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Help Crackling in speakers when you use the 3.5mm

I just wanna jump in and add/reiterate, I'm having this problem with *every* volume set to 50% (media, system, ringer, notifications, etc), and my external speakers turned down as well. So it's a problem that's deeper than clipping at 100%. At least for me.
 
Update: Just got my new Droid from BB (gotta love the $119 pricematch) and the issue is still present, although it is now barely audible. Still only at max volume. Taking the media volume down one notch fixes the issue. I can live with this, but still something I think needs addressed. God I'm in love with this phone though... Slightly off topic: whats the best music/media player out there with an EQ? Also, is there, or can there be a way to adjust EQ settings for the Droid itself for when listening to Pandora/Slacker?
 
I get the crackling problem as well when the phone is plugged into my car. When I turn the audio on the phone down and my car way up the problem goes away....no bass in either case though.
 
I've been using my recording studio headphones (Sony 7406's) and they sound great, all the way to the last notch, before full volume on the Droid... at FULL volume, they crack very slightly, on the bass beat (only in the left ear, which is strange). ALL Music from any source.

I've tried another set (Sony MDR-W20G) and I get the same thing.

I've tried another set of Sony's and my Sirius earbuds...all have the same issue.


They sound perfect (especially the 7406's) right before full volume, but I need to hear them at full volume, to be satisfied when I'm "rockin out".

I figured it had something to do with headroom or impedance mis-matches. But I'm sure its the DROID's issue.

I love everything about this phone but this...for those asking why one would listen at 100%...there could be tons of answers, but the most obvious would be we have less sensitive ears (from years of metal concerts).

And... if one notch below 100% is where the DROID doesn't clip, they should have made that 100% INSTEAD.

I will bring mine back, and receive another one.

How do I determine build date on mine?
 
I was using a cheap set of earbuds that came with my nintendo DSi and i am getting the crackling as well. I have the volume maxed out, as it is way to low for me to hear, when im in the truck at work. So i definately need the volume up wide open all the time. I don't have the best hearing, but im not deaf either. I was thinking of getting a new set of earbuds, but now after reading this thread, im not going to get a set until this gets resolved. I had a set of earphones that also would allow you anwser an talk on the phone, but i lost them. Has anyone found any headphones that seem to work pretty good while being reasonably priced?
 
MrDonBonJovi said:
Just to bring this thread back up. I get the crackling in just Pandora and Slacker. Not in the native media player. It has to be some issue with Pandora and Slacker with the 2.0 software...

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I tested Slacker with my Altec speakers (that sound wonderful with my Zune) and the crackling was horrible. I had such high hopes for internet radio through my Droid. :(
 
I wanted to add to this post. I am the "Droid test guy" here at my company.
I've tested 3 droids for my company. They have all been fantastic devices.
However, all 3 of them have the same issue mentioned. A crackling in only the left channel of audio.

All 3 phones have the issue.
I have tried 3 different wires
I have used 3 different devices to connect them to (Car stereo, Docking station, in-home stereo.) All 3 devices had crackling in the left channel audio using all 3 phones.

I tried turnning the volume of the device down to 30% as suggested and very little difference.

I called Verizon's support and they say they have never received a call about this.
They transfered me to Motorola's support in which as previously mentioned, they told me I needed to us ONLY motorola devices. I asked them if they meant I needed to rip the $1,000 stereo equipment of my car out and replace it with another $1,000 motorola alternative and she said yes. It took literally 1.5 hours to get to this point even.

I told her it's not acceptible, and her reply was a cop-out not an answer.
I wanted to speak to someone that could give me an answer. I was put on hold for another 30 minutes before they hung up on me.


Has any progress been made on this issue? Is it a fixable problem that will be resolved with the upcoming patch? Motorola's support couldn't even tell me what was going to be in the patch.
 
I would also encourage ANYONE who has had this issue to please call both Verizon and Motorola to make them aware of it. Currently they are sitting in complacent ignorance.
If 100 people call in the same week about this problem, it has to send up a red flag.
 
hereisoblivion said:
I would also encourage ANYONE who has had this issue to please call both Verizon and Motorola to make them aware of it. Currently they are sitting in complacent ignorance.
If 100 people call in the same week about this problem, it has to send up a red flag.
Click to expand...


How do you contact someone at Motorola?

It's clear that Mot's 1st level support is script reading kiddies in india.
 
Since I called in and utilized my company status, I was able to get a bit more information from Verizon than they would normally give to a regular comsumer. I actually got to speak to a competent person at Verizon once I mentioned it was a business line I was specifically calling about.

Or at least that's what I'm telling myself to make myself feel better. LOL.

The number they gave me is: 800-331-6456
That is Motorola's support line.

It just took me to a normal tech support person. But I guess at this point, the idea isn't to get the problem fixed directly, but to let them know it is actually a problem that needs addressed.
 
I have the same problem. My phone is 44/09, and I was thinking about taking it back and getting another one, but, from looking around online, it doesn't sound like that would help. I'm going to give Verizon and Motorola a call.
 
I too experienced the crackling while playing Pandora over the auxiliary input in my VW. I chalked it up to going in and out of coverage areas while driving.
 
Everyone. I just got the 2.0.1 OTA update. It APPEARS that my left earbud crackle is gone!

Can anyone else confirm this. I'm going to need to listed to a bit more music to know for sure, but it really seems fixed.
 
actually, mine just started happening after the update. when i use my earbuds, i get crackling and the sound drops for like a split second whenever i turn/twist the connect to move it out of the way. this also happens if i accidentally tap the connector or bump it, like when i put the phone in my jacket pocket. its almost as if the connection is loose or something. i know its not my earbuds because it works fine on my pc speakers. seems to me like all the pulling and inserting of the earbuds into the jack has damaged it somehow? anyone else have this problem?
 
It seems that there are several different issues that people are experiencing. One appears to be a hardware issue where - using Pandora or Slacker sound is distorted at high volumes.

I happen to have a different issue. No matter what app I use, there is crackling and cutting out of music when I move. This happens with multiple sets of earbuds, so it is definitely the phone. It seems to be a loose connection although the headphones fit snug. If I move the headphone plug or the earbud wire, the crackling is bad. Strangely, if I blow in the jack before inserting my headphones, it doesn't crackle. I am guessing that some moisture from my breath might seal the connection...but who knows. I love my droid, but this is an annoying problem - I don't want to have to break out my ipod again.
 
I think I have a slightly different problem with the 3.5mm jack. Both my headphones crackle if the port is jogged even slightly (hitting the wake button is often enough to set them off.) Sometimes one or both sides goes dead, and annoyingly, my phone often doesn't know that the speakers have been disconnected so won't route back to audible for phone calls. I'm never above 50% volume, and they crackle even if the phone is asleep. It's getting worse over time (I'm out beyond the 30-day exchange period so I hope they'll honor the mfr warranty if it's hardware related.)
 
I'm using a 3.5 aux cable to listen to music in the car. I have an aux port in my glove box however I noticed alot of buzz/hum when the volume is turned up loud. Thought it was a bad cable or connection at first and replaced the cable. Turns out, I only get the feedback through the speakers when the motorola car charger is also plugged into the droid. Not sure why there is so much interference. Can anyone report a similar problem? It happens with Pandora as well as normal media I have loaded on the SD Card. As soon as I remove the car charger...I get crystal clear audio.
 
dlrooney said:
I'm using a 3.5 aux cable to listen to music in the car. I have an aux port in my glove box however I noticed alot of buzz/hum when the volume is turned up loud. Thought it was a bad cable or connection at first and replaced the cable. Turns out, I only get the feedback through the speakers when the motorola car charger is also plugged into the droid. Not sure why there is so much interference. Can anyone report a similar problem? It happens with Pandora as well as normal media I have loaded on the SD Card. As soon as I remove the car charger...I get crystal clear audio.
Click to expand...

This is a ground loop. I have it too. I think every Droid has this 'problem'
Here is a good link describing it. Ground loop problems and how to get rid of them There are devices that fix it, you connect it between the 3.5 wire to your stereo's AUX and the Droid's 3.5 connector.
I think radioshack sells them. Search for ground loop isolator.
 
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