Low in-call volume: can't get existing fixes to work, any ideas?

[pqueiro]

Hi! Running OP3T, OOS 9.0.6, simple TWRP/Magisk install with no major fiddling (did it mostly for the adblockers tbh).

A while ago I started noticing the handset speaker would sound really low in a call compared to, say, the phone speaker or wired/bt headphones. I'm not 100% sure when it started happening but I've been trying to solve this for about 3 months now.

It seems to be a common enough issue that it shows up in multiple sites, for instance https://innov8tiv.com/fix-low-call-volume-oneplus-3t-calls/ has several different fixes. I even tracked down the TWRP file they mention here to xda -- https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=72825218&postcount=9 -- but for some reason, none of those fixes work for me. I can't find any of the files they mention I should be editing anywhere or with any of those names, and the link to the TWRP file shows no mirrors. I can't find that file (by that name at least) anywhere else either. I've tried messaging Creeper36 here on xda (he's the guy who posted the original TWRP fix, and he's listed as the file owner on AFH), but no response. I've even tried installing Viper4Android and whilst my headphone/bt experience has improved, that's not really where my problem is, and I can't seem to figure out if/how V4A can even affect in-call volume. I think it's not supposed to.

So I'm running out of ideas and it's really annoying me. It's low enough that every time I get a call I scramble to find some form of headset before I pick up, and that's just annoying as hell. Does anyone please, for the sake of my mental sanity, have a fix for this?

Thanks!

 

[pitrus-]

I had this problem on mine and my mother's OnePlus 3T after 3 years use. Turns out the speaker grill is really good at collecting all kinds of scrap. I noticed this as I had ordered two new speakers for the phones, and when I was swapping them up I realized the problem wasn't with the speakers but with all the dirt clogging up the speaker grills tiny holes. After cleaning up, volume level was restored.

But I guess you could do a "dirty fix" by just increasing the volume hoping it will get through, and also hurting the speakers in the process.

Check out my LOS daily builds at https://lineageos.wickenberg.nu

 

[pqueiro]

How would you suggest I went about that cleaning? Toothbrush maybe? Slightly wary of poking through something and making it worse...

 

[pitrus-]

How would you suggest I went about that cleaning? Toothbrush maybe? Slightly wary of poking through something and making it worse...

I'd say will need to dismantle the phone and remove the speaker to be able to remove the dirt between the grill and the filter as it's not accessible through the front simply by the means of a brush.

Check out my LOS daily builds at https://lineageos.wickenberg.nu

 

[fatlumb]

Hi,
I had this problem when I bought mine, since I bought it used. And it really was just the dirt on the speaker so probably nothing serious. You can get just a simple needle or toothpick and clean it but gently. If it still sounds low then you can disassemble it. Please, let me know if that works for you.

 

[undrwater]

Rather than using something to poke INTO the speaker, is recommend using a vacuum attachment to suck debris out.

If that doesn't work, then disassemble the phone to clean it out. The difference is staggering.