Develop Bugs

[Q] How to improve bluetooth audio (music) quality?

My opinion is that the bluetooth audio quality on the HTC Desire is terrible!
When playing music, in most of the tracks I hear clicking/crackling noise when some frequency/dB/something else is reached.
To illustrate what I mean, I have uploaded an audio fragment in which you can hear a similar noise.
Download fragment (MP3) Warning! it's drum n bass
You can hear the sound at the very beginning and at around 6 seconds (and at the end). As if a tweeter (speaker for higher frequencies) get overloaded.
I don't know if it is related to the phone's hardware, (radio) firmware or the Android OS. I've tried different music players, radio firmwares and custom roms. I also enabled an equalizer for bt audio using DSPManager. Unfortunately, nothing helped
edit: Using current versions of DeFoST or OpenDesire (and maybe others), the bt sound quality is how it should be! Fixed for me, but I hope an update from HTC will do the same.
Btw, this crackling/clicking is not only related to the HTC Desire, I have heard it on more (non-android) phones that were connected to my bt audio setup (in car). Unfortunately I haven't been able to test other Android phones, but my old Nokia N82 and SE K800i always sounded clear.
My guess is that it's just a non-controllable system setting of Android to solve the problem, but I don't know where (config/settings files?) to search for BT audio settings.
Any ideas?

That's the typical audio quality of a mediocre A2DP device: give a try at a Sony Ericsson MW-600 headset, you'll see what an Hi-Fi Bluetooth device is.

@ngel said:
That's the typical audio quality of a mediocre A2DP device: give a try at a Sony Ericsson MW-600 headset, you'll see what an Hi-Fi Bluetooth device is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running Defrost rom now and the sound quality is perfect, how it should be! So, it's not related to the audio device, or the default settings/drivers of the Desire are "too good" for my audio device (Pioneer BT unit @ car audio), which I think is not the case, since I also had this noise on my Logitech Pure-Fi.

@ngel said:
That's the typical audio quality of a mediocre A2DP device: give a try at a Sony Ericsson MW-600 headset, you'll see what an Hi-Fi Bluetooth device is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I recently owned this headsert but the quality of the sound was still terrible. I thought it was a problem with the headset at first, but that is not the case. I returned it and bought a Jabra BT3030 and the problem still persists. Anyone know if this is actually a problem with the phone or is it software related? I can add that I don't hear these noises when streaming audio through e.g. the youtube app, only mp3 and it doesn't matter which player I use (I've tried loads).

I have the jabra dogtags, audio playback sounds exactly the same as when my headphones are plugged in direct (tested it several times, culd not tell the difference), except that I have a louder volume via the jabra, which is all good as I listen to drum and bass also. Mabey device fault?

It is software related. Using current DeFroST or OpenDesire roms (and maybe others), bluetooth audio is great

CONTACTMC said:
I have the jabra dogtags, audio playback sounds exactly the same as when my headphones are plugged in direct (tested it several times, culd not tell the difference), except that I have a louder volume via the jabra, which is all good as I listen to drum and bass also. Mabey device fault?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well if it would've been device fault you'd think that I'd hear that noise through youtube streams as well.
But yeah as tutti-frutti stated it might be a software issue, which points me towards a root. But since I'd rather not root atm, anyone knows any other solution?
Might try a hard reset first and hope for the best. I will get back to you on that .

Thank you so much for describing my problem!!
I am currently downloading OpenDesire. Just in case that it does not work, where do i find DeFost??? I can't find it on the Market.
Thanks again!
I have Samsung Epic 4g.

nope Desire's Bluetooth audio quality is good in fact Awesome..!!
-May be the problem is not with the phone, its with Bluetooth head set you are using.
-My suggestion is to use Nokia or Motorola A2DP Stereo head phones
-I'm using Motorola motorkr S9 hd ,,,its awesome..!!
-Try this ,,it might work

harish.awe said:
nope Desire's Bluetooth audio quality is good in fact Awesome..!!
-May be the problem is not with the phone, its with Bluetooth head set you are using.
-My suggestion is to use Nokia or Motorola A2DP Stereo head phones
-I'm using Motorola motorkr S9 hd ,,,its awesome..!!
-Try this ,,it might work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, it is an issue with my car, not headphones.

A little UP!
Having the same issues with a Nokia BH-504 headset. Music quality is poor with every Sense ROM (original, rooted, Sense HD, whatever), sound like the tweeters are overloaded.
Definetly not a problem with the headset, it sound perfect with HTC Legend.
Tried to switch to non-Sense ROM (DeFrost, OpenDesire, etc.). The quality is perfect, but music play stops every 1-2 minutes for a second. Very irritating. Anyone experienced this? Is this a problem with my Desire, should I send it for warranty? (Don't want to send without enough evidence, don't wanna be without a phone for weeks...)

Okay, update: Tested the new Gingerbread AOSP and still having these stops at 2-3 minutes. Very strange...

Anyone any idea? Can I debug the bluetooth transfer somehow? Logcat didn't really show anything... Can it be a fault of the phone?

Chapell said:
Anyone any idea? Can I debug the bluetooth transfer somehow? Logcat didn't really show anything... Can it be a fault of the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need an sd r/w-buffer fix in kernel to stop that. I don't know if it comes with any senseless rom though. Maybe you could try the lite version of baadnewz hd rom.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Ik Desire said:
You need an sd r/w-buffer fix in kernel to stop that. I don't know if it comes with any senseless rom though. Maybe you could try the lite version of baadnewz hd rom.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll look into it. But if that's the problem, it would affect music playback with wired headphones too, isn't it?
And with Sense ROMs I have the overloaded tweeter-like problem, but no stutters. With non-Sense ROMs I have beautiful audio quality but music stops for a second randomly.
Update: Checked Aura ROM with sdfix, no problem with stuttering, but still the overloaded high-frequency problem. Meanwhile I checked that this SD fix is available only for Sense ROMs because it's HTC's hacking, the AOSP versions have no SD problems.

Oh, good lord! I was nearly to believe that I'm some sort of audiophile!
I'm using Plantronics 903 with my Desire and sound quality is just OK (I'm using SENSE ROM, will try OpenDesire in a bit). However, I cannot say I was expecting more.
What funny is happened today: I paired my 903 with PC today - sound quality was nearly same like my Desire, then I noticed someting in Bluetooth Setting Panel of PC. There was a combo box which labeled as "Audio Quality" and it was at the "Low" setting. I switched it "High Quality" and reconnected the device and voila! The sound has been thousands of times better!
Now I'm wondering if such a switch is also available in Desire? Maybe not obvious, but a Kernel variable perhaps? Damn that I don't know a sh** about programming these devices :'(
EDIT : Funny - I think that setting was not of PC's, but Headset's! It's quite well right now! And I didn't even try OpenDesire yet!

Chapell said:
A little UP!
Having the same issues with a Nokia BH-504 headset. Music quality is poor with every Sense ROM (original, rooted, Sense HD, whatever), sound like the tweeters are overloaded.
Definetly not a problem with the headset, it sound perfect with HTC Legend.
Tried to switch to non-Sense ROM (DeFrost, OpenDesire, etc.). The quality is perfect, but music play stops every 1-2 minutes for a second. Very irritating. Anyone experienced this? Is this a problem with my Desire, should I send it for warranty? (Don't want to send without enough evidence, don't wanna be without a phone for weeks...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have similar sound issues on non-sense roms. I believe it's mostly to do with range is just not quite as good as with sense based roms. I haven't had time to really figure out why yet.

Okay, so they replaced my Nokia BH-504 headset with a new one, still the same issue with Desire Sense ROMs but Legend Sense is still good. So it's not an issue with the headset (well, could be a general incompatibility problem, but I don't think so) Will check my laptop and a Gingerbread ROM on the Desire. Okay, conclusion after further tests with the replaced headset:
with Desire Sense ROMs: horrible quality in the high frequencies with every MP3.
with Desire non-Sense ROMs (OpenDesire, Gingerbred, etc): Good quality, but music play stops for a secons every 1-2 minutes.
with HP TouchSmart TM2 notebook: Quality problem AND music sutter BOTH
with HTC Legend original Froyo ROM: No problem
with Sony Ericsson X8: No problem
with HTC Touch HD: Quality problem
The headset has been replaced with a new one, same errors occur.
I have no idea what's wrong. I can't believe 2 phone's and a notebook's Bluetooth chip is faulty. So this could be an incompatiblity, hooray for great Bluetooth standard specification I should try a Nokia BH-905 and a Sennheiser MM400, will try them after buy (in the store!) and hand them immediately back if there will be a problem with them

Chapell, I have the same problem as you, with the Nokia BH-504 headset. So far the headset works great with the stock ROM, LeeDroid ROMs or just about any Froyo ROM. Gingerbread-based ROMs or Cyanogen nightlies, or any of the AdamG's Oxygen ROMS, on the other hand, they all have the same issue - every 90 seconds or so there is a glitch, the audio stream skips for half a second or so - very, very annoying keeps you from getting in the mood.
My observations: it is not SD card related, youtube video with the audio part streamd through the bluetooth headset also skips (also tried an SD read-ahead zip patch - no change); also, the glitch doesn't manifest using wired headphones; it has nothing to do with CPU spikes (the music player and the BT connection were the only open applications after a fresh ROM install); it has nothing to do with WiFi being on or off; it has nothing to do with 3G/2G network being active or not, or the GPS; using a different radio also doesn't help (scenario - radio X used with N.S.A. ROM -> no glitch; the same radio used with Oxygen 2.0 RC7 -> glitch)...
My guess - as noobish as it may be - is that this issue is related to some kind of buffering in the streaming process - I compared a few bluetooth configuration files in various ROMs, but couldn't figure any setting related to buffering or such.
If anyone could help, I would be very grateful!

Thanks for the info. If I understand correctly, you had no problems with BH-504 using Sense ROMs. So no high frequency distortion, nothing. This means that my phone is definetly faulty
However it seems the non-Sense skips are not unique for me. Strange, no one uses a BT headset with non-Sense ROMs or it could be a problem only with the BH-504?

[Q] Audio choppy when streaming to car via bluetooth

Is anyone else having a problem with streaming audio from the HTC desire HD to their car head unit via bluetooth?
I've just tried it for the first time (only bought the phone a few days ago) and it plays for a few seconds and then goes really choppy/stutters to the point where you just can't bear it anymore.
I've always had it working perfectly with my other HTC phone (windows mobile HTC kaiser).
Other than that I love the phone but playing audio from it in the car is one of my main uses for it.

I tried this too, but it works without any problems. I am streaming audio to my VW Passat with the RNS510 navigation system.
Grtz Remko

Weird, last night when I tried it - very choppy.
Tried it today no problems at all now

Ahhh no , thought i'd cracked it but I didn't
Spent 20 mins outside today just in the car with the engine running and no problems.
Took a quick trip out to the supermarket and it started to stutter again several times on the way there but did rectify itself eventully, same trip back home and no stutter.
I had no difference in settings at any of the times i tested.

DHD and BT audio streaming to car radioreceiver
Hello,
Sorry to dig out so old thread but I can't find an answer. The other thread about similiar issue is for Inspire and I didn't want to mix up devices.
Anyway. Recently I've bought Pioneer DEH-4400BT.
Well when I make a phone call everything is ok. However when I stream multimedia (youtube, mp3, internet radio or whatever) I can hear audio skips. Those breaks are very short, like a second more or less. And it happens random. Once in a minute, sometimes more frequently, sometimes less.
I'm using DHD with ARHD 6.3.1.
I tried couple of devices with my car audio: Samsung Omnia (WM6), Xperia Mini Pro (Android 2.3.4 stock rom) and Desire S (not sure what Android version but stock rom for sure). The problem didn't occure with those phones.
To make things more complicated I tried HTC BH M300 bt earphone with my DHD and the problem didn't occure either.
So it seems the problem only exists between my car audio and phone but I have no idea why it can be.
Did anyone had a similiar problem with this rom?
Are there any things I could try before trying newer versions of Mike's rom?
Or even reverting to a stock rom?
Regards
Nard

ICS Bluetooth Media Woes

I feel like I'm the only one who's been struggling with Bluetooth media since the ICS leaks started rolling out and as it seems like we're getting closer to a final build I'm getting worried.
So I often stream audiobooks and music via Bluetooth from my phone to my Sony XPLOD BT3900 aftermarket head unit. This worked just great on the GB ROM. However, on the ICS ROMs, my phone will randomly hot reboot in the middle of playing something. This includes the stock player, Power Amp, Mort Audiobook Player and Google Music. The audio cuts out, Bluetooth disconnects and the screen goes to the Sprint bootanimation screen with no sound, then quickly reloads the OS. I have to toggle Bluetooth off then on again on both the stereo and the phone in order to get it to reconnect.
If I turn off Media audio in the Bluetooth settings, just using Phone audio, and connect to the stereo via the Aux port, it works just fine with no reboots, so this is definitely a software issue (worked fine on GB) involving Bluetooth media (phone audio is fine) that may or may not be isolated to my particular stereo.
So I have to ask ... is anyone else experiencing anything the same or similar? Or does anyone have any suggestions as to what the cause may be other than simple incompatibility? It's been bumming me out as I hate having to plug a cable in every time I get behind the wheel.

Had the EXACT same thing happen to me at work today as my phone was linked to a Monster Micro Bluetooth Speaker . . . thought it was my ROM or recent flash that did it but I guess not. It does not happen to me in my car when I have my phone linked to my Motorola bluetooth car received and then my audio linked to my bluetooth jack . . . only seems to happen if both are linked to the same unit. Maybe FD02 will change all that.

I have the same problem and I am looking for a solution!!!

I stream music via Bluetooth in my truck everytime I drive. I connect it to a car dock. I have noticed that the phone seems hot when I pull it out but haven't really tried to figure out why. I thought maybe it was the sun going thru the windshield heating it up bit now I may not buy that.
I've done this with every ics build and am currently on cm9 a2. Never had a reboot though.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

MrDowntown12 said:
I stream music via Bluetooth in my truck everytime I drive. I connect it to a car dock. I have noticed that the phone seems hot when I pull it out but haven't really tried to figure out why. I thought maybe it was the sun going thru the windshield heating it up bit now I may not buy that.
I've done this with every ics build and am currently on cm9 a2. Never had a reboot though.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your feedback, I don't know why you are able to stream music through bluetooth! I have read a lot of threads about this issue and nobody can solve it until now.

Jabra Clip Won't Pair with E4GT
I had no problem using this device on GB based ROMs but once i switched over to the ICS Leaks completely lost the ability to pair with my Device, I hope there is a resolutions to this issue, I can confirm this is still an issue as of FD02.

Running calks 1.4 and have no issues with Bluetooth streaming to Ford sync or my Bluetooth receiver listening to music with subsonic or tune in radio just fyi not trying to be a **** i feel your pain
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Yup, works great with Ford's Sync. Picked up a 2012 Ford Focus the other day, and it's great.

Cm9 a2 working flawlessly. Had trouble with almost every other ics rom though.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

what ics bluetooth problems as of now?

The problem is that when my gs2 is paired by bluetooth with my Sony MEX-BT3900U, it reboots every about fifteen minutes. It has been happened since I have updated my phone to ICS and not with Gingerbread.
If I just switch on bluetooth, it doesn't happen.

I know this is an older thread but I am having the same issue and I'm trying to search for a fix. It only started happening when I switched from GB to ICS. I also have a sony head unit. Anyone find a fix yet?

beni26 said:
I know this is an older thread but I am having the same issue and I'm trying to search for a fix. It only started happening when I switched from GB to ICS. I also have a sony head unit. Anyone find a fix yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I switched to a JB rom and all is good. Must have been an ICS problem.

[Solved]Collecting info on bluetooth issue with cm7.2 ROM

I came upon a dealbreaker issue with bluetooth. I haven't used bluetooth since long before i rooted my desire and have had this issue since last week when i started using bluetooth again.
My headsets are two Sony Ericsson MW600 and the issue is with cm7.2 based ROMs.
I have tried with Mildwild 5.0 and Cronmod 1.05.
The issue consists of sound not being transferred to and from headset at incoming call. Ringtone plays when call comes in and phone button works on headset. Otherwise media plays satisfyingly but not flawless.
A forum search revealed one previous post with same phone, same issue, cm7.2 base and different headset. No answers to that thread, though.
I'd like to collect some experiences on the matter, to present devs with.
Thanks

Problem solved. Bt in conflict with call recording app. Changed to skvalex's call recording app and all good.

I have a similar issue with MIUI rom. how can i change / disable the recording application?

Try uninstalling or freezing it. Then make a call.

As far as i can see, there is no way to remove the recording option.
The recording is disabled (not recording) by default, and i never enabled it.
I did all my checks on clean install.

Try to find a suspicious service and stop it. Any weird thing might be what's interfering with your bt. Try altering every setting that has anything to do with calls. T n' E

I was unable to find some service responsible.
Buy chance, a friend of mine came with the same phone and asked me to root in and install the same rom i have.
in his case the headset worked with original rom and with the rom i use.
the only difference i noticed was different Radio version.
His is 5.10.05.30
and mine is 5.17.05.23
I also think that his device use OLED display and mine SLCD

So, of course you secretly switched phones with him?

Unfortunately no. So the problem is still there.

Different bluetooth stack?

Hi everyone,
The bluetooth on my GSIII has been a complete failure. You can follow the saga here (http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w245-b-class/1662643-2009-w245-samsung-galaxy-s-iii.html), but basically it connects to my car and has no sound with the stock ROM and refuses to connect to the car at all with the AOKP JB build. It suggests an android problem, so I'm wondering if the bluetooth stack can be reloaded to reflashed with something different. If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears. Thank you!

I have a problem with one of my Bluetooth devices dropping and reconnecting. Not sure why is just one. It works fine on an iPhone. I'm guessing your GS3 isn't the international version?
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda premium

Nope not international, SGH-I747M from Bell.

I'm trying this. Will report back.

evilmonkey1987 said:
I'm trying this. Will report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet! please let us know!
I'm having a different issue. it connects and stays connected, plays music but it doesn't list the song/artist info on my eclipse screen but the SG2 will..

Update: no change with the new kernel. The phones pairs but there's no sound, just as was the case before.

evilmonkey1987 said:
Update: no change with the new kernel. The phones pairs but there's no sound, just as was the case before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try CM9. Bluetooth works much better with it. CM10 should have it fixed as well in a day or two.

Here's a 'six months later' update. My phone went through various android updates and I'm now on Android 4.1.1 (up from 4.0.4). The problem was still not solved, but instead of no audio, I now have one way audio, where people hear me but I don't hear them through bluetooth. I have also gone through a number of custom ROMs and kernels for my phone (including CM9/10 and AOKP) and nothing helped with the issue.
A couple of days ago, my girlfriend's HTC One X (finally!) got its Android update, also from 4.0.4 to 4.1.1. Her phone now works like a charm with the in-car bluetooth.
The solution I ended up with was a car cradle and a couple of NFC tags to control my phone in the car. My NFC tag that's stuck to my car cradle turns off WiFi, starts car mode, starts a car home app and turns my volume to max. All I have to do after that is connect the 3.5mm audio cable and I use my phone in place of the car's infotainment system. That way the phone integrates into the car as well and the only thing I lose are the steering wheel controls (they still work for volume).
My less technologically inclined girlfriend now has everything work auto-magicallly with bluetooth. So I guess all's well that ends well, but to anyone considering a US-spec Galaxy S III, watch out: the bluetooth issue is still not fixed. If bluetooth is critical, consider the HTC One X (but be warned: it has awful battery life!)

I have no issues with stereo Bluetooth and mono Bluetooth. Everything and everyone hears and plays fine. It might be an issue with your headset.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

colbynmeghan said:
I have no issues with stereo Bluetooth and mono Bluetooth. Everything and everyone hears and plays fine. It might be an issue with your headset.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Colby. What version of android, kernel / rom combo are you using?? There's SOOO many people having problems with JB and bluetooth, regardless of rom or kernel setup.
If you're on stock... just nm then.

luncht1me said:
Colby. What version of android, kernel / rom combo are you using?? There's SOOO many people having problems with JB and bluetooth, regardless of rom or kernel setup.
If you're on stock... just nm then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's wrong with stock? I have no major issues with streaming BT from my phone to my Mazda 3 head unit, or to my Sony MW600 earphones. Even track titles work (the only thing that doesn't work is time display). In my experience, Bluetooth works best on the stock ROM.
Stock Rogers ROM (DLK4 - JB 4.1.1), rooted
KT747 (1/9/2013) kernel
CWM Recovery 6.0.2.3
PlayerPro Music Player
On my old Xperia X10, I had CM7 and had no end of issues with BT:
- Sometimes it would connect and there would be no sound
- Sometimes it wouldn't connect at all
- Sometimes it would cut out after switching songs
- It would stutter a lot whenever Wi-Fi was enabled (but I think that was a problem with the Xperia).
When I tried CM10.0 on my S3 I had similar connection issues, just not as bad. Also, the volume gain over BT was much lower, so I had to turn the car speakers way up. Stock 4.1.1 doesn't have any of these problems. The only problem I had was the audio switching over to speaker after turning off the car, but I fixed it.
Also, BT is apparently broken in 4.2.1 in general, not just CM10.1. Google confirmed a BT patch that works on the Nexus 7, due for release with 4.2.2: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/smar...confirms-android-4-2-bluetooth-streaming-flaw
TIP: Don't forget to turn up the volume on your phone. I don't know how many times I accidentally turned down the volume and thought that it wasn't working. Now I have Tasker do it for me whenever I connect. :good:

4.1.2 has Bluetooth working use it everyday. (Stock and ROM.) Can't tell u which combo I use at a time. I flash a different ROM everyday. As 4.2.1bluetooth is broken expect for task's AOKP. He has it workingish.
Now as connecting to a car. Depends on what it connects as. And I've learned going to and from ROMs when u connect a source hit the volume up 9/10 times it works
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2