Telefonschleifen

Telefonschleifen, also known as phone loops or audio feedback, refers to a phenomenon where audio from a telephone's speaker is picked up by its microphone, creating a continuous cycle of sound. This loop amplifies the sound with each pass, resulting in a loud, often high-pitched squealing or buzzing noise. This occurs when the distance between the speaker and microphone is too small, or when the volume is set too high.

The primary cause of telefonschleifen is acoustic feedback. The sound emitted by the speaker vibrates the air, and this vibration is then captured by the microphone. The microphone converts this sound back into an electrical signal, which is amplified and sent back out through the speaker, restarting the cycle. The more amplification occurs, the louder and more pronounced the feedback becomes.

Telefonschleifen can be disruptive and uncomfortable for users, potentially causing hearing discomfort. It is a common issue encountered in various communication devices, including cell phones, landline telephones, and conferencing systems.

To mitigate telefonschleifen, several solutions exist. Reducing the speaker volume is often the simplest and most effective method. Increasing the distance between the speaker and microphone can also break the feedback loop. Many modern devices incorporate automatic feedback suppression technology, which electronically detects and cancels out the feedback frequencies. Using headphones or earbuds can also prevent the problem entirely, as they separate the audio output from the microphone input.