Awful audio quality when on a discord/Skype call

[unknown56]

Hello, 

I've had my S10+ since some months already. I switched from an HTC 11, with which I had the exact same issue I'm going to describe.

Basically, when I start a call using discord, Skype or whatsapp, my audio quality becomes really bad. I'm using earphones with a built-in mic. It means that I can't multi-task while being on call. I can't listen to Spotify, nor watch Netflix or YouTube because the audio quality is just awful...

On discord, you can change the communication mode (VOIP) to call mode. When on call mode, the audio quality from other apps is perfect, but I cannot be heard : my mic stops working.

So I think that's a lead. I read on internet that people had found a small fix, they forced the phone to be in call mode and everything worked well. It is not a permanent fix however and it's complicated to do.... 

Can I get some help please?

I hoped that by switching phone, my issue would go away... It is really annoying. I would like to be able to watch series while being on call with someone, for example. 

Thanks. 

[DannyT]

Hey, @unknown56.

Are you using Bluetooth headphones? Or is this when using wired headphones?

If you're using Bluetooth headphones, you can use the Separate App Sound feature. Head to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Advanced Settings > Separate App Sound. 

It does seem like this might be a setting in the different apps you need to change/turn on. 

[Warpface]

I have the same issue on a galaxy S8+.

This happens on the audio output for the entire phone. Does not matter if audio is playing to phone speakers, audio jack or bluetooth headphones.

How to easily replicate:

1: Play music with spotify or other app.

2:open discord/skype (or other voip app that enables 'call mode' on the phone)

3:open a voice call with the app.

-you should now immediately notice a drastic and unbearable decrease in sound quality for the entire sound output of the phone.

I noticed this because I have terrible cellphone reception in my area and wanted to use discord over wifi as an alternative but as soon as the call opens the audio quality is reduced to a level which I am not able to understand what my father(reduced voice due to illness) is saying.

This is a dealbreaker for me and I am seriously considering returning the phone and switching to a brand which does not have this problem. I have read on some discord and skype forums that Huawei and samsung phones have this problem while some pure android phones and other brands does not.

This seems like a pure software issue and should be rather easy to fix for a big company like Samsung. I would rather not switch brands as I have gotten used to samsung phones and have gotten my entire family to get Samsung phones.

But if it isn't fixed I will have to. 

[Warpface]

Forgot to add that i tried separating the audio to see if it made a difference. It did not, now the horrible audio quality is just playing through more speakers at the same time.
The quality is so bad that even the standard notification tone sounds horrible.

[MacS10]

Samsung clearly has an issue with the audio out interface. No matter what ear buds I try (wired NOT wireless) the sound output seems to be in "karaoke mode" with the vocals barely audible and echoey. The rest of the sound spectrum seems fine. Perhaps there is some buried audio "feature" that is responsible? But finding deeper audio settings is mess. What gives Samsung? Clean this up! I like your phone but the audio out issue is a deal breaker. 

NOTES: This is a new phone. The jack isn't dirty. I have tried this with multiple buds. Please don't insult my intelligence with a lame response.

[Josée]

Strongly agree with you suffering the same issue. Samsung software is a piece of bad in many cases, I start thinking switching back to OnePlus.

[ShrimpyBOi]

It's because discord and skype are VoIP apps. It's the same on pretty much all phones.

[EpikHllo]

sadly still happening with me as well i have to keep using my second phone to use discord because it sounds crystal clear not only mic but how i hear other people even if im not listening tom music nor on another app its really frustrated with my s10+

[Unprdctbl]

Samsung, there's gotta be a fix for it. It really sounds awful. Still happening to me, too on a Note 10+.

[Teeborg]

Same issue. I have found posts from 3 years back ppl having exact same issue. My note10+ 5g is *****. My gf's  s10+ is ***** too. 

Support on chat is useless. 

No official response from samsung anywhere what would fix this widespread issue. Mods are coming up with every stupid question like did you try tk turn it off amd on again while ppl are desperate to fix it and spend hours finding answer to it.

This was my last time buying any samsung product. 

Samsung has some good features but daaaaamn I can go on and on with quality problems endlessly about any of their product. And trust me, I have had a fair amount of their *****ty products.