Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)

Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)

Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)
Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)
2024-09-21 22:33:38 - last edited 2024-09-21 22:36:56
Model: Tapo C210  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version: 1.3.1.1

Hi I've just purchased a c210 and am finding the two-way audio quality is so terrible it is completely unusable. 

 

1 -the mic on the device seems to have noise suppression enabled, which is heavy-handed and horrible because it creates many artefacts (eg bitcrushed hissing like a bad MP3) especially audible when camera is placed in a completely quiet room.

Maybe the microphone quality on the devices is poor?

But there should be options to tweak the audio quality / bitrate etc...! (it's 2024)

Please also add options to adjust or disable noise suppression. This is a security device and poor microphone audio and automatic noise suppression are interfering with accurate monitoring. 

 

2 -The 'Talk' Audio quality is unusable and unreliable. It cuts in and out, sometimes lagging, and other times is completely chopped up and unintelligible. We have tried from both Apple and Android flagship devices, from an absolutely silent room, also with good WiFi (and have tried on cellular data too). It makes no difference. 

 

We have the latest firmware and Tapo apps for ios and Android. 

 

-we have followed guides online eg turn camera mic and volume to Max, keep device unobstructed etc it makes no difference. 

 

-we have tried on 1080p and 720p settings to see if reducing the video quality improves the audio but it makes zero difference. 

 

It seems the audio stream is such low bitrate it is unusable. It is SO BAD we are thinking of returning the c210 and would try a different manufacturer. In 2024 a product from tp-link (a flagship manufacturer) should not be this poor quality. 

 

New firmware should add options to disable noise cancellation and improve the bitrate of the Talk Quality from a phone to the unit. Whether this is done for the unit or for the Tapo app, or both doesn't matter - it needs to be done otherwise the talk and listen features are useless. 

 

So far is really a disappointment.

 

The video quality is fine - but the talk / listen features do not work as advertised. 

 

In summary;

-two-way audio is terrible. It's unusable. 

-A Firmware Update (and/or app update) needs to increase the bit rate for audio in both directions and add options to remove noise suppression on the c210. 

 

 

  0      
  0      
#1
Options
4 Reply
Re:Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)
2024-09-23 08:24:14

  @Jaso17 

Hi,
Thank you for the case report. Could you please send us a video showing the problem you reported and describe how you recorded the video for further analysis? 
Best Regards

  0  
  0  
#2
Options
Re:Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)
2024-09-23 08:54:54 - last edited 2024-09-23 08:55:46

  @Solla-topee thanks for your reply. 

We ended up returning it for a Nest Cam 2nd gen as the audio quality is exceptional and full-duplex (the c210 seemed like an intercom, when it worked that is....). The NC 2nd gen also uses the 5ghz band for faster data transfer which might have been the limitation of the c210 - we will now never know. 

 

  0  
  0  
#3
Options
Re:Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)
2 weeks ago

  @Solla-topee Hi, I'm experiencing the same issue with the horrible audio quality on my 4 new C210's. Looking through the forums, this seems like a constant issue from the older versions of the camera through to the newer versions. Why doesn't the default firmware just come without the noise suppression rather than needing to push custom firmware to individual cameras?

 

How do I get the custom firmware sent to my cameras?

 

Thanks.

  0  
  0  
#4
Options
Re:Terrible Two-way Audio Quality C210 (fw: 1.3.1.1)
2 weeks ago

  @Jubestwager 

Hi,
It is currently difficult to judge whether the camera's audio mechanism is appropriate because the performance is not exactly the same in different usage scenarios, however, we are always working to improve our products. 

 

In your situation, would you please send me a video showing the reported issue for further analysis?
You can set the camera's microphone and speaker volume to maximum, play music on your phone and put it in front of the camera, then go to another room with another phone, log in to the Tapo app > camera's Live View page, record the video manually and send us the video.

 

Best Regards

  0  
  0  
#5
Options