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Hi all
Ordered my 32gb, white N5, which should be delivered early next week.
But while anxiously waiting and reading first feedbacks, I had a question that seemed to have not been answered yet.
What about audio jack quality? I don't expect a smartphone to drive a high spec earbud like a professional DAC, but the N4 was a bit disappointing. Muddy bass, irritating highs, it was definitely not enough for my Fidelio S2.
So what to expect from the N5? Does it come with a Wolfson DAC (I don't think so) or with the same DAC the G2 is equipped with? How does it sound?
i would imagine it uses a Qualcomm dac like the N4 before it only perhaps an updated one. i found the N4 to sound alright on my Sure SE535's but bass not as clear / punchy as any wolfson ive had previously.
if you goto the snapdragon S800 page if i recall it does talk about the DAC
Also the S800 now has a Dedicated DSP processor and 4.4 uses direct audio tunneling to the DSP so it will be interesting to see how this will effect the audio quality to.
EDIT: from what i understand tho the Qualcomm DAC's are more analytical in sound they tend to give detail and lack warmth in the sound.
How is the volume? I'm hearing impaired and I was always listening my music on full volume.
I read somewhere that the N5 would be louder. Can someone confirm this for me?
audio is a big one for me as well.
if it isnt a big improvement over the n4 it will be getting sold. Ive been spoiled with my htc one after having the n4.
aimetti said:
audio is a big one for me as well.
if it isnt a big improvement over the n4 it will be getting sold. Ive been spoiled with my htc one after having the n4.
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yeah, I used to listen my music on my ipod touch 64GB but it broke down. Just recently I started using my N4 as my daily music-"machine" D) and google music all access is great. However, the N4 was just not loud enough for some albums (usually older and quieter stuff) and 16GB weren't much enough.
I hope my new N5 white 32GB will be better as music player... I will find out at the latest on monday..
Just pasting my comment from a discussion on G+, some may find it useful:
From a quick test I believe it sounds better than my good ol' Nexus 4. The sound is a bit more bass-y, though I'm not sure if it's just "coloured", or the fact that Nexus 4's sound is a bit on the "tinny" side (note: I'm not using audiophile-grade gear, just slightly(?)-above-the-average Klipsch S4 in-ears). I'd say the sound is more balanced now. Also, output appears to be higher than on the Nexus 4.
Take the above with a grain of salt, this is a matter of personal preference after all. For proper analysis you should wait for Supercurio or someone with the proper tools + time to do it.
Edit: Before anyone asks about external DACs, just tried to connect my ODAC hoping for some sound to play from my speakers. No luck. Not even with a Y-Cable so I guess we're going to have to rely on custom kernels again.
phunkycow said:
Just pasting my comment from a discussion on G+, some may find it useful:
From a quick test I believe it sounds better than my good ol' Nexus 4. The sound is a bit more bass-y, though I'm not sure if it's just "coloured", or the fact that Nexus 4's sound is a bit on the "tinny" side (note: I'm not using audiophile-grade gear, just slightly(?)-above-the-average Klipsch S4 in-ears). I'd say the sound is more balanced now. Also, output appears to be higher than on the Nexus 4.
Take the above with a grain of salt, this is a matter of personal preference after all. For proper analysis you should wait for Supercurio or someone with the proper tools + time to do it.
Edit: Before anyone asks about external DACs, just tried to connect my ODAC hoping for some sound to play from my speakers. No luck. Not even with a Y-Cable so I guess we're going to have to rely on custom kernels again.
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Thanks!
With higher output, do you mean more volume, louder?
I also have Klipsch S4 (II) and I found it already quite (too?) bassy on my N4
Blocoholi said:
Thanks!
With higher output, do you mean more volume, louder?
I also have Klipsch S4 (II) and I found it already quite (too?) bassy on my N4
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Got the S4 (I), not sure if there's a difference!
Yep, that's what I meant about the output, sorry for the confusion.
Indeed. I hope the audio is better than the n4. Heck, my i9100 has better audio quality than the n4.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 4
I'm coming from a GNexus and when I plug my phone into the aux jack in my car it sounds absolutely terrible. It's just horribly muffled and muddy compared to virtually anything else I've plugged in.
Anyone know what kind of improvements I can expect? Was the N4 any better than the GNexus? It's pretty embarrassing to want to share a song with friends and after someone unplugs their iphone my phone sounds like garbage.
feedtheducks said:
Indeed. I hope the audio is better than the n4. Heck, my i9100 has better audio quality than the n4.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 4
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Nope nooope no no no no no nopity nope no no no. I'm sorry but having owned both Galaxy S2 and Nexus 4, the Nexus 4 definitely has better music-playing quality through headphones. 100%.
Will receive my Nexus 5 hopefully Monday!
Hopefully the audio quality can compete with a Samsung Galaxy S3 + Boeffla Sound Engine. I´ll really miss this one
Now that the Nexus 5 has been out for a while now, and should have went through multiple iterations of hardware revisions, what is the verdict on the Nexus 5's audio quality? This is both speakerphone and headphone.
It is known that the Nexus 5 has really shoddy audio quality, especially from the headphone port. See here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7567/smartphone-audio-quality-testing/4
For me, this is really important, as I'm an audiophile, and I need to have excellent sounding audio. I'm on a Galaxy Note 3, but considering coming to the Nexus 5 as I've really had it with the ridiculous random reboots with the Note 3.
I'd really like to get some input from people who can contribute subjectively as well as those who might have tested it like Anandtech did.
Thanks in advance!
The speaker is okay, nothing to write home about but not terrible. I'd say it's better than the Nexus 4 but certainly not as good as the HTC One M7/M8. The headphone jack is awful. I'm not quite an "audiophile" but the sound is not good. It's still listenable, but it's a significant step down from the HTC One M7 or Galaxy S3 I've used in the past. It's actually to the point where I would rather listen to music over bluetooth than use my headphones because the quality drop over bluetooth isn't as significant as the difference in DAC quality between the N5 and my bluetooth receiver.
All in all, audio quality is probably the one thing that makes me regret the phone. If you plan on using headphones with the phone a lot, and don't want to deal with a USB DAC (including the issues getting it working on the Nexus 5) I would avoid the phone. I wish I had waited and picked up an HTC One M8 honestly, and that would be my recommendation. Now that they've dropped the "Beats" branding the audio quality is actually very good without the overpowering bass of the original M7.
Thanks so much for the in-depth explanation. I guess that takes me out of the running for a Nexus 5.
ajm786 said:
Now that the Nexus 5 has been out for a while now, and should have went through multiple iterations of hardware revisions, what is the verdict on the Nexus 5's audio quality? This is both speakerphone and headphone.
It is known that the Nexus 5 has really shoddy audio quality, especially from the headphone port. See here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7567/smartphone-audio-quality-testing/4
For me, this is really important, as I'm an audiophile, and I need to have excellent sounding audio. I'm on a Galaxy Note 3, but considering coming to the Nexus 5 as I've really had it with the ridiculous random reboots with the Note 3.
I'd really like to get some input from people who can contribute subjectively as well as those who might have tested it like Anandtech did.
Thanks in advance!
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I use Poweramp & Flac files on my N5 & klipsch headphones, while ok it's by no means great.
You have the Note 3 atm, the N5 is no where near as good audio wise.
I had the N3 & tried the S5 both are way better than the N5.
Atm I use the M8 for proper audio quality.
It's your choice, the N5 is a great device but not for music.
I use beats headphones and Viper4android, along with poweramp and flac as stated above and I have pretty good sound. Not nearly as sweet as the M7 was but definitely above average. I think a combination of good after market headphones and a reliable audio mod can make a so-so sound situation much better. If you have the means and sound is important, then you may want a different device. But if you don't or already have the N5, there are ways to improve the sound significantly. That's my penny and a half.
Mine sounds great using Poweramp and some Klipsch earphones
Honestly, the sound is definitely sub par. I get it, it's a $349-$399 phone & corners are cut somewhere. I have been to see bands play & my siblings & friends with different phones record bands & clips & their playback makes my n5 look like garbage. (They have note3, m7, iPhone 4s/5/5s). Headphone jack isn't awesome either.
I stream music a lot in my car using an auxiliary wire & it isn't awesome, but it isn't atrocious either.
Sound & battery are really killing me with this device.
ajm786 said:
should have went through multiple iterations of hardware revisions...
...I'd really like to get some input from people who can contribute subjectively as well as those who might have tested it like Anandtech did.
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There have been no hardware revisions at this time so everything is the same as when Anandtech did their tests, and no one tests like Anand does so you've already read the best info out on the subject.
I think the audio quality is above average for a mobile device, but isn't in the same league as the hardware used for the high end Samsung or HTC phones. Software mods such as Viper4Android can make up most of that difference.
The only real issue with the external audio is the stereo crosstalk in the upper volume steps which I've not needed to use as it's plenty loud for my ears.
Came from an S4, and expected to be disappointed by the audio quality of the N5, but I wasn't. The speaker does suck though. N5 + faux sound + Sony MDR-1R headphones = not too shabby an experience (prefer it to the S4).
One of the reasons I'm abandoning my Galaxy S5 is that the audio doesn't sound great. Does anyone know what DAC is in the LG F Flex 2? I can't find it online anywhere, and in-store comparison is difficult.
I cannot agree more. I have no idea what DAC LG uses in this phone but to me it sounds at least 50% better even over the BT in my car.
I just couldn't set the EQ to my liking on S5 no matter how hard I tried. It was always only "acceptable".
Just as a heads up. The DAC on the phone doesn't do anything when over Bluetooth. The phone sends audio as 0s & 1s over Bluetooth, and the receiver/head unit has a DAC which does the converting. All that to say, I haven't been totally blown away by call quality, but i d say it's better than the gs3 which is what one coming from.
zoundguy said:
Just as a heads up. The DAC on the phone doesn't do anything when over Bluetooth. The phone sends audio as 0s & 1s over Bluetooth, and the receiver/head unit has a DAC which does the converting. All that to say, I haven't been totally blown away by call quality, but i d say it's better than the gs3 which is what one coming from.
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Yeah, I know that, but the sound either wired or over BT sounds to me much more clearer with more detail and better separation. Why? No idea.
Exactly. It's odd. According the reviews in gsmarena (which I found after posting), basically the gs5 has terrific measured specs for audio via wired headphones, which is all I really care about. Clearly, if I wanted nice speakers, I'd either buy some or at least have an HTC One. And, as zoundguy correctly points out, the DAC is irrelevant to digitally-transmitted media. All that said, my GS5 still sounds like crap.
scottegos2 said:
Exactly. It's odd. According the reviews in gsmarena (which I found after posting), basically the gs5 has terrific measured specs for audio via wired headphones, which is all I really care about. Clearly, if I wanted nice speakers, I'd either buy some or at least have an HTC One. And, as zoundguy correctly points out, the DAC is irrelevant to digitally-transmitted media. All that said, my GS5 still sounds like crap.
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I'm with you on that one. I'm using wire in my truck and BT in my car. Both sound better than my S5 which I happily traded in for $120.
Hi.. I was wondering if its worth buying galaxy s6 earbuds?? I like to talk phone with earbuds and im wondering if the sound and mic quality are good.. Thanks
Yeah I'd say the quality is good. Mine have been through the wash and still sound as good!
ScaredWalrus said:
Yeah I'd say the quality is good. Mine have been through the wash and still sound as good!
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One more question.. Do you think these are orignal? http://m.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Original-...ge-Headset-Earphones-/271923312882?nav=SEARCH
I think it depends. While the quality of the earbuds (both mic and sound) is on par with what Samsung has delivered in the past, I believe that the new design lacks the isolation from external sounds that previous versions offered. For example, the design of the S3-S5 earbuds performs far better in this regard, at least for me. That's why I've been using my older headphones despite having the new ones. Others might differ.
In any case, the sound quality in Samsung headphones has never been bad at all. Although you can't rank them on par with high-end earbuds from Bose or Seinheiser.
Mine are unused in the box. Hate all ear buds. If I use anything it is headphones.
I think the earbuds suck. They sound more muffled and not as clear as previous galaxy buds.
Bottom line, the s6 has(d) amazing audio quality. The goddamn Nougat update gimped it and made it sound horrid, flat, thin, no bass., I am in the process of downgrading mine to Marshmallow (omg I hope it works!).
WATCH OUT FELLAS! This update gimps the audio output very badly.
Worked fine downgrading to Marshmallow. Had a bootloop, had to clear data, but now I am back in business.
Sound is back to greatness.
No sound problems for me.
Yea my audio sounds great on both stock music app & Power Amp app
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S6 using XDA Labs
redrol said:
Bottom line, the s6 has(d) amazing audio quality. The goddamn Nougat update gimped it and made it sound horrid, flat, thin, no bass., I am in the process of downgrading mine to Marshmallow (omg I hope it works!).
WATCH OUT FELLAS! This update gimps the audio output very badly.
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Can't you just downgrade the audio?
I'm fairly new at all this phone phreaking myself just an idea
No problems here with sound. I use mine daily for music in car connected to sync, Bluetooth headphones at work or Bluetooth speakers
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S6 using XDA Labs
Sound hasn't changed for me. Just menu placement.
It's true. Before the Nougat update the audio sounded pretty good especially with that "Bass" preset in use. Now it's more quiet and the amazing bass frequency is gone.
Are you for real?
Jizzylax said:
Are you for real?
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Yeah. The adapt sound thing can make things a little better, but definitely not as good.