Tracfone / Samsung R455C -- muffled outgoing audio

[SouthernRocks]

I purchased the Samsung R455C for Tracfone from my local Target two days ago. I like the phone in general, but the outgoing audio from my conversations appears to be muffled and distant. I've tested this by leaving a variety of messages on my landline voicemail. It kind of sounds like I'm talking through a rag or something -- you can hear what I'm saying but it comes across like I'm far away or have a bad connection.

This does not appear to be a carrier issue, but a phone issue. I've noted that the microphone is one tiny hole on the bottom edge of the unit. The sound does seem to get better when I reposition the phone so that the microphone hole is closer to my mouth. The best sound that I've gotten is when I hold the phone on edge and speak directly into the hole like I'm talking into a traditional handheld microphone. Of course, doing this is not practical for everyday conversation.

The user reviews that I've seen have generally spoken well of the sound quality from this phone, so I was surprised when the outgoing audio was this way. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue, or if mine just happens to be defective. I'm trying to figure out if my audio standards are just too high and I should keep this phone, or if I should exchange this for another R455C, or if I should return this and find another phone altogether. The main reason that I got it is that it is the only CDMA Tracfone available in my area.

My inclination is to exchange for another R455C, but I'd like to avoid going through the hassle of activating another phone and transferring my minutes if another R455C is going to be the same way.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[annepani]

I'm trying to figure out if I should keep this phone, or if I should exchange this for another R455C, or if I should return this and find another phone altogether. The main reason that I got it is that it is the only CDMA Tracfone available in my area. Thanks in advance for your input.

The LG 505C is also a CDMA phone available from tracfone.com. If you go through bigcrumbs.com you get 21% back.

[stompoutloud]

I have the phone for straight talk. I have not had a complaint yet. But yes, when I reposition my mouth to talk right into the microphone hole, it does make me sound louder.

[rob9450]

Come across this problem. Best info i found online is a software issue. To resolve look up how to reset phone or remove the battery for a couple minutes, reinstall. Reboot phone. Hope this works for ya.

[whacker]

With inexpensive audio components and devices, there are often sample defects in something like a microphone element (very inexpensive). The element itself could be defective, or it could be as random as a chunk of dirt or flake of plastic obscuring soundwaves reaching the mic (inside the hole). I would swap out the phone.