Audiophile Phones (Or phones with decent audio output)

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by Rotijon, Apr 27, 2017.

  1. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Yes, that looks very much like what I have in mind. Shame about the connectors, but as long as it works for Westone units it makes sense.
     
  2. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Anyone tried the Lear BTC-01? It has the right form factor and comes with plenty of connectors, including 2-pin.
     
  3. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

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    AFAIK, Noble BTS is the closest thing to what you're described that's currently available. It's purely a Bluetooth connection, so you're still using the device's DAC and amp, but in most conditions is a highly reliable connection, and you can use any IEM with a standard two-pin connection.
     
  4. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    I also use an LG V20, I'm quite happy with it. I've not had any issues getting HighGain mode to work, though I typically use the 3.5mm male -> Female trick [aux cable]. I too like the Onkyo Player as well as Neutron Audio

    Drove the Oppo PM3 pretty well,
     
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I currently carry a Pixel XL, a Sony Xperia X compact and an iphone SE. I've used dongles, LG's phones with ESS DACs, iphones, etc.

    The LG phone suck. They sound sabre-y and the people who are strong followers apparently don't know what a good ESS implementation sounds like.

    iPhones in my experience tend to vary a bit. They're good enough, though. I've not heard one that sounded like crap.

    Honestly, Sony phones tend to be excellent from a sound quality perspective. I find myself using the Xperia X compact > andromeda or Noble X directly most days. Does the ZX2 sound better? Sure. But the convenience and the decent sound quality of my phone wins out.
     
  6. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    I'd like to hear a sony phone honestly, I always hear praise about their audio output

    still iPhone's lack of expandable memory or 32gb entry point turn me away and Samsung tends to sound poor. And Sony Phones, I've not listened to them, but their Native Audio Player looks amazing. Still, you need to purchase those out right, which isn't viable for everyone,

    So for me the availability of LG Phones [competitive prices, easy to get a hold of via financing with a carrier] combined with the overall benefits of Android for Music plus the power on their ESS inplimentaion, is what pushes me to recommend them. Pair'd with the Neutron App I can set a custom parametric EQ and have a wide array of DSP options to dial in the sound however I want. So the LG V20/10/G6 gives me 64/32gbs Native storage, SD expansion, Powerful DSP options with Neutron, and good power with the on Board hardware, and a plethora of purchasing options, based on what can afford

    So, if you can afford it, it sounds like the Sony Phones are an excellent option. Other wise an LG phone will be easier to purchase, and give you a very good quality of sound.

    Though, you guys know that my recommendations are not 100% based on sound quality, so if that's your only concern @zerodeefex is right, the ESS implementation on the V20 doesn't compare to what I'm used to on my HM901 or NFB10ES2
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2017
  7. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I actually like V10-->Andro well enough myself, with the caveat that I tend to use it when travelling so it's certainly not a critical listening scenario. It's dead silent with Andros as well which is a plus. Given I use a GOV2 and a GO2A SE I guess I do know what a good Sabre implementation sounds like.

    Or I'm just deaf o_O.
     
  8. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    I'm using the Sony X Compact with the Sony MDR-7550 and Audio Automatic Optimisation set to on in Sony's music app - the auto optimisation seems to play very nicely with the 7550s, it flattens the frequency in a positive manner, removes the slight glare/grain that can be present and tightens the bass, making them sound more neutral - I have no idea how the phone recognises the earphones that are plugged in, maybe by their impedance. Anyway, it's my go to travel combination, even more so than the ZX2 + Andromeda just because of the convenience; of course it's not superior sounding, but it's certainly not shamed!
    I tried the Andromedas with the X Compact, they sounded a bit lean perhaps due to higher output impedance, I didn't try the auto optimisation however.. anyway, I'm impressed with the X Compact's sound especially when combined with the MDR-7550, not so sure with the Andromedas
     
  9. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Output impedance is lower than the ZX2. I actually find myself using the noble X out of the X Compact most often these days. I will probably use the XZ1 > Noble X as my main portable rig for a while once that is released.
     
  10. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    I tried the Andro with the X Compact last night, it's shouty and leaner presentation than with the ZX2 combination, so not the best pairing unfortunately.
    I also recently got the Sony NC31E noise cancelling IEMs for 15£ ! The noise cancellation works with specific Sony phones like the X series, and I have to say for that money they are good value for casual/travel use and they don't sound bad for the price
     
  11. Colgin

    Colgin Friend

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    Looking for some help on a new phone selection. Unbelievably, I am still using an IPhone 5s for my personal phone. I used to upgrade every 2 years on the dot, but somehow missed out on the 6s on release day and never got around to upgrading. Then, it got so late in the cycle that I decided to wait for the IPhone 7. But I was very disappointed by the lack of headphone jack and debated getting a 6s. Since my 5s was still perfectly fine at the time, I continued to wait. Although I haven’t seen it in person, of course, based on the Apple presentation, the IPhone X does not blow me away. So, I am thinking I either get an 8-model (either regular or plus) (and suck up the lack of a jack) or grab a cheap 6s and get to have a headphone jack for at least a couple more years. I do not use and have no real interest in a dedicated DAP. When I have plugged in things like the CA Andromeda or Polaris (I am likely to buy one of those two models soon) into my IPhone I have been happy enough even though I know that setup is suboptimal.

    The other alternative is to get an Android phone and have a more up-to-date phone with a jack. I do think the Galaxy S8 looks like an awesome phone. (Will also want to see the LG V30 when it hits the Verizon store tomorrow.) However, I never got along well with Android for the 3 years or so that I had a S4 as my work phone. Also, my entire family is on IOS so giving up IOS for Android would be difficult. I do have a work IPhone 7, but it is more or less completely locked down. I could use it for FaceTime if I gave up the personal IPhone, but not much more for personal needs.

    Curious if people think I can get at least 2 more years out of the IPhone 6s. Has anyone upgraded it to IOS 11 and, if so, how does it run on latest version. How difficult do you think it would be to switch to Android given what I noted above about family as well as past experience.

    Also, I am not a phone super power user. I use it for calls, email and some light internet browsing and a few apps. I sit at a PC all day in an office and at home tend to use my IPad over my phone. I am not looking for last drop of music resolution or would just get a DAP. But I much prefer a built-in jack to a non-sturdy dongle.) (I guess the Pixel 2 is out).

    Really not trying to start any kind of Android/IOS flame war, but am interested in what people think given the various tradeoffs and am trying to be open to different directions.

    Appreciate any thoughts.
     
  12. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    EDIT: Mistakenly thought family members were on iPhone 8s, turns out they were 7 and 7 Plus. (bleep)-ing brainfarts.

    Given how nice Apple is about supporting older models for extended periods of time (/s), purchasing an older device shortens the effective lifespan considerably. I've been an Android user since 2010, though also have a great deal of experience using and troubleshooting iOS devices (everyone else in the family save my dad is on Apple— that's three sisters and one mum banking on me for tech support).

    My two sisters and mum are on iOS11, with the one holding out for reasons unknown. They're on a mix of 7 and 7 Plus, and have had no noticeable problems so far. I'd know if there were anything, lol. Then again. Wasn't able to A/B daily performance pre-and-post, so subtleties may escape me.

    For the most part, it seems to me both OSes are headed towards a convergence point of sorts, the Google fanboy in me saying Cupertino's merely polishing extant Android tech from years back. It's an old joke, but not entirely irrelevant nor inaccurate. Anyway. The Sammy and LG offerings usually have excellent audio performance out of the box, and for what it's worth, so does HTC. The latest model I've heard was the HTC M9 against my old M7, and the 9 only had slightly less refinement and space than an optical-fed (70% certainty, this was a while back) Chord Mojo— one step down the upgrade path, two to the side. Not sure how the HTC 10 compares, but if memory serves the new U11 doesn't have a 3.5mm jack so you're stuck going with an older phone if you absolutely abhor adaptors.

    Got to hear a friend's S8 recently cuz I was wanting to upgrade myself, pretty solid overall showing and not bad at all driving sensitive full-size cans. Haven't heard the LG yet, but it's in the cards.

    In terms of phone functionality, I agree that iOS runs like a well-rehearsed tropical cruise ship in comparison to Android's less polished presentation, and the apps are of less uniform quality. I wouldn't say it requires more brain power to use effectively (I'm not that kind of fanatical fanboi), more like there are small, ostensibly minor inconveniences that you just learn your way around after a short spell. Multitasking is better than on iOS though, and while I maintain Siri is way more fun to dick around with than Google Assistant when I'm really bored, the latter is ultimately more utilitarian and, if you've got a lot of stuff in the Google ecosystem, really damn functional. Don't expect to have anything even remotely close to a sense of privacy after though, Google keeps track of /every/thing you do. Then again, I'd be less concerned given how you're not much of a mobile user.

    P.S.
    The iPhone 5/S is a really sexy device, but i maintain that the original 4 is one of the best-looking devices ever (Mmm. Glass sandwiches). Wish more phones nowadays had that same sort of aesthetic.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2017
  13. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

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    Here’s something interesting about iOS 11 that hasn’t received much publicity: devices running it can deliver up to 96/24 to an external DAC natively (buh-bye Onkyo app). And the new version of iTunes will sync hi-res files with no fuss. Wasn’t sure I believed it when I read it, but I downloaded a known 96/24 file to my iPhone, hooked it up to the Mojo, and the sample rate display came up green, signifying a 96/24 input signal.
     
  14. abraxas666

    abraxas666 Friend

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    Got an LG v30 a couple of days ago. And the only thing I have figured out so far is that Pandora SQ will not do.

    Once a headphone is plugged in, it will automatically use the quad ESS Sabre DAC. FM radio will not trigger the use of the DAC though.

    There is several filters included, that I had not a chance to compare with good quality music yet.
     
  15. %20 Oddity

    %20 Oddity Friend

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    Only on iPhones 7 and onwards, though. For both of those features.
    However much I like Apple products and their extended support, I really wouldn't upgrade past iOS 10 had I had the chance now. It's kinda incredibly buggy, as in it's probably the worst OS release I've seen them do. Shit crashes all the time, and both the new notification center and the control center is a pain in the ass to use. Especially the music controls.
     
  16. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    The thing that really pisses me off about my iOS devices is that Apple doesn't support the "album artist" field in the id3 tag. This fucks compilations and similar quite badly. It's bad enough the hoops that I have to jump through to get audio onto iOS things in the first place, but having to kludge the metadata (that works on everything else) is just a pain in the arse. As a result, I tend not to use iOS for anything other than streaming. Thank goodness for a decent-quality DAP.

    Also, as phones lose their headphone sockets, and since I sold my Mojo, this whole question is becomingly moot for me. My old Nexus 6 is getting to the end of its supported life, so I will have to upgrade soon to get continued security patches. I'm fairly sure that I can't be bothered to band a mobile DAC/amp to my phone anymore. Yay DAP.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
  17. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Or everyone could bow down to King Cupertino and start including Lighting/USB-C cables with their cans? Wasn't Apple the one that killed the floppy?

    If memory serves, the SQ straight out of the data-poop chute is usually superior to what you'd get out of a SE jack, so even if the built-in DACs on these phones are inferior to what you'd get out of a proper DAP or portable combo meal, it'd be preferable to having to clean up shoddily-amped signal. Massive pain for manufacturers, potential boon for aftermarket cable people, but that seems about the extent of it.
     
  18. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    And then you're at the whim of whatever DAC they put in the dongle.
     
  19. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    You don't get "SQ straight out of the data-poop chute". This comment makes no sense.
     
  20. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Sorry for the late reply, ISP screwing up again and lost connection. Have to retype most of my message again, dammit =_=

    Admitting that I typed that out right after I woke up, so made far less sense than usual. My bad! :p

    What I meant was that getting signal out of the USB/Lightning port bypasses the internal components, which is more often than not less than superlative even on flagship phones (except maybe that upcoming [?] Onkyo Granbeat phone, perhaps). I readily admit I know far less about how these things work than many members on here, but unless I'm very much mistaken transmitting digital signal into an external DAC/amp combo or, more likely in this scenario, something along the lines of the Cipher Cable with its built-in not-terrible DSP, makes for cleaner signal into transducers.

    ... Then again, that means:

    Which does suck, but for most people who use transducers straight out of their mobile phones, I don't believe the loss in fidelity will be too much of an issue unless they're using their phones as a transport at a meet or to demo new gear. Far from an ideal solution, but again, depends on implementation. Yeah, getting rid of well-grounded (hah) standards is always a massive pain, especially when there doesn't seem to be any valid reason to do so, but if there are perceptible improvements to be reaped from doing so... eh. Could always recable my cans if need be (or pay someone who knows what they're doing to do it because I am not to be trusted with a soldering iron).

    Hmm, aftermarket cable manufacturers using high-performance DACs in their dongles. There's an idea.
     

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