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Bluetooth streaming problem - playback speed/pitch constantly fluctuating!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by milesmutt, Nov 21, 2013.

  1. milesmutt

    milesmutt Junior Member

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    So my Verizon Samsung S4 has no problem connecting automatically for both phone and audio streaming, and if I was playing via BT connection it will reconnect and resume playback. I'm currently running the latest Android 4.3 OS.

    Problem is, I can hear the playback speed, or pitch, constantly fluctuate! Is this something inherent in bluetooth technology? This happens whether I'm streaming Pandora or tracks on the Music Player app. This anomaly doesn't occur if I have the phone plugged into the Aux jack.

    It's not too distracting unless I'm concentrating on listening to the music, and I definitely like the fact that I don't have to plug in my phone every time I want to hear my own stuff.

    Any expert opinions out there?
     
    #1 milesmutt, Nov 21, 2013
  2. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

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    My car does that if I don't launch the Entune App. Do you have it launched on your phone? I have the S4 - T-Mobile...
     
    #2 Eclipse1701d, Nov 21, 2013
  3. milesmutt

    milesmutt Junior Member

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    No I don't have the Entune app installed. Is that necessary on my 2010 III? I thought 2010 MY doesn't have Entune.
     
    #3 milesmutt, Nov 21, 2013
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    It must be your phone. My S4 running 4.2.2 works fine. None of my other devices connecting to the car, headphones, or speakers via Bluetooth have exhibited a problem like that either.
     
    #4 john1701a, Nov 21, 2013
  5. milesmutt

    milesmutt Junior Member

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    I'm beginning to think it might be Android 4.3 causing this. I don't recall noticing the poor playback before I "upgraded" the OS. :unsure: :mad:
     
    #5 milesmutt, Nov 21, 2013
  6. tach18k

    tach18k Member

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    On my iPod, running on the usb port, certain bit rates play slower, but that is not every time. A good ear can hear it, others cant
     
    #6 tach18k, Nov 21, 2013
  7. milesmutt

    milesmutt Junior Member

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    I tried to see if my iPad would do the same thing, but I can't get it to pair as a "portable player."

    The fluctuation is REALLY noticeable when the car is off and I'm listening to my music. On the road, not so much.
     
    #7 milesmutt, Nov 22, 2013
  8. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

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    I notice something similar with my iPhone occasionally; the music's pitch gets slightly lower. It's not something I expect anybody other than a musician would notice (my wife hasn't, anyway), and some day I intend to measure just how much, just for fun...

    In my case, it happens any time the phone wakes up to do something - so an incoming text message or E-mail, or if I press a button on it. After a few seconds of being awake, the pitch returns to normal. Since the phone doesn't wake very often unless it has to, this isn't something that's normally a problem for me.
     
    #8 macman408, Nov 22, 2013
  9. terpsmandan

    terpsmandan Member

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    Galaxy S3 running 4.3.1 (cyanogen 10.2) on my 12 PHV. I am happy that meta data sends the title artist info but every song seems to start loud and then reduce the volume within a second.
     
    #9 terpsmandan, Dec 13, 2013
  10. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

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    Sounds like something on your phone. Is there a setting to equalize volume between different songs? I know this has an option in iTunes and on iPhones/iPods ("Sound Check") for many years, so I'd expect you might have a similar option. Depending on how good their implementation is, it might take a moment of playback for it to kick in to reduce the song volume down to what it determines to be a "normal" level. At least, that's how my iPod from 2002 sometimes acts, from back when this was a major innovation...
     
    #10 macman408, Dec 14, 2013
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