iPhone speaker too quiet? Stab it with needles

If you're like us, you feel more than a little annoyed with iPhone's speaker volume. Yes, whether you're waiting for a call, trying to have a speakerphone conversation, or just listening for sweet DTMF tones -- the thing kind of stinks. Perhaps it's time to take extreme measures, as some owners have resorted to... like sticking a needle through the holes in the speaker enclosure. Yes, according to daring "modders," it's possible to get a 40-percent increase in volume via this simple-yet-destructive trick of perforating the thin plastic which covers the speaker. Apparently, the phone gets so loud post-surgery that the volume is actually startling to some users. Feeling like you're brave enough to really void that warranty? Let us know the results!

[Thanks, Michael]

[Gooel @ Jan 18th 2008 11:33AM]

They suck anyway

[Onetruebill @ Jan 18th 2008 12:40PM]

I stabbed my Windows Vista machine with a needle and the devil came out of the hole.

[Ghen @ Jan 18th 2008 1:46PM]

I stabbed the hole of _____ with my ____ and ____ came out.

[Andrew @ Jan 18th 2008 2:59PM]

9 months later, you mean.

[paragraph @ Jan 18th 2008 11:34AM]

Old news much?

I remember hearing this back when the iPhone just came out...

[Don Wilson @ Jan 18th 2008 7:33PM]

"much"?

[euclid @ Jan 18th 2008 11:35AM]

I'd be more than willing to perform acupuncture on anyones iPhone. Let me know. My services come free of charge of course.

[John @ Jan 18th 2008 11:37AM]

Some one do it, document the procedure with photos and post please?

I'm not volunteering. But i'm sure some brave soul will!

[Prime81 @ Jan 18th 2008 11:37AM]

I get 99% of my sound out of the left speaker only. Is my phone busted or are they all that way? (Try it your self, cover up one side and then the other, if I cover the left I pretty much can't hear anything at all.

[Josh @ Jan 18th 2008 11:42AM]

That would be because the other side ISN'T a speaker. It is the Mic for speakerphone mode. Someone needs to pay more attention to the manual.

[Sage @ Jan 18th 2008 11:41AM]

Prime, it's supposed to be that way, left side is the speaker, right side is the mic.

[Jon @ Jan 18th 2008 11:41AM]

The speaker is only on the left side - the right is for the microphone...

I thought the same thing until I did a Google search on it.

- Jon

[matt @ Jan 18th 2008 11:42AM]

that's because there's only one speaker, the holes on the right are for the mic

[Prime81 @ Jan 18th 2008 11:42AM]

Thanks for the info :)

[UFBILLY @ Jan 18th 2008 11:43AM]

@prime81 - Same thing for me. Hell, I dont think ANY sound is coming out of the right speaker, if there even is a right speaker. If I cover up the right side I don't notice any volume decrease; however, if I cover up the left side the volume is almost muted.

[Fred @ Jan 18th 2008 12:02PM]

HOORAY FOR LITERACY!

[Reid @ Jan 18th 2008 6:59PM]

Hmm, never noticed that. Interesting. Just assumed both were speakers. I guess 2 speakers doesn't make much sense. Not like you get any stereo separation anyway :)

Probably not wise to stab the mic though.

And the idiot who claims he broke his is a troll, morons.

[RP @ Jan 18th 2008 10:15PM]

So should I poke a hole in the microphone too?

[Brandon Greske @ Jan 19th 2008 6:16AM]

so...1% of your sound is coming out out of the micropone then? I wish my mic played songs

[AlexTheSane @ Jan 18th 2008 11:40AM]

Anyone who wants their iPhone to be loud, I'll help you out by smashing it with a hammer. It'll be loud for a second.

[Blackster @ Jan 18th 2008 11:43AM]

jealous? ^^

[George Street King @ Jan 18th 2008 5:42PM]

Your so jealous of the iphone :/

[Velik @ Jan 18th 2008 12:41PM]

jealous? yeah, thats exactly it. we're so jealous, but then again... i know you feel the same way about my $180 mechanical pencil.

[Blackster @ Jan 18th 2008 3:26PM]

@velik:
i have no iphone btw ;)
just an oberservation ^^

[AlexTheSane @ Jan 18th 2008 4:53PM]

Yes I'm jealous that I don't own a device that I can afford that needs to be broken in order to work properly.

[Oliver @ Jan 18th 2008 11:40AM]

looks like the iPhone's taking a stab at acupuncture

[jimmywash @ Jan 18th 2008 11:41AM]

People who stab their iphones for louder speakers should shanked!

[Fred @ Jan 18th 2008 11:43AM]

deershanked

[jnelson @ Jan 20th 2008 9:20PM]

Hahaha. Euthanized, the old fashioned way!

[jookiemookie @ Jan 18th 2008 11:43AM]

Just tried it and I am PISSED! NO SOUND AT ALL NOW! THIS IS BS! IM GOING TO APPLE THEY BETTER REPLACE THIS!!!!!

[Fred @ Jan 18th 2008 11:44AM]

Seriously? I hope you're kidding man, when you explain that you poked needles into your phone they're gonna laugh you outta there. Try using all caps when you go in there, though. They may take care of you then.

[OneLove @ Jan 18th 2008 11:47AM]

He stabbed all the way through the speaker. lol.

[ClaMs @ Jan 18th 2008 11:52AM]

Really?

[looseinthedeuce @ Jan 18th 2008 11:52AM]

Ok, that's one for "no, don't do it." Anyone else?

[AdamY @ Jan 18th 2008 12:31PM]

If anyone had actually bothered to click the "Read" link you'd know that he's lying.

There is *NO* speaker behind those holes. There is a port that routes sound from the speaker itself.

[Anthony @ Jan 18th 2008 12:35PM]

Just don't say, "I poked holes in my phone & now it won't work."

You say, "I don't know. It no worky no more."

[andres @ Jan 18th 2008 1:35PM]

apple better replace your mistake, hmm, something sounds wrong about that

[ryan.sahb @ Jan 19th 2008 1:31AM]

Who stole my Sonics tickets? SOMEBODY STOLE MY SONICS TICKETS! THIS STINKS! THIS IS TOTAL BS! THIS IS-- oh, there they are. :D

[bhaity @ Mar 9th 2008 6:55AM]

WOOF! WOOF!

[SEAN MEYERS @ Jan 18th 2008 11:51AM]

You guys shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. You are going to destroy your speaker if you poke a hole in it.

[Frankie @ Jan 18th 2008 11:55AM]

The actual speak is really somewhere on the upper portion of the phone. The piece where you puncture the film is just a vent.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2388/2137269649_212973cf00.jpg

Though that film does serve a purpose. So if you don't want to risk having dust build up under the screen and stuff. I suggest that you don't go about on doing this operation.

[EdZ @ Jan 18th 2008 12:25PM]

Assuming the film is an actual speaker component, in addition to an increase in volume, you'll also get a decrease in sound quality (though those who feel a burning urge to play their music at full volume for the benefit of everyone in the vicinity rarely notice when it sounds like shit). Take the ER-6i for example. Each earbud comes with a filter, which is essentially a small plastic cylinder with a thin film over the top. When the film is intact, the headphones sound terrific. If it is clogged, they sound muffled. If it is pierced, they become louder and sound terrible. Of it is removed, they are even louder and sound nearly as bad as stock iPod earbuds.

[AdamY @ Jan 18th 2008 12:33PM]

You assume people, like you, are reading things on the internet.

If you had read the forum thread, you'd know that there wasn't a speaker behind the holes. It's a port that routes sound from the actual speaker...

[Magallanes @ Jan 18th 2008 11:55AM]

Perhaps it's time to take extreme measure ..... returns to SE, Nokia, Samsung or Motorola.

[Jason @ Jan 18th 2008 11:57AM]

I tried making speaker holes in my iTouch and now I'm bleeding

[caubeck @ Jan 18th 2008 12:35PM]

Have you "crossed your heart and hoped to die?" I believe those are the preliminary steps.

[Andrew @ Jan 18th 2008 8:10PM]

I have a friend who would fly into a rage if he heard you use the word "iTouch". I have one, by the way.

[nmmalone @ Jan 18th 2008 11:58AM]

do not stick things into your speakers, in general, they don't like getting prodded

[whatishalo? @ Jan 18th 2008 12:02PM]

I'd try it but I cannot find my iNeedle

[bigbenaugust @ Jan 18th 2008 12:04PM]

Macupuncture, anyone?