steinjr

I noticed yesterday the Burmester High End Audio system produces a noticeable "tone" when the volume is turned up. This tone occurs only on the Bluetooth Audio preset with or without connecting a device.

Is this normal or do I have an issue?

W205C43PFL

It sounds like there is some audio interference from something in the vehicle, similar to those when you point your mic towards the speakers in which the speakers are playing whatever is coming from the mic.

steinjr

That's a good thought and prompted me to check. I turned off my phone, and the car's Bluetooth and Wifi, but the issue is still present. What else might it be? Perhaps a grounding issue?

Jim Ma

Check it with Voice Amplification on and off and see if that makes a difference.

steinjr

My previous S550 had Voice Amplification... this one does not or at least I do not see an option in the menu. This is weird because the car has a lot of upgrades.

cfmistry

Is the car modified in any way? Aftermarket alarm, etc? It is usually related to a poor ground.

steinjr

There are no aftermarket accessories I am aware of. A grounding issue was my first thought also... but it only makes the "tone" when the is set to Bluetooth Audio. I would think grounding issues would be present on all of the inputs.

W205C43PFL

Interesting when you mean by only having the sound when playing through bluetooth, you are saying if you just play FM/AM radio at a high volume the sound isn't present?

steinjr

That is correct. I don’t hear any “tone” when listening to other inputs.

When I first noticed the issue, I discovered the volume on my phone was low. This caused the Command volume to be higher than normal to listen at regular volume.

By turning the phone volume all the way up, the “tone” isn’t noticeable when listening to music, but it’s there and needs to be fixed.

W205C43PFL

Speaking of phone, do you notice the sound when you are on a phone call. How long did you notice this "tone" for? Did it suddenly happen? Did you try deauthorizing the device and reauthorizing (and reconnecting to the vehicle). Did you try connecting a different bluetooth device and see if the sound is present? You mentioned earlier that you turned off your phone, bluetooth and wifi and the sound is present, I am confused as you mentioned the sound is only present on bluetooth. If all those are turned off, how were you able to connect? I think I most likely understood you wrong though. So please correct me.

steinjr

No issues with the phone. No tone present when listening through the phone or connected to any other device.

The tone is audible when the volume on the Bluetooth Audio input is turned up. No device needs to be connected to reproduce the issue. In the above video, no device is connected. Hope this helps.

W205C43PFL

Hmmm I see so basically all you need to do is to select the bluetooth multimedia option/screen and then simply turn the volume up, the noise is then present? Not sure if this helps (unless it really is a hardware issue) but did you try restoring the COMAND system settings to factory?

steinjr

Correct.

Perhaps others with high-end audio can check and see if their unit does the same?

W205C43PFL

Sorry to hear that : (

I personally don't think this sound should be present as it is an S-Class after all and it doesn't really make sense to have this kind of noise (only in my opinion). Not sure if this helps (unless it really is a hardware issue) but did you try restoring the COMAND system settings to factory? Unfortunately I don't have friends that optioned Burmester high end to ask, I guess they aren't audiophiles and/or they prefer to listen to the exhaust note instead.

Either way though, I am hoping I am wrong about this sound being not normal and that it is in fact normal so there is nothing you need to fix.

steinjr

Bump...

Any Burmester High-End Audio system users that can test to see if they can reproduce a noticeable "tone" when the volume is turned up on the Bluetooth Audio preset with or without connecting a device?

DaveW68

Just thinking out loud here for a moment.....but perhaps try unpairing your phone from your car and then re-pair it to see if that helps. If it doesn't, then unpair your phone and try pairing a different phone to see if it's possibly a phone issue. I don't know what kind of phone you have, but I've heard that newer i-phones can be quite quirky with MB BT systems. If you have i-phones in your house, find somebody with an Android and pair their phone to see if the issue still exists. At least that way you can rule out a phone issue.

steinjr

Appreciate all the help everyone.

It's an iPhone 12 Pro running 15.1.1. It makes the tone with or without a phone being connected via Bluetooth.

Robb92914

I'm almost positive mine doesn't but will check when I get my car back tomorrow.

Jim Ma

i checked mine this afternoon and there is no sound when turning the volume all the way up

steinjr

Thank you both very much for your help.

Robb92914

Checked mine and no sound. Hopefully you can get it figured out! I'm like you, it would bother me as well.

steinjr

Thanks again for all the help.

Service appointment schedule. Wish me luck

W205C43PFL

Good luck : ) Keep us posted.

steinjr

The dealership told me they have never seen this issue and it would take hours to diagnose and warranty would most likely not pay for it. I guess it was their way of saying they don't want to help.

SW20S

Why would insurance pay for it?