Next articleKeg sound on Xiaomi: how to fix a deaf bass sound in a TV or column

You have included your favorite movie or music on the Xiaomi Mi TV TV Or the Mi Smart Speaker, but instead of sounding clear, hear a humming noise like the speakers are hidden in a barrel? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi equipment - especially after firmware updates or when connected to external devices. In 80% of cases, the cause is a malfunction of the software settings, not a hardware defect.

In this article, we will discuss 7 main reasons for the appearance of “barrel” sound on Xiaomi devices (TV series Mi). TV A2, P1, Q2, You'll get a look at Mi Smart Speaker, Mi Soundbar soundbars, and you'll get step-by-step diagnostic and repair instructions, and you'll learn how to check your equalizer settings, reset your sound profile, update your speaker firmware, and even physically clean your membranes without going to the service center.

Important: if the problem appeared after the fall of the device or the ingress of liquid, immediately go to the section "Hardware faults" - there are described signs of mechanical damage and ways to eliminate them.

How to accurately determine the “sound from the barrel”: symptoms of the problem

Before you start repairing, make sure you are experiencing the effects of barrel sound rather than other acoustic defects.

• 🔊 Deaf bass notes – low frequencies sound like they’re out of a closed box, with no clarity or sharpness.
• 🎵 Mid-frequency distortion – voices in movies or vocals in music become illegible, blubbering".
• 📦 The “closed space” effect – the sound appears remote, as if the speakers are covered with fabric.
• 🔄 Unstable behavior – the problem appears and disappears when the volume or signal source changes.

For accurate diagnosis, play a test sound file with a balance of low, medium and high frequencies (for example, the track "Sweep Tone" on YouTube). If low frequencies (20-250 Hz) sound like a humming sound, and medium (250-20000 Hz) – muted, this confirms the effect of the "barrel".

Programmatic reasons: settings and firmware

In 60 percent of cases, the barrel sound on Xiaomi is caused by software failures, and let’s start with the simplest and safest ways to fix the problem, which don’t require disassembling the device.

1. Resetting sound settings to factory

Incorrect equalizer or sound effects settings are the most common cause of distortions.

1. On the Xiaomi Mi remote TV press Menu → Settings → Sound.
2. Select Reset sound settings (or Reset by default).
3. Confirm the action and restart the device.

For Mi Smart Speaker speakers, use the Mi Home app:

1. Open the app and select your column.
2. Go to Settings. → Sound. → Reset the settings.

2. Update of speaker firmware

Outdated software can cause conflicts with audio drivers.

1. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update.
2. If a new version is available, install it and restart the device.

For columns, update the firmware through Mi Home:

1. Open the application, select the device.
2. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Update the firmware.

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If the sound gets worse after the update, roll back the firmware through the recovery mode (for TVs: pinch Menu). + Volume Down when enabled).

Conflicts with external devices

"A barrel sound often appears when connected through a HDMI ARC, Bluetooth or optical cable. Check it out:

• 🔌 HDMI ARC: Turn off the cable and check the sound through the built-in speakers. If the problem is gone, reset the settings. ARC TV-only.
• 📶 Bluetooth: Remove the pairing with the device and reconnect. In the column settings, disable the AptX Low Latency option (may cause distortions).
• 💿 Optical cable: Try replacing the cable - cheap models often transmit the signal with interference.

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If the sound is distorted only when connected to a specific source (such as a console or smartphone), the problem lies in the settings of the external device, not Xiaomi.

Setting up the equalizer: how to remove the effect of the "barrel"

Incorrect equalizer settings are the second most common cause of barrel sound. Xiaomi devices often activate presets that artificially amplify low frequencies, leading to distortions on cheap speakers.

To set the equalizer correctly:

1. On the TV, go to Settings. → Sound. → equalizer.
2. Choose Preset Flat or Custom Preset.
3. Manually reduce sliders at frequencies of 60 Hz, 100 Hz and 200 Hz by 3-5 dB.
4. Increase the sliders by 1 kHz and 3 kHz by 2-3 dB to improve legibility of voices.

For the Mi Smart Speaker speakers in the Mi Home app:

1. Select the device → Sound settings → equalizer.
2. Turn off the Bass Boost option.
3. Activate Clear Voice mode if available.

A critical mistake many users make: they try to “pull” bass frequencies on cheap Xiaomi speakers, increasing the sliders below 100 Hz. This leads to overloading of membranes and the effect of “barrels”. Instead, it is better to reduce the low frequencies a little and raise the averages so the sound becomes more balanced.

Hardware malfunctions: when you need to disassemble

If software methods didn't work, the problem could be physical damage to the speakers or the acoustic tract, and let's look at the typical hardware causes and how to fix them.

1. Dust or damaged speakers

Dust and fine debris, when they hit the speaker membrane, can create a deaf sound effect, to clean up the speakers.

1. Disconnect the device from the network.
2. Remove the protective net (on the columns it is usually attached to the latches).
3. Carefully walk along the membrane with a soft brush (do not use wet wipes!).
4. Blow the speaker with compressed air (for example, a canister to clean the keyboard).

2. Break or short circuit in the speaker coil

If the sound is distorted even at the lowest volume, the speaker coil may be damaged.

1. Put your headphones on the device, and if they sound clean, the speaker problem.
2. Touch the speaker body when you play the sound. The vibration should be uniform. If you feel "failures," the coil is damaged.

In this case, you will need to replace the speaker. TV Original speakers can be ordered by article:

• 📺 Mi TV 4A/4C: dynamics MDZ-20-DN (20 Watt, 8 Om).
• 📺 Mi TV P1/Q1: dynamics MDZ-25-DN (25 Watt, 6 Om).
• 🔊 Mi Smart Speaker: Broadband speaker MSB-15-DN.

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Before you replace the speaker, take a picture of the location of the wires and their polarity (plus / minus). Incorrect connection can cause the amplifier to fail.

3. Problems with acoustic design

In Xiaomi soundbars and speakers, the barrel effect may appear because of:

• 🕳️ Depressurization of the body - cracks or loosely closed holes for the bass reflex (phasoinverter).
• 🧲 Magnetic interference – if there is a powerful magnetic field source near the column (for example, a power supply unit).
• 🏗️ Incorrect installation – if the column is close to the wall, the bass waves reflect and create a resonance.

Decisions:

1. Check the case for cracks, and if you find them, use silicone sealant to seal them.
2. Make sure that the phase inverter hole (usually on the back) is not covered with cloth or paper.
3. Place the column at least 30 cm away from walls and other surfaces.

External devices: consoles, receivers, cables

If the “barrel” sound only appears when connected to external sources (for example, Xiaomi Mi Box, game console or receiver), the problem may lie in the settings of these devices or cables.

1. Settings HDMI ARC/eARC

Technology HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel is often a source of sound problems to tune it properly:

1. On Xiaomi TV, go to Settings → Sound. → HDMI ARC.
2. Turn off the control option. TV volume (may conflict with external device).
3. Set the sound format. PCM Auto or Bitstream.
4. On an external device (such as Mi Box) select the sound settings HDMI → PCM → 2.0.

2. Problems with Bluetooth codecs

When connecting over Bluetooth, some codecs (e.g., aptX or LDAC) They can cause distortions on cheap chipsets:

• 📱 On your smartphone in Bluetooth settings, turn off the option High-quality sound.
• 🔊 In the Mi Smart Speaker Column Settings, select the codec SBC (The most stable, though not the highest quality).
• 🔄 Reconnect the device: remove the column from the list of conjugates and search again.

Cables and adapters

Cheap. HDMI-And the cables or the optical cables can transmit a signal with interference:

• 🔌 HDMI-cable: must support HDMI 2.0 or higher (it must be marked with High Speed).
• 💿 Optical cable: must not have inflections or damage to the shell.
• 🔀 Adapters: Avoid adapters from HDMI on RCA 3.5 mm – they often cause distortions.

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If the sound is distorted only when played from a specific source (for example, only from the console or only over Bluetooth), the problem lies in this source, not in the Xiaomi device.

Diagnosis: How to determine the exact cause

In order not to waste time on the search for all possible solutions, conduct a diagnosis according to this scheme:

1. Step 1: Check the source of the signal: Play the sound from different devices (e.g., TV, smartphone, laptop) If the problem is with only one source, its settings or cable are to blame.
2. Step. 2. Test different connections: Try connecting to the HDMI, Bluetooth, 3.5 If the sound is pure only through 3.5 mm - a problem in the digital tract (HDMI/ARC Bluetooth).

Step 3. Check the speakers.

• Connect your headphones to a TV or a speaker. = dynamo.
• Touch the speaker body when playing - uneven vibration indicates mechanical damage.

If the cause is unclear after diagnosis, use this table:

Prevention: How to avoid problems in the future

To prevent the barrel sound from reappearing, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update your firmware regularly, but don’t install beta versions – they often contain bugs with sound.
• 🎛️ Do not use equalizer presets like "Cinema" or "Bas" - they artificially amplify low frequencies.
• 🧹 Clean the speakers from dust every 3-6 months (depending on the dustiness of the room).
• 🔌 Avoid cheap cables – use certified cables HDMI 2.1 and optical cables with gilded connectors.
• 📦 Do not put speakers in closed niches – this creates resonance and enhances the effect of the barrel".

For Xiaomi TVs:

• Turn off the function. AI Sound (artificial intelligence often mishandles sound).
• In the settings HDMI set the sound format: PCM auto.
• If you use a soundbar, turn off the TV's built-in speakers in the Settings menu → Sound. → Dynamics TV.

For the Mi Smart Speaker speakers:

• In the Mi Home app, turn off the Adaptive Sound option.
• Do not place the column near heat sources (for example, behind the TV) - this can deform the membrane.
• Once a month, reset your settings through Settings. → Reset.

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If you often listen to music at high volume, set the Mi Home app volume limit to 80%, which will prevent overloading speakers and prolong their life.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “barrel” sound on Xiaomi