Bluetooth car connection: very low quality audio

[Kjoep]

Hi,

I recently paired my Xperia P with my bluetooth built-in audio system of my car (2010 Volvo V50).  This worked perfectly with my previous Android phone (HTC Magic, first on android 1.5, then later on 2.2 using CyanogenMod).

My Xperia P is running the latest ICS firmware.  The pairing works fine, including syncing the phone book and adjusting volume.

But the transmitted audio quality is horrendous.  It's safe to say it is not usable at all.  It sounds like it has very low bandwidth.  The receiving audio is fine.  Is there any way to tweak the bluetooth settings?  There are only some basic settings in the options screen.

This cannot be normal.

Any thoughts?

[Johan]

I have been able to replicate this issue using an Xperia P with ICS and a Kia Bluetooth car kit. I will forward this to concerned developers to have them check this. I will get back to you as soon as I hear anything from them.

[magfred]

I have the same issue in my Citroen DS4 with navigation. Sound on my end is perfectly fine through the speakers in my car, but people are reporting bad audio quality on the other end. I have not experienced this using other phones in my car. I have tried deleting pairings/reconnecting, restarting phone and turning noise cancellation on and off without any improvment in outgoing audio quality.

This seems to be a problem only when making calls, since streaming music via bluetooth to my car works fine.

[rolf_blomgren]

I also got the same problem. Bought a new Xperia and found out that i can't use it in my car (Volvo XC70)  nobody can here me because the audio quality is so bad....

I'm now using my old phone again... without any problem with audio quality.

Please Sony... update the software so it will work... this is not a problem that should exist in a new telephone....

[sandysmobile]

Hi Johan/Xperia support,

Is this bug now fixed on the Firmware released on Dec 3, 2012?

Thanks,

Sandy

[jam-one]

I have updated to the latest firmware and can confirm that this has not been fixed. The audio at the other end has disturbance but the incoming audio is clear. Music played via bluetooth is also clear.

I hope Johan/Sony Xperia Support will take this issue seriously and follow it up at the developer's end.

[fredbe1981]

Dear Sony Support, I do also have the SAME issue with my Volvo V50 and my Xperia U.

• I hear perfectly the people who do call me.
• My correspondants do not, or barely hear me.

I had an HTC Touch HD and then a Sony Xperia X10 before and had no sound issue.

It is realy painful, especially since I do drive a lot for work and therefore receive a lot of calls.

Please help

[Murdock]

Car Kit, Headset; anything from bluetooth audio is a mess, you can ear well but the people from the other side don't.

Tested by the tech (Sony guy) and me in the Sony Mobile Assistance Center: the only one that seems to work:

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/accessories/mw600/

I'm trying to find it but is impossible to find were i live...

Only from Amazon...

[Kjoep]

I'm not going to buy an FM transiever for a functionality that works on every phone made the last 10 years but doesn't on this one.

This is really an unacceptable situation.

[MietasM]

I hope the issue will be fixed soon. I have experienced the same problem with my Xperia P and Parrot Car Kit. Other phones (including old good k750i) works very well, Xperia P does not. Audio quality is absolutely not acceptable.