Audiophile Phones (Or phones with decent audio output)

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

  1. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I can confirm that the iPhone is pretty good as is. That being said I'd rather just get a separate DAP. No so much because of quality, but because I don't want to have to worry about draining my phone battery while I listen to music. If my DAP runs out than I just can't listen to music. Running out of juice on my phone is a mini-crisis.

    Of course this isn't really viable if you do streaming, like with Tidal.
     
  2. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Under the midfi-but-moist banner, I just stick my headphone jack in my Moto X-Play. It sounds ok. But yes, it does sound better, and produces enough power to get some volume out of the HD600, with a Geekout 450 to help out.

    But, when I travel, it is with a mere Noontec Zoro II. And a bunch of MP3 or ogg files.
     
  3. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

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    There is no solution. There is only the compromises you feel most comfortable with. For me, it's the iPhone 7. Having 256 gigs and not having to worry about micro SD cards is a big differentiator. DF Red is a nice add-on.

    The target is always moving. Mojo + Poly + 1Tb SD card, especially at UK pricing minus VAT refund, may change my mind.
     
  4. take

    take Friend

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    With my Noble K10, the Google Pixel is more than acceptable. It's got a very low noise floor and isn't prone to give any noise from the internal radios through the headphone out. Of course the DAC is nothing special, but for using when out and about, such as on the subway, it's very competent. Much better than my previous Nexus 6P, which had more hiss and was less well isolated from the radios.
     
  5. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    When I tried the original Dragonfly, it had a gnarly noise floor with sensitive IEMs and way too much gain — still made sound with volume turned down to 0. Has this been fixed on later generations?
     
  6. BenjaminBore

    BenjaminBore Friend

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    These are the most sensitive things I have: PSB M4U 4, Fostex TH900, Yuin OK2, and some random IEMs.

    Just had a quick listen out of an iPhone 6S to double check and there's zero noise with the DF Red.
     
  7. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    This is not correct. I own the V-10 and it works with the ESS dac with Onkyo and Foobar players. You may have been reading about the V-10 early days before Marshmallow, but since then the apps noted work with the hardware just fine.

    And it really is a step up from the average flagship phones of a few years ago. I actually like it more than a high value dap the Plenue D.
     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    How did I not know about this? Trying it out now!
     
  9. Slaphead

    Slaphead Facebook Friend

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    I really don't think there are any "audiophile" phones as such, but I do think all have a good crack at putting reasonable audio from what i've heard - certainly for the type of headphones or IEMs that you'd typically put to mobile use within a mobile environment

    I think the choice here really should depend on which phone ecosystem you've bought into the most. Mainly because if you're going to switch then you need to take into account the cost of re-buying the apps that you use regularly, or if they're free then is an important app available on the other ecosystem. Let's face it, most of us use our phones way more for other stuff than for audio.

    I also think that a lot of the benefits of high end DAPs are lost when you go out and about - regardless of how isolating your headphones or IEMs are there's always going to be noise creeping in which to a certain extent smothers the nuances and quality of the sound that a high end DAP would provide.

    So, in my Rando opinion, stick with what you already know. If you're Apple inclined then you've already got a solid output, barring some models (6S) when combined with hyper sensitive IEMs. If you're Android inclined then you've got a greater choice, some of which will surpass the Apple devices, but Android does tend to force upsampling, which may, or may not be to your benefit.

    Really it's even stevens in the phone world IMO
     
  10. Colgin

    Colgin Friend

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    For those on Iphone 7/7+, how has the dongle held up to wear from use. I tested it and seemed acceptable for my commute purposes, but it seemed very flimsy and I can imagine going through 4 or 5 a year if used daily. But maybe AppleCare covers it if it shorts out. I don't mind buying a few extra, but would not want to have to replace every couple of months.
     
  11. Comzee

    Comzee Facebook Friend

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    Not well, and it can also hitch if you're running, or active almost at all. It's really a stop-gap for entrenched users of cables.

    The 7/7+ always intended to highlight wireless IEM and HPs.
    Super unpopular opinion, I actually think Apple removing the audio jack was a good idea. Phones already have dumpster integrated dac/amp SOC, the only difference now is those dumpster amp/dac now reside within the wireless device.

    Two scenarios, do I want to listen to real music? Always going to use my good equipment @ home, never my phone.
    Do I want to listen on the go, running, camping, road-trip, anywhere else then at home? f**k cables I throw in my Jaybird's. If I want decent bump in quality I'll use my Bose QC35.

    I've never understood the HiFi on the go mentality. I get not wanting trash on the go, so don't buy Skullcandy and use them out of a $15 Walmart MP3 player.
    If anybody is trying to squeeze better SQ than QC35 can give on the go, God speed.
     
  12. take

    take Friend

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    The time spent on a train, or even just walking from place to place, becomes a lot more pleasant when you can listen to music with some semblance of quality.

    If it's possible to hear detailed, dynamic music while sitting on a train, why not? I'm not sure how you can't understand that.

    It's fine if you don't feel the same way. I don't get into nice DAPs because the convenience of choosing whatever I'm currently listening to and caching it offline with a tap, and not having to carry an extra device, is worth the decrease in sound quality to me, but I definitely understand why people choose to use DAPs that sound better.
     
  13. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I see both points: Listening on a train will never be as good as at home on good gear, so don't focus your time/money/effort trying to make it so -VS- I want great sound everywhere, and I don't mind the time/money/effort to get it.

    Neither is wrong.

    As a happy middle ground, I think getting a single device and IEMs that offer good but not great for a decent price is my preference. I'd love to listen to the CA Andromeda on my commute in, but they would be used so infrequently otherwise I can't justify the expense. Same with sinking wads of cash into DAPs or external DAC/amps, let alone dealing with the inconveniences separate devices bring. If I were still a student cramming for exams in the library all night, it might be a different story,, but I wouldn't be able to afford it if I were, so moot point. Anyway... at the same time I don't like the Jbirds sound, I believe BOSE is an acronym meaning Buy Other Sound Equipment, and I think Bluetooth anything sounds bad and is often needlessly more expensive to simply eliminate the slight inconveniences of wires.

    Anyway, a great smartphone and decent IEMs are my speed.

    But the smartphone can't suck at being a smartphone. Calls, camera, user experience, battery, processing power all have to be excellent. I hate to admit, but I'm a tech geek before I am audio enthusiast, so smartphone quality trumps having dedicated DAC/amp chips in something like the V20. It's why I'm sorry the LG G6 in the US sucks. (I'm sorry it missed the boat on the 835 CPU as well, as it was almost instantly dated the moment it was released.)

    I'm very very hopeful that the V30 will finally check all the boxes listed above - which the V20 didn't do for me - or that some other OEM will come out swinging some big audiophile schlong in a new device like the Pixel 2. I won't hold my breath though, as I don't see anyone other than LG playing in this space. I would love to see Google tackle this like the Pixel took on the camera.

    As it sits now, I think audiophiles are kind of limited in the smartphone space. Actually, I think we are boned, truth be told. If the Galaxy 8+ had the V20 DAC/amp and a 4400mA hour battery, I'd be willing to forgive all of TouchWiz's sins and buy it in a heart beat.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2017
  14. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    I just remembered Rotijon is based in Malaysia, so you do have the picks of phones from Vivo, which do have "hifi DAC and amps". I've not heard any of their recent models though.
     
  15. m.i.c.k.e.y

    m.i.c.k.e.y Facebook Friend

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    As for me LG V20 H990DS works wonders esp. with dynamic high impedance cans. Have HD600 and was greatly surprised its synergy and presentation (for a smartphone that is).

    It ticks the right boxes. Dual Sim with dedicated microSD, removable battery (which have not used it for now but a plus for me), a secondary screen that saves battery bigtime (2 days for me after fullcharge).

    Now have an "all in one".....

    Must use its internal music app though to have all it sonic goodness. Could play up to DSD128 (won't play DXD however).
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2017
  16. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    I've had a CIEM for years (JH13fp, from when it was the most recommended device of its type). It solves all the on-the-go problems with respect to flights and trains, and has great sound isolation (sometimes I just keep the music off to spare my ears fr ambient noise). Sounds great out of an iPhone. Not as good as my home setup, but it doesn't have to be. Cheap external DACs and amps sound worse than the iPhone output jack+JH13, with crazy deafening gain and high noise floors. (I haven't tried anything expensive.)

    But I do wonder what I'll do when I eventually have to get an iPhone without an audio jack. I rely on charging and listening at the same time. An unobtrusive Bluetooth DAC/amp with a short cable that connects to IEMs which I could run behind the neck would work but I haven't found such a thing (and remembering to charge it will be a pain).
     
  17. take

    take Friend

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    The Noble BTS sounds like what you're describing, but I haven't heard overwhelmingly positive impressions of its sound quality and noise floor. For raw convenience, though, it may be acceptable.
     
  18. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Yes, the Noble looks close but SQ and noise floor reports turn me off. Also, it's fairly bulky and connects to a conventional 1/8" jack. The kind of device I have in mind is way smaller and connects directly to the IEMs, many of which have similar two-pin connectors.
     
  19. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Sort of like the Westone one? But that ends in MMCX only.
     
  20. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Does it not engage the "Hi-Fi DAC" with 3rd party players?

    The V10 was that way at first, too, but they fixed it eventually.

    In fact, before there was an official patch, the modding community released a standalone app that fixed it nicely.

    Hopefully that's around the corner for the V20 as well.

    *EDIT* Whoops...it looks like @bixby mentioned this earlier. Sorry for the repeat...

    FWIW, the V10 has completely cured my need to look for a standalone DAP.
     

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