in-call Volume vs. Speakerphone

[gardengal4]

For the past couple of months, I can only hear phone calls using speakerphone. The in-call volume is barely audible. I've explored every sound setting I can find. I tried adaptive - over 60; I shut bluetooth off just in case some weird conflict. BT in the car is fine, streaming radio or phone calls a-ok.

Any ideas?

The phone is old, obviously, but otherwise fine (and much beloved). Does it sound like hardware problem?

I imagine the "speaker" for speakerphone is the same physical speaker as the in-call volume, right? How can the same speaker work for one use case but not another? That seems to rule out hardware. I can hear all other media and tones just fine. I tried 2 different phone apps -- default (Samsung) and GVoice with the same results.

p.s. I recently experienced an issue with the screen going super dim for no reason. I had to struggle to find the brightness bar to increase it. (fun navigating a screen that is 98% black!) Eventually, I solved that problem by turning off Adaptive Brightness. That experience caused me to look for "adaptive sound" but no similar good luck. The sound problem has been going on longer than the Brightness problem. I've been using the sound workaround fine but today I was determined to go find a setting to fix it. no such luck. So here I am...

 

[B. Diddy]

I don't have an S8 to test, but it's very possible that the speakerphone sound comes from the speaker at the bottom of the phone. So if the earpiece speaker is faulty, that could explain why you can hardly hear anything on a normal call, but once you switch to speakerphone, it's easily hears.

You can test this by playing any stereo test video on YouTube, and listen very closely to both channels. If the channel corresponding to the earpiece speaker doesn't play very clearly, that would indicate a fault. You could also flip the phone so that the stereo channels are reversed.

 

[gardengal4]

That sounded like a good idea (no pun intended), but it seems to be for headphones... left/right/both. I heard them all just fine . They all sounded the same and they all sounded like speakerphone was on. Both was a little louder than left or right.

But that gave me an idea to try some earbuds. charging some now.

 

[gardengal4]

Found a video on locating the speaker (on a much newer device). I didn't even know it was a different physical speaker. Just found mine. Cleaned it. no change.

 

[mustang7757]

The in call you tried turning the volume up while on call sometimes the volume controls the media not the volume

 

[gardengal4]

omg just saw another video about cleaning. Take the phone apart and remove the speaker and clean the area around it. Yikes! It was for an S8 Plus. I don't think that's in my comfort zone.

Maybe a simple thing for a reputable phone repair place?

 

[gardengal4]

The in call you tried turning the volume up while on call sometimes the volume controls the media not the volume

WHen on a call, there is in in-call volume slider available. I manually turn it up all the way. No change. Volume Settings doesn't show that slider as a static option.

 

[mustang7757]

WHen on a call, there is in in-call volume slider available. I manually turn it up all the way. No change. Volume Settings doesn't show that slider as a static option.

Thanks for verifying
What about if you take a video for testing does it sound low?

 

[gardengal4]

video playback uses speaker on the bottom (speakerphone)

 

[mustang7757]

video playback uses speaker on the bottom (speakerphone)

It should use both top and bottom, you try clearing the top speakers?

 

[gardengal4]

if I put my finger over the bottom speaker, i can hear a little bit. It's either the top speaker or some sound sneaking thru bottom speaker. Hard to tell. Not funcitonal.

I wiped the top with an alcohol wipe.

 

[gardengal4]

26 steps to remove the speaker?!?!?!?

Samsung Galaxy S8 Earpiece Speaker Replacement

Use this guide to remove the earpiece speaker in your Samsung Galaxy S8. This guide involves removing the rear glass cover, you will need...

www.ifixit.com

 

[mustang7757]

I would try with a toothbrush I remember the s8 and s9 series were prone to build up in the upper speakers then use a can of compressed air

 

[gardengal4]

will do. Thanks.