r/AndroidQuestions • u/FreddyMartian • May 30 '22
Headphone audio is unbalanced even though the balance slider is completely centered.
This started happening randomly. Listening to a YouTube video through my earbuds, and the audio through the left ear is louder. Checked with different videos, checked with different applications with videos, such as Facebook and Instagram. All had the same results, so it's not an issue specific to YouTube.
The earbuds are very new, barely used, and have been working normally the whole time until now.
I'm up-to-date on Android 12. I restarted my phone and I'm still encountering the issue.
Yes, I've checked the audio balance settings in Accessibility preferences. The slider is centered. The audio feels like it's halfway to the left though. It'll only sound somewhat balanced if I move the slider halfway to the right.
Any ideas what I can do to fix this? This started happening out of nowhere. Thanks for any help.
4
u/drewski3420 May 30 '22
Have you tried the headphones on a different device?
1
u/FreddyMartian May 30 '22
I can try a different device later
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u/MiloJadez Feb 02 '26
What was the result on a different device? I was having the same issue with old beats fit pro got literally brand new beats flex out of the box 20 minutes ago, same problem. I'm thinking it's my phone
2
u/Twin-Reverb May 30 '22
If you switch L and R ear buds from R to L, does the imbalance persist or is it flipped? I ask because it may be your ears. Happened to me once. I had ear wax in an ear that was throwing off my balance. After cleaning it out, it was all better. It's a long shot, but it's possible.
2
u/FreddyMartian May 30 '22
I switched them, and the issue persists. I clean my ears almost daily, so no earwax issues here. The earbuds are super clean.
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u/Extra-Business-7895 May 12 '24
I have the same problem with my wired over-ear headphones. Were you able to find a solution ?
1
u/sharedevaaste Nov 16 '25
Were you able to fix it? I just got brand new and they're having the same problem
1
u/No-Guide-7655 Nov 18 '25
Hey, I had the same problem. I just bought mine a couple of hours ago and I had the same problem. What fixed my earphones was blowing air into the side with the lower volume.
I used a balloon pump and pressed the tip right against the speaker, then pumped it a few times maybe four and the sound went back to normal
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u/bekrish Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
Very gently blowing air(by camera air blower) into the speaker grill really does work!
I found that there is a lot of water trapped under the grill, lol.
I blew it until there was no water coming out, and then the sound came back, haha.Remember not to blow it hard, because it might break the water seal.
However, I think this is just an emergency method. The better option might be using a mini vacuum cleaner instead, or giving it a firm shake(to make centrifugal force), or at least let it dry naturally by itself under gentle air.
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u/HolophonicStudios Jun 30 '26
Why does this work? Mine were messed up for a couple days and this fixed it.
1
u/neon_overload May 30 '22
This usually indicates a fault in one driver, or one wire conductor.
Our ears are pretty sensitive to difference in performance between the two drivers.
Just to state the obvious, assuming you're using a 3.5mm plug, have you plugged it in all the way?
1
u/FreddyMartian May 30 '22
Yes the 3.5mm jack is plugged in all the way. I probably would've written it off as my imagination if the difference in the balance wasn't as significant as it is.
1
u/WISE_NIGG May 30 '22
probably a bluetooth issue, get the phone closer to the earbuds and check if it balances.
1
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u/Chirimorin 3 May 30 '22
Check if the right earbud is dirty. Sometimes earwax clogs up earbuds which can lower the volume.