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1 more comment about Mpx220 low volume

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Posted by: rayhurst

I know Moto/Cingular is coming out with a software update soon that is supposed to improve call volume, but someone else on this board pointed out something that makes me think the problem started because of poor hardware design. Notice there are 2 earpiece holes, 1 to the right and down a little bit from the "M" symbol that is centered at the top of the phone when it is open and 1 to the left of it and up a bit. Now here's the problem: only the right hole works!! The other is simply for show. You can test this by placing a call and then holding your finger over each hole. Only the right gives out any sound. Why would they do that?!??!

To make things worse, the hole that works is offcenter to the right. Most people automatically hold a phone to their ear with the top of the phone centered on their ear, not offset to the right!

I'm not an engineer so I have no way of knowing why they only made one hole work (I'm sure they have their reason), but I am starting to think we would not be talking about this today had they just let the sound come out of both holes.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I just had to get that off my chest.


p.s. I still think the Mpx220 is a great phone depsite its shortcomings. I will upgrade when a better flip style smartphone comes out, but for now I'll keep my 220.


Posted by: VIJOVAME

Quote:
Originally posted by rayhurst
I know Moto/Cingular is coming out with a software update soon that is supposed to improve call volume, but someone else on this board pointed out something that makes me think the problem started because of poor hardware design. Notice there are 2 earpiece holes, 1 to the right and down a little bit from the "M" symbol that is centered at the top of the phone when it is open and 1 to the left of it and up a bit. Now here's the problem: only the right hole works!! The other is simply for show. You can test this by placing a call and then holding your finger over each hole. Only the right gives out any sound. Why would they do that?!??!

To make things worse, the hole that works is offcenter to the right. Most people automatically hold a phone to their ear with the top of the phone centered on their ear, not offset to the right!

I'm not an engineer so I have no way of knowing why they only made one hole work (I'm sure they have their reason), but I am starting to think we would not be talking about this today had they just let the sound come out of both holes.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I just had to get that off my chest.


p.s. I still think the Mpx220 is a great phone depsite its shortcomings. I will upgrade when a better flip style smartphone comes out, but for now I'll keep my 220.

You're right, i see that when i put the phone in my left ear and in the right ear, sound diferent, is because the form what i put the phone in my ear, i can't explain you better because i speak spanish!!!!


Posted by: Omega2008

This could be a hardware flaw or a software flaw. The drivers that run the sound to the earpiece may not route the sound to both sides of the earpiece (this is speculating that the earpiece is stereo and not mono, it if its mono then thats why it has sound coming from one side). Who knows really, we will know for sure if it is a hardware or software problem when the new ROM is released. If you can hear in both holes after the ROM update then it was a software problem if you still hear sound out of one hole then it is a hardware problem and all the ROM did was amplify the sound louder. In either case I don't care which one it is as long as its louder. It really loud enough for me but I would like it to be louder if I needed it to.


Posted by: evilninja

yah, i had noticed that earlier too, and someone mentioned that it only came out of the right hole. My concern with the new ROM is if it only amplified the sound, we know how distorted it could sound and might affect voice quality?

To temporarily fix my low volumn issue, I just try to position the phone a little lower so that the speaker goes into my ear instead of holding it like a regular flip. Works okay. Still would say that the mpx220 is the most fun I've had with a phone ever and wouldn't trade it for any other phone out there right now.


Posted by: Omega2008

Quote:
Originally posted by evilninja
yah, i had noticed that earlier too, and someone mentioned that it only came out of the right hole. My concern with the new ROM is if it only amplified the sound, we know how distorted it could sound and might affect voice quality?

To temporarily fix my low volumn issue, I just try to position the phone a little lower so that the speaker goes into my ear instead of holding it like a regular flip. Works okay. Still would say that the mpx220 is the most fun I've had with a phone ever and wouldn't trade it for any other phone out there right now.


The distortion depends on how much they amplify it. I am sure you can and the calls not be distorted. I don't know how powerful the earpiece is.


Posted by: rayhurst

after playing with my phone for a few more minutes, i am convinced the entire volume issue is based on a simple hardware design flaw (although as Omega2008, it is still possible it is software related)

if you hold the phone to your right ear and simply move the phone forward so the edge of your phone is near the center of your ear, the sound is perfect. the same for the left ear if you move the phone back.

and i agree that cranking up the volume as a solution will only worsen the sound quality and then i may have to actually turn down the volume!!

for now, i'm just holding the phone slightly forward and the sound volume is nearly perfect for me.


Posted by: jim138

I have a better solution for my needs, I simply turn on the speaker phone, and lower the audio, try it, it works perfect as far as the hearing of others goes, but you may sound a little weird to the people on the other end, i guess that depends on your surroundings though, let me know what you think


Posted by: rayhurst

found this in another post be yodster:

"Actually I took apart the top portion to see if mine had a loose connection with the speaker which was causing the low volume and i found out the speaker is TINY. if you notice the camera and flash are in line with the speaker on the other side of the top portion of the phone. Turns out there isn't enough space there for them and the speaker which means that if you look at the front of the phone closed the speaker module takes up only the space not occupied by the camera and LCD.

What that means is that the sound is really only coming out of the right hole in the earpiece. The one on the left is just for show and symmetry."


in fact, if you look at the front of the phone when it is closed, it looks like they decided to put the flash (i'm assuming thats what the yellow circle beside the camera lens is) in the place where the speaker should be so that the sound could come out of the 2nd hole on the other side. it that's the case, that **** flash which i never use is the cause of the low volum which everyone has!!


Posted by: xplode

there will be no way to tell until the ROM is released. the earpiece volume is good for me, altho in a real loud setting ie (club or somthing) i havent had the phone long enuf to test it like that but if its software related we will all be happy, size of the speaker doesnt matter, if its not amplified properly or under powered its just as bad.. (anyone who knows car subs and amps will understand)




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