topic Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable in XZ Series

Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 17:34:23 GMT

Media volume on the XZ2 compact using wired headphones is extremely low. Cannot listen on a train or subway. I've tried two wired headphones, two adapters, all the various settings -- and yesterday, I did a repair install of the software (what a pain) -- and absolutely no difference. My tiny ipod nano is multiple times the volume. Happens on music player apps and is even worse on streaming audio from a website. I haven't tried wireless headphones because frankly, I'm wary of investing in them if this phone is incapable of amplification. I'm a musician and this is extremely frustrating. I'm refraining, for now, from adding disparaging remarks about Sony. Any ideas?

Mark

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

Uliwooly — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:26:40 GMT

@mspark

just to clear things out, does it happen with the preloaded music app? could you check the equalizer music app settings ?

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:10:06 GMT

In a quiet room the volume is adequate on a music stored on the phone, barely ok on a streamed radio through a browser. So maybe I'm exaggerating by saying it's "extremely" low. But my ipod nano reaches a volume that I have to turn down -- not so on the phone. It never gets "loud". With background noise like on the subway, I can't listen. Is there a difference on blue tooth headphones? If not, either I'll have to attach a clunky boosteroo or dump the phone. The supposed volume boosting apps do nothing.

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 03:08:33 GMT

After trying many apps -- one works: Easy Volume Boost. Have to put up with spamming ads. But at least there appears to be a fix. Sorry it didn't come from Sony. Maybe someday..

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

Uliwooly — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 03:31:33 GMT

@mspark

Open the music app > swipe left to right or tap on the top left corner > Settings > Audio settings > Accessory settings > which settings have you set?

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:25:30 GMT

None of those settings make a difference in volume. While the Easy Volume Booster app works, it distorts even at the lowest volume setting. Guess it's ok for podcasts. Again, my little ipod nano has greater volume and better fidelity. Hoping wireless headphones will do better ...

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

najodleglejszy — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 16:43:42 GMT

@msparkhave your tried going to Settings > Sound > Audio settings and see if changing any options there affect the volume? make sure to try it with the volume booster app disabled or uninstalled. I'm not 100% sure but I think DSEE HX option affected the playback volume in some way.

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 20:02:39 GMT

No, none of those setting do anything. And, alas, the sound booster app doesn't help streaming audio from a website. Have to be in a quiet space to hear it. I'm left to have to add a headphone amp device like boosteroo. Bottom line: this phone has defective audio for wired headphones -- simply inexcusable.

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

najodleglejszy — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 20:18:03 GMT

@msparkyou could try performing a software repair with Xperia Companion and see if that fixes your issue /t5/FAQ/How-to-perform-a-software-repair-with-Xperia-Companion/td-p/1103057

I've been using my XZ2 Compact for music listening a lot and I really can't complain about the playback volume.

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 21:00:24 GMT

I did the full software repair -- what a pain! still trying to reconfigure apps. It did nothing. Can you or any other owners tell me that your wired headphone volume gets "loud" (that is, a bit uncomfortable and has to be turned down)? For my experience, at max volume it is adequate in relatively quiet circumstances and inadequate in others (but never loud). Also, what is your experience with blue tooth -- is that louder?

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

najodleglejszy — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 08:18:17 GMT

have you tried those headphones with another phone? perhaps the DAC in phones isn't able to drive them properly. I'm using Sennheiser HD471g and they get uncomfortably loud in a quiet environment. I don't have a BT headset so I can't comment on volume there.

Re: Media volume extremely low on wired headphones -- no fixes work, unusable

mspark — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 14:30:43 GMT

Solved. Bought a pair of wireless headphones. I was relieved that they were way louder. Now the wired headphones also have good volume! I didn't change settings at all. Just restarted a couple times. I doubt it was interfering apps as volume was low on wired headphone even in safe mode and after a repair install. So hooking up the wireless headphones changed something. Got me. Sorry for wasting the band width and the time of responders on this forum.