is this speaker isuue?

[alexey23]

Hi guys. I got my brand new z3.

and I noticed that bottom speaker's sound is smaller when I turn on music. top speaker's sound quality is much better and louder. is this normal or my phone has some problem?

[Uliwooly]

is this on notifications or while playing music?

[alexey23]

Playing music and other sounds like game or video

[Uliwooly]

Do you have a protective case and/or film?

[Simmysim]

i realised the same with my Z3, the volume of the bottom speaker totally gone quiet after 3 notch down, whereas the top speaker will continue to have sound.

at max volume, the bottom speaker is definitely softer.

[Uliwooly]

Have you contacted Sony directly?

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/support/contact-us/

[Zacabeb]

I have a similar problem. The bottom speaker has lower fidelity, lacking both at the bottom end and high end, and the two speakers are not in proper phase. They're not fully out-of-phase either, suggesting neither is polarity reversed (unless they have dual windings or drivers for treble and they're reversed on one side).

All user-level "enhancements" are disabled.

It makes me wonder if they're using the same kind of drivers for both or if the top has a different driver, or if the way they're mounted and the interior of the phone affects the sound as it's channeled through the slits. Given the waterproofing they have to be sealed around the front where they meet the glass.

It could also be a software error, since the top driver is most likely EQ'd differently between when used for audio playback and when used for phone calls.

This is frustrating, especially if having to attempt an RMA with the store clerks who know zilch about audio and the problem I'm describing. I'd rather not play service ping-pong with a new phone until I can verify it's an isolated issue.

[Raul_Mkryan]

Same here. If this is a defect I'll be really frustrated... And the fact that no one from Sony has said anything about it just kills me...

[Zacabeb]

After looking at teardowns of the Xperia Z3 I have found that the drivers for the top and bottom are of different types, and offset a bit relative to the slits to make room for other components (such as the microphone at the bottom which needs to receive its sound through the same grille).

Both are driven by identical Class D amps from NXP though.

My speakers now seem to be at a relatively even loudness regardless of volume, but the frequency response differs with the top speaker having better low end and sounding cleaner. The bottom one has a thinner sound and more distortion.

It would have been awesome if they'd been able to use identical drivers for both, and place them symmetrically. I guess we'll find out in 2015 if they've managed to do so in the Z4. For us Z3 users though... it seems that it's a design compromise due to internal space.

[Raul_Mkryan]

I know that the speakers are different but how can that be the reason why notifications and ringtones are so low? It doesn't affect the sound quality while liatening to music so it's not a hardware limitation, it's software.