yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wutang200:
This is very true. Best to sell your phones or get a full refund like I did by constantly complaining about the issue to them.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sinkot:
Got the same issue, people hear me like i'm under water. Flashed franco.Kernel + FKU app and changed mic gain to -20. Problem almost gone, still present, but kinda better. -20 is max value in FKU app, any other way to decrease gain to -30 or less?
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Edge330:
What is FKU app?
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
Franco's kernel app
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
I'd welcome any input you have that can describe how a hardware microphone can produce these symptoms without software. I'm not talking conjecture. Id like you to use your scientific knowledge of sound technology to support this argument please

To elaborate on this request, I'm asking given the physical make up of a microphone, please describe what physical fault could cause the symptoms many have described.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
I am not technical, but often the simplest explanation tends to be the right one. It's been a problem since the phone was released and Google are aware, but refuse to acknowledge it in any way. Plus all Android updates have never mentioned it either.

It's basic common sense. If it was software it would be resolved either by Google or someone on here... And that's not happened. You fill in the blanks.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
The fact that no one has acknowledged it or fixed it does not make it a hardware fault and nothing there has anything to do with common sense.

A microphone is very simple hardware. It's physical design has not changed in many, many years

You'd need more than that to prove it was a hardware fault. I can't think of any scenario where essentially a reversed speaker could cause the symptoms described.

https://microphones.audiolinks.com/microphones.shtml

Above is the design of a microphone. Very simple science applies. It does not seem possible that the symptoms described can be caused by a physical fault

If anyone can use science to prove me wrong, I am open minded however, no one has managed that yet, presumably because it can't possibly be a hardware fault

Edit.. And just regarding this statement.

The belief is that the noise cancellation algorithm is to blame. Im not sure if you're aware but hundreds of the world's greatest mathematicians spent years trying to decrypt the enigma machine in world war 2. A much simpler task in comparison. Why would a forum of amateur developers fare better on a more complex project than the best of the best?

Essentially what I am doing is challenging everyone here to show how a diaphragm and 2 wires can cause an oscillating hiss or underwater bubbling sound.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] meangreenie:
2 wires and a diaphragm... lol

goes off to make a microphone out of a Pringles lid and 2 coat hangers... no other parts or decades of experience needed.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
Hence the inclusion of the word "essentially" in that sentence ;)
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
Lol! +1

Look, mr microphone expert, why don't you fix it then?

There's a bunch of really smart software developers on here, many who are perhaps leagues ahead of the college grads at Google. Take cyanogen for example. They can't fix it and they pretty much built their own custom version of Android.

Google have refused to acknowledge it despite literally hundreds of complaints on their G+ support forum., which is big company talk for "let's ignore it as we can't fix it" if it was a simple software fix, don't you think it would be fixed?

Even Franco who has his kernel and other apps can't comment or fix it.. And he works for Google in their Android development department.

Ever wonder that the fact that the low price of the N5 might indicate cheap components/corners cut? Same issue on the N4.... Another LG device. I wonder why Google has canned their Nexus program and not using LG ? Problem doesn't exist on other devices ( HTC etc) and they have simple mics.

No disrespect, I'll give you a $1000 if you can completely resolve it, so enough posting pics from RadioShack and let's see you fix it since you are so convinced that it's not hardware!
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
Who said it was a simple software fix?? Its obviously not simple.

...and by the way, algorithms are mathematical and have nothing to do with being able to code software. You could be the best code genius in the world and still be unable to fix a mathematical problem, particularly when google haven't provided the calculations for anyone to work on.

If you think it's hardware, prove it. Your ridiculous notion that because it isn't fixed does not prove its hardware. If you're so convinced it's hardware, put your money where your mouth is and prove it...
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bblzd:
If you're serious offer a bounty and maybe some intrepid coder will take you up on that offer. I have to agree with Rootsu though that there is nothing indicating a hardware issue and everything indicating it's a noise cancellation (software) issue.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
I played a video to a sound engineer friend and asked him if he thought it was software or hardware and he said it's software.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] flyboy_9:
Not that I'm taking sides. But the software argument holds a lot more weight. Calling the phone cheap and saying the Nexus program has been scrapped really isn't helping to prove a hardware issue.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] coolguy949:
I doubt it's hardware simply because the mic sounds great in 3rd party recording apps that allow the disabling of the NC mic. The issue is the NC algorithm is not tuned properly, canceling out your own voice especially when in a call.

Google is not fixing it. They just keep telling people to hard reset. I've been following it since November. The thread is huge but I don't know if they really think it's an issue. It's just not on their radar. It also doesn't help that most people only use their phone for data and not voice.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wutang200:
I've been getting quite a few PM's from people here on getting Google to issue a full refund.

You can refer to one of my tickets (ref: 3-8989000003204) if it helps. This is one of many that Google admitted they couldn't fix my issues and offered me a full refund instead of investigating and providing me with a fixed phone.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
Fair enough. I think the previous post is the best solution. I'm going to use the ticket number and get a full refund like he has. I like the phone, but when one relies on its #1 functionality (yes, that talking to other people part) to actually work, and it doesn't a lot of the time - huge fail.

It may well be software, but when a company sits on their ass and does nothing to fix an issue plaguing thousands of others, they don't deserve my business.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if enough people start calling in mass demanding refunds then if it is a software issue, just watch how quickly an update appears!

Until that happens they won't do squat.... And they are just happily waiting out warranty periods.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
I agree, whatever the issue proves to be, it clearly exists and shouldn't be ignored. I hope you get your refund
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
Cheers. I've already logged a bunch of calls with Google about the issue so I'm not worried about getting a full refund - thanks to the above poster, they can't give one refund and not another for exactly the same issue that is heavily documented and not resolved by a newer phone. A new M8 is in my near future.

It would still be awesome to read about mass refunds on a prominent phone website and watching them scrabbling to provide an update. People forget how much power they actually have when they come together and hit the only place that hurts big business - profit and reputation, the latter being intimately tied to the former. It just takes a rumor that someone heard from a friend about how Nexus phones have irreparable faults that make phone calls a hit or miss situation to reach critical mass and their product tanks. In hindsight that's most likely why they are scrapping the Nexus phone program and calling it 'Silver' to cut the cord. They want to distance themselves from the 'Nexus' name, but I bet the 'Silver' program is essentially the same thing just under a new name that most new phone buyers won't associate with Nexus. Marketing is a wonderful way to cover mud.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nexus5-32GB:
Hi guys, I was having these issues since I got my first Nexus 5 in November - never had problem with sound in videos, only calls...

I have tried different roms and was tweaking the phone in build.prop + some app (cant remember the app name for microphone volume boost)

No luck, got a replacement from Google, the calls where perfect... for first two weeks only, do not know why... Factory reset did not help.

I was playing again, no luck again... Got second replacement, made my first phone call and sound was bad straight away, got phone updated to 4.4.3, still same. Unusable...

Friend told me there is new rom ported for Nexus 5 from Xiaomi, called MIUI. Link for it here http://en.miui.com/download-232.html ( I AM USING week old 4.6.6 version!!!)

After install it, the problems are gone. Have tried many phone calls and the only problem with bad sound on my or other side is the due to weak signal.

People with Xiaomi phones using this rom reporting "tubby" sound when they make phone calls (same as our problem is), they had no problem before, so it shows, there is something set different than ussualy, I do not know what it is, I only know it works for me :) And I am not going to update as they have fixed this issue in latest version :D

Give it a go and tell me if it helps for you :good:
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Sagar Khanapurkar:
Even I'm having the same problem, should I go for a refund from google ?
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
Yes, and tell everyone you know with N5 and same problem to demand a refund! Google needs to feel pain.

---------- Post added at 08:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 PM ----------

Any chance you could provide the actual link for the ROM you think fixes for the N5? The link you provided just goes to a page that has nothing for the N5, let alone the version you mention. I hate MIUI ROMs but worth a try.

Any developers want to take a look at this and see what's potentially the 'fix'?
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wutang200:
You don't know if it's an algorithm issue for sure, not until Google's engineers can properly look at it and confirm it. So far, none of the devs have managed to fix it so in my eyes, it's looking like a hardware issue.

That is the whole thing though, Google completely refuse to acknowledge it!

Time to get a refund and and pretend you never owned this defective phone lol.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lukesan:
Ok Google denies me to get a refund.

I honestly think we need to start opening cases and share the numbers so we can use it.

Mine is 5-4430000003603

I will copy/paste the answer below.

Before that a couple of things. Purchased in January and found a thread here on XDA and on the official Google forums.

Then some guy from Google in January named Paul asked us NOT to rma the devices but to wait so they actually know there is a problem.

After 4 months I got tired of waiting opened a ticket and Google started to play with me. Asking to RMA etc even when I told them it would not fix the issue, asking where it was purchased etc etc etc.

.

Since I will be going on holiday in 1.5 weeks time and wanted to purchase a Note 3 which has decent recording I got this as an answer.

---

Hi xxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting Google.

.... no refund since you have the device since January.... blablabla

----

I feel betrayed by Google since their spokesman told us to wait. Probably this whole thing is against the EU law since the product does not comply to what they are selling. They acknowledged that there was an issue and I do not consider this an acceptable window to get it fixed.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] coolguy949:
You may need to do what others have done and just keep getting replacement devices until Google finally offers you a refund. I was lucky enough to still have my buyers remorse period since I was exchanging within 15 days of first getting the phones. I ended up with a full refund minus shipping charges.

Now I sit and wait with my Galaxy S4 to see if Google fixes this or I can get my hands on a OnePlus.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
The algorithm is a theory. If it is the algorithm at fault, it's unlikely a dev here could fix it... You'd need to look at that from scratch and that's not possible with AOSP.

---------- Post added at 06:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:48 PM ----------

This is what my sound engineer friend believes

Me - There is a bug on the Nexus 5 phone that has been attributed to a problem with the noise cancellation algorithm used. When on calls or recording video, there is an oscillating hiss that sounds a bit like you're recording in a moving car with the window open or even sometimes, bubbling underwater

If we cover the noise cancellation microphone, it goes away

It has been argued by some that because it has not been fixed it is clearly a hardware problem.

My question to you is, can it be proved?

Him - Not familiar with the phone but ill tell you what i know about noise cancellation. If you have two mics ( one voice + background noise, one away from the mouth so it primarily get background ) then reverse the phase on one of the mics then this happens..... background is cancelled ( background + reverse phase background = much less background) whilst the voice is left largely untouched. Many modern mics on phones also have dynamic range compensation of some sort to even out the really loud and really soft sounds. It sounds like ( and this is a guess ) that these two systems could be conflicting in some way to produce the artefacts that you are describing. This would be a software issue.

Me - What I'm trying to identify. How could a microphone hardware fault cause this

Whats the "science" behind describing that as a hardware fault?

Him - Do you mean the splosshy sound?

Me - Yeah. I can't think how a microphone could cause that from a conversion of soundwaves to voltage using only the physical components as an example (ie without software)

Him - The splosshy sound is encode artefacts. Bad conversion from analogue to a lossy format.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lukesan:
[MENTION=2872010]rootSU[/MENTION], it's clearly a software issue. Download CineDroid, insert headphones. Top left click preview ... then you get the sound what you had on 4.4.2. and now press the button above 'disable AGC' ... this is the sound we should get on our recordings.

I am an electronic engineer who worked in a audio production studio and designed audio processing hardware myself.

Clearly a AGC fast attack release issue, so no time set on release and attack and you get the exact same issue.

Now what they did in 4.4.3 is definitely an encoding problem. I already switched off the noise cancelling mike in the XML file but it hardly changes anything.

We should find an app that just bypasses this crap. Not to say that I dislike AGC if properly implemented and the possibility to switch it off.

I am in no mood to keep rma'ing stuff to get my money back. I'd rather have Google just to read what was promised and to act like any reputable company should do.

I've had a load, maybe like 20 in total, phones for which Samsung was the best. Plastic, yes, but never had any issue.

I do not want to be their tester for stuff they release. Any Q&A Google? I heard the issue in the first recording I made in 4.4.3 so I wonder if they hire a deaf developer to fix the issue?
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danarama:
I have no doubt
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wutang200:
Just do whatever you need to do in order to get Google to issue you a full refund like I did and buy another phone.

If you want a phone that excels in noise cancellation, then the Moto X is your answer. It has 3 mics in total which 2 are dedicated for noise cancellation. Even when I'm talking to someone in my Nissan Silvia Spec R which is quite loud when being driven. Still manages to cancel out all that cabin noise.

I've never in my life owned a phone that's ever been able to do that.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lukesan:
Forget it. Just got the no way again.

They keep telling I had the phone since January, which is correct, and that I only had 15 days ... why did they tell me then I had to wait for a fix?

I am getting very angry right now.

Also this support (kuch kuch) person said that this was a new issue and that I needed to put in the android issue tracker. Well well, since when am I a beta tester for Google. Fill it out yourself I thought by myself.

I emailed back that he had to reply to all my questions and not the ones where he thought he could get away with.

For all EU users here who are having this issue ....read the EU Guarantee rights. Also very handy to know your rights for other warranty stuff, since I had to use it a couple of times with success.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wutang200:
I can feel your pain. But the only option they ever gave me was a replacement. I didn't even get told about logging it in an issue tracker or to wait for a future update, NOTHING.

Before buying another Nexus type phone, I think I'll do plenty of research and wait until several users have the device. This way, I'll know for sure about big issues like this.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Globespy:
Dude, if you are in EU you should absolutely follow up. Here in the US our laws are all paid for by the big corporations to look after them and screw the consumer. In EU that is not the case and you absolutely have a case if you ensure that you gather your information wisely. The fact that Google played you by telling you to wait/RMA yet all the while knowing there was no fix is deception. I'm in the same position, no refund despite logging over 5 calls on the subject but without a class action it's useless even trying here as Google's attorneys would just spin their wheels for years and the cost of legal fees would become impossible for a $400 phone. That's how it works here. It's a crooked system here.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lukesan:
Yup, I pointed them out to the EU laws and am now waiting for an update.

I really find it 'funny' that they now say 'the issue is fixed and it's a new issue'.

The guy was actually also contradicting himself since he wrote that the N5 was not entitled for warranty since my colleague bought it for me. Unfortunately for him I found a quote from another Google employee that it was transferable and now all of a sudden he can transfer warranty.

Maybe you should also post your ticket number so we have some solid evidence and can help each other . You guys can surely use mine.

I hate it when these companies are feeling powerful and they act as they are above the law.

Must say that this is one of the worst companies I have had to deal with (HTC was another one).

I had to call Samsung once for a family member who is not a geek like we are. They escalated the matter since the phone was about 2 months old and a swollen batt was not the way to go. A day later a new batt was delivered including a nice excuse letter from the person dealing with the case.

Ok, that is a hardware issue but we are talking about the source of Android, developers paradise. Look at what Franco and other devs here are able to do .... fix stuff that Google is supposed to fix, or even should not be present 1 month after a release of a phone
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nathan-NL:
I am keeping track of this thread: https://productforums.google.com/fo...ooter#!topic/nexus/kUrmrlzYJ_o[101-125-false]

Maybe you guys can contribute to it as well. I returned my phone some time ago, this issue is too big to deal with. Now using my Nexus 4 again, which isn't perfect, but it is actually usable unlike the Nexus 5.

I had it all the time as well, but it seemed worse when there (almost) wasn't any background noise. But then again, with background noise even then the call quality was less than mediocre.

4.4.3 didn't fix it for me. At all.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lukesan:
Ow boy, this is a basic function of a phone, not even a smartphone. Wonder if that is also the reason why my wife didn't hear me when I was calling her when I had a temp car from the garage which was noisy.

I am actually now starting to use my Note 1 again, full time, since today and to be honest, ok a lot slower, but it works like it should.

Other than rooted and lower dpi nothing was changed on that thing.

Funny thing yesterday evening when Google now showed a webpage with Nexus 5 problems. Seems some people can't even get a steady GPS lock.

Someone from another board sent me a link with photo's, videoclips, gps test from a $151 Xiaomi red 1s phone. Ok no 4G on that thing but everything that he sent me was .... wow. Steady video with good audio. GPS with, and this is a first time that I see this, GPS, Glonass and the Chinese sats! Dual sim which is extremely handy when you travel abroad.

I'd rather have that phone for the moment than the N5
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bblzd:
I can also show you an N5 that gets fast GPS lock and has working voice calls. Sorry to hear you're experiencing these issues but most people are not.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lukesan:
I did not complain about a GPS lock at all. Mine is perfect since I use it everyday.

That voice thing was a one off since I was driving another car, but I can imagine it happening again in a noisy car. The N5 has 1 cancellation microphone ... Moto X 2 ... Note 3 also 2

The thing about the bad microphone quality ... just everyone has it. I tested one from a colleague here yesterday who was not aware ... exactly the same issue.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bblzd:
99% of my calls are unaffected though I would agree that everyone's mic is affected to some degree. Not sure what the deciding factor is but I would assume it's background noise and certain voice tones that can give the voice cancellation algorithm trouble.
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] raymckenz:
Nexus 5 mic issue fix

found a fix here....i dont know how long it'll work but oh well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5jGeo3wN4

That dudes explained it better

Works with my Google nexus 5 16GB all stock
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] deakelem:
i dont think thats a fix for the nexus 5 problems, those old nexus S's used to get confused and think you had a external headset with mic plugged in so ultimately turning off the built in mic and viceversa
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nathan-NL:
Please sign this petition everyone: http://www.change.org/petitions/google-fix-microphone-issues-on-nexus-5-phones#share
[Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wutang200:
Someone has created a petition as per link below. Doubt it'll prompt Google to do anything about the issue but I've signed it if it makes a difference for you all.

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/google-fix-microphone-issues-on-nexus-5-phones

EDIT: Sorry didn't see your post Nathan.

---------- Post added at 12:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 AM ----------

LOL that's not a fix at all! The issue cannot be fixed by any developer or app. It has to be fixed by Google :silly: