S22 Ultra: Sound Issues

[RobDod]

First, let me say I'm 100% a Samsung user. I've always been impressed. But I listened to nearly 90,000 minutes of music last year and if Samsung doesn't confirm if the sound issues myself and other posters here are hardware or software I'm going to have to return my S22Ultra. Audio is my number one selling point in a new Samsung and it's the only feature that has issues.

I was expecting beautiful sound quality from the phone itself and least of all did I expect the sound to be so much quieter than my S10+ in every way. The speakers are either smaller or not pumping as loud as they should be. Also via blue-tooth (Car, Samsung Buds, Sony Speaker), the sound is translated at a drastically lower volume. My Samsung USB-C to Aux adapter also reads the phone audio as being lower than my S10+. Let me be clear. The sound is definitely lower because of the S22 Ultra in some way.

I've tried developer mode sound settings, I've tried everything. At this point, I've isolated the problem as software or hardware of the S22 Ultra itself causing every supported audio platform to be quieter. I've NEVER returned a phone. I'd hate for this to be the first time if they don't vocalize their audio problem won't need a recall. 

[GeminiJanet]

Try the bass booster--the difference is a minimal improvement--but I can hear something!. 

I do like the stylus so no after market for me.

I asked for my last extension on the note10ultra but I am just leary on sending this phone back as a trade.  My other feeling is that the S22u will die before its time.  The phone is manufactured so poorly and things will start breaking soon.  I just can feel it.

[The_Chemist]

One more note here (no pun) on the S22 Ultra sound:

Harmon International is a subsidiary of Samsung. They make some of the leading brand name speakers, as they bought up all the original speaker manufacturers. 

Most upscale automobile manufacturers use their speakers. My two vehicles use Harmon Kardon and Infinity. Those are Harmon international speakers!

Now why would Samsung not have world-class sounding phone audio when they own Harmon International?

Who decides this stuff?  Duh...

[GeminiJanet]

Common sense is lacking.

Did you return your old device?

[magicalfactor]

Interesting because I was thinking the same thing I had my note 9 the last three and a half years and never had a single hardware issue . I just want a better camera and I'm ready for some updated software and hardware but quality control is so out of whack and you're right this probably won't last more than 2 years but you never know. I'm really hesitant about sending my note 9 in as a trade-in as well. Because they have a deal with my carrier I should be able to get up to $500 but the actual trade in values only $85 so otherwise I would not bother trading it in I've never done a trade in because I always can repurpose my phones they have more value than $85 especially a note phone that works. But $500 is good so I'm going to give it a go...lol

[magicalfactor]

Yeah Harmon is JBL and JBL speakers (not all of them) are amazing for mid range. My BT earbuds, charge 2 (I have several of those) and I've always had really great sound out of those... people are always shocked.

[GeminiJanet]

Such a difficult decision.  Samsung is giving me $300 for my phone, but then again I don't want to give them my totally good phone with a cracked screen.  

$500 is alot of money---Verizon told me that i could get that just now, but I have had the s22u so long that returning would be a hassle.

[magicalfactor]

I actually stated this in the post earlier that my note 9 had issues with the sound to the point that after about 7 months I thought I was going to just get rid of the phone because it was ticking me off so much...but then they sent out an update and all of a sudden, BOOM my music was amazing! Bluetooth sound, sound through the native speakers, everything sounded amazing. So, really what's going on is probably not the hardware (most likely) it's a software issue. They send out phones knowing that there are a lot of software issues they're going to have to address and do updates on. But because they have deadlines to meet and it's a huge corporation, that's the way it has to be in certain aspects. So, you just have to always keep that in mind if you get a phone when it is first released you're going to probably have all kinds of things that will be eventually addressed and fleshed out with updates. That's just the nature of the game (business). The great thing is Samsung sends out updates, really substantial meaningful updates) all the time. That alone makes me want to stick with Samsung.

[GeminiJanet]

So I can get a bluetooth speaker--and the sound should be fine.

The battery is beginning to improve ever so slightly.  

I usually have about 60% by the end of the day.

Will re-test tomorrow.

[The_Chemist]

I'm going to lose $700 on my S21 Ultra trade. But, oh well. 

In my humble opinion these S22 Ultras are a flop. 

I hated the S21 Ultra because I had to use a separate case to hold the S pen, but it did and does have much better sound than these S22 Ultras. 

My Note 20 even has better sound than the S22 Ultra!

The sound carries over to phone calls (yes, I still make voice calls) as well!  The sound is lacking warmth, richness and bass not to mention volume.

Then don't even get me started on the Bluetooth sound quality. My truck has a 19 speaker Harmon Kardon system. It sounds like a tin can when connected to the S22 Ultra phone as the sound source. The S21 Ultra sounds amazing on the same system. It's almost as if Samsung compressed the Bluetooth codec. It's awful. Americans love bass. Give us full range sound and bass please!  

[The_Chemist]

Keeping the S21 Ultra. Losing the $700 trade in.