Missing Sounds through my Bluetooth Speaker
January 27, 2019 1:09 PM Subscribe
When I listen to certain podcasts using my bluetooth speaker, it doesn't sound right. The beginning of some words are missing. Other speakers play these same podcasts just fine, though. Is there a way to get my bluetooth speaker to work right?
The problem is perhaps the most pronounced with the podcast, Sawbones. For instance, here's the intro to the podcast:
"Sawbones is a show about medical history, and nothing the hosts say should be taken as medical opinion or advice."
But here's what it sounds like through my bluetooth speaker:
"'awbones is a show 'out 'dical history, 'nd 'othing the hosts say should be 'aken as 'dical opinion or advice."
Like I said, the exact same episode, downloaded through the same computer, played through a different speaker system, sounds just fine.
Why does this happen? Is there something I can do to get shows like Sawbones to play correctly through my speaker?
The problem is perhaps the most pronounced with the podcast, Sawbones. For instance, here's the intro to the podcast:
"Sawbones is a show about medical history, and nothing the hosts say should be taken as medical opinion or advice."
But here's what it sounds like through my bluetooth speaker:
"'awbones is a show 'out 'dical history, 'nd 'othing the hosts say should be 'aken as 'dical opinion or advice."
Like I said, the exact same episode, downloaded through the same computer, played through a different speaker system, sounds just fine.
Why does this happen? Is there something I can do to get shows like Sawbones to play correctly through my speaker?
I have an Altec Lansing speaker that does this. The most reliable fix seems to be: turn off Bluetooth on my iPod, power on the speaker, turn Bluetooth back on and let them find each other. If the iPod's Bluetooth is already active when I turn on the speaker then it skips the way you mentioned.
posted by Flannery Culp at 2:23 PM on January 27, 2019
posted by Flannery Culp at 2:23 PM on January 27, 2019
Best answer: This happens for all spoken word (podcasts and audiobooks) when I connect my phone to my car audio via Bluetooth. The only workaround I’ve found is to run a white noise app in the background - it seems to provide a constant enough input to the speakers that words don’t get cut off. (I use Rainy Mood.)
posted by okayokayigive at 4:44 PM on January 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by okayokayigive at 4:44 PM on January 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have a similar problem with a cheap light-up speaker I bought for my kid one year, but it's just the beginning of entire audio streams (so the first couple beats of each track, effectively).
I do know that there are two modes that a bluetooth audio device can typically connect under: headset and media device. Is it possible that your speaker also functions as a speakerphone, and is "ducking" the audio output to avoid feedback loops with a built-in microphone? Can you try playing with the media type settings in your bluetooth connection options?
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 8:28 PM on January 27, 2019
I do know that there are two modes that a bluetooth audio device can typically connect under: headset and media device. Is it possible that your speaker also functions as a speakerphone, and is "ducking" the audio output to avoid feedback loops with a built-in microphone? Can you try playing with the media type settings in your bluetooth connection options?
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 8:28 PM on January 27, 2019
I investigated this when I encountered the same issue with my Bluetooth speaker.
Essentially, it's a side effect of cheaper Bluetooth devices which use silence to save battery life. The speaker is cutting off every time it detects a 'cut' or silence, thinking it is the start/end of an audio track. This is really noticeable with highly-produced podcasts with a lot of cuts and very, very noticeable with heavily edited audiobooks.
As okayokayigive notes, white noise or some kind of constant tone is the only workaround I've found. It's annoying. For what it's worth, this doesn't happen for me with my Bluetooth running headphones, but does with my speaker. I have no idea why.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:56 PM on January 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
Essentially, it's a side effect of cheaper Bluetooth devices which use silence to save battery life. The speaker is cutting off every time it detects a 'cut' or silence, thinking it is the start/end of an audio track. This is really noticeable with highly-produced podcasts with a lot of cuts and very, very noticeable with heavily edited audiobooks.
As okayokayigive notes, white noise or some kind of constant tone is the only workaround I've found. It's annoying. For what it's worth, this doesn't happen for me with my Bluetooth running headphones, but does with my speaker. I have no idea why.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:56 PM on January 27, 2019 [3 favorites]
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posted by humboldt32 at 1:55 PM on January 27, 2019 [1 favorite]