volume too low w\ audio from Bluetooth - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

JoeC · 10-24-2014, 12:30 PM

Anyone have any ideas why my volume is really low when using Bluetooth audio from my phone?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and a premium Spotify account (I mention that because I mostly just use Spotify with the BT).

I have the volume for BT devices all the way up on my phone. I can turn the volume on the headunit all the way up and it's still not very loud and doesn't even distort. That should be a pretty good indication how quiet it is since the factory sound usually distorts around 60% volume on HD FM radio for example. The sound quality doesn't sound very good either. very flat compared to HD radio and I'm using the same EQ settings for both and I'm not running an EQ app on my phone.

Same thing happens with Aha. just really quiet.

I don't have the issues that others have had with the phone connecting\disconnecting to the HU. it connects right away every time.

brandonblt2 · 10-24-2014, 12:55 PM

If youre using Spotify check to see if you have the lastest update and try turning up the volume on your phone before it connects to bluetooth. I have a HTC One and use Spotify Premium and the sound level is good.

JoeC · 10-24-2014, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonblt2

If youre using Spotify check to see if you have the lastest update and try turning up the volume on your phone before it connects to bluetooth. I have a HTC One and use Spotify Premium and the sound level is good.

Just checked and there is no update available for Spotify for me so should be good there.

Do you leave the BT on on your phone all the time? I don't usually disable it. therefore, I start the car and connects.

I can try to disable it, make sure the phone volume is up all the way and then connect it.

Do you think it has anything to do with the volume level of the HU when the phone connects? I usually turn my volume down really low prior to shutting the car off so when the phone connects the volume of the HU is really low. Just thinking out loud so I'll have to see if that makes a difference...

afoust50 · 10-24-2014, 02:21 PM

Turn media volume up on your Galaxy (not just bluetooth volume)
I use Spotify via bluetooth on my head unit and this puzzled me several times as well. Finally figured out I had to disconnect bluetooth, turn up media volume, then reconnect bluetooth. Hope this helps!

JoeC · 10-24-2014, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afoust50

Turn media volume up on your Galaxy (not just bluetooth volume)
I use Spotify via bluetooth on my head unit and this puzzled me several times as well. Finally figured out I had to disconnect bluetooth, turn up media volume, then reconnect bluetooth. Hope this helps!

This actually helped a bit. The "media" volume was at about 80% so turning it up did help.

I'm noticing something else now too... When I switch tracks on Spotify, I use the HU controls and for about 1 second, it plays loudly and then I can hear the volume cut out about 25%. So something is hearing and controlling the volume like it thinks the level is too high... man, it's killing me...

I need to remember to plug in a 1/8" audio cable just to hear the difference in sound.

JoeC · 10-24-2014, 04:11 PM

I was searching on Google, and thought I found someone else asking for exactly what I'm looking for...

It was this thread...

mid_life_crisis · 10-24-2014, 08:53 PM

Go to the Play Store and look for the free A2DP Volume app.
Never tried it, but it looks promising.

brandonblt2 · 10-25-2014, 07:47 PM

Hmm do you have any background apps running on your phone? Try closing them and have you tried just playing a standard song saved to your phone not through spotify, if so is that at a normal volume.

Also are you streaming the tracks through Spotify or are they downloaded to your phone via Spotify so you dont need to stream them?

kingnba6 · 10-25-2014, 07:56 PM

i have the same problem with my iphone and the headunit. comparing the same song connected in both aux and bluetooth, the volume from the BT version is lower. i tried to do everything but couldnt find a solution. the volume difference is around 10 levels on the headunit volume adjustment.

JoeC · 10-25-2014, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

Go to the Play Store and look for the free A2DP Volume app.
Never tried it, but it looks promising.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it but unfortunately it didn't make a difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonblt2

Hmm do you have any background apps running on your phone? Try closing them and have you tried just playing a standard song saved to your phone not through spotify, if so is that at a normal volume.

Also are you streaming the tracks through Spotify or are they downloaded to your phone via Spotify so you dont need to stream them?

I tried killing all the apps that were running and open Spotify only but it still did it.
I am streaming the music so I'll have to try saving some music on the phone and see if it still does it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingnba6

i have the same problem with my iphone and the headunit. comparing the same song connected in both aux and bluetooth, the volume from the BT version is lower. i tried to do everything but couldnt find a solution. the volume difference is around 10 levels on the headunit volume adjustment.

Do you have a BRZ or FR-S? I have a BRZ limited

It's so weird, a song will come on and for the first second, it's loud and then it quickly cuts the volume down as if the in car mic is messing with the sound... I have no clue.

On a positive note, while I was sitting in the car with the owners manual I took some time to finally figure out how to use the navigation system. It's not too shabby... it's a bit slow to respond but seems like it might be decent. I'll try it for while to see if it's better\more convenient than Google Maps on my phone...

brandonblt2 · 10-26-2014, 06:26 PM

I guess you could try deleting the bluetooth profile on your car and recreating it maybe that will fix it

kingnba6 · 10-26-2014, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeC

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it but unfortunately it didn't make a difference.

Do you have a BRZ or FR-S? I have a BRZ limited

frs with touch screen unit.

Figo · 10-26-2014, 08:04 PM

JoeC · 10-29-2014, 08:57 PM

Ok, I think I finally got this fixed after deleting almost every single app and disabling almost every android function on my phone with no luck.

Then I went into the built-in equalizer settings in Spotify and changed it to a random (folk to be specific) preset. hit play and boom it worked as normal. Next I went into the EQ settings and turned the EQ off and it was still working as normal. Then I turned the EQ back on and it worked as normal for a couple songs and then back to the original problem. I just turned the EQ off and it seems to be holding working correctly.

So, that's it, turning off the Spotify built-in EQ seems to resolve the issue...

I'll report back to edit this post if the problem comes back.

Thanks again to all those that offered suggestions.

10-24-2014, 12:30 PM	#1
JoeC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Colorado Posts: 354 Thanks: 477 Thanked 222 Times in 118 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	volume too low w\ audio from Bluetooth Anyone have any ideas why my volume is really low when using Bluetooth audio from my phone? I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and a premium Spotify account (I mention that because I mostly just use Spotify with the BT). I have the volume for BT devices all the way up on my phone. I can turn the volume on the headunit all the way up and it's still not very loud and doesn't even distort. That should be a pretty good indication how quiet it is since the factory sound usually distorts around 60% volume on HD FM radio for example. The sound quality doesn't sound very good either. very flat compared to HD radio and I'm using the same EQ settings for both and I'm not running an EQ app on my phone. Same thing happens with Aha. just really quiet. I don't have the issues that others have had with the phone connecting\disconnecting to the HU. it connects right away every time. Last edited by JoeC; 10-24-2014 at 12:55 PM.

10-24-2014, 08:53 PM	#7
mid_life_crisis Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: FR-S 10 #103 AT Location: NC Posts: 1,519 Thanks: 101 Thanked 599 Times in 347 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Go to the Play Store and look for the free A2DP Volume app. Never tried it, but it looks promising. __________________ Necessity may be the mother of Invention but Desperation is quite often the father. “Sex is like Bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.” - Mae West Papa said, "son there's a lot of evil temptations out there. Best to try 'em all so you know which ones to avoid."

10-26-2014, 08:04 PM	#13
Figo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: Vortech Supercharged FR-S Location: Central Jersey Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 597 Thanked 933 Times in 428 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	__________________ I'd rather lose by a mile because I built my own car, than win by an inch because someone else built it for me. Your car is your story, so don't let someone else write the book. ( White Tiger ) - FiGo's 車誌.

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10-24-2014, 12:55 PM	#2
brandonblt2 The Stig's African Cousin Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 wrb brz Location: NJ Posts: 719 Thanks: 1,537 Thanked 485 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	If youre using Spotify check to see if you have the lastest update and try turning up the volume on your phone before it connects to bluetooth. I have a HTC One and use Spotify Premium and the sound level is good.

10-24-2014, 02:21 PM	#4
afoust50 Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S Location: United States Posts: 56 Thanks: 9 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Turn media volume up on your Galaxy (not just bluetooth volume) I use Spotify via bluetooth on my head unit and this puzzled me several times as well. Finally figured out I had to disconnect bluetooth, turn up media volume, then reconnect bluetooth. Hope this helps!

10-24-2014, 04:11 PM	#6
JoeC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Colorado Posts: 354 Thanks: 477 Thanked 222 Times in 118 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I was searching on Google, and thought I found someone else asking for exactly what I'm looking for... It was this thread...

10-25-2014, 07:47 PM	#8
brandonblt2 The Stig's African Cousin Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 wrb brz Location: NJ Posts: 719 Thanks: 1,537 Thanked 485 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Hmm do you have any background apps running on your phone? Try closing them and have you tried just playing a standard song saved to your phone not through spotify, if so is that at a normal volume. Also are you streaming the tracks through Spotify or are they downloaded to your phone via Spotify so you dont need to stream them?

10-25-2014, 07:56 PM	#9
kingnba6 Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: 2015 Location: NY Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	i have the same problem with my iphone and the headunit. comparing the same song connected in both aux and bluetooth, the volume from the BT version is lower. i tried to do everything but couldnt find a solution. the volume difference is around 10 levels on the headunit volume adjustment.

10-26-2014, 06:26 PM	#11
brandonblt2 The Stig's African Cousin Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 wrb brz Location: NJ Posts: 719 Thanks: 1,537 Thanked 485 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I guess you could try deleting the bluetooth profile on your car and recreating it maybe that will fix it

10-29-2014, 08:57 PM	#14
JoeC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Colorado Posts: 354 Thanks: 477 Thanked 222 Times in 118 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Ok, I think I finally got this fixed after deleting almost every single app and disabling almost every android function on my phone with no luck. Then I went into the built-in equalizer settings in Spotify and changed it to a random (folk to be specific) preset. hit play and boom it worked as normal. Next I went into the EQ settings and turned the EQ off and it was still working as normal. Then I turned the EQ back on and it worked as normal for a couple songs and then back to the original problem. I just turned the EQ off and it seems to be holding working correctly. So, that's it, turning off the Spotify built-in EQ seems to resolve the issue... I'll report back to edit this post if the problem comes back. Thanks again to all those that offered suggestions.

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