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Why is nobody on here talking about the horrible audio quality

There is a problem with the speech processing of the phone, thousands of users including myself are experiencing, choppy audio and far echo.

It is all over the Motorola Forums.

It is a documented hardware problem apparently.

Can anyone on here care to comment on this?

Many customers are taking the phone back and I am at that point, almost everyone I call complains about my poor audio quality to them.

Thanks,

Ken

Comments

summers22

I MUST reply to this thread with much agreement. The phone quality is AWFUL!! I called a Verizon tech person who was not able to confirm anything about ALL the buzz about this topic. Phone calls drop, EVERYONE says that I am cracking up during conversations, and every other imaginable problem. I am on the verge of taking the phone back as well. If it is a software issue that I must wait to be released it would not be as bad but I use the phone on a daily basis and it is a very difficult issue to try and be patient about. WE need help!!!

meister

My Droid sounds fine, better then my old phone in fact. I've heard there is a large update coming Dec. 11 to take care of a lot of issues, but I have few complaints.

tomv20158974

The audio quality on my Droid is great! Much better than the Imagio and Voyager that I had before the Droid. Perhaps you have a defective unit?

GreySeal

I keep hearing about the audio quality problem. Echoes, choppy audio, etc.

I have to assume this is a per-phone problem. Mine is just fine. Well, there is (rarely) a slight echo problem. It's so slight that if it wasn't for all the reports of it, I probably wouldn't have noticed. The quality of the speakerphone is wonderful. Best of any phone I've had, and I've had a lot.

I've never had (yet) anyone complain they couldn't hear me, or that I sounded strange. (well, they do tell me that in person, however) :smileywink:

Maybe, there is something strange about the audio that only some people can hear?? Kind of like some people are way more susceptible to flicker on computer monitors??

daretoomnia

Hopefully this is true and is going to address the poor call quality and poor camera issues....(crossing my fingers).....the below is from an article online.....

Verizon Says Droid Fix Coming In A Few Weeks

Posted by Eric Zeman, Dec 3, 2009 09:30 PM

This evening I received an email from Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless. It contained some welcome news for owners of the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid. You see, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) has pushed out new SDKs for Android 2.0.1 and Android 1.6. This means the folks over at Motorola and Verizon can dig their hands into the code to fix the Droid's camera issue. Oh, and I have some info on the Droid BOGO event happening this weekend.

The first thing that happened today was that Google made a bunch of new Android SDKs. The Android 2.0.1 Release 1 SDK includes minor API changes, bug fixes and framework behavioral changes. Android 1.6 Release 2 includes new features for users and developers, as well as changes in the Android framework API.

Android developers are welcome to download all these wonderful new tools from Google. You can find links to more information here. Now that those tools are handy, that will speed up a fix for the Motorola Droid, which is having problems with its autofocus feature.

Verizon spokesperson said in an email that every Droid owner "will receive a free over-the-air download that will be automatically pushed to their phone within coming weeks. This download will enhance the user experience with the most noticeable modifications being an improvement to the camera autofocus capability and the phone's voice reception. The advanced technology of the DROID means customers will only have to accept the download to their phones for continued use and enjoyment of this feature packed Android phone."

KennethLBryant

Perhaps you have just had bad quality in the past to compare too and just got used to it (lowered your expectations), many phones out there are pretty bad.

KennethLBryant

There are hundreds of reports of customers returning units 3 times and still the same problem, IT IS NOT A DEFECTIVE UNIT. Do the research if you want to know more about it.

KennethLBryant

One only gets in trouble when one assumes.

There is no debate over whether this issue exists.

Motorola has admitted it.

Verizon has admitted it.

The problem is massively huge and that is why there is so much concern over whether it can be addressed by the firmware update.

Many customers can't use the phone and are returning them because they can't wait for the fix, if there is one.

Always the problem with the first issue release of something.

If anyone out there is considering purchasing the Motorola Driod, you had better wait or you will be sorely disappointed.

fezzik

Hmm glad I didn't listen to all this. My first two phone calls were described as crystal clear but a litle tinny. I turned off the privacy and went to the store to get the memory replaced I got bad memory card and that powered it off and on and it was all good after that. When I talk to my dad I will say that the quality on my end isn't great but seeing as it is fine with most everyone else I have to think that is his phone and not mine. I haven't had any serious issues with mine. If the update which has officially been confirmed and officially addresses call quality for one makes it better then bully for me. I have never come across anything that could be described as making the phone unusable. Even when the call from my end was described as tinny it was also described as crystal clear. This falls under major over reaction sorry. To anyone scared to buy the phone from these reports don't be.

KennethLBryant

Yes the thousands of complaints are all a massive hallucination.

Your one experience is irrelevant and anecdotal.

There are many cellular systems, voice coding, backbones and frequency ranges that differ through the country.

The number of returned handsets has gone through the roof that is why all the buzz and urgency about a fix.

I doubt Motorola would admit to something that did not exist.

I doubt Verizon would admit to something that did not exist.

I doubt Motorola would not release an update if there was not a problem.

I doubt Verizon would not release an update if there was not a problem.

NO UPDATE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY EITHER MOTOROLA OR VERIZON.

In fact Motorola and Verizon in this forum have admitted that they can not confirm the rumor about any possible update for business reasons (they don't want to create a run on everybody dumping the phone).

All that exists is an alleged "leaked internal memo" that is contradictory about any possible date and whose credibility is sketchy at best.

The fact that there has to be a "leaked internal memo" says that it is not a major over reaction.

It is a panic and it is very real.

john5152

as far as call quality, drops ext,,, no probs here So Far! I have tested out of state and still have crystal clear signal as long as above 1 bar indicated. The droid is a little buggy, no voice dial initiation from blutooth, and few others. but with the powerfull processer, the ram memory, and OS makes this a very powerful and quick responding computer. I am impressed still! i bet that the update on dec 21 will fix the most outstanding issues.

meister

Kenneth, drop verizon and go with someone else- your rant is getting old.

logicman

@Kenneth - I guess I'm the one other person not having issues with audio quality. :smileyhappy: This was posted elsewhere in this forum:

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/12/verizon_says_dr.html;jsessionid=DYDIAKWJIO52JQE1GHPSKHWATMY32JVN

n0yxl

fezzik wrote:
Hmm glad I didn't listen to all this. My first two phone calls were described as crystal clear but a litle tinny. I turned off the privacy and went to the store to get the memory replaced I got bad memory card and that powered it off and on and it was all good after that. When I talk to my dad I will say that the quality on my end isn't great but seeing as it is fine with most everyone else I have to think that is his phone and not mine. I haven't had any serious issues with mine. If the update which has officially been confirmed and officially addresses call quality for one makes it better then bully for me. I have never come across anything that could be described as making the phone unusable. Even when the call from my end was described as tinny it was also described as crystal clear. This falls under major over reaction sorry. To anyone scared to buy the phone from these reports don't be.

Agreed.

AFguy

Yes, please, your own titling of this thread shows that you and only you are making such an issue with this. If you're that bothered by it go get an iphone and enjoy the call quality of it.

supitsmike

I haven't had any bad voice reception/problems at all. I did turn off that TTY and feedback thing from the calling settings, as I didn't need to hear myself more than I already did.

But aside from that I'm pretty happy with the Voice quality, I hear wonderfully on the network compared to T-Mobile.

KennethLBryant

Unfortunately, I will have to drop the phone if not Verizon, just like so many others.

I don't know how 1 post qualifies as a rant but thank you for the invaluable constructive input on this thread issue.

KennethLBryant

I posted a thread asking for help, so please try and provide assistance and save the negative comments.

KennethLBryant

I am not sure how I could be "tilting" a thread when it is the very same thread I started!!!

Thanks for your invaluable advice on this thread issue.

KennethLBryant

Instead of talking about your own personal and purely anectodal experience and instead of accusing me of making an issue out of something I am experiencing, why don't you educate yourself by doing a quick Google search before you offer such irresponsible comments.

The first 5 out of 10 google results are (these include 60k views and more than 500 threads, but of course, it is only my imagination):

supportforums.motorola.com/message/81002;jsessionid=12EF34977203D358FD07953F09B14EE6.node0

supportforums.motorola.com/thread/16215?tstart=30

forums.verizon.com/t5/Android-Devices/Motorola-DROID-Poor-Incoming-Audio-Voice-Quality/td-p/121903;jsessionid=264CFA6A3645B0C6CC1F2F3414E25F0D

www.androidguys.com/2009/11/16/audio-issues-plaguing-droid-owners/

www.geek.com/articles/mobile/motorola-droid-audio-issue-means-missed-calls-and-users-oversleeping-20091116/

www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/12/verizon_says_dr.html;jsessionid=DYDIAKWJIO52JQE1GHPSKHWATMY32JVN

AFguy

My apologies to you Ken. I overreacted with my post. I am sorry that you, and others, are having call quality issues with your Motorola Droid device. Hoping that we do in fact receive an OTA update next week, this may resolve your call quality issues. If not, I would take the Droid back to a VZW store and ask to exchange for another device. The Droid is an awesome device, but it is very new and will have some issues. I know I have had several with mine, but I am hoping they will get resolved as VZW is a very good network to be with. Again, I am sorry for my uncalled for comment earlier in this post. I do hope you find the assistance you are looking for.

meister

KennethLBryant wrote:
Unfortunately, I will have to drop the phone if not Verizon, just like so many others.

I don't know how 1 post qualifies as a rant but thank you for the invaluable constructive input on this thread issue.

Not a rant?! Did you not read your own posts? The first two pages you make only statements about how this or that sucks as if Kenneth alone cracked the case wide open. Only after you are called out on it do you change your posts and want to seek help. This issue has been covered here and on other sites- search button, use it. I don't know, maybe your are socially backwards and are unable to ask for help properly. In that case my apologies.

KennethLBryant

Did you read the other replies?

Please read all the other replies, those "rants" as you call them were trying to inform people who denied that there was ever a problem. So thank you for your response confirming the problem. I was bashed repeatedly for bringing up the issue that nobody wanted to or would admit.

This is a forum and I THOUGHT I was clear about bringing up the issue with an obvious view towards trying to see how bad the problem is and whether or not it could be fixed. I am sorry if it was not clear to others. I am sorry, I thought by showing concern about an audio issue was obvious that I was seeking a fix.

I have yet to hear any constructive advice or information about this problem from anyone on this forum posting in response to my thread.

So far I have received nothing but bashing, berating, name calling, and other personal abuse.

I may have not been clear in my request, but I have not done those other things above and my not being clear does not warrant all this hostility and negativity.

meister wrote:
KennethLBryant wrote:
Unfortunately, I will have to drop the phone if not Verizon, just like so many others.

I don't know how 1 post qualifies as a rant but thank you for the invaluable constructive input on this thread issue.

Not a rant?! Did you not read your own posts? The first two pages you make only statements about how this or that sucks as if Kenneth alone cracked the case wide open. Only after you are called out on it do you change your posts and want to seek help. This issue has been covered here and on other sites- search button, use it. I don't know, maybe your are socially backwards and are unable to ask for help properly. In that case my apologies.

meister

I'm done with this thread. You keep confirming everyones thoughts- good luck getting help.

willanaya

KennethLBryant wrote:
I posted a thread asking for help, so please try and provide assistance and save the negative comments.

i have to agree with ardoreal, you in no way asked for assistance. {no personal comments, please}

if you look at the other posts, people who want legitimate help will give specifics about their problems, accept the solutions, and then try to rectify the situation.

i have not seen specifics except "call quality". nothing that mentions what are your current settings (even supitsmike referred to what he did to make his phone better.

Did you try these?

Did you take your phone in and exchange it for another?

if you did, did you ask to see if the store could send a phone from another store? it is a possibility that that store received bad batches. {please keep it relevant}

If you have tried these solutions, and by the way, some have been mentioned here as well as in other posts by people who have had problems with their Droids, then please, come back, post your results so that others may learn from your experience.

No one needs to hear/read some post about a person who just wants to talk poorly about a subject without first trying to take the advice given and put it into action.

And notice, one reply, because that is how i roll.......

KennethLBryant

Well, Verizon and Motorola released an Over The Air (OTA) update on Friday Dec 11.

This is the phantom update to fix the phantom call audio quality with the phone that so many of the posters on this thread outright denied, berated me for, etc.

On the OTA, it specifically said it was being pushed to the phone to fix "call audio quality."

I can report things did get better but the results are not consistent.

I am still getting compressed words on some calls but the chop and the echo are much better.

At least it is not every call.

I have turned my Vocoder programming settings to 13k and I believe that limits most of the audio problems in general.

I continue to do testing and will report back.

It will be interested to see the feedback of others after the OTA update.

willanaya

the suggestion i gave you come from someone who works for verizon tech. he says this is what he does for everyone who has this problem.

granted 13k is good, he compared it as almost equal to EVRC-B but better than EVRC. you will reach more towers with 13k because it is an older vocode but he pushed the EVRC-B as the preference. in and around san antonio, i have not experience any dropped calls or no connects. i am waiting for my friday conference call to test it out completely because the last time i heard echo on speakerphone. not sure if it was me or some person not understanding the concept of "mute"

but please report back, if you are pleased with it and people read this thread, then they will definately know that it works. LOL

TheOnlyKash

The Audio on my Droid is excellent, both incoming and outgoing. As a matter of fact, the Droid is the best phone I have ever had. Best thing since sliced bread. Perhaps it's because I just bought my phone two weeks ago. Maybe there was some sort of a hardware mod in the latest version, Who knows?

Montel3

Ken,

Turn off the voice privacy, and reboot the phone. I did and the sound quality is now normal.

KennethLBryant wrote:
There is a problem with the speech processing of the phone, thousands of users including myself are experiencing, choppy audio and far echo.

It is all over the Motorola Forums.

It is a documented hardware problem apparently.

Can anyone on here care to comment on this?

Many customers are taking the phone back and I am at that point, almost everyone I call complains about my poor audio quality to them.

Thanks,

Ken

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