but it effects global sound quality set EQ to normal and shut off any effects and boom .
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Crackling s7 speaker
Hello,
Reading this thread but none of the solutions are applicable. I do not have a film or paper covering my camera.
I am running Lineage 14.1 which is Nougat 7.1.2.
I've read that uninstalling the app automatic call recorder, ACR, would help. I didn't have that one installed, but I did have an app Call Recorder Pro installed, removed it, that made no difference.
If anyone else has this issue and a fix i'd love to know.
Thanks.
Dave.

*fixed* Low In-call volume since May Update.

Everything was fine , my phone was running on stock + Magisk and Twrp + stock kernel + April Update .
I used it as my daily driver and i had no issue .
Yesterday i updated to Latest update via TWRP and everything was fine , the call volume seems to be normal , after using it for almost 24 hrs .
But after few hours now i've been facing low in-call volume i wiped data of the phone app
Wiped Dalvik
Restored to factory settings "wiped data"
But i'm still facing this problem .
And it seems i have low volume in every "voip call too" viber + messenger .
What seems to be the problem , i hope it's not a hardware issue or i'll be f*** because in my country i coudn't find a cover for my pixel . So let's not talk about the speakerphone
So after messing around and trying all stock Images , i still got the problem, even with Android P Beta i still got the same issue , i tried cleaning the earpiece , nothing happened .
After losing hope , i was reading about changing something called "hearing aid under accessibility" . I couldn't find it ,
****The solution ****
so i turned "mono speaker on "
And i tested the earpiece and it worked ? the volume is back to normal , then i turned it off again and everything is working fine now .
So turning mono speaker fixed something and returning to stock image didn't ?
So now i'm worried about the IC chip on the motherboard i think there's something wrong with it , and i think i'll be facing this problem soon , i hope not *fingers crossed*
I don't understand, where do you find "mono speaker on?"
I also have had low volume on earpiece for phone calls since about May or so, despite updating to P. Please give more instructions as to what you did.
Also, do you also have the problem that people cannot hear you when using speakerphone?
Mono
The mono setting is found in settings under accessibility.
Might Just Need A Needle
I know this might sound like a stupid/common sense comment, but after failing many different attempts at this, I had an "AH-HAH" moment. This was when i heard a mild distortion, when i pressed my ear firmly against the phone.
So, I took a needle, and started running it across the ear/call speaker. I immediately started noticing some crap getting scraped off (phone is 1.5yo, after all). This, in spite of it looking 100% clean. I did this for a bit, using a dust buster after every few passes. That way, I didn't press anything farther in & suctioned out, what I couldn't access. Do this until nothing seems to come off anymore.
You really don't need to worry about damaging the speaker, as you're only cleaning the protective plastic shield/guard. The holes are extremely small in this plastic cover. Way smaller than the width of a needle. You may want to go after the individual holes, if you don't get enough increased volume.
---------- Post added at 01:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:45 AM ----------
Also, in addition to the needle method above, if the benefits aren't significant enough, can bring in the artillery:
Canned Air (with the pressure multiplying straw)
Powerful Carpet Vacuum Hose- And if needed, narrow the suction beam, by placing something over the hose opening. Be it your fingers, or even an old piece of plastic with a hole cut into it.
Remember to use the needle method first, or during above methods. Since, if the crud isn't loosened first, it's not going to be moving anywhere.
I have a brand new 3a. Stupidly low call volume. Speakerphone volume is fine.
Switching to mono did not help.
Not pleased.
Same with my wife's S9. The earpiece volume issue only started about a week ago. We went so far as to take it to a phone repair store because we thought it was a faulty earpiece. Even after the replacement, the volume was still just as low. Will try a factory reset.
Fixed on pixel 3a xl December 2019
Not sure how this fixed it, but I turned on mono speakers in settings > accessibility
And then I made a call. The volume was still too low so I hit the speaker icon, then when I clicked the speaker back off the earpiece volume is now back to normal levels. I even turned the mono speakers back to its original setting and it's still good so.. I have no idea the cause but at least the issue is fixed on my device.
I'm on Android 10 but no system updates within a few days of this starting. Now that I say that, I may have done an "update all" for all the apps on the phone before it began to have low earpiece volume. So one of the app updates may have caused it but I can't be sure.
This TOTALLY WORKED!!!
Thank you, Sleepsy!!!! This problem has been driving me friggin crazy for weeks! It was starting to get embarrassing always asking people to repeat themselves/saying we had a "bad connection". I even convinced myself if I held/positioned the phone *just right* I would get better volume. No-go.
But even before that, naturally I started with the most complicated fixes 1st and burned many hours (too many) ; ) It's xda after all lol. Mono-audio toggle, crazy updates, safe mode BS, uninstalling 3rd party apps, etc... I'm just glad I didn't wipe it!
It was crazy how much gunk came off that tiny ear speaker slit!!! Nasty stuff! And, ya know, I'd like to think I'm not... nasty lol
Maybe because I have long hair and use crazy amounts of conditioner? Eh, who knows?!
Bottom line: Problem fixed.
Sleepsy is a boss!
Thank you!!!!
Sleepsy said:
Might Just Need A Needle
I know this might sound like a stupid/common sense comment, but after failing many different attempts at this, I had an "AH-HAH" moment. This was when i heard a mild distortion, when i pressed my ear firmly against the phone.
So, I took a needle, and started running it across the ear/call speaker. I immediately started noticing some crap getting scraped off (phone is 1.5yo, after all). This, in spite of it looking 100% clean. I did this for a bit, using a dust buster after every few passes. That way, I didn't press anything farther in & suctioned out, what I couldn't access. Do this until nothing seems to come off anymore.
You really don't need to worry about damaging the speaker, as you're only cleaning the protective plastic shield/guard. The holes are extremely small in this plastic cover. Way smaller than the width of a needle. You may want to go after the individual holes, if you don't get enough increased volume.
---------- Post added at 01:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:45 AM ----------
Also, in addition to the needle method above, if the benefits aren't significant enough, can bring in the artillery:
Canned Air (with the pressure multiplying straw)
Powerful Carpet Vacuum Hose- And if needed, narrow the suction beam, by placing something over the hose opening. Be it your fingers, or even an old piece of plastic with a hole cut into it.
Remember to use the needle method first, or during above methods. Since, if the crud isn't loosened first, it's not going to be moving anywhere.
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Replacement earpiece speaker mistery

Hi all,
I know this is probably a vague question, but I'm hoping someone knows some fact about the hardware that I don't.
My earpiece speaker went bad a long time ago (there's sound, but it's very faint). I decided to take the leap, and repair it.
Went on ifixit, ordered used earpiece, installed it and... no sound at all? Nothing, nada, not even a faint like the og one.
Og one still works the same though: badly, but there's sound. So I ask them for a replacement, they send it... same issue?
At this point I think I must've broken something, so I try one last hail mary. I notice the bottom speaker connector is the same, so I attach
it to the connector up top and... it works perfectly!
I'm completely at a loss right now. Do you guys think it's possible both used speakers from ifixit were faulty? Or is there some kind of special trick to connecting them that doesn't apply to the bottom speaker? (I'm literally just plugging them in, nothing else.
Would love someone's input on this and extra trouble shooting ideas.
Thanks,

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