[Q] Top speaker sound quality - Xperia Z3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi everybody I am coming from HTC one m8 thus sound guality is very important for me. I tried z3 at 4 different stores. Only at 1 of them the top speaker didn't crackle badly playing just the songs which the walkman app has preloaded. What is the deal with the top speaker? Does it do the same for you? I was very dissapointed because after reading many reviews of the z3, (none of them reports such a problem), I thought it could be my next phone...

morfini said:
Hi everybody I am coming from HTC one m8 thus sound guality is very important for me. I tried z3 at 4 different stores. Only at 1 of them the top speaker didn't crackle badly playing just the songs which the walkman app has preloaded. What is the deal with the top speaker? Does it do the same for you? I was very dissapointed because after reading many reviews of the z3, (none of them reports such a problem), I thought it could be my next phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have heard this from others as well, mine seems balanced though. I made my dad get a M8, it does sound slightly better than the Z3.
Coming back to your Z3 return it and test the new one before keeping, if you are getting from a carrier. My sister's GS4 had a yellow tint screen at the top so I took her to T-Mobile and they let here test out other brand new GS4s before replacing hers. Go and do the same!

morfini said:
Hi everybody I am coming from HTC one m8 thus sound guality is very important for me. I tried z3 at 4 different stores. Only at 1 of them the top speaker didn't crackle badly playing just the songs which the walkman app has preloaded. What is the deal with the top speaker? Does it do the same for you? I was very dissapointed because after reading many reviews of the z3, (none of them reports such a problem), I thought it could be my next phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem in though its a software problem but I think hardware related top speaker crackle for me on some songs a bit and it's have much more bass than the bottom speaker

Related

[Q] Loudspeaker hardware mod?

No matter how much we try to deny it, or try not to talk about it- we must all admit that the speaker output of the Sensation isn't amongst the best we've come across. I've missed calls numerous times (especially in a crowded street or so) just because I couldn't hear the ringer.
Yes, we do have apps such as Volume+ and PowerAmp which does seem to do an alright job- but still doesn't satisfy our need.
Here's my Q- Would installing a speaker from a different model/ phone have a better output? I understand that it might need additional software tweaks as well ( not to mention finding a suitable speaker which fits )- but is it possible?
PS. I'm not a sound crazy noob who just wants to impress people with a loud phone, I honestly can't hear it half the time.
Regards,
Tony
Would be interesting! This is my chief complaint with my phone.
I dont understand why this has not been touched yet. Its been the number one issue since day one, volume+ only helps with media.
Dacoit said:
I dont understand why this has not been touched yet. Its been the number one issue since day one, volume+ only helps with media.
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Click to collapse
Sure has been. Any input from someone who has a better understanding of the internals of a Sensation would definitely be helpful. And I for one definitely wouldn't mind risking the warranty if it actually seems possible.
Which one of the HTC line would have the most powerful loudspeaker? I suppose those within the HTC family maybe an easier fit.
I think HTC Sensation has the same speaker as the HTC Droid Incredible 2, HTC Evo 3d(expected),HTC Freestyle & HTC Incredible S based to how they used the same picture for these phones speakers on www.repairsuniverse.com. Anybody know about the sound quality from these phones?
I've heard that the Evo 3D stores a pretty powerful sound output. Judging by the link, I'd say it might be a good fit on the sensation as well.
But I sure hope it isn't exactly the same speaker. That'd be like installing a Sensation XE speaker on the Sensation- Foolish.
The only thing i fear is that our phones have a weak speaker because of the design of the case. The hole for the speaker on the sensation is small and off center of the actual speaker. The Evo3d has a seemingly larger slits for the speaker and it seems to be on center so that might be the difference. Has anybody opened the phone and used the speaker without the plastic body and the battery cover in the way?
kevinliu2336 said:
The only thing i fear is that our phones have a weak speaker because of the design of the case. The hole for the speaker on the sensation is small and off center of the actual speaker. The Evo3d has a seemingly larger slits for the speaker and it seems to be on center so that might be the difference. Has anybody opened the phone and used the speaker without the plastic body and the battery cover in the way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had that suspicion earlier today as well. And I did try it out with the rear housing off. There really wasn't much of a difference- it might seem a bit louder with the back off, but at the same time it seems to pump more bass with it on.
I wouldn't mind trying out an EVO 3D speaker on mine to figure if it does make a difference, but I'd need someone to confirm that they aren't the same speakers as the sensation. Any additional info/ tips would be appreciated- Let me get this done and make myself a bit useful to the forum
If you are using an mp3 as a ringtone, that can be re-recorded at a higher output level. Not sure if there is an Android audio app that would let you do that directly on the phone, but certainly there are lots of audio apps for Mac and PC that will do the job.
stroobach said:
If you are using an mp3 as a ringtone, that can be re-recorded at a higher output level. Not sure if there is an Android audio app that would let you do that directly on the phone, but certainly there are lots of audio apps for Mac and PC that will do the job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure there are apps which would help increase output to a certain level, but still does't reach expected levels. For all having issues with the loudspeaker output- I'd recommend this thread for now: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1389756
All credits go to the OP of that thread- that sure was an amazing find! Worked well for me, and editing that particular file whilst installing a different speaker might help even better. Will get back on that as soon as I'm done with a project deadline.
I guess we all agree that the loudspeaker on the Sensation is woeful. I own a Touch Pro 2 and the dual speakers are LOUD. They are probably the loudest speaker phone that you can ever find from the entire HTC product line. Interestingly, the dual speakers are also designed such that the left speaker is behaving like the tweeter (higher pitch sounds) while the right speaker is the woofer (lower pitch sounds). It is very apparent when you cover up one and then the other while some music is playing.
I have ordered a spare speaker (meant for repairs) for the Touch Pro 2 and will be playing around with it to see if some hardware mods are possible to improve the Sensation's speakers. The delivery is expected to take 3 weeks to arrive.
I don't wish to dig up zombies, but I thought it better to continue an old thread than start a new one due to others insights.
Has anyone tried other speakers to see if they fit in the Sensation? I too have come from the Touch Pro2, and there was a tweak on it which made the speaker even louder (it was already quite loud!). I could hold a conversation, hands-free, in my car with the window down on the motorway no problem. And now, coming to the Senny, I'm almost embarrased to play music to anyone (unless using the headphones). I realise we can't get the TP2 speakers on the Senny (as there is more involved than just swapping a speaker - even if there was room for 2 larger speakers in the Senny).
Anyway. @darkytoothpaste, or anyone else, has there been any progress with the speaker hardware?

[Q] How is your speaker?

i noticed that my speaker is very quiet, even on my buddys sensation
my last two phones (nexus one & mytouch4g) both had LOUDDDDD speakers and the speaker on the sensation is a bit of a disappointment
anyone else notice a weak speaker?
Yeah its a known problem. Not much we can do about it.
Spkr sucks
This is the worst speaker I have had in a phone. I even tried dl'ing a volume booster app, it was ok i guess. but I jus went n bought a cube, (the lil external speaker) and that thing is really loud for its size. But mostly I gave up and just carry my iphone with me and listen to that instead. It makes me regret running over my sgs which put this speaker to shame.
Mines is just fine in call is very good and media such as music isn't that bad ...
Sent From My Sexy Sensation.
I've got a problem with in call volume, especially with sip calling with the native client. Sometimes it's fine (in terms of the normal Sensation quietness). Sometimes it's just about inaudible. It's not a problem with my provider since I don't have this problem with other phones/sip clients.
Seems to be fine if I use a bluetooth earpiece though.
Don't really make regular cell calls too often, so not sure if it's a global issue or isolated to sip calling
Mine is xLOUD and its fine
No way around it the speaker quality for this phone is the absolute worst I have experienced period. I thought it was just me, good to know others have the same issue (I suppose). Does xLoud work with Virtuous Inquisition? Or is there any other app that does work at boosting the sound. It's the one qualm I have with this phone...
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA
Want a loud speaker? Buy a Motorola rokr e1 or Motorola e398 ;-)
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk
The first "iPhone" was such a dud, and yet it's call volume probably still obliterated this phone's. Is it too much to ask that the speaker isn't the equivalent of cups and string? I mean maybe it's a manufacturing defect or something (which I guess I'll live with until a significant upgrade comes along) but I contemplated returning this phone from day one. Fortunately, the pro's outweigh the cons but it'd still be nice to have a fix...
monkor said:
The first "iPhone" was such a dud, and yet it's call volume probably still obliterated this phone's. Is it too much to ask that the speaker isn't the equivalent of cups and string? I mean maybe it's a manufacturing defect or something (which I guess I'll live with until a significant upgrade comes along) but I contemplated returning this phone from day one. Fortunately, the pro's outweigh the cons but it'd still be nice to have a fix...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont know man
i heard about the dust under the screen problem, the bad touchscreen digitizer problem, the deathgrip problems.. lol so far i only have a weak speaker but im still thinking of switching over to the amaze or just wait to get a one s
the community here is HUGE and thats making me want to keep the sensation
Spkr sucks
My in call spkr works fine (although I basically make everyone text as I hate talking on the phone). Its jus the external speaker for music that really annoys me. I thought about it and this phone has the lowest output volume of every single phone I have owned even from a while back, Nokia 5310,(i still like that simple a** phone for some reason) xpress, 5730, g1, g2, hd1, my-touch, my-touch fender, Sgs-1&2, iPhone3, iPhone 4 all seemed to play louder than this. But hey, If they made a phone that had the complete pkg i guess it would stop the need for future phone sales so they gotta screw us outta sumthin at least I guess.
I too was on the verge of jus moving over to iOS n usin my iPhone4 since I JB it, the iPad & all 3 touches I started liking the amount of stuff you can do, But I came across this site today & was reminded of why Im stickin to the lil green guy on my phone.
My speaker is so so, but with Volume+ app it rocks!
My speaker is loud enough using DSPManager, but the quality is absolutely terrible.

[Q] Loudspeaker volume vs Galaxy Nexus and HTC One

I'd really appreciate it if someone who has either a Galaxy Nexus or HTC One or both could post a YouTube video that shows how the loudspeaker on the Nexus 5 compares to these two phones. I currently have a Galaxy Nexus and am trying to decide whether to purchase an HTC One or a Nexus 5, and the GNex's loudspeaker sucks. It is important for my next phone to be MUCH louder! I'll go with the N5 if the loudspeaker is decent; the One is my backup plan, so a comparison between all three (turned up to the max for each) would be really helpful. Thanks.
xda_681231085 said:
I'd really appreciate it if someone who has either a Galaxy Nexus or HTC One or both could post a YouTube video that shows how the loudspeaker on the Nexus 5 compares to these two phones. I currently have a Galaxy Nexus and am trying to decide whether to purchase an HTC One or a Nexus 5, and the GNex's loudspeaker sucks. It is important for my next phone to be MUCH louder! I'll go with the N5 if the loudspeaker is decent; the One is my backup plan, so a comparison between all three (turned up to the max for each) would be really helpful. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got the nexus 5 today and the volume levels are my only worry so far.
i got n7 music player app and levels are very low, but playing music with 'Play Music' app they seem louder.
Video however seems extremely low so far (on Play movies app) and i think headphones may be needed for me to watch my movies on it
dferg said:
i got the nexus 5 today and the volume levels are my only worry so far.
i got n7 music player app and levels are very low, but playing music with 'Play Music' app they seem louder.
Video however seems extremely low so far (on Play movies app) and i think headphones may be needed for me to watch my movies on it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will definitely work. My N10 suffers from low volumes and this app makes it a super star. There's also a free version that works great, but to get the equalizer presets the paid is the way to go.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TEST.android.lvh
There's another thread in this section about the speaker where a lot of people are saying the speaker volume is kind of low. One person said the Nexus 4, even with its speaker on the back of the phone, was better. Others say the Nexus 5 is a little better than the 4.
People are also pointing out that despite the two apparent speaker grills on the bottom of the phone, it is not stereo. There's just one speaker. The other grill is the microphone. (Since you don't need a whole big grill for the microphone, it's seems like the phone was deliberately designed to create the false impression of dual speakers.)
I think if volume and speaker sound quality is really important to you, you should seriously consider the HTC One. Many reviewers say they are some of the loudest and possibly best speakers ever in a cell phone. It's definitely one of the things that tempts me about the One.

Terrible speaker quality and distortion. Normal? or just defective?

So my Nexus 5's speaker is absolute garbage compared to my Nexus 5. the range is just non-existent and it has incredibly bad distortion during phone calls, and most music and videos.
Right now i'm ready to return the phone and spend another year with my nexus 4 over it, but before i do, i'm curious to know if mine might just be defective.
So to all the other owners, do you have distortion, pops and the like when making phone calls or having any audio through and how does it compare to your previous phones, especially any other Nexus 4 owners.
Right now my N4 sounds like my $150 desktop speakers compared to the N5.
neok44 said:
So my Nexus 5's speaker is absolute garbage compared to my Nexus 5. the range is just non-existent and it has incredibly bad distortion during phone calls, and most music and videos.
Right now i'm ready to return the phone and spend another year with my nexus 4 over it, but before i do, i'm curious to know if mine might just be defective.
So to all the other owners, do you have distortion, pops and the like when making phone calls or having any audio through and how does it compare to your previous phones, especially any other Nexus 4 owners.
Right now my N4 sounds like my $150 desktop speakers compared to the N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats horrible, lets hope they are defective because i get my nexus 11/06 that would be a huge deal breaker if the speakers sounded like crap. coming from an htc one
HRodMusic said:
thats horrible, lets hope they are defective because i get my nexus 11/06 that would be a huge deal breaker if the speakers sounded like crap. coming from an htc one
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Click to collapse
Yeah that's why i'm posting because i find it incredibly hard to believe that the Nexus 5, in 20 god damn 13 had worse speakers than my G1 from 2008. And just to test, i broke out my G1, MyTouch 3G and Nexus One, and played the same ringtones on each. No distortion on any device but the N5.
The Verge even said in their review that they had distortion on the speaker which almost leads me to think this is normal, and unacceptable.
HRodMusic said:
thats horrible, lets hope they are defective because i get my nexus 11/06 that would be a huge deal breaker if the speakers sounded like crap. coming from an htc one
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all reviews are saying the speaker is terrible. same with the camera. but they're comparing it to 600+ dollar phones, you get what you pay for, the bulk on the 350 dollars is going toward the processor and screen
Enddo said:
all reviews are saying the speaker is terrible. same with the camera. but they're comparing it to 600+ dollar phones, you get what you pay for, the bulk on the 350 dollars is going toward the processor and screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is true, but my $300 Nexus 4 from a year ago sounds 100 times better than my $400 (32gb) nexus 5 from this year.
And also the whole $700/$350 thing is kinda bull****. Though that phone does cost $700 to buy, it costs the same as what a nexus costs, usually around $150-$200 to produce. Google just cuts out all the middle men and carrier BS to get the price to be that low. Yes they do make sacrifices but my damn G1 sounds better than my Nexus 5, so that has nothing to do with cost.
neok44 said:
So my Nexus 5's speaker is absolute garbage compared to my Nexus 5. the range is just non-existent and it has incredibly bad distortion during phone calls, and most music and videos.
Right now i'm ready to return the phone and spend another year with my nexus 4 over it, but before i do, i'm curious to know if mine might just be defective.
So to all the other owners, do you have distortion, pops and the like when making phone calls or having any audio through and how does it compare to your previous phones, especially any other Nexus 4 owners.
Right now my N4 sounds like my $150 desktop speakers compared to the N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's not just you, I thought it was me!
I came from an HTC One X and the call quality is terrible; a bit like what I imagine being a little bit deaf is like and when I'm playing a video or have a call on speaker, the thing buzzes and vibrates. Not good compared to my previous phone.
ugh. this isn't looking good. i really was hoping i was the only one. Hope we get a lot more replies here tonight.
Only one speaker?
On mine I noticed only one side is playing the music? anyone else?
I'm hoping it's something like a mic and speaker... and not a deffective
Aydthird said:
On mine I noticed only one side is playing the music? anyone else?
I'm hoping it's something like a mic and speaker... and not a deffective
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats correct. one side is the speaker and one is the mic. evidently this is normal practice on the iphone and many other devices. I just found out today.
Hows your quality though?
Two things i hear the crackle/pop on guaranteed is the ringing of a phone call and for some reason Lindsey Stirlings Crystalize, the first 30-40 seconds. lots of other examples but those two are the easiest and most noticeable i found.
neok44 said:
So my Nexus 5's speaker is absolute garbage compared to my Nexus 5. the range is just non-existent and it has incredibly bad distortion during phone calls, and most music and videos.
Right now i'm ready to return the phone and spend another year with my nexus 4 over it, but before i do, i'm curious to know if mine might just be defective.
So to all the other owners, do you have distortion, pops and the like when making phone calls or having any audio through and how does it compare to your previous phones, especially any other Nexus 4 owners.
Right now my N4 sounds like my $150 desktop speakers compared to the N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aydthird said:
On mine I noticed only one side is playing the music? anyone else?
I'm hoping it's something like a mic and speaker... and not a deffective
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got my white 32gb N5 today and indeed mine is suffering from similar issues. At first I was thinking my right speaker was DOA but I later learned it's not a speaker at all and is a mic - the N5 is a mono device. So, I played some music, an audio book and tried out some ringtones. A pop was audible on some ringtones and the audiobook. The sound gets pretty distorted when at the top two levels. I wonder if the pop is down to the audio coding because now I've downloaded higher quality files, the pop has gone away and distortion not quite as bad at high levels. Yet to try out a phone call over the speaker.
I've tested some music at 320 bit rate and hd video on youtube and the play store and same issues. and then no issues at all on the nexus 4.
Great I was so excited to purchase my first nexus phone. Ugh
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
You know, I was at Pete's Coffee last night with my girlfriend and 2 people were talking next to us about this exact same issue. A man in his early 30s was talking to a buddy of his about the Nexus 5, and naturally, I zoned out from what my girlfriend had to say overheard their conversation.
They were talking about the Nexus 5 and how one of them who had the phone loved it, except he said the speaker was very poor quality.
Hopefully mine does not have this issue when it arrives this Thursday.
The Nexus 5's speaker is actually pretty darn good. Not quite HTC One level but damn close. It uses the same chip technology the HTC One has but only has a mono speaker on the bottom edge instead. It should be MUCH better than the Nexus 4, the Galaxy S4, or similar.
If it is sounding distorted, it is quite possibly a damaged speaker or chip, and should be RMA'ed. Reviews (unlike what some whacko said) have actually been pretty positive about the speaker.
Vincent Law said:
The Nexus 5's speaker is actually pretty darn good. Not quite HTC One level but damn close. It uses the same chip technology the HTC One has but only has a mono speaker on the bottom edge instead. It should be MUCH better than the Nexus 4, the Galaxy S4, or similar.
If it is sounding distorted, it is quite possibly a damaged speaker or chip, and should be RMA'ed. Reviews (unlike what some whacko said) have actually been pretty positive about the speaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your now the second person i've seen to say that it's good. How much have you tested it though? phone calls? loud movies? music?
I want to keep this phone, or at least get a replacement, but i got about 5 people with me saying they have similar issues so it's getting harder to imagine that it's a defect.
My sound is pretty faint. I'll be lucky if I hear a text or call
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
I have played music from a couple different sources at full volume and I haven't heard any distortion.
I actually just watched a full review of the phone here in the General section, and he says the speaker is absolutely great! although he does not ever test in the video.
Been using mine all day. A bit of music and a fair few YouTube video and I've not noticed any problems at all. Nowhere near as loud as the Note 2 I'm coming from, but few phones are as loud as it. So far I'm happy with speaker quality
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Well since some of you do not seem to have this issue I'm going to hope those of us with it just have defective units and i'm going to exchange mine.
If the one i get has the same issues though, i'll be sticking with my Nexus 4 for another year.

DSEE HX (Sony Xperia Z3) vs Harman/Kardon (HTC One M8)

I just saw this on Sony's site:
In terms of audio, both models (Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact) deliver High-Resolution audio output directly via the headphone jack, and also feature Sony's ground-breaking DSEE HX technology which upscales the fidelity of low-res music files (MP3, AAC) to near High-Resolution quality*4, ensuring that extremely high audio quality can be enjoyed anytime. Furthermore, they both feature digital noise cancelling capability built-in, reducing ambient noise by up to approximately 98%.*5
Can anyone here tell me, how does this compare to what the Harman/Kardon mod (or edition) of the M8 does? Sounds like it does the same thing as what H/K does, but which one does it better? Does DSEE HX also come with ADSP files the way the H/K mod does?? Just wondering.
P.S. I'm not comparing phones here, just options on these phones.
Thanks,
RockStar2005
Excellent question. I have no input but would be very intersted in the responses.
augie7107 said:
Excellent question. I have no input but would be very intersted in the responses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey augie,
Hopefully we'll find out more soon. Though it sounds like the Z3 and the H/K version of the M8 will be neck and neck. I found out this about the hi-res Sony option:
http://www.totonstv.com/blog/sony-high-resolution-audio/ (at least see last paragraph)
To me it's gonna be really close. I'll prob just stick with my M8, but can't say for sure. The M8 has a slightly sharper screen and better selfie-camera (and is slightly smaller with the curved back & edges, so fits in hand like a glove), but Z3 (flat back with curved edges) has it beat everywhere else. Tough call!! lol
Also interesting: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/130642-sony-xperia-z3-vs-htc-one-m8-what-s-the-difference
If I didn't have the H/K version of the M8 (regular version + H/K mod lol), it would be Z3 without flinching. But that mod alone took the phone from a B+/A- to an A+. H/K + PowerAmp = Amazing! Then again, Sony is the "bomb.com" when it comes to sound engineering! But you also have to consider that H/K technology is used in Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars. Now you see my dilemma. lol
RockStar2005
I can see the dilemma. I wanted to pick up an M8 H/K but they were only available locked to sprint. Could have went your route and bought an unlocked and modded but had a Z2 and still with it. Thanks for posting the links good info. The improvements in audio reproduction are the main reason I'm upgrading to Z3 when available.
augie7107 said:
I can see the dilemma. I wanted to pick up an M8 H/K but they were only available locked to sprint. Could have went your route and bought an unlocked and modded but had a Z2 and still with it. Thanks for posting the links good info. The improvements in audio reproduction are the main reason I'm upgrading to Z3 when available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Augie,
I see. How have you liked the Z2? I was DYIN' to get it but T-Mobile never released it and I wasn't really down with buying it unlocked, esp before it was released here in the U.S. officially, which didn't happen until 3-4 months after I'd bought it (couldn't wait forever). The M8 was the next logical choice. In some ways it's better (sound?, screen?), and in some ways it's not (battery, RAM, camera obviously lol, although M8 apparently has the better "selfie camera"). If you use "HDR" mode for the camera on the M8, it actually improves the quality. I've had some compliments on pics taken by it actually.
Yeah...... it was a challenge to get it rooted and S-OFF'd, lemme tell ya! lol I learned a few things. But now I'm pretty much an expert. lol It was worth it though. BoomSound was very good, but H/K is incredible. Yeah, I wasn't about to go get a Sprint phone either. Been there, done that. lol
No problem. Glad you found them to be interesting.
Yeah, I think if I was you I'd prob upgrade too. Plus the Z3 is smaller all around too, which I actually like. It's slightly shorter and thinner (by 2mm), although slightly wider. Also the camera is the same but field of scope has been widened. You can find more here:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=6144&idPhone2=6539
Battery on Z3 is slightly smaller, yes, but the Z3 is said to be more efficient than the Z2 b/c of the newer processor. FYI.
RockStar2005
The problem I had with sony phones is the low headphone volume compared to even samsung. hope this has changed on the z3 as I was disappointed with the z2.
If i has ill defo be picking up a Z3 in black.
RCJ,
Interesting. Well the Z3 is supposed to have hi-res and DSEE HX (to improve lower-quality mp3s), so I'm gonna assume it will be noticeably better. Did you have/use the special noise-cancelling Sony earphones (http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en.../digital-noise-cancelling-headset-mdr-nc31em/) with the Z2? Since they cancel out most of the outside noise, I'm thinking that would help make the music more louder and clear.
Yeah I'm with you there. Def black for me too (if I actually get it). I have the M8 which is louder according to various reviews, so no issues there.
RockStar2005
RockStar2005 said:
RCJ,
Interesting. Well the Z3 is supposed to have hi-res and DSEE HX (to improve lower-quality mp3s), so I'm gonna assume it will be noticeably better. Did you have/use the special noise-cancelling Sony earphones (http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en.../digital-noise-cancelling-headset-mdr-nc31em/) with the Z2? Since they cancel out most of the outside noise, I'm thinking that would help make the music more louder and clear.
Yeah I'm with you there. Def black for me too (if I actually get it). I have the M8 which is louder according to various reviews, so no issues there.
RockStar2005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one thing i love about HTCs, in headphones they are loud as ****. Sony hasn't been the same since in terms of loudness since the xperia ARC.
Samsung used to be bad with loudness aswell until the s4, the note 3 and s5 they picked it up even more but according to phone arenas amp output measurement the s5 active is the loudest samsung yet with a headphone amp measurement of 0.67 compared to 0.43 for the s5/note 3. Aparently the galaxy alpha is pretty loud too louder than s5/note 3 but PA hasn't done the amp measurement yet.
The s4 was 0.3* can't remember right now and the z1/2 are 0.29. The HTC M8 is 1.2* iirc so you know that thing is loud!!
I wasn't able to use the N/C headphones with the z2 as I tested a shop model in carphone warehouse using my beats mixr headphones (some may say beats are rubbish but I find these headphones to be good for me).
RCJ,
Wow 1.2?! Crazy. Well you make a great case for the M8, that's for sure! Any idea what the same sound rating is for the Z3 though? I'd be really interested to know that if you could somehow find out.
I see, ok. If I actually bought the Z3 I'd be pretty open to getting those N/C earphones as well. Other countries get them included for free, but ughh the U.S. doesn't....... have to buy them separately. Like $40-$50 on Amazon. I have a pretty good pair of V-Moda earphones..... bought them for about $20 (now worth around $30 cuz harder to find). But I'm guess the Sony N/C ones are better. They're made SPECIFICALLY for the Xperia phones and tablets (basically starting with the Z2 I believe).
Lemme know if you find out that Z3 rating though.
Thanks,
RockStar2005
RCJ89 said:
The one thing i love about HTCs, in headphones they are loud as ****. Sony hasn't been the same since in terms of loudness since the xperia ARC.
Samsung used to be bad with loudness aswell until the s4, the note 3 and s5 they picked it up even more but according to phone arenas amp output measurement the s5 active is the loudest samsung yet with a headphone amp measurement of 0.67 compared to 0.43 for the s5/note 3. Aparently the galaxy alpha is pretty loud too louder than s5/note 3 but PA hasn't done the amp measurement yet.
The s4 was 0.3* can't remember right now and the z1/2 are 0.29. The HTC M8 is 1.2* iirc so you know that thing is loud!!
I wasn't able to use the N/C headphones with the z2 as I tested a shop model in carphone warehouse using my beats mixr headphones (some may say beats are rubbish but I find these headphones to be good for me).
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The HTC One was probably the best quality sound I've experienced on a phone, both through speakers and headphones, although it was modded full of Sony libs and the Walkman app lol. My iPhone 5s sucks in both areas, IMO, for the headphone part it has more to do with the lack of tweaking available to the sound though, only presets, which are all garbage.
I hope the Z3 sounds good though headphones because I plan on using it for pretty much everything.
AllAboutTheCore said:
The HTC One was probably the best quality sound I've experienced on a phone, both through speakers and headphones, although it was modded full of Sony libs and the Walkman app lol. My iPhone 5s sucks in both areas, IMO, for the headphone part it has more to do with the lack of tweaking available to the sound though, only presets, which are all garbage.
I hope the Z3 sounds good though headphones because I plan on using it for pretty much everything.
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Click to collapse
If i do get the Z3 it will be my main phone and Note 4 will be my PDA/Tablet/Gaming device.
For me, RCJ's report :good::victory: (lol) that we all hope he will post here on the sound quality rating of the Z3 vs the M8 will make a big difference, although I still can't say for sure that I will switch. Need to know all my pros and cons first. The M8 required rooting and S-OFF to unlock its full potential, and the Z3 prob won't need all of that, but still, it's close. I kinda like having the ViperOne M8 rom from Team Venom. Makes the phone even cooler in some certain ways. I will have to actually HOLD the Z3 in my hand when it's released next month to even have a clue of whether I will get it or not. I have mad love for both phones regardless! lol
RockStar2005
if i do get the Z3 it will be my main phone and Note 4 will be my PDA/Tablet/Gaming device
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Click to collapse
Same here, I'm seriously considering investing in a Z3 Compact Tablet aswell, the specs are sweet for the price IMO.
The M8 required rooting and S-OFF to unlock its full potential
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Click to collapse
Do you think? I can't say it affected me not being S-Off, but then my use and needs may be different to yours ... The only thing I found I needed S-Off for was removing the Tampered flag.
AllAboutTheCore said:
Do you think? I can't say it affected me not being S-Off, but then my use and needs may be different to yours ... The only thing I found I needed S-Off for was removing the Tampered flag.
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Hey Core,
Yeah for me it did. Like being able to get not only HK, but also Sense 6 Toolbox and also the ViperOne M8 rom as well. I don't know that I needed S-OFF too for those, but certain aspects like being able to flash firmware manually was nice and not possible without S-OFF. It just seems like you can do pretty much anything if you also have S-OFF too.
If anything, I needed S-OFF for HK, and that was my main goal to get that on my phone. Right now I'm looking into Viper4Android, which some have said is even better than HK. I had trouble installing it though earlier today, so we'll see if I can get someone to help with that.
Thank You,
RockStar2005
RockStar2005 said:
Hey Core,
Yeah for me it did. Like being able to get not only HK, but also Sense 6 Toolbox and also the ViperOne M8 rom as well. I don't know that I needed S-OFF too for those, but certain aspects like being able to flash firmware manually was nice and not possible without S-OFF. It just seems like you can do pretty much anything if you also have S-OFF too.
If anything, I needed S-OFF for HK, and that was my main goal to get that on my phone. Right now I'm looking into Viper4Android, which some have said is even better than HK. I had trouble installing it though earlier today, so we'll see if I can get someone to help with that.
Thank You,
RockStar2005
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Click to collapse
Hey, I'm not even sure which version of the One the M8 is lol, I had the first HTC One if that makes any sense, I didn't need to be S-Off though to flash firmware, only custom firmware and basically stuff not intended for my variant but maybe that's what you are referring to lol ... The whole process for the One seemed overly complex, especially returning to stock, certainly that's my experience compared to other phones. In the end I decided not to bother going S-Off and risking a hard brick as the Tampered flag was the only thing that I'd have needed to change, and seeing that you had to request a boot loader unlocking token in the first place just made it pointless for me lol (being that HTC knew you'd unlocked the boot loader and when by the fact they issued an unlock token, making removing the flag pointless, for warranty purposes at least)
Restoring is thankfully a little easier on Sony phones, not that it was particularly hard on the One, just more complex and more understanding of adb etc needed, at least if you wanted to mod things like I did. My dilemma now is which phone to get, the Z3 or the Z3 Compact ... I really need to feel them both in the hand to decide which is right I think.
Hey Core,
The HTC One was the M7, which came out last year. The current one which was released back in April I believe is the M8.
Yeah I've seen posts on here where ppl say don't flash firmware or stuff like H/K unless you're S-OFF. In order to get the ADSP files (which further enhance the sound) that come with the full version of the H/K mod, S-OFF was necessary. It took some effort on my part to get that, but eventually I did using Firewater. Just have to remember NOT to use the USB 3.0 port on your pc (that is what I initially did, which was unintended), and of course to not install an OTA while on a custom recovery and not yet rooted. The USB 3.0 rule applies more to the S-OFF, but more the rooting too. The minute I figured that out I tried it (S-OFF) again and it actually worked.
I see. What's the process for restoring on the Sony phones? I mean, does it still involve TWRP? Unlocking bootloader? Just a quick summary would be nice as now you've caught my interest. lol
Yeah I really love BOTH the M8 (at least the unlocked/rooted/S-OFF version lol) and the Xperia Z2 and Z3 phones. For me it would def be the Z3 not Z3 Compact, but that's me. When the Z3 comes out next month, I will be stopping over at T-Mobile to check it out. Right now I'm prob not gonna switch, but like you, once I feel it in my hand, I may change my mind. Initially, I wanted the Z2 very much so. It was the first smartphone I ever actually went "nuts" for. lol But that whole Z2 release was a big screw-up on Sony's part. It came out to the states like 5 months after it was supposed to, and ONLY available carrier-unlocked?? I wasn't interested in paying full price for a phone I may not even keep for 2 years. With the sound improvements that Z3 has been confirmed to have (hi-res and DSEE HX, which makes low-res mp3s sound better, and the brighter screen), I'm glad I didn't get the Z2, now. lol
RockStar2005

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