Difference in volume between sources

mr30_328 · 09-30-2015, 06:23 AM

Hello! I've been trying to find any threads regarding this but i have found none. I just want to know if someone else have experienced that music over bluetooth/iPhone is significantly lower than for example FM? I need to have half the volume to listen on normal volume and obviously when switching to FM i almost get deaf.

I use iPhone 6 with iOS 9, Apple Music and i have max volume on the phone. Is it

or is there actually something wrong?

EDIT: Car, 2016 navi prof. H/K sound.

DMI · 09-30-2015, 08:02 AM

+1 - Volume output on external sources are much better via the cable than BT. Sound quality is also better. I think its just a feature of the BT rather than a fault.

EJL · 09-30-2015, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMI

+1 - Volume output on external sources are much better via the cable than BT. Sound quality is also better. I think its just a feature of the BT rather than a fault.

The volume difference happens on my 16, but didn't on my 11 or 13.

Blubaron79 · 09-30-2015, 08:11 AM

It's normal. Just use a USB y cable or snap in adapter. I refuse to stream BT audio in my car because the quality sucks.

mr30_328 · 09-30-2015, 08:30 AM

Ok, great, it's not only me then. But on my '13 328 i did not have the same issue even though streaming over BT. I agree, the quality is worse than when using cable but i still think it's ok. At least more OK than getting deaf because of improper volume settings (and the inability to change them)

Thank you guys!

rking117 · 09-30-2015, 08:41 AM

The issue you describe is very valid but may not be a limitation within the BMW radio. The output volume can depend on the input level from the source that it is being played. This means via bluetooth versus USB versus radio/sirius. The input level may be controllable via the volume on the input device albeit phone, tablet, ipod etc. If you try that, as well as the aux input, and cannot get a boost in the volume levels then certainly you can say that there is a limitation in the BMW radio itself. If you have gone through this troubleshooting already then please disregard.

mr30_328 · 10-01-2015, 01:54 AM

I tried using the USB cable yesterday with the same result. I also tried both Apple Music and Youtube to rule out the possibility that the actual app was the cause. I will try to dig out a 5s with iOS 8.3 to see if it has to with the phone or the OS version.

CLittle · 10-01-2015, 02:51 AM

Did you try hitting the volume up button on your iPhone? I had to do this for the rental Camry Bluetooth connection.

Maxdog · 10-01-2015, 06:08 AM

When happens to me I restart phone I5 and its ok again , it happens to me about every 5 times only on bt

NightWriter · 10-01-2015, 06:53 AM

Is there any evidence that Bluetooth still sucks? I know earlier versions had limited bandwidth, but v4 (which both the car and modern phones support, I believe) supports up to 24 Mbit/s, which is plenty.

mr30_328 · 01-12-2016, 01:26 AM

UPDATE:

I tried USB-connected iPod Nano yesterday with the same results. Switching from Nano to FM makes me deaf. So now i tried IOS8, iPhone 6 and iPhone 5, and iPod. Not sure if i need to do anything else to rule out device-issues...

eluded · 01-12-2016, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr30_328

UPDATE:

I tried USB-connected iPod Nano yesterday with the same results. Switching from Nano to FM makes me deaf. So now i tried IOS8, iPhone 6 and iPhone 5, and iPod. Not sure if i need to do anything else to rule out device-issues...

You have iOS covered. How about android or osx?

F36420I · 01-12-2016, 04:16 AM

Hello

Same problem here, connected trough snapin IOS 9.2 tried everything but no solution

FYI when connected trough usb or snap in the volume on the Iphone or android device doesn't matter

Gran coupe 2014

adhrp · 01-12-2016, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rking117

The issue you describe is very valid but may not be a limitation within the BMW radio. The output volume can depend on the input level from the source that it is being played.

I believe this is true because I sense the difference that OP mentions when I merely switch from Sirius to FM. No BT or cable involved.

Don't ask why I switch from Sirius to FM....

cookie monster · 01-13-2016, 11:44 PM

Turn the volume on your phone or device up....problem solved.

dsngjoe · 01-15-2016, 11:01 AM

My 2015 328i has the same issue also. I actually use the AUX IN and the volume is lower compared to the FM/Sat radio. I turn on the volume all the way up on the phone. This is on a Samsung Note 4.

09-30-2015, 06:23 AM	#1
mr30_328 New Member 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 328i ordered Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Difference in volume between sources Hello! I've been trying to find any threads regarding this but i have found none. I just want to know if someone else have experienced that music over bluetooth/iPhone is significantly lower than for example FM? I need to have half the volume to listen on normal volume and obviously when switching to FM i almost get deaf. I use iPhone 6 with iOS 9, Apple Music and i have max volume on the phone. Is it or is there actually something wrong? EDIT: Car, 2016 navi prof. H/K sound. Last edited by mr30_328; 09-30-2015 at 06:24 AM.. Reason: Forgot car
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09-30-2015, 08:02 AM	#2
DMI Enlisted Member 7 Rep 37 Posts Drives: F30 318D Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	+1 - Volume output on external sources are much better via the cable than BT. Sound quality is also better. I think its just a feature of the BT rather than a fault.
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09-30-2015, 08:11 AM	#4
Blubaron79 Brigadier General 1435 Rep 4,724 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i xDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	It's normal. Just use a USB y cable or snap in adapter. I refuse to stream BT audio in my car because the quality sucks. __________________ Current: 2021 M340i xDrive Previous: '18 340i xDrive; '15 335 xDrive; '14 435i xDrive; '09 335 E92 xDrive
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09-30-2015, 08:30 AM	#5
mr30_328 New Member 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 328i ordered Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Ok, great, it's not only me then. But on my '13 328 i did not have the same issue even though streaming over BT. I agree, the quality is worse than when using cable but i still think it's ok. At least more OK than getting deaf because of improper volume settings (and the inability to change them) Thank you guys!
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09-30-2015, 08:41 AM	#6
rking117 Lieutenant Colonel 118 Rep 1,668 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i & 320i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	The issue you describe is very valid but may not be a limitation within the BMW radio. The output volume can depend on the input level from the source that it is being played. This means via bluetooth versus USB versus radio/sirius. The input level may be controllable via the volume on the input device albeit phone, tablet, ipod etc. If you try that, as well as the aux input, and cannot get a boost in the volume levels then certainly you can say that there is a limitation in the BMW radio itself. If you have gone through this troubleshooting already then please disregard. __________________ Enjoying an E89 Z4, F30 320i and Fiat Abarth // E85 Z4 (sold), E82 128i (sold), Fiat Pop 500 (sold)
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10-01-2015, 01:54 AM	#7
mr30_328 New Member 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 328i ordered Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	I tried using the USB cable yesterday with the same result. I also tried both Apple Music and Youtube to rule out the possibility that the actual app was the cause. I will try to dig out a 5s with iOS 8.3 to see if it has to with the phone or the OS version.
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10-01-2015, 02:51 AM	#8
CLittle Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Luxury Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	Did you try hitting the volume up button on your iPhone? I had to do this for the rental Camry Bluetooth connection.
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10-01-2015, 06:08 AM	#9
Maxdog Second Lieutenant 49 Rep 272 Posts Drives: 2014 335i xdriive msport Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0)	When happens to me I restart phone I5 and its ok again , it happens to me about every 5 times only on bt
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10-01-2015, 06:53 AM	#10
NightWriter Colonel 4844 Rep 2,744 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Pure Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Is there any evidence that Bluetooth still sucks? I know earlier versions had limited bandwidth, but v4 (which both the car and modern phones support, I believe) supports up to 24 Mbit/s, which is plenty.
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01-12-2016, 01:26 AM	#11
mr30_328 New Member 3 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 328i ordered Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	UPDATE: I tried USB-connected iPod Nano yesterday with the same results. Switching from Nano to FM makes me deaf. So now i tried IOS8, iPhone 6 and iPhone 5, and iPod. Not sure if i need to do anything else to rule out device-issues...
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01-12-2016, 04:16 AM	#13
F36420I Private First Class 46 Rep 114 Posts Drives: Bmw 420I Gran Coupe Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	Hello Same problem here, connected trough snapin IOS 9.2 tried everything but no solution FYI when connected trough usb or snap in the volume on the Iphone or android device doesn't matter Gran coupe 2014 Last edited by F36420I; 01-12-2016 at 04:21 AM..
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01-13-2016, 11:44 PM	#15
cookie monster New Member 9 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW M8 Coupe Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	Turn the volume on your phone or device up....problem solved.
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01-15-2016, 11:01 AM	#16
dsngjoe New Member 4 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2015 328i / 2016 X1 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Hampton GA iTrader: (0)	My 2015 328i has the same issue also. I actually use the AUX IN and the volume is lower compared to the FM/Sat radio. I turn on the volume all the way up on the phone. This is on a Samsung Note 4.
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