Android Auto/Google Assistant audio quality issues

[IndyStinger]

Turned in my 2015 Sonata about 2 months ago and got me a Stinger Premium AWD w/Drivewise. No issues at all in 3 years using Android Auto in the Sonata. Infotainment system is virtually identical to the Sonata, so I figured it would be a breeze to set up. For the most part, that's been true. Music plays fine through AA in the Stinger, but whenever I use the voice commands or navigation through AA, the Google Assistant response has such poor audio quality that it's difficult to understand. Disconnect AA and use straight Bluetooth or the AUX input and it's fine. Connect AA again and use a voice command, and it's back to poor audio quality. If one considers the music played through AA to be CD quality, the Google Assistant voice sounds like listening to mono AM radio over a landline telephone.

Music, podcasts, and audiobooks through any of the available apps sound perfect. It's just the Google Assistant voice that has this extremely poor quality. It's not necessarily a showstopper, but it's annoying to the point that I use it less often than I used to.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm using a Google Pixel XL.

Thanks,
Joey

 

[Ucinn]

No, it has been fine with my AA using Samsung S8

 

[SnazZ]

Turned in my 2015 Sonata about 2 months ago and got me a Stinger Premium AWD w/Drivewise. No issues at all in 3 years using Android Auto in the Sonata. Infotainment system is virtually identical to the Sonata, so I figured it would be a breeze to set up. For the most part, that's been true. Music plays fine through AA in the Stinger, but whenever I use the voice commands or navigation through AA, the Google Assistant response has such poor audio quality that it's difficult to understand. Disconnect AA and use straight Bluetooth or the AUX input and it's fine. Connect AA again and use a voice command, and it's back to poor audio quality. If one considers the music played through AA to be CD quality, the Google Assistant voice sounds like listening to mono AM radio over a landline telephone.

Music, podcasts, and audiobooks through any of the available apps sound perfect. It's just the Google Assistant voice that has this extremely poor quality. It's not necessarily a showstopper, but it's annoying to the point that I use it less often than I used to.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm using a Google Pixel XL.

Thanks,
Joey

I have the same phone and have noticed this issue. You might want to try enabling USB Debugging to see if it makes a difference. I think it resolved this issue for me in the past, but since then a lot has changed (9.0 released, various other now-resolved AA issues...) and I haven't been paying attention to this issue lately.

One other thing related to this is that it seems all audio played through AA is of lower fidelity than over BT. I haven't done any testing to confirm this. It just seems to be a lower bitrate or have a reduced frequency range vs. AA.

Edit: FWIW (which isn't much in this context,) I have the same exact car/trim level and options as you too.

 

[IndyStinger]

You might want to try enabling USB Debigging to see if it makes a difference.

I will try this on my way home from work tonight and see if I notice anything. I also haven't accepted the 9.0 update yet, so I might be able to test that hypothesis as well.

 

[AV8R]

The problem is you’re using a pixel phone!

 

[Dubbaduba]

I tried AA for the 1st time this morning on a Note 8 and it worked well.

 

[AV8R]

I tried AA for the 1st time this morning on a Note 8 and it worked well.

Its a Samsung thats why.....lol

 

[Tobstertx3]

No problems with Google Pixel 2 and I’ve been using AA since I got the car.

 

[AV8R]

Korean hands free

USA handsfree

 

[AV8R]

Regardless of the phone type (and I was joking about google and samsung phones @SnazZ ) there is often connection issues with any car. The hyundai systems are better from my point of view but i dont run my whole life thru a phone, i use a usb and use hands free on the phone. Hopefully improvements will make the different phones run better.

 

[tofu]

I've experienced the same thing, with a OnePlus One (on Nougat) and a OnePlus 5T (on Oreo).

I haven't updated firmware in the car yet though, so it might have been patched.