2013 SEL hands free issues-iPhone 4s

Whitecloud1

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
02 Mk4 w/ 250K+ . 2013 Passat SEL 45K+
Has anyone else had issues with the sound quality on the other end using the hands free with the iPhone?

The only people that seem to think it sounds "normal" are the dealership. I've had it in twice and both times they were able to synch their iphones without a problem.

How does it sound? It's been described as overly loud, distorted and just plain horrible. To be honest, I don't use even use one of the hands free because nobody can hear me with a decent sound.

HELP?!
 

Dismayed

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Location
Boston
TDI
2012 Passat SEL-Premium TDI
I've found that bluetooth is ok for voice, but awful for music. Overall I'm disappointed in the sound quality of the Fender audio system, regardless of source. The sound is brittle and over-emphasizes the treble.
 

Whitecloud1

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
02 Mk4 w/ 250K+ . 2013 Passat SEL 45K+
I'm glad to hear you guys are having great luck....

My next step is to call the dealership from the highway and see how well they hear me. Next week's schedule should give me plenty of windshield time.

Thanks for the input!
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
I'm glad to hear you guys are having great luck....

My next step is to call the dealership from the highway and see how well they hear me. Next week's schedule should give me plenty of windshield time.

Thanks for the input!
That's a great idea!

I've found that I have to close the windows and sunroof when I'm on the phone in the car because the wind noise is just too much for the system to deal with. That's to be expected, though.
 

Whitecloud1

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
02 Mk4 w/ 250K+ . 2013 Passat SEL 45K+
Good thinking...I've tried that and pointed the vents down to avoid aiming toward the roof(microphone)...

Thx
 
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Location
Huntington Beach, CA
TDI
2013 Jetta Sportwagen
Ever since I bought my 2013 Sportwagen, I've had the same audio quality issues while calling via Bluetooth. Tonight on my drive home, I called two different people that complained that the quality was poor and very muffled on their end.

I was driving with the sunroof and all windows closed at very low speeds (5-10mph).

The quality on my end was perfect. No issues there.

I'm wondering if there is an upgrade for the mic or some other tweak to fix this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Location
Huntington Beach, CA
TDI
2013 Jetta Sportwagen
I called VW customer support in my way end to work and as I was describing the Bluetooth issues I've been having the CS rep asked me to repeat my concern. Proof in the pudding as they say.

She put me on hold for a quick minute and he said there was no software update in the works. But if everyone calls in the share their same concerns, that would help the cause.

Please call VW if you are experiencing the same call quality issues.

1-800-822-8987




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

compu_85

Gadget Guy
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
... None :S
I called a voicemail I administer today on my way home. Here are the recordings:

http://compu85.homeip.net/stuff/VW/bluetooth_test/voicemsg1.wav

That was made going about 25 mph. I was speaking in a normal voice, and opened and closed the sunroof.

http://compu85.homeip.net/stuff/VW/bluetooth_test/voicemsg2.wav

This was made going about 55 over different pavement types. At the end traffic came to a sudden stop... hence my comment. I'm surprised the system didn't pick up the sound of the bumps I was going over.

I'd be interested to have those who are having trouble with their bluetooth give my voicemail a call and make a recording for comparison. Shoot me a PM and I'll give you the number.

-J
 
Last edited:

40X40

Experienced
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Location
Kansas City area, MO
TDI
2013 Passat SEL Premium
I called a voicemail I administer today on my way home. Here are the recordings:

http://compu85.homeip.net/stuff/VW/bluetooth_test/voicemsg1.wav

That was made going about 25 mph. I was speaking in a normal voice, and opened and closed the sunroof.

http://compu85.homeip.net/stuff/VW/bluetooth_test/voicemsg2.wav

This was made going about 55 over different pavement types. At the end traffic came to a sudden stop... hence my comment. I'm surprised the system didn't pick up the sound of the bumps I was going over.

I'd be interested to have those who are having trouble with their bluetooth give my voicemail a call and make a recording for comparison. Shoot me a PM and I'll give you the number.

-J
What kind of phone were you using... I only listened to #2 and it sounds fine.

I wonder if people are raising their voice TOO LOUD resulting in CLIPPING by the AGC? This can cause a muffled audio result.

Bill
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
What kind of phone were you using... I only listened to #2 and it sounds fine.
I wonder if people are raising their voice TOO LOUD resulting in CLIPPING by the AGC? This can cause a muffled audio result.
Bill
Jason is using an iPhone 4. I am using an iPhone 4S and I will post voicemail recordings at some point for a comparison.
 

Softrockrenegade

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Location
Howellbama, NJ
TDI
None...2011 Golf DSG (replaced by VW W/) 2013 Passat SE 6M(bought back) Current 2017 sportwagen TSI 4Motion.
Just used mine for the first time and it works great with my iPhone 5 . Love how the track info shows up and can be controlled via touchscreen unlike my 2011 golf .
 

40X40

Experienced
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Location
Kansas City area, MO
TDI
2013 Passat SEL Premium
Just used mine for the first time and it works great with my iPhone 5 . Love how the track info shows up and can be controlled via touchscreen unlike my 2011 golf .
Is this iPod track info via bluetooth or do you have to plug in the phone? Is the plug-in in the center console near your elbow?

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Bill
 

compu_85

Gadget Guy
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
... None :S
The track info works over bluetooth on Lawsons' 4S running latest OS. My phone is running an outdated OS and doesn't seem to have this feature.

-J
 

Softrockrenegade

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Location
Howellbama, NJ
TDI
None...2011 Golf DSG (replaced by VW W/) 2013 Passat SE 6M(bought back) Current 2017 sportwagen TSI 4Motion.
Is this iPod track info via bluetooth or do you have to plug in the phone? Is the plug-in in the center console near your elbow?
Thanks for the feedback, guys.
Bill
Yes via Bluetooth ! My passat se doesn't have a cable in the console like my golf did . I prefer the Bluetooth way more as it does the same thing without having to plug it in .
 

Whitecloud1

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
02 Mk4 w/ 250K+ . 2013 Passat SEL 45K+
Thanks for finding the thread. It seems to make sense....
I'm going to try it this weekend and see what happens.
 

markitzero

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Location
Issaquah, WA
TDI
2012 Touareg TDI Lux, 2012 Passat TDI SEL
I've found most European bluetooth hands free telephone audio sucks. Sucked in my Audi Q7, BMW 328xi and still sucks in my Touareg and Passat. People complain that can't hear me or there is too much background noise. If it makes you guys feel any better the Toaureg is worse than the Passat... wife called me the other day and it's just plain unusable... even at low speeds.

By comparison, my friend just bought a new Ram pickup... at 70 mph on the freeway it sounds like he's sitting in his house... absolutely no noise.

I disconnected mine and rarely use it.
 

TDI2000Zim

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Location
NJ
TDI
VW hat meinen '14 Passat TDiSE getötet.
I've found most European bluetooth hands free telephone audio sucks. Sucked in my Audi Q7, BMW 328xi and still sucks in my Touareg and Passat. People complain that can't hear me or there is too much background noise. If it makes you guys feel any better the Toaureg is worse than the Passat... wife called me the other day and it's just plain unusable... even at low speeds.

By comparison, my friend just bought a new Ram pickup... at 70 mph on the freeway it sounds like he's sitting in his house... absolutely no noise.

I disconnected mine and rarely use it.
It is the 'radio'. VW is not known for having the best 'radios'.

Japanese cars provide the best 'radio' units, followed by Ford. VW is down there with GM.
 

TomB

Veteran Member
Joined
May 1, 2003
Location
Cle Elum, Washington/Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2015 Audi TDI Prestige Sport
I've found most European bluetooth hands free telephone audio sucks. Sucked in my Audi Q7, BMW 328xi and still sucks in my Touareg and Passat. People complain that can't hear me or there is too much background noise. If it makes you guys feel any better the Toaureg is worse than the Passat... wife called me the other day and it's just plain unusable... even at low speeds.

By comparison, my friend just bought a new Ram pickup... at 70 mph on the freeway it sounds like he's sitting in his house... absolutely no noise.

I disconnected mine and rarely use it.
x2. I use my handsfree device instead. Gave up on the VW system for this.
 

Whitecloud1

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
02 Mk4 w/ 250K+ . 2013 Passat SEL 45K+
Sorry to rain on your parade but the unit in the (mostly German) VW, with the (American company) "Fender" name on it, and made by a Japanese company (Japanese) Matsu****a, is typical for what most manufacturers do.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe it's Matsu****a....and they know electronics.
Because the system they put in drives the phone, nav system, and audio, the system is dreadfully slow. The engineers have no excuses because of today's processing speeds.
I must admit though, that the "sound" from the Fender system is impressive! They built enough flexibility into it, that most of us can make it work for any type of music.

The hands free is a problem(but not for all of us) and I'm hoping the fix of flipping the microphone will work. If not, I'll keep hounding the dealership and try..........

If I can get the hands free taken care of.....I'm one step closer to another car I'll take to 250K+.

A couple changes and I think they would have built one heck of a system.



Tim

It is the 'radio'. VW is not known for having the best 'radios'.

Japanese cars provide the best 'radio' units, followed by Ford. VW is down there with GM.
 

compu_85

Gadget Guy
Joined
Sep 29, 2003
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
... None :S
I would check that the headunit isn't made my Delphi, but I have also heard that the amp and speakers are Panasonic.

-J
 

TDI2000Zim

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Location
NJ
TDI
VW hat meinen '14 Passat TDiSE getötet.
Sorry to rain on your parade but the unit in the (mostly German) VW, with the (American company) "Fender" name on it, and made by a Japanese company (Japanese) Matsu****a, is typical for what most manufacturers do.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe it's Matsu****a....and they know electronics.
Because the system they put in drives the phone, nav system, and audio, the system is dreadfully slow. The engineers have no excuses because of today's processing speeds.
I must admit though, that the "sound" from the Fender system is impressive! They built enough flexibility into it, that most of us can make it work for any type of music.

The hands free is a problem(but not for all of us) and I'm hoping the fix of flipping the microphone will work. If not, I'll keep hounding the dealership and try..........

If I can get the hands free taken care of.....I'm one step closer to another car I'll take to 250K+.

A couple changes and I think they would have built one heck of a system.



Tim
Matsuchita Electronics is PANASONIC's parent company. Not a bad name nor a bad technology source (in fact, in HDTVs, they are awesome).

Only Sony and Pioneer are better in car stereos, but not too much so.

Whatever happened to Blaupunkt?
 
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