Headphone output volume low?

[mgc789]

Hi all, I too have noticed the low volume output either via the loud speaker or headphones. I tried Volume+ which worked well at high volume but if the volume was low the loud speaker would emit a small buzzing sound which was very irritating! After searching I found Nexus Louder mod you need to be rooted for it to work. It's great and loud too and I haven't had any issues. The link is here: [MOD] [N7] BEATS+XLOUDER! 4.1.2/4.2.1 [05/02/13] JB Louder Audio Improvement Patch - xda-developers

 

[robertlv]

I've read of other cases also where Speaker Boost works the other way with JB 4.2.
BTW, I hope the impedance of you headphones is not too high- should be around 16 ohms or so for a device like this.
I have JB 4.1.2 on my N7 ( have resisted the "upgrade" to 4.2.1 inspite of the nagging notification to do so) & have abs no trouble with volume, even with my 32 Ohm Grado's, but 16 ohms is ideal.

There's definitely a volume problem with 4.2.1. I'm using Shure SE215's w/ Fiio E06 Portable Amp and there seems to be about a 25% loss in volume. Hopefully, 4.2.2 will fix the issue.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kmrindra]

My friend who is an audio engineer, measured the audio output from nexus 4.
This is what he recommended.

Use a earphone with 16 ohm impedence. (Most commercial phones are 30 ohm).

The sensitivity of the earphone must be 108 dB/mW or higher. Higher the better.
Sensitivity measures the efficiency of conversion of electrical enery into sound.

Based on this, I bought a JVC HA-F150-B. Now audio volume is practically doubled.
You can buy one at ebay for cheap prices.

 

[Lazer77]

My friend who is an audio engineer, measured the audio output from nexus 4.
This is what he recommended.

Use a earphone with 16 ohm impedence. (Most commercial phones are 30 ohm).

The sensitivity of the earphone must be 108 dB/mW or higher. Higher the better.
Sensitivity measures the efficiency of conversion of electrical enery into sound.

Based on this, I bought a JVC HA-F150-B. Now audio volume is practically doubled.
You can buy one at ebay for cheap prices.

I can confirm this does NOT work, and makes absolutely no difference. I purchased those headphones for $14 and its absolutely the same...

 

[Lazer77]

Does anyone have any clue what to do? I tried everything I could find online and nothing works. I am leaving the country in two weeks and I would like to watch some movies to sort of ease my mind a bit. I know it will be virtually impossible to hear anything with MX Player right now, which already boosts volume. I am using Android 4.2.2 rooted. None of the volume boost apps make a difference, in fact most of them just REDUCE the volume.

A little frustrated because I spent a lot of money on this tablet to watch movies on the flight, but the volume output will make that impossible. Anyone know?

 

[mr_nobody]

1. Get a headphone amp.

2. Flash a 4.1.2 factory image and install speaker boost.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[Lazer77]

1. Get a headphone amp.

2. Flash a 4.1.2 factory image and install speaker boost.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Would flashing 4.1.2 cause any problems or anything, and would that cause me to wipe my entire memory?

 

[mr_nobody]

Would flashing 4.1.2 cause any problems or anything, and would that cause me to wipe my entire memory?

You would lose any features from 4.2 and yes, pretty sure you are wiping your device when you do that.

 

[Lazer77]

You would lose any features from 4.2 and yes, pretty sure you are wiping your device when you do that.

Is this my only resort? Took me forever to not only root it (ran into problems that I had no idea how to fix for the longest time), and to set up all of the apps and everything.

 

[mr_nobody]

I suggested the only two things that occurred to me above. If there are any other options, I'm not aware of them...

 

[Lazer77]

I suggested the only two things that occurred to me above. If there are any other options, I'm not aware of them...

Ahh man, this is a little disappointing. A headphone amp is a little too expensive, especially since I just bought earbuds that were supposed to increase the sound, which didn't. I hope someone knows an alternative which won't require me to wipe everything.

 

[greatgoogly]

We can always hope that the volume get's a boost with Android 5, although it's probably even montey that it will make the volume either the same or even perhaps lower it.

 

[sparksd]

Ahh man, this is a little disappointing. A headphone amp is a little too expensive, especially since I just bought earbuds that were supposed to increase the sound, which didn't. I hope someone knows an alternative which won't require me to wipe everything.

I recently bought one of these -

Amazon.com: FiiO E11 Portable Headphone Amplifier With Micca Accessory Pack (Wall Charger and Extra Battery Pack): Electronics

Works really well and greatly improves (not just amplifies) the sound across all of my devices with both my Shure earbuds and Bose headphones.

Dave

 

[Lazer77]

I recently bought one of these -

Amazon.com: FiiO E11 Portable Headphone Amplifier With Micca Accessory Pack (Wall Charger and Extra Battery Pack): Electronics

Works really well and greatly improves (not just amplifies) the sound across all of my devices with both my Shure earbuds and Bose headphones.

Dave

I really do appreciate the input, but I think I have to pass. $50 is already more than I wanted to spend. I originally bought the tablet to watch movies on the plane, and then spent another $15 on the headphones someone recommended which didn't work. I don't think I can put more than another $20 in before I want to stop putting money into this project, and that is only if it is guaranteed to work.

 

[sparksd]

Understand. All I can say is that with the FiiO amp I can practically blow my headphones/earbuds or eardrums on my Nexus 7 with music or video.

 

[shontrashi]

like said before...try apple earpod..it works great for me.
dont buy it..just go to apple store with your nexus and check it out by yourself....apple earpod is second to none....good price for an excellent headphone...

 

[Lazer77]

I will reconsider those, maybe I'll do some intense shopping for the amp to try to find it cheaper. And I'll try the earpods, I used them before on a friend's iPod but I never really cared about the volume. That was before I knew I was going on a trip

 

[Lazer77]

like said before...try apple earpod..it works great for me.
dont buy it..just go to apple store with your nexus and check it out by yourself....apple earpod is second to none....good price for an excellent headphone...

I went to Best Buy and tried them, they sounded the same unfortunately :-\

 

[Flawsey]

Yeah I been using a Fiio amp on all my mp3 or tablet gadgets. The earphone amp drives the expensive headphone to their capacity. Alot of gadget have little amperage or equalization for music lovers taste. My e6 amp has lasted a couple of years now.

From my Android phone

 

[Jamil1992]

Personally, I find the output volume to be much too loud, even at the lowest audible setting. :/

But anyway, have you looked into different headphones, maybe? I use Skullcandy's and they seem to work well for me.