Whine in headphone output.

[DarkUncle]

Yep, there is definitely a high pitch interference when listening to music and whatnot through the headphone jack. Also got some background noise through the external speaker while watching Netflix movies but I think that might be a Netflix issue because I heard nothing like that playing music through the external. Not really bad enough for me to return the phone but I can definitely see anyone who has a pinch of audiophilia in their blood, this is going to really annoy.

How this most basic phone functionality got through QC is beyond me. Shame on Moto for this.

 

[APeX3181]

I thought headphone technology was mastered years ago! Seriously...this should not be happening on a phone I just spent $300.00 on. I know its a minor issue, but my hopes are low that this could be fixed with any kind of software update.

 

[jkatabelo]

I just started noticing the whine today using wired headset. In fact it started after I got a text alert while watching a flash video on the dolphin browser. The phone was in the standard dock, the text alerts caused the phone to reset. When I went back to the video the sound would not work at all, plus the whine. Checked some other programs to make sure sound was working, which it did. But there is now the whine which last a few seconds after the Sound ends. Frustrating.

 

[jkatabelo]

plus I am noticing interference when attached to some external speakers on my work desk, not hearing the whine though. That is just with the headphones. Unfortunalely I listen to a lot of podcasts and just confirmed again the whine when I turned a podcast on, then it disappears a few seconds after I stop the podcast.

 

[mbentley3]

So let me get this straight... you don't hear the whine but you are taking the phone back because you have bad headphones?

that literary made me LOL

 

[geeksbsmrt]

Unfortunately, short of Motorola or Verizon acknowledging the issue and issuing a recall or repair program there is not much that can be done for the "whine" in the headphones. See my other post here.

 

[dong109]

I am not really sure what to do. I am coming from an iphone 3Gs and I have had the droid bionic for about 5 days. I prefer the new droid in every way except for the audio. I listen to a LOT of music both in my car and while working out and this might be a dealbreaker b/c it is so noticeable. At first I just used cheap headphones and it wasn't bad b/c the audio was already so weak. But I tried my klipsch headphones and its a very noticeable whine when it is a quieter part of the song or when bass isn't drowning the whine out. This whine is present during ANY audio application that is playing. netflix, pandora, tinyshark, shoutcast, media player and others. I think I could possibly put up with the headphone whine but when I connected it to my car's AUX jack it was much worse. I have a nice JBL audio system in my car and the whine is very noticeable and it increases loudly when the car is accelerating. I am really bummed and will probably have to return it soon. This phone is a A+ in every other way but probably 30% of what I use my phone for is media and music. I have tried everything from switching off the EQ settings to messing with the audio jack.

 

[geeksbsmrt]

I am not really sure what to do. I am coming from an iphone 3Gs and I have had the droid bionic for about 5 days. I prefer the new droid in every way except for the audio. I listen to a LOT of music both in my car and while working out and this might be a dealbreaker b/c it is so noticeable. At first I just used cheap headphones and it wasn't bad b/c the audio was already so weak. But I tried my klipsch headphones and its a very noticeable whine when it is a quieter part of the song or when bass isn't drowning the whine out. This whine is present during ANY audio application that is playing. netflix, pandora, tinyshark, shoutcast, media player and others. I think I could possibly put up with the headphone whine but when I connected it to my car's AUX jack it was much worse. I have a nice JBL audio system in my car and the whine is very noticeable and it increases loudly when the car is accelerating. I am really bummed and will probably have to return it soon. This phone is a A+ in every other way but probably 30% of what I use my phone for is media and music. I have tried everything from switching off the EQ settings to messing with the audio jack.

You could try an inline amplifier. I purchased one a while back to use with an iPod Touch to increase the sound reproduction quality. It was the FiiO E3. They have released the E6 recently which seems to be a much better model but any of the FiiO products should filter this whine out. I have not tested my E3 yet but I will and will post back with the results. The E6 is online for about $30.

Edit: This option will not work. It only amplifies the whine. Please see my next post.

 

[dong109]

thanks for the reply. I went online and saw that fiio e3 and it might very well work but I don't think it would be convenient to always have to carry around and use when I want to use the phone.

 

[qpowel1]

I am not really sure what to do. I am coming from an iphone 3Gs and I have had the droid bionic for about 5 days. I prefer the new droid in every way except for the audio. I listen to a LOT of music both in my car and while working out and this might be a dealbreaker b/c it is so noticeable. At first I just used cheap headphones and it wasn't bad b/c the audio was already so weak. But I tried my klipsch headphones and its a very noticeable whine when it is a quieter part of the song or when bass isn't drowning the whine out. This whine is present during ANY audio application that is playing. netflix, pandora, tinyshark, shoutcast, media player and others. I think I could possibly put up with the headphone whine but when I connected it to my car's AUX jack it was much worse. I have a nice JBL audio system in my car and the whine is very noticeable and it increases loudly when the car is accelerating. I am really bummed and will probably have to return it soon. This phone is a A+ in every other way but probably 30% of what I use my phone for is media and music. I have tried everything from switching off the EQ settings to messing with the audio jack.

Or, you can do what I did and buy a bluetooth receiver for your headphones. I have been using mine for a couple days now, and I love listening to my music w/o even handling my phone (after bluetooth is enabled).

I have no headphone jack interference and have converted my headphones into wireless headphones now.

This remedied the only problem I really had with the Bionic (which was the whine).

 

[geeksbsmrt]

thanks for the reply. I went online and saw that fiio e3 and it might very well work but I don't think it would be convenient to always have to carry around and use when I want to use the phone.

I just tested it and it does NOT work. It actually amplifies the whine. I have not used the E3 for about a year and a half so I am going to do a little looking at its specs to see if it is in fact supposed to work as a ground loop isolator and amp or just an amp. I will update when I have more info.

Edit: All the FiiO devices are AMPs only. At this point I'm not even sure a ground loop isolator would work. I am going to buy one (found one online for $9) and test it. I say they may not work because they are designed as pre-amp devices. The audio coming out of the phone is post-amp and may not be affected by a GLI. If it is affected it may degrade (decrease the volume most likely) of the audio output. This would almost negate having the whine removed as you may not be able to hear anything. I'll report back on my findings.

 

[dong109]

yeah unfortunately I went through all of this with my wife's satellite receiver on her car. If the audio out is not well shielded it will give that feedback. nothing we did ever worked. I am not an "audio" guy but am so used to music sounding clear that I am afraid I can't just overlook it. I have 1 more week to find solutions before my return policy is up from costco. unfortunately I don't even know whats on the horizon as far as 4G releases from verizon.

I even spent the past 2 days perfecting what combination of toggles and settings will maximize my battery. I was getting about 28 hours out of a battery with moderate use. that even included an hour or so of netflix streaming.

 

[ssells]

It seems that Bluetooth technology is the best way at this point to get around the audio issues. Can anyone recommend a set of Bluetooth ear buds or earphones? thanks.

 

[npo]

Dealbreaker for me...

I use the aux jack to plug into ipod dock-type music systems at home, work & my ski condo. No way I'm buying 3 bluetooth modules to connect thru (if such a thing is even available). Due for an upgrade, but I've been waiting for user reviews before jumping onboard & getting a Bionic.

I hope Motorola/Verizon get this sorted out.

 

[perkdog65]

I dunno...maybe it's just me but I can BARELY here what you guys are talking about. I figured I would put in my earbuds just to check out what all the fuss was about and i REALLY had to listen to even barely here the whine. Is my hearing really that bad?

P.S. I did work the flight deck on many aircraft carriers for about 20 years in the Navy and there was definitely allot of jet noise up there...LOL maybe the whine you guys are talking about is the frequency that they say I have a hard time hearing. But at least the music comes through nice and clear and loud.

 

[qpowel1]

It seems that Bluetooth technology is the best way at this point to get around the audio issues. Can anyone recommend a set of Bluetooth ear buds or earphones? thanks.

I use the Sony Ericsson MW600 bluetooth receiver. It's conveniently small and can connect to any pair of headphones. It's also small enough to fit with my heaphones in the headphones' case.

The battery life is around 12-16 hours or so and charges on the same adapter as my Bionic.

It was 50 dollars.

 

[dong109]

Okay, so I've got an update with some........fixes I guess.

In my car I unplugged the power cord from the dock while driving and the whine COMPLETELY disappeared. crystal clear. once the phone was charging the whine returned instantly. The bionic uses so little power when the display is clicked off that this will be no problem to have it not charging when I am listening to my music.

When using the headphones at the gym I didn't notice the whine but when I got back to my house where it was quiet it was noticeable on soft songs. I think that if there is any ambient noise it is enough to drown out the whine. I like the idea of using the bluetooth earbuds to listen to music and I think I will return my current klipsch earbuds.

I wish my car had bluetooth.

I realize that its not ideal to have to find fixes for problems with a phone and I wouldn't be if I didn't like everything else about the phone so much. I am happy that I found ways to enjoy listening to music with it and am pretty pleased I get to keep my phone.

Does anybody know of a bluetooth receiver that outputs an AUX jack?

 

[Cory S]

I have heavy whine with no power plugged in, I listen to a lot of audio books...so there is a lot of pauses with no audio playing...it REALLY bothers me.

 

[dong109]

volume high on the bionic and then low on the car stereo might help.

 

[Cory S]

Car is BT and no issues there...I get the whine on my earbuds which I use on the bus to work. They are high end buds, and I don't want to down grade to some BT ones simply because the phone acts odd.

Guess I'll wait with everyone else for some type of fix