Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noise

[galatians3v6]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I exchanged mine and the new one had the same problem.

I went back the next day and checked their display model which they had just put out and it also had the problem.

So that's 3 phones that all have this issue. Like I said in the title of this post, I suspect this is a hardware design fault that can't be fixed in software. Clearly not every phone has this problem but obviously a lot do if every phone that I've tried has it. I'm wondering if they will have to do a recall over this...

 

[QuantumPion]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I think I'm going to return my AT&T SGS3 and get the international one instead. Apparently the international one has a good high-end DAC while the N.A. variants have a crappy low end one. This may be the problem with the poor audio quality.

 

[Mophomania]

I've had that same issue with my EVO LTE on sprint. I've done factory resets, ran the RUU, changed headphones and blue tooth devices and still get the pops hiss and slight crackle noises. One thing I've noticed is that it's very dependant on network strength. The weeker/slower my network is, the worse the noises get. On days when I have good steady signal, I can stream Pandora and not hear any extra noises. Software? Hardware? Dunno.

Sent from my EVO using Android Central Forums

 

[KreepyKen]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I'm definitely getting some inconsistent weirdness with audio on mine. I have over an hour commute to and from work each day, and I usually listen to podcasts. I plug the phone into the car power with a standard car charger and run a stereo minipin cable from the headphone jack to the AUX IN on my car stereo. Never had an issue with my Captivate (except for the random audio pause because the processor occasionally choked).

With my SGS III this morning, I got all sorts of popping and hissing over my podcasts. It was driving me crazy. After a half hour or so, it stopped, then after another 15 minutes or so it started again. When I got to work, I started unhooking everything. I first unplugged the power from the phone, and all the noise immediately stopped. I plugged it back in and the noise came back. I think the charger that came with my car dock is dirty. (Do they even make shielded chargers???)

Tonight, after reading this thread, I did some tests with a podcast:

1. With headphones, phone NOT plugged in. No noise.
2. With headphones, phone plugged into UPS. No noise.
3. With headphones, phone plugged into CAR power with "dirty" cable (car in AUX, engine not running). No noise.
4. Phone plugged into car stereo, and plugged into car power with "dirty" cable (car in AUX, engine not running). No noise.
5. Phone plugged into car stereo, and plugged into car power with "dirty" cable (engine actually running). No noise.

WTF? I just couldn't duplicate the problem. Everything sounded beautiful.

I'll check it out again on tomorrow's commute. The only thing I can think of is that when I apply the gas, it creates engine noise that somehow interferes with the power cable.

I'll test it out again on tomorrow's commute and report back what I find.

 

[KreepyKen]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

Another update:

I tested the external speaker to play the following:

1. A podcast with Pocket Casts
2. A tune streamed via iHeartRadio
3. Two local music files played on the stock music app
4. Another podcast played with PowerAmp

Every single one of these things yielded noise over the audio. When listening to podcasts, I distinctly hear a voice. I think this thing is picking up interference...FM radio maybe? I really hope this is fixable.

 

[N9NTH]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I think I'm going to return my AT&T SGS3 and get the international one instead. Apparently the international one has a good high-end DAC while the N.A. variants have a crappy low end one. This may be the problem with the poor audio quality.

Supposedly the Qualcomm DAC is actually really good, almost on par with the Wolfson that the international version sports. I suspect our phones are just plain defective.

I exchanged mine and the new one had the same problem.

I went back the next day and checked their display model which they had just put out and it also had the problem.

So that's 3 phones that all have this issue. Like I said in the title of this post, I suspect this is a hardware design fault that can't be fixed in software. Clearly not every phone has this problem but obviously a lot do if every phone that I've tried has it. I'm wondering if they will have to do a recall over this...

I really hope they do a recall so I can get a properly working S III However, I fear not enough people will notice this problem for it to happen. In the meantime I'll just have to listen to my music on my iPod instead of my brand new $700 phone...

 

[Bubbamel]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

Getting the crackling noise here too. Whenever I play any kind of music it crackles and pops. Notice it especially from my amazon cloud app. :-\

 

[galatians3v6]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

Today I went to another AT&T store and a Verizon store. I tested 4 more phones and they all had this problem.

I also tested an HTC One X and it had a very small amount of noise but nowhere near as much as the S3.

It does sound like it's picking up RF interference. I might try wrapping my phone in aluminum foil to see if it helps, hah.

It's a great phone so I'm just going to buy one of these and be done with it: http://www.amazon.com/Koss-155954-V...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU1959223

Then I can turn up my volume to increase the signal to noise ratio but turn down the volume on the headphones for listening to at night.

 

[Mophomania]

Lurking again, but wanted to tell you guys that after my EVO LTE OTA update, I have yet to hear the crackling and popping noises that where once present. I waited at least a couple days to make sure it wasn't just a fluke. Looks and sounds lime it maybe was a software issue. Hopefully the GS III will get updated as well. Huge difference, sounds great now.

Sent from my EVO One using mind beam.

 

[phasertone]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I got the same problem when I'm playing mp3's from my extsd card, Google Cloud Player & Amazon MP3 player. The static crackles are more prevalent on soft music. I decided that I can't live with it and called VZW Tech support. He tried to troubleshoot the problem by soft reset to no avail. He told me to go to the nearest VZW store to have it replaced (which I did). I am now a very happy music listener through my S3.

 

[SerfNuts]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

Mine sounded funky the first time I played music in my car... Then I discovered that I didn't push the plug in all the way. You really gotta push that sucker in till it clicks, then it grips that thing like a mother...

 

[hahyun92]

I got the same problem when I'm playing mp3's from my extsd card, Google Cloud Player & Amazon MP3 player. The static crackles are more prevalent on soft music. I decided that I can't live with it and called VZW Tech support. He tried to troubleshoot the problem by soft reset to no avail. He told me to go to the nearest VZW store to have it replaced (which I did). I am now a very happy music listener through my S3.

So is yours audio perfect now? Here is my test. At a very quiet place, you turn on classical music at volume one and listen with stock Barbuds. Could u tell me if u hear anything? Im trying to see if mine is worth replacing.

 

[babasheikh]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

For me the noise is coming only when the phone is locked. As soon as i unlock it, the noise is gone. I tried by going through the same track again locking and unlocking but the problem persists. Dont understand what is wrong.

 

[ilifecomputer]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

Just tested on my ATT unit:

The external speaker makes the static noise on low volume.
My prefered headphones also make it very clear that there is interference somewhere.

What is weird is that the included samsung headphones do not make the static noise.

Any theories? Have people who hear the noise tried with the samsung headphones? That may be what divides us into those who hear and those who don't. I also tried full sized TMA-1 headphones and you can't hear it with those.

 

[thekleber]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I have the same crackling noise here too, and it happens whenever I play any game that uses too much of the processor... here in Brazil we have the S3 with quad core, I know it's different from yours, but this strange sound crackling behavior

 

[thekleber]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

Try to turn off the automatic vibration and test the sound again. For me this crackling sound happens whenever I start to play any high end game that uses too much of my s3 processor... but turning off the vibration stopped this strange sound behavior. I live in Brazil and we have quadcore but the problem seems to be the same... I hope this helps.

 

[ilifecomputer]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

kleber, you mean the haptic feedback? Mine makes the sound with it disabled.

furthermore, just got back from testing at two different sites with the headphones I mentioned were indeed producing the hiss.

At the t-mobile store, the phone exhibited the same static/interference sound. At costco both the att and t-mobile galaxy exhibit the same problem. So given I cannot locate one unit that does not produce the static, it does seem odd that some people claim no problem at all.

Though, I still think whats most interesting is that with my TMA-1 and included sammie headphones, there is no noise but with good quality IEMs there is. Leading me to this conclusion: the static is present depending on the impedance of the speaker used to test. If this is true than the external physical phone speaker and my ultimate ears do not block out the sound but my actual cans and included headphones do for whatever reason.

 

[thekleber]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I have the same crackling noise here too, and it happens whenever I play any game that uses too much of the processor... here in Brazil we have the S3 with quad core, I know it's different from yours, but this strange sound crackling behavior

 

[dh4321]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

I'm big into Bluetooth audio streaming in my car. Tune In app,your muse, etc and the cracking, popping noise makes this unusable. I experience this strictly with BT steaming. If I listen to the same apps with the Pair of headphones that came with the phone, no issues. You call a Sprint CSR and all they wish to do is a factory reset. I'm getting pushback from Sprint because I'm on my second Galaxy S3. They also say this is the first time anyone has called them about this so very frustrating. I didn't have these issues with the first phone, so clearly random. 1st experience into the Android world and thinking it's a sign I should go back to the clunky old blackberry...LOL

Anyone found any work around as of yet?

 

[ilifecomputer]

Re: Possible Galaxy S3 Design Fault - Audio Buzz Hiss Crackle Noi

dh, I feel you, dude. I am huge into using my phone as my main music player while I study or do anything pretty much and I can't imagine having to deal with static on a regular basis. This wednesday, my girlfriends oneX gets to my house; if the audio is bliss I may switch over even tho I love the galaxy hardware.