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Help LG G3 audio quality issue

C

Christian H

Lurker
I received my new LG G3 yesterday and was disappointed to find the sound quality compromised with intermittent hissing and digital noise being audible in the left channel in particular. It's a problem that affects not only the standard music player but also the FM radio and YouTube. I tried downloading Poweramp, but it too has the same issues.

I've looked online to see if anyone else has observed this problem with the LG G3 ad haven't found any similar reports. However, I did discover that owners of the G2 reported similar issues after updating to Android 4.4.2 earlier in the year. Users noted that the loudness of the interference seemed to depend on the impedance of the earphones being used, and in my case the problem is much more noticeable with my Sony XBA2 earphones (12 ohm) than it is with the supplied LG QuadBeat earphones (24 ohm), but it's still an issue even with my Sennheiser HD595 headphones (50 ohm). The nature of my problem with my G3 seems to me too similar to the reported problem with the G2 (left channel bias, impedance dependent) to be a coincidence.

Given that the problem wasn't picked up in any of the reviews, my first thought was to assume I have a faulty unit, but the issues with the G2 make me wonder whether it's a more widespread problem. Is anyone else suffering from the same issues? Music reproduction is very important to me, so I don't want to get another G3 only to find it's a generic issue.

I'm currently inclined to return my G3 and get an HTC M8 instead, but would be grateful for people's thoughts before I do.
 
Return it and get another LG G3. I've not heard any other such reports, and I frequent this forum as well as XDA. Sounds to me like you got a faulty device. It happens. The G2 was the previous model and should have no reflection on the current one. Different specs, and all that.

You chose the G3 for a reason. I'd give it another shot before giving up and moving on to a different model.
 
There is a thread about this at XDA and mainly noticed with lower octave sounds. Could be inadequate shielding from the Qhd display.

Some people would notice more than others.
 
EarlyMon said:
If your replacement G3 doesn't work out and you do decide to go with the HTC, I strongly recommend rooting the M8 and flashing the Harman Kardon upgrade (sold as a Sprint exclusive, and replaces Beats) and then adding the Viper4Android equalizer mod.
Click to expand...
Good point since even without rooting, the M8 seems a better option if music is a priority. I did not listen to music when testing, but this issue would annoy me and bug me more as time progresses.

If a shielding issue that affects the connector area for the jack, there is no way to fix with firmware.

Duh! Simple way to check if the display shielding is the issue. Does the noise happen when the display is off? I should have thought of that already. There are other things that could cause it like a bad connector issue that is fixed with a new unit. That is the easy fix scenario.
 
I agree, always check for the odd unit problem.

A lot of myths happen about bad designs when in reality, a whole lot of complaints stem from lemons - and everything sold has some percentage delivered with that lemony scent, unfortunately.

Easy to fix when one exercises their consumer rights right away - swap it.
 
Christian H said:
I received my new LG G3 yesterday and was disappointed to find the sound quality compromised with intermittent hissing and digital noise being audible in the left channel in particular. It's a problem that affects not only the standard music player but also the FM radio and YouTube. I tried downloading Poweramp, but it too has the same issues.

I've looked online to see if anyone else has observed this problem with the LG G3 ad haven't found any similar reports. However, I did discover that owners of the G2 reported similar issues after updating to Android 4.4.2 earlier in the year. Users noted that the loudness of the interference seemed to depend on the impedance of the earphones being used, and in my case the problem is much more noticeable with my Sony XBA2 earphones (12 ohm) than it is with the supplied LG QuadBeat earphones (24 ohm), but it's still an issue even with my Sennheiser HD595 headphones (50 ohm). The nature of my problem with my G3 seems to me too similar to the reported problem with the G2 (left channel bias, impedance dependent) to be a coincidence.

Given that the problem wasn't picked up in any of the reviews, my first thought was to assume I have a faulty unit, but the issues with the G2 make me wonder whether it's a more widespread problem. Is anyone else suffering from the same issues? Music reproduction is very important to me, so I don't want to get another G3 only to find it's a generic issue.

I'm currently inclined to return my G3 and get an HTC M8 instead, but would be grateful for people's thoughts before I do.
Click to expand...

I too have noticed this problem, quite upset as the phone itself is nearly perfect but as I spend hours listening to music it has quickly grown irritating. Hope its a case of a software update...
 
flamingsprout said:
I too have noticed this problem, quite upset as the phone itself is nearly perfect but as I spend hours listening to music it has quickly grown irritating. Hope its a case of a software update...
Click to expand...

For your sake, take yours in, at least compare with what they have.

A single channel with audio trouble is not a typical software problem.

It's your phone, do as you think best, but I've seen too many people wait for a software fix for hardware until it's too late. Those fixes never come.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far.

Just to expand on the symptoms, it's a buzzing that sounds rather like a fly about to expire. It starts and stops every few seconds and is most noticeable in quieter passages. Interestingly, the intensity of the interference is proportional to the volume setting.

I can confirm the problem still occurs when the display is off. It also occurs when wi-fi, bluetooth and other possible sources of RF interference are neutralised. In contrast with the annoying sounds heard in the left channel, the audio in the right channel is perfect.

I plan to go back to the retailer tomorrow and see if they have a replacement unit that works. Hopefully it's not a batch issue.
 
Christian H said:
Thanks for all the replies so far.

Just to expand on the symptoms, it's a buzzing that sounds rather like a fly about to expire. It starts and stops every few seconds and is most noticeable in quieter passages. Interestingly, the intensity of the interference is proportional to the volume setting.

I can confirm the problem still occurs when the display is off. It also occurs when wi-fi, bluetooth and other possible sources of RF interference are neutralised. In contrast with the annoying sounds heard in the left channel, the audio in the right channel is perfect.

I plan to go back to the retailer tomorrow and see if they have a replacement unit that works. Hopefully it's not a batch issue.
Click to expand...

I have exactly the same issue, intriguingly it goes away as soon as i start typing on the keyboard... do you think i could send it back to lg directly? Mine was a gift so not sure where it was purchased from exactly...
 
Christian I've also had interference issues with my new LG G3 though mine has been while making and receiving calls. Have you had this problem?

The interference noise the phone creates when too close to a speaker is also heard through the ear microphone of the phone. Its a digital ticking noise that changes to a buzz while im talking.

LG are no help, Carphone Warehouse geek swuad no help, O2 have been useless.

I've already changed handsets, battery, sim cards and nothing has yet helped. I have noticed that the only time when the interference does not happen is when the signal strength is on 'H' which apparently is a signal strength better than 3G but not as good as 4G.

With no help from any side going to have to cancel contract tomorrow. Has anyone else had same probs?
 
Looks like a software issue after all:


Hi, Ben

Thank you for your query regarding your LG G3.

After doing a little research I have found out that the issue you are having is actually in the Android KitKat update and was not controlled by us. Google recently dropped 4.4.3 and subsequently 4.4.4 to resolve this issue.

At this time LG will be tweaking the operating system to run on the LG phone series. Once the update is complete it will be released to the handsets resolving this issue. Rest assured at this time you are doing nothing wrong it is simply an issue in the base Android operating system which we are working towards resolving.

I hope my email has answered your query and assisted you today; I would really appreciate your feedback. Please help us to improve our customer service by completing the short survey after this email.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards
Paul
LG Electronics UK Help desk
 
flamingsprout said:
Looks like a software issue after all:


Hi, Ben

Thank you for your query regarding your LG G3.

After doing a little research I have found out that the issue you are having is actually in the Android KitKat update and was not controlled by us. Google recently dropped 4.4.3 and subsequently 4.4.4 to resolve this issue.

At this time LG will be tweaking the operating system to run on the LG phone series. Once the update is complete it will be released to the handsets resolving this issue. Rest assured at this time you are doing nothing wrong it is simply an issue in the base Android operating system which we are working towards resolving.

I hope my email has answered your query and assisted you today; I would really appreciate your feedback. Please help us to improve our customer service by completing the short survey after this email.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards
Paul
LG Electronics UK Help desk
Click to expand...

----------------------------

Hi Paul
You've completely confused me by replying to 'Ben'. The two main questions on the thread were from Christian and myself. He had an issue with the music player audio, and mine is with the phonecall audio. Which were you saying was a software issue and would be resolved with KitKat 4.4.4, and when do you think the new KitKat update will be ready for release?

Richard
 
daydreeamer said:
----------------------------

Hi Paul
You've completely confused me by replying to 'Ben'. The two main questions on the thread were from Christian and myself. He had an issue with the music player audio, and mine is with the phonecall audio. Which were you saying was a software issue and would be resolved with KitKat 4.4.4, and when do you think the new KitKat update will be ready for release?

Richard
Click to expand...

I think the confusion is that's a quote and Paul isn't here.
 
If a systemic issue like the OS, seems more folks would be pointing the issue out rather than some of the more audio-centric G3 users. Seems other device users would be hollering too.

Not seeing how something like noise would be OS driven rather than lower level firmware.
 
EarlyMon said:
I think the confusion is that's a quote and Paul isn't here.
Click to expand...
OK, but that does not get me any closer to knowing what the quote was answering, my issue with the phone's built in earpiece speaker buzzing on phone calls or Christian's audio listening buzzing issue.
 
To answer earlier questions, my phone doesn't have a problem while making and receiving calls. Nor does the sound quality improve while typing on the keyboard.

I did, however, discover that the phone is unable to provide stereo reception with the built in FM radio. Every station is mono.

I took the phone back to the retailer today and was given a replacement handset. Unfortunately this too had the same problem with the left audio channel, as did three further phones the store tried for me (three of them black and one gold). Moreover, none of the four was able to provide a stereo signal with the FM radio. Due to my contract being with Vodafone, they weren't able to exchange my phone for an HTC M8, and to be honest it's not my ideal phone, so I still have a G3 for the moment.

I telephoned LG customer services this evening and asked the mobile phone department if they were aware of the issues I had encountered. Neither the agent I spoke to nor his colleague had heard any similar reports. He offered me the chance to send the phone into their service centre for investigation, but this would involve being without the phone from 7 to 10 days, so I declined the offer.

I'd like to end up with a working LG G3, but wonder how many more phones I'll need to try before I get a working one. If it's a software issue, then why didn't the customer service department know about it, and how long will it take to rollout the necessary new software?

Has anyone else noticed a lack of stereo on FM?
 
FM radio. So you have the Korean version? That puppy has a tuner chip, but the US version is sans the FM I believe.
 
Is this the same problem that plagued the G2 during its initial release in the states? Static screechy ear busting crackling while on a phone call? I want to get this phone. But if it's like that, then I'll just wait until they release an update
 
Since last writing, I've spoken to Vodafone and Carphone Warehouse, neither of which claimed to be aware of any sound problems with the G3. At the same time, I've had confirmation from the news editor at Trusted Reviews that his handset has distorted sound and is also unable to provide stereo from the FM radio. It would seem that the audio problem is not just limited to the stock sent to one or two Carphone Warehouse stores. I've given up hope of getting a working G3 any time soon and will be exchanging mine for an HTC M8.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone with a G3 that provides a clean audio signal and a working stereo output from the FM tuner where their phone was sourced from.
 
Christian, although my audio issue with the LG G3 was different to yours (being the buzzing crackling when making and receiving calls) it is interesting to note that mine also came from Carphone Warehouse (both the one I got from their warehouse when i purchased it over the phone, and the one I got in-store when I replaced the handset). It may not be relevant, but what colour was yours (mine was white) because I wonder whether it's just a dodgy batch Carphone Warehouse bought.

Anywho I've also had to hand mine back and cancel my contract. I'll wait for the iPhone6 in a couple of months and if that's not what everyone hopes it will be then I'll probably try the G3 again and see if I have any better luck this time.
 
Christian
I've just checked with Carphone Warehouse's central number and they say that there is no withdraw of the LG G3. They said that they stopped selling them for a few days because they did not have enough of the cases they were selling them with on some tariffs, but they knew nothing about any audio issues or a general withdrawal of the product.
 
Is this a Euro 2/16 release potential issue? Not seeing any others report it, but do on forums for the 2/16.
 
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