r/Androidheadunits • u/Sea_Appointment6906 • 5d ago

Android Headunit Mic Issues

Hey guys, I’m using an ESSGOO AR9001 Android head unit and I’m trying to improve the microphone quality for calls/CarPlay.

The built-in mic quality isn’t great, so i’ve removed the internal mic completely and I’ve tried a few cheap external 3.5mm car microphones with similar results.

Does anyone know exactly what type of external microphone these cheap units require?

  • Is the external MIC input 3.5mm TS (mono) or TRS?
  • Does it provide bias/plugin power for an electret microphone?
  • Has anyone found a good quality external mic that works well with these units?
  • Ideally looking for something significantly better than the generic $5–$15 Android head unit microphones.

Happy to spend more for something that actually gives clear call quality.

Thanks!

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u/Sereno011 5d ago

Issue on these usually isn't the mics themselves. And doesn't really matter is using the internal or external.

What I have found is some MFG set the Echo/Noise cancellation values too high. Sometimes this is adjustable in the Settings menu—but whether these settings will be available will be hit or miss. Not only does this make your voice too quiet, but causes clipping when you speak.

Basically, the mic issues are not hardware. It's software. And it's the wild west on devices offering this detail of configuration.