Poor audio quality over Bluetooth

[Stelrons]

My phone can find my car via Bluetooth but the audio quality is just awful. My previous phone managed this with no problems at all but the Z3 sounds like sweet wrappers.
I've gone through smart connect, used both Google and Sony's music players, tweaked levels and normalised/smartsound.
Did not expect this kinda of audio problem from something emblazoned with the Walkman insignia

[Uliwooly]

are the audio files 320kpbs MP3s?

[Stelrons]

Yes, there are a few m4u files but they're primarily mp3 from CD rips. All the files are as transfered from my previous phone (iPhone 5) using the Xperia transfer ap and provided cable. As I said, these same files were clear previously.

[Uliwooly]

What if you transfer the files directly from your iphone to your computer to your phone without PC Companion or Media Go nor Xperia transfer 

[Stelrons]

I will look at doing this. Luckily the transfer procedure is much less tedious than when running ios. While I investigate can you comment regarding the following?
1 Can you confirm that the phone is capable of quality wireless audio / that this is a "unique" occurence
2 Would the storage location have any impact? ie internal storage vs memory card (currently on internal storage)

[dquilon]

I can't content on number 1, but regarding number 2, sound quality should definitely not be affected by storage location. Digital music is data, and the player is reading it the same way regardless of location... It should sound the same even if it's located on a USB flash drive using an OTG cable...

[Stelrons]

So I've been out today and tried the following
- disassociated and reassociated the phone and car Bluetooth connection
- Uploaded tracks to the device via standard windows explorer drag and drop. CD rips, excellent quality

There was no difference in the audio quality at all. I can only surmise that either the phone is faulty or the design is flawed. Regardless, the handset is being returned as I have a 14 day returns window to navigate that falls over Xmas and new year.

Really thought this type of function would be a cake walk for Sony.

[cyril4]

I have similar problems with my brand new Xperia Z3 Compact and a Tunelink Home (see http://www.newpotatotech.com/TUNELINK_HOME/tunelink_home.html).

There are distortions which sound like high frequent dropouts and changes in playing speed. 

With my older tablet (Acer A701, Android 4.1) and the same sound files, the same player software and the same Tunelink Home device the sound quality is great.

Wifi on/off as well as reconnecting bluetooth connection does not change anything.