Nokia X20 Bluetooth audio level too high

Hi,

I noticed that BT audio level in my X20 is too high. It's ok for phone calls, but streamed music and video audio really suffer. The sound is already overdriven at 1/2 volume level.

Tested with two different BT headphones and BT speaker. I used almost all popular HiFi streaming apps. The same BT devices connected to Nokia 6.1 produce clear sound even at highest volume level.

I got up-to-date firmware, no pending upgrades.

Am I missing something? Is there any way to set it up correctly?

Comments

  • Levente Krisztián Büte
    edited June 2022

    I reported it way earlier when Android 12 was released for this model. Under Android 11 everything was fine.

    We get security patches one after another, but zero system improvements. Nokia's promise with updates is totally utter BS.

  • abecedario
    abecedario ✭✭✭

    Hi to both of you, I use Nokia X20 with BT connection to Sennheiser HD 4.50 headphones and Nokia Clarity Earbuds + headphones, as programs I use Amazon Music for streaming music and AIMP for my mp3s, I have no problem with the volume level, I don't it never distorts even if I turn it up to the maximum.

  • fx747
    fx747 ✭✭

    Maybe I have just found WA using developer options.

    Settings -> System -> {} Developer options ->

    Disable absolute volume - set to "on".

    You loose absolute volume control using BT device vol+/vol- buttons, but at least it stops bleeding from ears when listening to this distorted "hifi".

  • fx747
    fx747 ✭✭

    Hi abecedario,

    There are no distortions when I'm using PowerAmp for my offline mp3s. There's equalizer and "master" volume level +/- 12dB. When master level left on default 0dB (no boost, no padding) everything is ok. When pulling the level up to +12dB (we're still in this application) the horror returns. That's without applying my WA described above.

  • abecedario
    abecedario ✭✭✭

    ok, no distorted sound, but I understand that anyway you have problems with the sound because it comes too loud in your BT devices, isn't it?

    if so, this is a problem that doesn't happen to me, and unfortunately I can't explain why it happens to you...

  • There's equalizer and "master" volume level +/- 12dB. When master level left on default 0dB (no boost, no padding) everything is ok. When pulling the level up to +12dB (we're still in this application) the horror returns. That's without applying my WA described above. MyLabCorp

  • I feel the Android 12 update broke the audio on the X20. It no longer seems to support aptX/aptX HD/aptX Adaptive with compatible audio devices, these are all greyed-out in developer options too.

  • I have the same problem with Nokia X20, Android 13 (same as with Android 12): no matter to which BT-device (Sennheiser HD 4.50 or Sony headphones, BT-speakers,...) I connect, the sound of most music files is heavily distorted already at low volume. Obviously it does not depend on the actual encoding of the sound file (tried MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV), but on the actual piece of music. Setting "Disable absolute volume" to "on" does not change anything.

    When I play the same file with another phone (tried Nokia 6.1 with I think Android 9), there are no distortions.

    Very disappointing! I hope this problem will be fixed by Nokia, otherwise the X20 was the last Nokia phone I bought for sure.