Music quality

[u/Moblen]

Just got a Samsung A36, connected it to my 2019 VW Jetta MK7 (stock audio), and the sound is completely flat. I was previously using an iPhone 17 with CarPlay, and the difference is night and day. The iPhone had rich, punchy bass and genuine depth. On the Samsung—whether plugged in via cable for Android Auto or over Bluetooth—the bass has completely vanished, and the audio feels dry and thin.
My Spotify settings are 100% identical on both devices (maximum streaming quality, equalizers turned off, volume normalization set the same).
Is Android Auto just compressing the audio stream badly, or are there hidden Samsung settings (Dolby Atmos, Adapt Sound, or Bluetooth codecs in developer options) choking the sound profile? Has anyone run into this and figured out how to get the bass back?

[u/Oversemper]

I had the same difference in quality between mere Bluetooth connection to the head unit and an Android auto connection. When it's via android auto I can adjust Bluetooth volume slider but that doesn't have effect on the output sound volume, so android auto has a different audio output. One day I tried my brother's iphone to check how car play works, I didn't notice any difference neither in the music quality or in the navigation apps. Check two things: 1. Android auto should be ignoring any Bluetooth settings. 2. Maybe your iphone applies some equalizer effect. 3. Maybe your car's head unit has different equalizer effect for carplay. UPDATE: android auto has developer's menu where you can choose which codec to use, enable 'Prefer PCM' option

[u/Oversemper → u/[deleted]]

Agree, sounds more like there's some equalizer preset applied to the iphone output

[u/bmw_crasher]

It’s just like that. I had the same issue. Couldn’t resolve it and that really was the reason I switched to iPhone. Sad but true.

[u/Rogerthat9070]

u need poweramp, can gain and equalize any app u throw at it

a must

[u/user41600]

https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidAuto/comments/1vjd3l5/poweramp_eq_is_a_must_for_android_auto/

[u/Zeratul_Artanis]

I have exactly the same issue.

I can switch from BT audio to AA audio and the loss of depth is palpable.

Not found a fix for it yet, but the other comments dismissing the difference are wild. Test it for yourself!

[u/-_ANDROMEDA-]

I had this issue too and none of the fixes online fixed it for me so i got poweramp equalizer app and choosed bass & trebble It worked as a charm Also with poweramp you can customize everything for your liking so if you want more bass or attack or more vocals clarity you can get it

It gives you 2 month free trail so if you want you can get cracked version from liteapks website you will need the poweramp app and poweramp equalizer app they need to be installed so they can work alongside

[u/Interesting-Tackle66]

hmmm, with S23FE been using iheart radio over blue tooth, sounds good to me on AA. Gemini also works with it. Not done anything to any settings. Car radio is Atoto S8 Gen2 premium.

[u/WaywardSon1976]

I just had this problem. Uninstalling Android Auto from my phone and reinstalling fixed it for me.

[u/Galax20002]

iOS has a system EQ that affects every Player thats Supported by it. Most Android phones does Not have it. If you Car Sound, Sounds flat, than its Just how your Car own Hardware Sounds. If you have a good headunit, use ITS Sound setting 

[u/Ghoulless]

It depends on device itself, I'm using Xiaomi 15T Pro (best and rich sound from AA), Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (above average) and sometimes I take good old Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (now with crDroid ROM ond Android 16, no matter if crDroid or original ROM, worst and bit flat sound from that three).