Help! External speaker sounds low and distorted

Today I noticed I was missing some calls and alerts, checked my ringer volume and realized while it was up all the way, it sounded pretty low. I checked songs on iPod, iTunes, different ringtones and discovered everything sounded low and/or distorted through the speaker, but through the headphones everything sounded normal and plenty loud.

I tried powering off, hard reboot, even restoring via iTunes, nothing worked. Apple tech support ran through some of the canned troubleshooting, even asking me to take the phone out of its case, to no avail, and set up a Genius Bar appointment.

Here's my concerns/questions:

Has anyone else experienced this?

If the Genius's (and I use that term loosely) decide to replace my phone, are they currently replacing phones with refurbs or new units? My iPhone is barely 3 months old and I don't want someone else's used phone (frankly, I don't want to trade it in at all - other than this the phone works great and I'm reluctant to exchange it, given the other problems that I've read/heard about.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I suggest you turn off sound check and make sure volume limit is off. If this doesn't help return to the apple store and they will provide you with a new device. keep in mind only the left speaker is a speaker the right is the microphone.

They will give you a refurbished one. I have my own opinion about them but many people say they are brand new inside with brand new batteries. When you get to the apple store ask to play with the refurbished one. Inspect it for cracks light leak and see if any pixels are dead. download a free app from the app store it should ask for a new email. Browse the net with it it shouldn't have any history.

Best of luck.

Great Advice!

I would like to add that you should never leave the store with your refurb until you have spent a few very careful minutes with it. Also, take a look at the screen alignment. Look to see if you can see the border where there are no pixels on the screen. Should frame in the screen evenly. Also make sure that you rub your fingers across the seem between the plastic backing and the bezel. This can sometimes be sharp and miss-aligned.

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention about the chrome, there should be NO scratches, and it should be flush and smooth to the touch. Also do make sure all the mesh is placed on correctly. (the mesh is where the bottom speaker and microphone is, as well as the top microphone.

My cousins iPhone's mesh is slightly off center. Funny you should bring that up..

Well the way they cut the mesh, if u notice its diagonal hatching. If its not covering the hole correctly thats a quality control issue.

Thanks for the replacement advice, but has anyone experienced a similar problem with the external speaker? I haven't made it in to the Apple store yet, and mine is all over the place, low, very low, distorted then clear then distorted again, but the bottom line is I can barely hear it ring and cannot hear any email or other alerts.

I'm bummed....

Perhaps that is a QC issue but consider this, the low distorted problem is probably in the design. In order for a speaker to produce sound it has to move air. How much air can a speaker that size possibly move. Very little. IMO the iPhone is a great phone but NOT a great speaker phone.
As far as ring tones, make your own or search,,,, you should be able to find one loud enough to hear when the phone is in your pocket or in a pouch type case on your belt.

No, i personally have not heard of this issue nor have i read about anyone else besides yourself with this issue on these forums.

It is imperative that you get the device to an apple store. The quicker the better because in the long run, you'll be happier.

Exactly. This problem will only get worse. London knows his iphone stuff



edit: I cant type today

No this isnt in the design. It did not happen until this week, the volume shifts up and down (not the slider but the perceived volume) and the distortion borders on static. I know you can't tell by a Forum post, but this is definitely a defect.

For god sakes....just take it in to Apple to be replaced. We've given you the answers, and with your reasoning its 100% defective. There is nothing u can do. Apple will give you a new one.

Dude, calm down, I'm taking it in, I was just responding to Late Innings who thought it might be a "design" issue.

Sorry, it jut sounded like you knew what the problem was and didnt wana take it in.

All is well