Why does the audio quality change after switching to a USB-C cable?… Is it the cable or the new phone?

About two years ago, I got pretty high-quality speakers installed in my car, along with a new 12-inch subwoofer and a CarPlay screen that connects everything. The sound was amazing, and I had no issues. But recently, I upgraded my iPhone from a 12 to a 15 and switched from a lightning USB-A cable to a USB-C USB-A cable. Both cables were cheap, but the audio quality now is way worse, especially the subwoofer, which sounds really crunchy even when I don’t turn it up much. I’ve checked my Spotify settings and anything else in my car that could affect the sound. Could this issue be caused by the new cable? Should I buy a better USB-C cable instead of sticking with these cheap ones?

And I’d assume it’s the new phone?

Sawyer said:
And I’d assume it’s the new phone?

Yes, but it was just from an iPhone 12 to a 15. It shouldn’t make a difference, right?

Rowan said:

Sawyer said:
And I’d assume it’s the new phone?

Yes, but it was just from an iPhone 12 to a 15. It shouldn’t make a difference, right?

Check your iPhone settings to make sure ‘Sound Check’ is not turned on.

I believe it’s enabled by default on newer iPhones, and it can mess up the sound quality.