SONY ES-9000ES POOR PHONE VOICE QUALITY (MIC)

Just installed the Sony ES-9000ES and its amazing from a Apple Car Play (Wireless), and sound quality for music (parametric EQ), but the microphone quality is getting complaints from many people I call who instantly hear a drop in voice quality. I've tried adjusting the Maestro Input Gain and changing the cabin size, but no significant change.

Didn't know if anyone else had the same experience or a way to correct the issue.

Thank you and Cheers,
Jay

 

I've been having the same issue but have not had time to monkey with it yet, you're not alone! My initial thought was maybe it's a voltage issue that can't be overcome via gain, no idea if this is accurate/truthful in the slightest but I'm wondering if it's not something like the factory mic is 6 volts and the aftermarket is 12 volts. I know for backup cameras there's sometimes 6/12v differences and have pondered whether or not that's the case with the mics. I know the mic is a direct wire from the mic to back of the head unit so idk how a voltage difference would occur, but clearly something is amiss.

 

This is concerning to hear. I've just recently pulled the trigger on one of these Sony headunits as well and am waiting for delivery.

I've read plenty of posts about trouble with being able to reuse the stock microphone after replacing headunit, but didn't realize there could be problems with aftermarket deck + mic.

If mine has problems I may also be interested in any solution or debugging ideas.

 

I'm hesitant to put the blame on Sony with this one. I have a Sony 7000 series in my M3, and get no complaints on mic volume. What I DON'T have is the Maestro. Are you using the Tundra factory mic via Maestro, or have you plugged in the Sony mic directly into the back of the Sony hu?

 

Sony mic plugged into back of head unit directly which is why I don't see how there could be a voltage issue, but I'm using a Maestro and wondering if it's somehow impacting/interfacing with the factory mic circuitry which in turn affects the Sony mic.

 

idk how easy it is to get to the back of the hu on the tundras, but you could try unplugging the HU mic and see if the factory mic works. and idk about the newer sony's, but some HU's also have a built in mic on the HU, just a pinhole on the front, and it tends to sound better.

 

Factory mic won't work with aftermarket head units due to a voltage issue, I think someone's been looking into how to fix it but I haven't seen a confirmed update on how to make it work. I'm wondering if the quality control on the mic's themselves isn't the issue, possible both me and OP got duds. The included mic is a cheap little one like this:

$10 Microphone Car Mic Compatible for Sony XAV-712BT, XAV-AX100,XAV-AX1000,Xplode XA-MC10,DSX-S300BTX DSX-S310BTX MEX-BT5700U MEX-BT4700 MEX-BT5700U MEX-BT3900U XNV-660BT XNV-770BT XAV-72BT XAV-62BT

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XK8BTG3

 

The Head Unit itself is terrific, and Trail Grid Pro was amazing. Love the audio quality, but CarPlay Phone (voice) quality is terrible.

I used the aftermarket microphone mount from Trail Grid Pro, worked great, with the Sony microphone.

I am using Maestro
I am using the Sony provided OEM microphone included with the ES-5000ES connected directly to the Head Unit (HU)

The factory microphone was removed, and I installed the Sony microphone (mic) in its place to keep an OEM look.

I'd have to take the center console apart again, annoying, but not hard. I'll contact Trail Grid Pro and/or Sony and see if that capability / feature exists - thank you!

100% - I've tried EVERYTHING I could find on the internet this evening with my son volunteering several hours to do A/B setting tests as I took one step/action at a time. No change.
Played with every setting and no major change.
Still getting constant complaints on call quality.

 

This is known carplay issue with aftermarket head units. There is a member here @IIonPilgrimg who has been trying to troubleshoot and successfully did so one a first gen I believe. This has been discussed at length on many audio forums and car forums……you are not alone. And I am afraid there isn’t an “easy” fix.

 

He's been attempting to use the factory mic with aftermarket head units from my understanding. In our case, the factory mic is replaced with the included aftermarket one that plugs directly into the back of the head unit. In essence it seems like the mic gain is not able to be set high enough on our head units.

Does anyone know if something like this would work connected in reverse:

$14 Sheiaier Portable 3.5mm Headphone Amplifier Two-Stage Gain Switch for MobilePhone & PC 3.5mm Stereo Audio Input Out, Gray

Amazon.com: Sheiaier Portable 3.5mm Headphone Amplifier Two-Stage Gain Switch for MobilePhone & PC 3.5mm Stereo Audio Input Out, Gray : Electronics
It's USB powered so it should be feasible to grab power from one of the factory USB slots via an adapter in back or push the USB port into the dash and cover with a blank, plug aftermarket mic into the input side, grab a 3.5mm male to male cord to plug in from headphone amp to back of head unit. Might be wishful thinking lol.

 

I just did the Apple 18.2.1 update on the iPhone, that and all the things I've done have made it "better", but not good. At least now people can tolerate the audio quality. Still utterly dissapointed.
I'm pinging apples website and going to call Wed to bring it to their attention or at least reinforce the issue. They can fix this.

Agreed, my old Alpine could adjust Gain, Directivity, etc. I don't see that feature other than S/M/L cabin (Sony) and -/+ (Maestro) input

 

It is my rudimentary understanding that the issue lies with the aftermarket head unit and the maestro harness......for some reason there is a voltage difference or impedance that is "proprietary" to factory units that isn't able to be replicated in the aftermarket units. Admittedly, I am not an electrical engineer but have researched enough to know that this is an issue that the majority experience to varying degrees. Some head units offer more features to play with gain, etc but I have had three cars and put aftermarket units with maestro's and all have had echo / sound issues while using the phone

 

Where did you mount the mic? Not sure if it was said or not. Mine is clipped onto the back of the mirror, pointed towards me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CarAV/s/RHGN3gJml9

 

Mines in the overhead using the TrailGridPro mount.

 

Interesting read.

I want to sit in one of your trucks and have a listen for myself to this alleged, "Car Play -- terrible sounding Aftermarket Mic..." problem.

PM'd @shawn474 and have no response yet. He has a 2019 Crew Max and I'm confident I've figured out what his Factory Mic needs -- want to know the 'build date' from the door-jam though.

Plug-n-play is the problem or, I'd release this once and for all: There's a lot of variables involved.
It can be adapted directly into the Maestro harness (and others) -- I just don't want to lay down $50--$75 for each harness without knowing I can recoup it.
Which... is NOT guaranteed until this "Car-Play sucks!" myth is dispelled -- finally.
I believe it's a myth -- perhaps it's not. Thus, I want to hear it for myself...
OP: JayHawk... want to call me?

PS:
In the background, @RainMan_PNW is working on a Factory Mic / Alpine teaming in his 2020 TRD-Pro.
Waiting for a report back and it's possible all this trouble doesn't exist for him because he has a 'safety-sense / telematics' system (whatever it's called).
(If/when I hear from him, I'll know for sure what up in all through end of Gen 2.5)

 

DO NOT DO THIS!

The factory mic will NOT work with an aftermarket head deck... Unless you adapt it. All you'll do is risk destroying your Factory MIC.

 

@shawn474 I'm getting new info from you worth thinking about all the time... Aftermarket and Maestro?
(Consideration: the aftermarket Mic doesn't plug into the Maestro harness -- it goes directly into the back of the HU, as I recall. Which leads back to the Car-Play argument)

 

I wouldn’t say the sound is terrible, main thing people I’ve talked to say is that it’s super quiet even with the mic gain set to high. I was briefly looking into mic amps/pre-amps but I have no experience with either and not sure if they’d be a potential solution?

 

Didn't know this existed... IN/OUT -- Resistance is NOT right, even if you could reverse these to OUT/IN.

 

I didn't mean plug in the factory mic anywhere. I'm assuming the factory mic is wired through the maestro. And to only unplug the after market mic. Then see if the oem is still functioning through the maestro

 

Would a mic pre-amp with adapters be any different?

 

@Snert you're another target for me... Sony Mic / Maestro harness (and I guess an Iphone). Don't know your Truck model/year.

If you PM me, I'll give you my PH#. We can chat while I drive home (1/2 hour from now).

 

I would but currently have my battery disconnected and seats out while I’m working on heaters, could figure out a time this weekend though I’ll shoot you a PM

 

Got 'ya! -- The Maestro harness has a misleading feature -- a group of wires labelled "MIC" that go nowhere. Likely, they had future plans that haven't panned out -- for the same reason(s) this continues being discussed.

 

Apparently there's a pretty extensive thread on this issue over on Tacoworld. And leads to the below product.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-tacoma-oem-mic-adapter.714665/page-15

https://shop.enfigcarstereo.com/product/enfig-mic-toy1/

 

Rain_ManPNW turned me onto the Enfig Mic option some time ago: Essentially, it's a printed holder for an after-market Mic (with Mic included).

I never read much of that thread on TacoWorld... Should do so.

That thread died out two years ago (a year before I bought my 2008 Tundra), likely because no one ever figured out how to adapt the Factory Mic to an aftermarket radio.

@shawn474 refers to this thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/use-oem-mic-with-aftermarket-headunit.93038/

Which is where I began... (Christmas Eve, a year ago)... After I'd figured it out...
https://www.tundras.com/threads/use-oem-mic-with-aftermarket-headunit.93038/page-2#post-3429900

All of 2024 has been me trying to find someone / anyone who can duplicate my success (finally happened last month), while I try to adapt it for other years of Tundra also (@RainMan_PNW -- tickle!).
When all the Tundra wiring harness generations have been ferreted out, Tacoma is absolutely the next target. Then, Lexus / Corolla / Honda... and down the list.

 

Btw, if anyone has poor sound quality with the Enfig on the receiving end, here is what Christian sent me and it worked:

 

I'll shoot you a PM, looks like we have tomorrow off, so my AM plan is to call Apple, the Trail Grid and see if that works, if not I'll give you a call when It works for you.

 

PPPPSSSS...

That link leads to a bunch of stuff on the topic. This one stands out:
"
The microphone is impedance matched to the unit it comes with. You cannot switch microphones between units and expect it to work.
If you attach the microphone to the steering column, it's going to be really noisy and calls will likely be unpleasing. Try different spots in the vehicle at highway speed before settling on a permanent location. At the top of the windshield works best.
"
That is a VALID possibility: It is possible the Impedance that worked in my circumstance will NOT work in yours.
A given aftermarket MIC may not be interchangeable between H.U.'s (cross brand or over the years). <<-- although I do not believe this to be the case.

This could be wrong and if this is wrong, all bets are off and the ONLY way to know what will work for you is to experiment with a potentiometer until you find the Impedance that works for your combination...
A puck is a puck is a puck = It's not powered and (internally) there's no difference between the puck you get at Amazon ($8?) and the one you get from Pioneer / Kenwood / Sony ($38?).

 

I'm thinking about this comment: "...Bluetooth and not CarPlay and lower the Mic volume..."

Can anyone fill me in on the difference? BT vs. CarPlay? - I thought they're the same thing.

I should check whether my Kenwood even has a Mic Volume function (don't think so). Otherwise, this input suggests each Mfg may have a particular Impedance requirement.

If so, the only way to adapt the factory mic for everyone would be to provide a potentiometer, so it can be 'dialed in.'

((@jayhawknavy02 did fill me in... between us, we essentially agree the CarPlay issue is likely real -- although it's an additional issue, entirely separate from that I've resolved. When you think about it... the H.U. was released with a given version of CP and your i-Phone has another. Difficult to fix that for everyone. They'll just point fingers and suggest you upgrade both... which may or may not resolve it.))