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I hate Apple with a passion and I was rather excited to have a viable (superior) alternative to the iphone with the Touch Pro2. Everything about this phone has been fantastic until just now when I plugged in my headphones. I'm something of an audiophile and thus use some decent headphones. In the course of my listening, here are my findings:
The Touch Pro 2 performs great with less sensitive headphones (like Beyerdynamic DT770 80ohm), but with sensitive headphones like Grado's it sounds like CRAP.
Even more disappointing, using sensitive high end earbuds like my Super.Fi Pro 5's reveal SIGNIFICANT and DISTRACTING electrical noise. If you listen to quiet music like some classical or jazz, you will definitely notice it. While annoying, at least with music, the music itself usually overwhelms the noise.
Unfortunately, watching a video is a completely different story. In short, watching a video on this phone is like Chinese Water Torture with the electrical noise easily heard 100% of the time.
It's simply unacceptable for a manufacturer to produce a device in this day and age that has this kind of interference. They should really test a $500 device with earbuds that cost more than $10.
The whole point of this phone is for power users, and power users like us are the exact demographic that would have expensive (usually high sensitivity) headphones.
The noise is worst in the left channel.
This is on a Verizon TP2 for reference. Is this possibly just a defective phone or do others experience the same noise? FWIW you probably won't notice it with normal ibud's.
I have a pair of Sony MDR-EX71SL Fontopia's and dont have any issue with device feedback or interference. While they arent as nice as your headphones, they do a pretty good job, and have been a fantastic match on my Sprint TP2. Video/Music, no difference. I did tweak the equalizer a bit (Audio booster in programs menu), but that was for personal preference, and my music tastes.
What add-on programs have you installed? There could be something that got screwed up...
Otherwise take it in to the store with another MP3 player that has the same mp3 on it as your tp2 and have the rep listen to both, and ask to try it on a demo phone they have there, I'm sure they'll fix you up.
headshok said:
I have a pair of Sony MDR-EX71SL Fontopia's and dont have any issue with device feedback or interference. While they arent as nice as your headphones, they do a pretty good job, and have been a fantastic match on my Sprint TP2. Video/Music, no difference. I did tweak the equalizer a bit (Audio booster in programs menu), but that was for personal preference, and my music tastes.
What add-on programs have you installed? There could be something that got screwed up...
Otherwise take it in to the store with another MP3 player that has the same mp3 on it as your tp2 and have the rep listen to both, and ask to try it on a demo phone they have there, I'm sure they'll fix you up.
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Hmmm, your Fontopia's look like they only have 100db sensitivity rating compared to 119db of my headphones. That could be why you don't hear the noise (please note that I'm not putting down your headphones, as sensitivity has very little to do with actual sound quality - it's simply an electrical measurement).
I can't hear any noise on my Sennheiser eh150's, nor on my 6.5" component speakers in my car.
Well... I'm surprised you would expect good sound quality from a device aimed squarely at the business market. The iPhone is designed for multimedia and does some businessy stuff on the side. The TP2 is designed for business use and does some multimedia stuff on the side. The performance is what you would expect, given that goal.
Shasarak said:
Well... I'm surprised you would expect good sound quality from a device aimed squarely at the business market. The iPhone is designed for multimedia and does some businessy stuff on the side. The TP2 is designed for business use and does some multimedia stuff on the side. The performance is what you would expect, given that goal.
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+1
If I want to listen to music I pull out my mp3 player and Shure's.
computerpro3 said:
Hmmm, your Fontopia's look like they only have 100db sensitivity rating compared to 119db of my headphones. That could be why you don't hear the noise (please note that I'm not putting down your headphones, as sensitivity has very little to do with actual sound quality - it's simply an electrical measurement).
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Well that sucks your not happy with the audio quality. I'd try to check the same song with your buds on another persons phone, and rule out a faulty device.
But if its not specific to your device I guess in this case more expensive isnt always better.
I'm very happy with the sound quality of my Fontopia's, I have a 16gb gen 2 ipod touch and I there is no quality difference between it and the TP2....
Absolutely no noise-floor issues here, using Shure se530s. In a direct comparisonj between my TP2 and the 3GS I would say the TP2 is easily as good, if not better.
Sounds like you have a faulty phone. Not to be patronising but did you try a different USB/3.5mm adapter? I had one that was very "crackly", swapped it and that was perfect.
barneypooch said:
Absolutely no noise-floor issues here, using Shure se530s. In a direct comparisonj between my TP2 and the 3GS I would say the TP2 is easily as good, if not better.
Sounds like you have a faulty phone. Not to be patronising but did you try a different USB/3.5mm adapter? I had one that was very "crackly", swapped it and that was perfect.
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Okay, your shures have the exact same sensitivity as my UE's, so it should be able to pick up the noise. Have you tested with video using HTC Album?
What about background hiss while music is playing?
My phone is starting to develop the oil slick problem so I might just swap it out anyway.
Also, just a note, the Verizon phone has the 3.5mm jack, so no need for a dongle. Internally though, I do wonder what the electronics look like, and if it's just a hardwired (though smaller) dongle.
I use the Sennheiser CX300-B ear buds and can definitely hear background hiss. I can hear it when I initially plug them in then, if I don't do anything the hiss goes away until it plays something. Sounds like when the amp turns on then I hear the hiss. I hear it for music, voice prompts everything. You can hear the same thing by pausing the music and you will hear a hiss for a couple seconds, then it goes away.
When I have music playing I cannot hear it, but do hear it during the quiet times of the song.
I've found this to be true with these earbuds for pretty much any player I use that is not dedicated to audio only. I always figured they just do not spend the $$ to put in good audio capabilities in the multi-use devices.
dave
If I listen to the FM radio I can definitely hear interference, usually listening to NPR (talk radio). Though not sure if it is slightly less then perfect reception or an actual sound issue. I feel as though the mini usb connector is less then ideal. It has a lot of wiggle. Wonder if that is part of the problem.
This is with the factory ear buds.. have yet to really listen to music on it, or with good ear buds.. or through my car stereo(where I usually listen to music with my phone)
OK, after typing all that I guess I am not sure if mine has this problem! LOL But I will leave this post here so I can update it after I use the sound output more.
I think it is laughable to use the word audiophile and earbuds in the same sentence.
Your best headphones for monitoring are over the ear
Don't have any issues with my Verizon unit. I have hooked it up directly to RXV3800, Sennheiser HD380, and M-Audio DSM2 and hear nothing I have not heard with other MP3 players including the ipod.
I noticed my Verizon TP2 had flatter sound than my mp3 player with the same phones, but after a little EQ adjustment in Nitrogen, they sound just fine.
You guys have way too much time on your hands to complain about those things.
dezoris said:
I think it is laughable to use the word audiophile and earbuds in the same sentence.
Your best headphones for monitoring are over the ear
Don't have any issues with my Verizon unit. I have hooked it up directly to RXV3800, Sennheiser HD380, and M-Audio DSM2 and hear nothing I have not heard with other MP3 players including the ipod.
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I find it's laughable that you don't know what you're talking about.
My earbuds are every bit as good as your headphones, and earbuds exist (like the UE11) that obliterate even the best studio monitors in detail, frequency response, linearity, immediacy, transient resoponse, etc. In fact, they obliterate studio monitors in literally everything MAYBE soundstaging and impact.
www.ultimateears.com
Besides, you completely missed the entire point of the thread by saying "Nope, everything good driving my low sensitivity headphones!"
For the umpteenth time, you will not be able to hear this noise with low sensitivity headphones (as I confirmed with my DT770's). This problem only relates to driving high sensitivity cans.
lovingHDTV said:
I use the Sennheiser CX300-B ear buds and can definitely hear background hiss. I can hear it when I initially plug them in then, if I don't do anything the hiss goes away until it plays something. Sounds like when the amp turns on then I hear the hiss. I hear it for music, voice prompts everything. You can hear the same thing by pausing the music and you will hear a hiss for a couple seconds, then it goes away.
When I have music playing I cannot hear it, but do hear it during the quiet times of the song.
I've found this to be true with these earbuds for pretty much any player I use that is not dedicated to audio only. I always figured they just do not spend the $$ to put in good audio capabilities in the multi-use devices.
dave
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This confirms what I was saying. The sensitivity of your earbuds is 112db, which is far higher than the other posters 100ish range.
It would appear that this might not just be a defective phone that I have, and that it could actually be a more widespread problem.
computerpro3 said:
This confirms what I was saying. The sensitivity of your earbuds is 112db, which is far higher than the other posters 100ish range.
It would appear that this might not just be a defective phone that I have, and that it could actually be a more widespread problem.
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Except that he claims to hear it on several devices, not just this phone. Also he claims to hear it only during the quiet parts, not during actual sound reproduction, whilst you hear it at all times...
It could be the adapter, a faulty phone, or just a phone not designed for high-end hedphones.
Good luck with this. I love high quality headphones but use bluetooth to listen to music (yes, I hear the difference, but when I have cables they always get wonky and stop working properly).
Now if the phone had KLEER technology I'd happily go for that
This sounds more like thread on bragging about your super duper headphones than anything to do with the TP2.
But maybe they arent so super duper if cheaper ones sound better.
Get past it, if you want a dedicated music player that lets you become immersed in 1024bit crystal clear audio go get whatever that is.
If you want a music player that sounds pretty damn good, can also take phone calls, browse the web, manage your schedule, send/receive emails and txt, take pictures, go buy a cheaper set of headphones.
why use expensive earpiece
why use all that fancy stuff .. can you really hear a difference? whats wrong with the set of stock headsets that come in the box with the phone?
Did this thing not come with headphones? I don't have any in my box....
Every review on the web shows the same. This phone simply wasn't packaged with some...it's likely that you'll already have some anyways or you'll eventually get a better pair than they would have ever packaged.
You're probably right but I wanted to test out the FM Radio real quick and low and behold...
The no headphones is surprising, but with a retail cost of 450.00, you can't expect much. I would rather pay less and skip the headphones and mini hdmi cable than pay for them and not use them. I like the headphones I already own. Bundled headphones generally suck anyways. At least my iphone headphones suck that is.
i have these
i love these headphones
http://shop.v-moda.com/p-46-vibe-ii-w-mic.aspx
Also if you wana go alittle cheaper then the V-moda Vibe II, the V-moda Faze are extremly good too, thats what i ended up getting, they run about $49.99 and exellent sound quality and build!
I use super cheap OEM blackberry headphones I get off ebay for like $3 a pair. As far as comfort and sound quality go they seem way better than the other super cheap and kinda nice headphones I have
There's better IEM headphones than any of the V-Moda models for less $ or about the same price imo... MEElectronics M9P, Nuforce NE-7M, Maximo iP-HS5, etc. Head-Fi.org is a great resource for all things headphones. I just bought the MEElec M9P last week and I've been trying 'em out today, I got 'em for $22 w/S&H but I think they went back up in price to $35 (the others are around $50).
I think they're a noticeable step up in quality from the other mic-less IEMs I already had, Sennheiser CX300 and JVC HA-FX34 Marshmallows... Those two are fairly common at retail stores so if you've ever owned either of them you have a fairly good point of reference.
After reading a few threads at HF I ended up w/the MEElec because of the relative SQ to price, and the fact that they have one of the best cords of any IEMs under $100... Hardly any microphonics at all, virtually none if worn over the head (microphonics = cord noise when it bounces or rubs against stuff). It's got like two layers or something (one of them is translucent so it's obvious).
Pretty high quality stuff, nice hockey-stick shaped plug, nice metal casings, comes with 5 different sets of tips (regular single flanges in three sizes and dual-flange tips in two colors) and a bunch of other accessories including a nice hard case that's slimmer than most of those types of cases I've seen. Highly recommended, I like them a lot more than my Senn or JVC (and I paid like $50 for the Senns around 5 years ago, $20 for the JVC recently). I've not been able to test the mic yet since my EVO hasn't arrived and I didn't feel like doing it with the iPod touch's sound recorder or something.
DxTcmix said:
Also if you wana go alittle cheaper then the V-moda Vibe II, the V-moda Faze are extremly good too, thats what i ended up getting, they run about $49.99 and exellent sound quality and build!
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Does the V-Moda Faze have call answer functions?
EDIT***
I went ahead and bought the FAZE and wow, the sound is great and yes it works for answering/hanging up calls as well as playing music.
Anyone know/test normal apple ipod headphones? I have a pair and they're my usual set and I was wondering if any of the integrated controls (mic, volume up/down, push to pause etc.) work or if anyone knew.
Today I went down to mobilecityonline located in Canal street and purchased the Sony Ericsson MW600 bluetooth stereo headset for use with my EVO 4G.
At the moment it is charging [at least 8hrs], but I wanted to know if anyone it using this particular device?
Once I get it up and running, I will let you guys know how compatible it is with the EVO. Hopefully all the functions will work and I don't have to return it.
update 06/08/10
Well with alot of playing around and trying a few different audio apps, I got the MW600 to function the way I wanted, which saved me from returning it.
My main concern was being able to use the controls on the device, and I was only able to do so with an app called bTunes.
I had no luck with the stock Android music player nor with another App called
Audio Player WithEQ Platinum
Although those two did play via the bluetooth unit, I was not able to use none of the control functions.
With bTunes, I was able to play, pause, and use the forward and backward functions.
On a side note, the headphones that came with the MW600 are very short, but they sound very good. I ended up using my Klipsch Image S4i which I was using previously with my 3GS.
Hope this meets you all well.
Cheers !
dragothegreat said:
i love these headphones
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You better, at that price.
rockdrummersrock said:
Anyone know/test normal apple ipod headphones? I have a pair and they're my usual set and I was wondering if any of the integrated controls (mic, volume up/down, push to pause etc.) work or if anyone knew.
Click to expand...
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the iphone headset works
IceCreaMan said:
the iphone headset works
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my iPhone headset works but the VOL +/- doesn't work
anyone have any experience with the inner ear apple headphones they cost 69.99$ i ordered a pair with my iPad(figured i could use em with all my gadgets)
The controls on the Ultimate Ears Superfi 5Vi's are able to pause/play music along with voice dial and answer/hang up
Those V-modo's look cool, but honestly for the price they lack key features:
1- IN-line volume control. not a digital one like iphone headsets, but a slider on it, like the OEM mogul shipped with.
2.- for that price, and especially since it is coated in so much metal, it should have an inline radiation deadener- nobody wants radiation from their phone being transmitted right into their eardrums, especially since the 3.5mm port on our evo's acts as the FM antenna --- that is just insulting
At least from my experience with this device....
You are better off with using bluetooth headphones that can do MP3 bluetooth decoding and using Meridian as the music player. The truth is that while the headphone out is decently clean, it has a relatively high output impedance and not much driving capability. You are much better off getting some headphones with imp between 32-60ohms and at least 97db efficiency and not getting something too nice to use direct.
There is also the issue of when this is hooked up with grounding loop noise if you hook up your headphones to the output. Why the engineers who would put together such a media centric device would not think of such simple things is beyond me, but the iPod does it too and it is a pure music player.
If you happen to use a headphone amplifier, then you can use what you want because the audio signal will likely be free of much ground noise and have a really nice spectrum to it (much better than even my line out was on my iPhone....though not better than my modded iPod Touch).
If someone wants to work on USB host audio drivers I would be elated, willing to help as well. I can even make a custom hardware I/O box for the Evo!
I bought the Bose in-ear ones from Best Buy. I'm going to return them though. The sound is not as vibrant and alive as from my stereo BT set (S9-HD)
robstunner said:
my iPhone headset works but the VOL +/- doesn't work
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Is the volume using the iphone headset loud enough for you? I've tried it and it's too low and the people I'm trying to talk with sounds like they are fading in and out.
I'm thinking of returning since I can't even use it as a phone with the wired headset.
Hey everyone,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I'd like to start a discussion on the various types of headphones that everyone has bought for use with their EVO (or other smartphone) and what their thoughts were - got any suggestions for EQ apps, settings for each type of headphone? Which ones work best for you? Which built-in controls are the most natural for you? etc etc etc.
So, I'll start.
The first thing I want to say is that I acknowledge there are a ton of places the audio could go sour between the original media (CD, DVD, blu-Ray, etc) to the final product coming through your headphones. The whole process will go like this for a typical user:
Buy CD
Import CD using audio program (iTunes/WMP/MediaMonkey/CDRip)
Put songs onto device
Listen to device with music app (usually stock)
Your mileage may vary (you may have your own custom extraction settings, bitrate settings, encoder settings, music apps, etc etc etc), but I want to focus on not necessarily the most accurate sound possible, but the most practical and "best-sounding-to-the-untrained-ear" sound. Personally, I have my own settings, and I have something of an affinity for music encoding and playback, but most of my friends are happy with Skullcandies (*shudder*)
So, after an extremely long ramble for the first, I'll tell you about my headphones:
1. Sennheiser HD280 Pro Over-The-Ear phones
These phones are great, and now sell for about $90 cheaper than when I bought them. They provide a nice sound, and even response using the stock app. I can adjust settings from DSPManager and they sound even better. However, as I've used them over the years, the sound has decayed slightly to become more "middy" and they don't have the original shimmer they had before. Also, they aren't very useful for travel, but they're great for listening at home with, although the big "pigtail" twisted cable looks strange hanging out of your pocket.
2. Klipsch Image S4 Enhanced Bass Earphones
A nice pair of in-ear headphones, they provide a colorful sound and nice overall response to a wide variety of music. They're a relatively cheap set of phones (probably for the holidays) and they sound great. Again, messing in DSPManager I can get an even better sound. These are very comfy headphones and look great, they feel great in the ear, provide nice isolation to keep the music in your ears and the outside out.
3. Sennheiser CX-300II-B Earphones
My favorites so far. I just got these a little bit ago at a bargain price ($30), and I haven't looked back. For being such small headphones, they provide a powerful punch and a great sound. They can take loud volumes with no distortion (until you add EQ). The fit is comfortable, they have a Y-shaped cord (so the right ear cable is longer than the left ear). They stay in place, and look great. They came with a nice magnetic case that keeps the buds safe and secure and super-portable for travel.
4. Sennheiser CX-300-B Earphones
I have these phones also, and they are almost identical to #3, just not quite as bassy.
I have some other phones, but they aren't worth mentioning (Apple headphones, skullcandies, and some other cheap ones). The sound just isn't good, even after significant modification with EQ and such.
For my music app, I use the "stock" app that comes with CM6.1 RC1, and I EQ with DSPManager. Lately, however, I've started using powerAMP (AWESOME APP - Look for it in the Market), the built-in 10-band EQ w/preamp is a must-have in music apps.
I know this is a lengthy post, just wondering if you all have any favorite headphones/music apps/eq settings for headphones?
Well my dilemma in using headphones is that I pretty much always need to be ready to take a call at any time and you can't take calls very well on stereo heaphones.
So, not being much of an audiophile I just pipe pretty lame music into my bluetooth headset using Super BT Mono software. It sucks for music but will do for talk radio.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I have a pair of Shure SE-115's. Didn't buy them, thankfully as the retail was around $130 at the time. Got them through a points system at work.
They are by far the best headphones I have ever had. I ride a motorcycle everywhere, and these are the only headphones I've ever had that can almost completely cancel out the sound of the bike at city to highway speeds.
They sound excellent in normal conditions as well. They have awesome bass and clarity, and they fit quite comfortably.
I have a pair of Shure E5Cs (I think they are called SCL5s now), a pair of Shure SE530s, and a pair of AKG k240s.
Can anyone recommend a a good pair of over the ear (not over the head) headphones with headset controls and a mic?
I loved my Shure E3Cs, but hated the cables. I really like my MEElectronics M11p+ set, especially the cables. The Shures may have sounded a touch better, but only slightly, and you can't beat the price especially with a coupon. Actually just won a set of their M6p phones, so I will see which ones I like better and keep the others as backup.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I use the M-Audio IE-30 and they sound fantastic on my EVO.
I use my Dr. Dre beats pro with the MIUI music app on my EVO, I have also sanded the back so it matches nicely with the evo and pros. I also have the 3500 mha battery from ebay with Calkulin's EViO 2 ROM v1.6.2 and I get over 25 hours with heavy usage and music and game playing. The Pros are about 400 dollars plus insurance and tax 500 from best buy. If you are rz member next Sunday they will be 350 during the special event sale. Hope any of this helps. Also I added my own icons and can be found here to match dr. dre take a look. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=793055
mitchellvii said:
Well my dilemma in using headphones is that I pretty much always need to be ready to take a call at any time and you can't take calls very well on stereo heaphones.
So, not being much of an audiophile I just pipe pretty lame music into my bluetooth headset using Super BT Mono software. It sucks for music but will do for talk radio.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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You should try the Halo headset. It's sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
Now I am an audiophile first of all, and I love my music very much.
All my songs are at least 320 kbps.
I have a dedicated mp3 for my music, the Samsung YP-P2.
That thing has lasted me like 5 years and the sound is still superb, thanks to the Samsung DNSE 2.0.
Now I have never tried to compare my G2 to my samsung, because I don't have an HTC headset that is matching the quality of my Samsung Bose earbuds, so I don't think it is fair to judge the quality of the sound from the low quality stock earphones HTC gives you.
Now, before I drop another 100 bucks for earphones that are compatible with my HTC, can anyone tell me if I should stick to my Samsung if I want good quality music or is the HTC also very very good?
Ummm why arnt your bose earbuds compatible? I thought any 3.5mm headphone would work?
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
What size jack do your bose have? G2 has a standard 3.5mm jack and you can pick up an adapter if your cans are a different size cheaply.
With a pair of jvc's phone sounds at least as good a an ipod classic...
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
you might want to download poweramp music player from the market to make your music experience alot better, customize the bass and sound effects just like a dj i love it
According to this thread, sound quality on the G2/DZ is indeed very good - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=848985
androidFTW718 said:
you might want to download poweramp music player from the market to make your music experience alot better, customize the bass and sound effects just like a dj i love it
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I second this. Before PowerAmp i found the music to just be "ok" using stock player and even winamp. After i got PowerAmp, and i could actually make tweaks to the eq it works perfectly for me! Definitely worth checking out.
I third this. I was dissapointed with the volume on this device, as I have been with most htc devices, and poweramp helped alleviate this issue.
Gingerbread brings audio api's FINALLY
Sorry to take the other side, but I don't find the Vision as a player to that great. That said, my regulars have been Cowon players (A2, O2, D2), so I'm looking for something better.
With low-impedance IEMs (e.g. my Westones), you'll hear significant base noise when audio playback starts and stops. It's obviously not as bad with rock/pop, but with classical, it's somewhat distracting.
Playback of most music doesn't sound as musical as I'd want it to. It might take some getting used to, and I haven't listened too much to different players. The noise is just a bit distracting... ):
That said, I came from the HD2; the Vision's some improvement over that!
Edit: To be clear, I'm not being excessively snobby; I did use the HD2 for most of my train rides at home, when I forgot to bring a dedicated player back. But, if you're used to your Samsung, chances may be good that you won't like the Vision that much. You don't know until you try it!
linj said:
Edit: To be clear, I'm not being excessively snobby; I did use the HD2 for most of my train rides at home, when I forgot to bring a dedicated player back. But, if you're used to your Samsung, chances may be good that you won't like the Vision that much. You don't know until you try it!
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Have you tried headphone amps? I'm not audiophile at all; as long as it doesn't sound like it's recorded underwater I'll probably be OK with it... so I've never invested in a separate amp. I hear they can make a huge difference though. Of course, it's yet another thing to take along. Perhaps only for longish trips, I guess.
The sound quality used to be just okay on stock but with cm6 and dsp manager, it really made a huge difference. Download it, try it, and you'll love it. With subsonic and this, dropped my zune a long time ago
Sent from my HTC Vision
Title says it all. Post your suggestions and experiences with headphones that maximize the audio potential of this phone.
That quad DAC when wired and APTx when on BT.
CHH2 said:
Title says it all. Post your suggestions and experiences with headphones that maximize the audio potential of this phone.
That quad DAC when wired and APTx when on BT.
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I'm listening to my Sennheiser HD 598's right now using the quad DAC (high impedence). It is definitely driving them very well, I get my Audioquest Dragonfly black in tomorrow so I can try A&B comparisons with that vs the internal audio. I've also enjoyed using it with my Backbeat Pros but those do not have aptx.
I'm using my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm headphones, it's amazing. It's a step up from the V10, including the volume department (especially with high impedance headphones).
I'm currently listening music with the AKG K712s. No doubt an improvement from the V10. The best phone yet that truly brings out the detail in
WAV and FLAC formats. I swear this quad DAC reincarnated my cans
Should be getting my V20 some time today, I hope. I don't have anything truly God-tier, but I'm going to try to do a few comparisons if I can. I've got Shure SE215s on one hand (triple-flange tips) and Samsung earbuds for a baseline, compared to whatever LG's included in the box. In a few weeks, I can add the H3s to that list, but not until they arrive, and they won't arrive until I sign up for them on the 28th, so...
In the world of full-size cans, I don't have a solid baseline, and I'm not looking forward to the idea of spending $20 so I can have a pair of cheap cans I will never listen to again. So instead, all I've got are my Koss ProDJ100s and my V-Moda M100s.
But I'll try to give my thoughts when I can. (Also, posting so I make sure I remember that this thread exists.)
---
I didn't get to really sit down and do heavy listening. Phone arrived pretty late and my fiancee was a little sad so I didn't want to have my headphones blasting for an hour or two straight without being able to hear a word.
Noticing that there is a little more clarity (at least) between the on-off settings. Might be some EQ going on as well, though, which is not what I want. EQ is an easy way to make something sound more "clear" without actually making it clearer. My last car literally had a setting that I used that I considered the "clear" setting, and for everything other than podcasts. The bass was deeper, and yet more articulated, and the highs had sparkle. Every other setting was muddy.
So EQing to a muddy sound, and then having a "hi-fi" EQ that clears up the mud isn't good. Still, like I said, I don't actually know that to be what's going on. It's just a possibility I'm keeping my ears open for.
Audio technica ATH-M50x Have to say, I can't hear a difference at all toggling on and off using Poweramp/Spotify/USB Audio Player Pro or Car with Bose speakers setup. What can be the reason? I was thinking it would sound better (or as good) as V4A. Not close for me. Maybe my phone's defective?
vibrantliker said:
Audio technica ATH-M50x Have to say, I can't hear a difference at all toggling on and off using Poweramp/Spotify/USB Audio Player Pro or Car with Bose speakers setup. What can be the reason? I was thinking it would sound better (or as good) as V4A. Not close for me. Maybe my phone's defective?
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Not sure if they fix the issue were the DAC was only able to be used by the stock music player. On the PlayStore there's an app that allows the DAC to work with all music players. I think it's called lgv10fix something like that. You can tell when you turn the DAC when your music skips or mutes for a second.
j0a0a7 said:
Not sure if they fix the issue were the DAC was only able to be used by the stock music player. On the PlayStore there's an app that allows the DAC to work with all music players. I think it's called lgv10fix something like that. You can tell when you turn the DAC when your music skips or mutes for a second.
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Thanks. I found that and installed it but it's the same.
Sony MDR-EX800ST with Tape Mod via External (AUX) Audio Mode with adapter.
vibrantliker said:
Audio technica ATH-M50x Have to say, I can't hear a difference at all toggling on and off using Poweramp/Spotify/USB Audio Player Pro or Car with Bose speakers setup. What can be the reason? I was thinking it would sound better (or as good) as V4A. Not close for me. Maybe my phone's defective?
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There's probably nothing wrong with it.
Sound is an incredibly subjective topic.
?
Andrew025 said:
There's probably nothing wrong with it.
Sound is an incredibly subjective topic.
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So used to V4A nothing comes close.
I prefer PowerAmp Alpha...
Especially with my Sony MDR-100AAP in External Mode.
dragion said:
I prefer PowerAmp Alpha...
Especially with my Sony MDR-100AAP in External Mode.
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What's external mode, something on your headphones?
All Hi Res iem or headphones will do the job, but it's up to your ears to know what is best, as all headphones/iem all have their own sound stage, for me I use the Sony list in my sig.
I was actually considering getting a pair of the A-T 50x's but those Senn's look nice too. (I'm a big fan of over the ear.)
vibrantliker said:
What's external mode, something on your headphones?
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By plugging in the detachable headphone cable into the LG V20's headphone jack first before connecting the cable to the headphones, causes the Hi-Fi DAC to go into "An External Audio Device Is Connected" mode which produces a higher output compared to "Normal" mode.
dragion said:
By plugging in the detachable headphone cable into the LG V20's headphone jack first before connecting the cable to the headphones, causes the Hi-Fi DAC to go into "An External Audio Device Is Connected" mode which produces a higher output compared to "Normal" mode.
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I did not know that and will try it.
So excited to use my Custom Art Harmony 8 Pro, custom headphones with these. The V10 did a good job, I bet the v20 will be better!
For reference, here's the playlist I used to compare. I didn't want to spend all day doing tests, so this is mostly stuff I can listen to while I work, but trying to hit as many different sound signatures as I could. I don't have any classical in my collection, though probably I could have used some. I listened to most of the playlist (skipped around a little getting details) on my laptop for a little while before picking up the phone. Probably going to do some listening with the S4 mini I've got on loan from my wife, too. Would have been nice to compare the Note7, but it's already back in T-Mobile's hot little hands. Played using the
Acoustic Guitar
Leo Kottke (FLAC)
Vaseline Machine Gun
Watermelon
The Fisherman
Earl Klugh (MP3 320)
Alice in Wonderland
Moon River
Autumn Leaves (VBR V0)
Country/Folk
The New Lost City Ramblers (MP3 320)
Talking Hard Luck
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Old Fish Song
Charlie Daniels Band (MP3 320)
The Devil Went Down To Georgia
Uneasy Rider
Anais Mitchell (M4A VBR)
Epic, Part I
Hey, Little Songbird
Epic, Part II
Pop
The Killers (MP3 VBR, not V0)
Mr. Brightside
When You Were Young
Sia (FLAC)
Chandelier
Eye Of The Needle
Elastic Heart
Electronic
Super Eurobeat Presents: Initial D Special Stage Non-Stop Mega Mix (FLAC)
Killing My Love
Running In The 90s
Grand Prix
Kavinsky (MP3 320)
Night Call
Night Runner (OGG VBR)
After Hours
Nuclear Countdown
Hip-Hop/Trip-Hop
KA (MP3 320)
Just
Wax Tailor (FLAC)
Exordium
From the Dark
As for my thoughts:
First, I was surprised that as far as I can tell, LG hasn't included any headphones. That seems weird. I'm glad now that I have a million bajillion of the things lying around because if I just bought this off the shelf, it would be a long wait for LG to send me my "only" wired headset option. At least a few weeks. Disappointing, but not a deal-breaker by any means.
Started with the Samsung headset, Hi-Fi DAC off. It's not super comfortable, not at all isolating. I'm still listening to the last couple tracks and I can easily hear myself typing with the volume at around... well, in the Hi-Fi volume it would be 45. I should note that it goes much higher (I believe the highest is 65 or 75) but 45 is where I would typically listen to music. Louder than that started to strain my ears a little. Louder is generally better for detecting little things in a song, but I don't want to suffer, and I certainly don't want to suffer for the time it takes to listen to a 90 minute playlist 4 times at painful volume.
(Incidentally, someone above complained that it wasn't as good as V4A--I haven't listened to V4A in a long time, but my recollection was that it does 2 things: EQ and boost. All their stuff comes down to highly advanced adaptive EQ and a volume boost. Essentially an Instagram filter for your audio. That's all you really can do with a software solution, so I don't blame V4A's team, but what we're looking for with a hi-fi hardware DAC is closer to putting your glasses on if you're near-sighted: increased clarity without changing or coloring the sound any more than necessary, including volume changes. That's what your choice of headphones and your EQ settings are for, not your DAC.)
Moved to the Shures next. The SE215 has a slightly bassy sound, IMO, much better for dance music than e.g. the Koss cans. Not quite basshead cans. I was impressed by performance, and volume. I felt "comfortable" for the first half of the playlist before checking the volume and discovering it wasn't at 45, where I'd wanted it--I had it at 30! Turned it up to 45, and I was at a point where it wasn't quite uncomfortably loud. Which is to say, these things can push power to a pair of headphones no problem.
Equally surprised that the Koss cans didn't have an equivalent bump in volume from what I'm used to (which is maxed out on the Note7, and remember that I'm nowhere near maxed out on the V20). Oh, sure, I could have turned them up, but I didn't. Clarity was as-expected. Much better, I think, than the SE215s.
What I'm looking for here is silence and separation. On the country tunes, in particular, you end up with a mandolin, banjo, and guitar all fighting for 'space' on the recording, so I was listening to make sure I could make out guitar chords from banjo rolls from mandolin... whatever mandolin players do. I'm sure they're very important musicians. The other part I listened to carefully was the intro to Chandelier; There's an etremely isolated snare in the beginning, and it should fade to nothing, not fade to sort-of-nothing. I didn't get that with the Shures as much as I wanted, but I did get it with the Koss headphones.
V-Modas don't do much to change my opinion. The bass is defined, clear, not boomy. I'd say the V20 seems to have a fairly balanced sound signature, which makes sense because that more-or-less matches what I've heard about the B&O sound signature. If the V20 DAC was developed with their input, that would make a lot of sense.
So in the end, I'd agree with kms108:
kms108 said:
All Hi Res iem or headphones will do the job, but it's up to your ears to know what is best, as all headphones/iem all have their own sound stage, for me I use the Sony list in my sig.
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TheJesus said:
I'm using my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm headphones, it's amazing. It's a step up from the V10, including the volume department (especially with high impedance headphones).
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Can't wait to try my beyer's. Have exact same ones and custom one pros. Cop's are a more fun sounding headphone and a burning can push it. The 770's and cop's can put out mind rattling bass, and by that I mean rattle your chest, with the right content and amp. Can't wait to hear the sound signature of the 9218 with my assorted cabled gear.