[Q] Rezound problems with call quality, advice please? - HTC Rezound

I got my rezound on Dec 3rd at Amazon Wireless during that 1 cent sale.
The first one had some issues, so since then I've had 1 replacement.
I know its past the date of no return, but curious what my options would be, and what you guys think I should do.
People constantly complain that my voice is cut off often, and/or muddled, yet the always sound good to me. At this point i'm thinking its a signal issue. I have the extended battery and this problem gets worse when i'm using it.
So, tonight the fiance tells me that my phone is low, to speak up, blah blah. Well I am speaking up and its frustrating. These are issues that one shouldnt have to deal with on a new device.
My previous phones: Motorola Rokr (I think), LG Chocolate, Motorola Droid, and the HTC Incredible didnt know exhibit these issues at all, and I never once had anyone complain in the last 5 years till I got the HTC Rezound.
I'm holding the phone in multiple ways, making sure not to cover any holes.
What would you do? Is the only thing I have available to me is going through Amazon Wireless for a refurb? Or is this a build quality that I will experience again and again. BTW, I live in a city, with excellent 4g coverage, and I know a neighbor has a new Moto Razr with 0 issues, and he rubs it in quite often.
Thanks for any advice you have to offer.
Update: Well I got my Razr Maxx and have played with it a few hours. Anything I say is just my opinion, so don't shoot me.
The Maxx's call quality is better, and the callers said I sound much more clearer than any of my other phones (Chocolate Touch, Incredible, Rezound). I'm getting a bit better signal (dbm) here at my place, but I care about the quality of my calls and my data connection the most, and they are doing fine.
The camera isnt as bad as ive been reading in the reviews. The pictures i've taken are lacking a tad bit of sharpness that the Rezound had. This could be fixed via a 3rd party app. Will look into it.
The UI is about as smooth. But the wallpaper in Motoblur scrolls with the screen and it still keeps the smoothness. I installed Go Launcher EX and its as smooth as the incredible for me. On the Rezound Go launcher was fairly blah performance wise.
Smart actions rock. I usually use Tasker and smart actions does enough that I won't be loading tasker until I see a need.
The display, well, nothing beats the Rezounds display. HD movies on the Maxx are decent, but not as sharp as the Rezound. I believe the Rezound has 90 PPI or so on the Maxx and you can tell.
The speaker for music sounds decent, with a bit more bass (on a speaker that small, not sure you want to call it bass), and sounds pretty good.
Battery Life is great, but with a 3300 mah battery, what do you expect. I already set a smartaction for 12:30am to 7:00am to turn off wifi, data, turn on airplane mode (wasnt sure if airplane on this phone would disable wifi), and a few other things. Good stuff, but nothing that a third party can't do.
Motoblur seems to have apps to do Remote Desktop, and DLNA works fine with my WDLIVEPLUS box.
I've already rooted, and froze some Verizon Apps.
I know this is a Rezound forum and you are probably asking "Why is he talking about a dang Maxx?!" A few pm'ed me to just compare the two phones once I got it. I won't be doing a review or anything

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i'd check to make sure the antenna contacts on the extended battery cover are making a secure connection with the phone. possibly try applying a slight amount of electrical grease to each contact.

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Update: I'm on my third Rezound now, and all have had the problem with my voice periodically not being heard or muffled to the person I am calling.
I'm baffled as to why I am having these issues.
A customer service rep actually advised me to activate my old Incredible on my line (and give up my unlimited 4g) until HTC has a fix for my problems. Yea right.
I wrote a long letter to Verizon, and if I don't hear back from them today I'll be contacting Corporate.
I'll try to get into another phone I suppose, but I don't like my choices: GNexus (crappy signal), Razr (crappy battery). There is the Razr Maxx, but I'm sure they wont even offer to replace me with that.
*Sigh*

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dccoh said:
Update: I'm on my third Rezound now, and all have had the problem with my voice periodically not being heard or muffled to the person I am calling.
I'm baffled as to why I am having these issues.
A customer service rep actually advised me to activate my old Incredible on my line (and give up my unlimited 4g) until HTC has a fix for my problems. Yea right.
I wrote a long letter to Verizon, and if I don't hear back from them today I'll be contacting Corporate.
I'll try to get into another phone I suppose, but I don't like my choices: GNexus (crappy signal), Razr (crappy battery). There is the Razr Maxx, but I'm sure they wont even offer to replace me with that.
*Sigh*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The update that came out fixed voice issues...
Did you update?
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App

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nosympathy said:
The update that came out fixed voice issues...
Did you update?
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did the OTA on two of the replacement phones. I still had the problem before and after. Thanks for looking out though.

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Yet another update: I talked to verizon support again about my Rezound and the issues. They offered me a Thunderbolt, Charge, Bionic, or a Revolution.
I told them that I would take no less than a Nexus or Droid Maxx at this point. He said that those phones are not on his list. The phones he offered are a big step down from the Rezound, so I declined. Not sure what to do at this point, but I did ask him to escalate this (he was a supervisor) and he put in a ticket to have it escalated.
If anyone ever has any advice regarding my situation, please feel free to chime in.
I'll post as my saga continues, even though I'm sure no one really cares

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Hmmm. I'm interested. My wife says I sound muffled at times when I'm on the rezound. I never thought of it as an actual phone issue.
My experience with this is
1. Seems to be when I'm on speaker.
2. Never happens when I'm using ear piece.
3. Updated radio and it since hasn't happened but once when on speaker.
Good luck!
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

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dccoh said:
I'll post as my saga continues, even though I'm sure no one really cares
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for fighting the good fight.
Sent from the Rez Beast

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reggie cheeks said:
Hmmm. I'm interested. My wife says I sound muffled at times when I'm on the rezound. I never thought of it as an actual phone issue.
My experience with this is
1. Seems to be when I'm on speaker.
2. Never happens when I'm using ear piece.
3. Updated radio and it since hasn't happened but once when on speaker.
Good luck!
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could be experiencing similiar hardware issues, or possibly something to do with the noise canceling microphone. I wish you luck though since I know this muffled sound problem can be annoying, but at least i'm not alone (although i've only heard of 2 other people with similar issues).

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Feb 3rd Update: Talked to Verizon yet again about my muffled sound issues. I received an email from HTC today asking me to have Verizon re-provision my account, update my prl (i was on 15098 and Verizon updated me to the same 15098), and to try a new sim card.
None of the fixes have worked. The Verizon tech called my phone as a test and within 10 seconds it started happening. I made her away of my escalation call from last night, and she said it could take a week or so for a return call since the escalation would involve a Director of something.
She credited my account $50 for my issues thus far, and is going to call me back at the end of the day as a follow-up.
*Sign* The Saga continues, but I want a plot twist where I can a working phone that I don't have to forward calls to my third line. (at least my old LG Chocolate Touch still works fine).

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Really, dumb question.. are you holding the phone to far up your face. What I mean, I came from the OG droid and it was much smaller phone so when I started using the Rezound I thought the sound was way to low, people couldn't hear me ..etc.. I found I was holding the phone to high on my face so the speakers were above my ear and my microphone was almost by my upper lip. I adjusted how I held the phone and haven't had any issues since.

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mjh68 said:
Really, dumb question.. are you holding the phone to far up your face. What I mean, I came from the OG droid and it was much smaller phone so when I started using the Rezound I thought the sound was way to low, people couldn't hear me ..etc.. I found I was holding the phone to high on my face so the speakers were above my ear and my microphone was almost by my upper lip. I adjusted how I held the phone and haven't had any issues since.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried holding the phone in multiple different ways. I have to admit, I feel stupid having to try holding it different ways since its a...well...phone.
I've recorded my own calls to myself via google voice to test it out, and the 'muddled' issue happens via speaker, or a normal call. I have even held the phone 2 inches in front of my mouth directly and callers will still complain of not being able to hear me or understand me. I have also tested different things like putting my finger over the noise canceling microphone with no change in my problems.
Thanks for the question though. I'm convinced that i've been subjected to Gamma Radiation without my knowledge and thats why i'm having phone issues. In that case, I hope that Verizon fixes this soon with a resolution or a different phone, because they wont like me when i'm angry.

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Both of mine have done this, before and after the OTA.
This is the problem when phone companies are so crazy about getting the latest and greatest out the door to beat the competition. All they care about are sales. As long as it is working 90%, just push it out the door, and by the time people are pissed off you will be selling the next phone.
These phones don't get much QC testing, that much is certain. How many of the issues over the years would have been obvious if someone actually just carried the phone around and used it for just a single day? Most of them, I wager.

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dccoh said:
I have tried holding the phone in multiple different ways. I have to admit, I feel stupid having to try holding it different ways since its a...well...phone.
I've recorded my own calls to myself via google voice to test it out, and the 'muddled' issue happens via speaker, or a normal call. I have even held the phone 2 inches in front of my mouth directly and callers will still complain of not being able to hear me or understand me. I have also tested different things like putting my finger over the noise canceling microphone with no change in my problems.
Thanks for the question though. I'm convinced that i've been subjected to Gamma Radiation without my knowledge and thats why i'm having phone issues. In that case, I hope that Verizon fixes this soon with a resolution or a different phone, because they wont like me when i'm angry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think this has been mentioned or not, but have you tried talking through a bluetooth? Just curious. That would rule out a mic issue if it still persists even talking through bluetooth. Then I would say you are having network issues?
Good luck

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hinds73 said:
Don't think this has been mentioned or not, but have you tried talking through a bluetooth? Just curious. That would rule out a mic issue if it still persists even talking through bluetooth. Then I would say you are having network issues?
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can say that I have talked on bluetooth about 10%-15% of the time and I don't get complaints. Then again my phone sits in one spot, and maintains signal better? The reason I did not test this thoroughly is because the option of talking on bluetooth only well isnt an option.
I know that is not what you were hinting at, but I feel its a device issue and not a network, but don't quote me on that.

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SquireSCA said:
Both of mine have done this, before and after the OTA.
This is the problem when phone companies are so crazy about getting the latest and greatest out the door to beat the competition. All they care about are sales. As long as it is working 90%, just push it out the door, and by the time people are pissed off you will be selling the next phone.
These phones don't get much QC testing, that much is certain. How many of the issues over the years would have been obvious if someone actually just carried the phone around and used it for just a single day? Most of them, I wager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are had two do this? So you know my pain!
Do you still have the phone and does it still do it?
I agree totally that these phones don't get tested enough and are sent out the door. At this point honestly, despite how much I love the phone, I'd rather have something else.
I told them I don't want another 3-4 phones sent to me. I'm really pushing for a new handset at this point, a different brand totally.
Anyway I wish you luck also. I'll keep this thread updated so that other's like myself (that are beyond the return window wherever you bought it) can hear about my trials and tribulations.

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Finale: After over a dozen calls and 7+ hours on the phone with verizon, along with sending out emails to the CEO, Regional Manager, Relations, and all major executives, I received a call today from one.
To make this short, Razr Maxx is on the way, and will be here this week. Verizon Wireless could of made this easier, instead of making unrealistic guidelines for some customer issues.
When I was with Alltel I swear I would of had such an easier time with the customer service. I do not ever remember having to jump through hoops just to come to an agreement.
For any following my plight, Thanks for reading and for the helpful pms.

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Good luck with your new phone.
Post back how you like it, I'm honestly curious.
I have two coworkers that have the original RAZR and absolutely hate them, but one of their main complaints is the awful battery life on a battery you can't swap out.

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jmorton10 said:
Good luck with your new phone.
Post back how you like it, I'm honestly curious.
I have two coworkers that have the original RAZR and absolutely hate them, but one of their main complaints is the awful battery life on a battery you can't swap out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a network admin and have a few guys at work that have a razr maxx, a nexus, and a revolution.
They usually say that the maxx has done the best for signal in and about different buildings (on server platforms with a ton of computer equipment etc). They said with generous use of the Smart Actions feature, and with generous moderate use, they get 2 days. They always seem to have a phone in their hand (they say) so im not sure what moderate use is to them (all network engineers etc). The nexus guy says his battery is gone before 5, and he often cant make calls in these random buildings. The lg revolution guy says he hates his signal and battery life, and that lg is taking forever with update and fixes.
Of course user experiences differ from person to person, so I too am curious on how the Maxx will fare with me. I'm extremely critical on my phones, and a very moderate use person (1+hours a day in calls, facebook &twitter updated every 15, emails pushed, streaming music 1-2 hours a day, games 1+hours a day, etc).
Look for a comparison here after ive had it a day or two, and will compare it to the 2+months that i've had the Rezound.

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I updated the OP with my few hours of experience with my Maxx (the replacement for my 3 Rezounds).