Since I've found Voodoo Sound, I've been aware of alternatives, such as PowerAmp. I never did try PowerAmp today, I must say, it does seem to blow Voodoo Sound of the water, not sure if this is just because of the equalizer, or if Voodoo is still a better option, or if its best to have both on.
As I understand it, PowerAmp is just offering a software optimized equalizer giving you that nice virtual experience of good quality music, while Voodoo Sound is supposedly tapping out the potential of the Wolfson Sound's Hardware.
Opinions and clarifications are much appreciated, do share if you know of something better, just spill your thoughts.
Feel free to include the Rom you prefer for music, the apk you prefer fo music, and what tweaks you're using for music, as well as the earphones/headphones you listen in with.
I'm setup this way:
Rom: CM9 Beta 1
Music Apk: Usually Stock CM9 Music, with DSP Manager uninstalled, atm trying PowerAmp though.
Tweaks: I have Voodoo Sound Plus, trying to listen to music with PowerAmp and Voodoo Sound on.
Listening through: In-ear Phones, Sennheiser CX300's.
Edit: *Disclaimer!* this is probably my third thread this year that is a semi-question asking for your opinions as well as general discussion.
To be on the safe side, I posted in Q&A to avoid getting *****ed at.
Shinydude100 said:
Since I've found Voodoo Sound, I've been aware of alternatives, such as PowerAmp. I never did try PowerAmp today, I must say, it does seem to blow Voodoo Sound of the water, not sure if this is just because of the equalizer, or if Voodoo is still a better option, or if its best to have both on.
As I understand it, PowerAmp is just offering a software optimized equalizer giving you that nice virtual experience of good quality music, while Voodoo Sound is supposedly tapping out the potential of the Wolfson Sound's Hardware.
Opinions and clarifications are much appreciated, do share if you know of something better, just spill your thoughts.
Feel free to include the Rom you prefer for music, the apk you prefer fo music, and what tweaks you're using for music, as well as the earphones/headphones you listen in with.
I'm setup this way:
Rom: CM9 Beta 1
Music Apk: Usually Stock CM9 Music, with DSP Manager uninstalled, atm trying PowerAmp though.
Tweaks: I have Voodoo Sound Plus, trying to listen to music with PowerAmp and Voodoo Sound on.
Listening through: In-ear Phones, Sennheiser CX300's.
Edit: *Disclaimer!* this is probably my third thread this year that is a semi-question asking for your opinions as well as general discussion.
To be on the safe side, I posted in Q&A to avoid getting *****ed at.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Soo what's your question exactly? I use Voodoo Sound and Have Bass Boost on and set to sub bass, also will use Power Amp Eq and top that out so it sounds nice plus having a good set of head phones and all is good, what are you trying to figure out is my question.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
XxLostSoulxX said:
Soo what's your question exactly? I use Voodoo Sound and Have Bass Boost on and set to sub bass, also will use Power Amp Eq and top that out so it sounds nice plus having a good set of head phones and all is good, what are you trying to figure out is my question.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's really necessary to have both voodoo control and poweramp or of using both is an overkill, also looking for what others are setup, maybe things they've discovered on each to be better or worse, and what headphone earphones they use.
Hence the title, "voice your preference."
Shinydude100 said:
If it's really necessary to have both voodoo control and poweramp or of using both is an overkill, also looking for what others are setup, maybe things they've discovered on each to be better or worse, and what headphone earphones they use.
Hence the title, "voice your preference."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its defiantly not an overkill it a helper to make better haha. But Running CM7 and using the Klipsch S4
Did you need to quote the op?.. no... its a given that your answering about the OP just sayin.
I'm not quite an audiophile but do enjoy my clear a crisp music. I'm running cm9b1 with my compiled samurai kernel. I use voodoo sound and have my amplifier "deal" at -5 instead of 10 and on bass boost I have it on standard with the db at 8 and the range at 80%.
I also use equalizer off the market have the paid version so I have one of my profiles in a V the left starts towards the top the 2nd is towards the middle and the middle is just shy of the bottom and the last two are similar to the first two if you catch my drift... it makes a V . Have the same deal on my laptop with beats audio the control is setup in a v like design... seems to be a sweet spot to me. Or at least my ears... I listen to a lot of metalcore.. usually their "screams" or dirty vocals aren't very clear but with setup I can hear it all.. with comprehension.
Oh and I have some 17$ phillips and they sound great.. =] have lasted me almost a year now... much longer than ANY headphones I've ever owned.. usually the part by the jack wears/ shorts out and its time for new ones.... not with these.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
I use poweramp and voodoo sound on cm9.
Why not?
CM9b1
Voodoo sound plus
Neutron Music Player
Earsonics SM3 IEMs
Sometimes Headstage arrow 3G portable amp when I can pry it out of my wife's hands
What you need to understand is that Voodoo Sound Control increases power to the device's built in hardware amplifier. This is where it's at. If you can't tell the sound quality difference between the software and hardware amplifiers, you probably shouldn't even use something like Voodoo Sound Control.
The Galaxy S models are among few devices available that have a configurable hardware amplifier. Typically, the volume rockers on phones control the software amplifier, while the hardware amplifier is locked to a single output. This is probably due to output limitations determined by the manufacturer in order avoid lawsuits involving inner ear damage, in the event of an immediate volume change (we're all familiar with Android's rather mediocre sound control quirks due to hardware fragmentation).
Try this:
- Disable Voodoo sound or set it back to default system values, and disable all sound modifications.
- Plug your phone into your car stereo or home speaker system with the 1/8" jack, and crank the volume on your phone all the way up, using Android's system media volume.
- Then, crank up your stereo. It probably sounds like balls.
Okay, now let's experiment with the hardware amplifier.
- Now back the media volume down a few notches to around 80%.
- Increase Voodoo Sound's amplifier controls to +2db or so, enable Hi-fi play, etc. Keep the media volume at around 80%.
- Turn up the volume on your stereo system again. I will be absolutely damned if you don't notice a difference.
PowerAmp's "pre amp" is just an additional software amplifier "boost." Although handy for increasing the volume on particularly quiet MP3 files, it will cause distortion in the same way any software amplifier will. If anything, you will want to lower "pre amp" a tad if you plan to increase the Android media volume to 100%, but in the end, the resulting distortion will always be proportional the the volume.
Props to the developer for Voodoo Sound. It really changed the way I listen to music. Before I buy my next device, I am going to make sure it will eventually be compatible with Voodoo Sound Control.
glen_e said:
What you need to understand is that Voodoo Sound Control increases power to the device's built in hardware amplifier. This is where it's at. If you can't tell the sound quality difference between the software and hardware amplifiers, you probably shouldn't even use something like Voodoo Sound Control.
The Galaxy S models are among few devices available that have a configurable hardware amplifier. Typically, the volume rockers on phones control the software amplifier, while the hardware amplifier is locked to a single output. This is probably due to output limitations determined by the manufacturer in order avoid lawsuits involving inner ear damage, in the event of an immediate volume change (we're all familiar with Android's rather mediocre sound control quirks due to hardware fragmentation).
Try this:
- Disable Voodoo sound or set it back to default system values, and disable all sound modifications.
- Plug your phone into your car stereo or home speaker system with the 1/8" jack, and crank the volume on your phone all the way up, using Android's system media volume.
- Then, crank up your stereo. It probably sounds like balls.
Okay, now let's experiment with the hardware amplifier.
- Now back the media volume down a few notches to around 80%.
- Increase Voodoo Sound's amplifier controls to +2db or so, enable Hi-fi play, etc. Keep the media volume at around 80%.
- Turn up the volume on your stereo system again. I will be absolutely damned if you don't notice a difference.
PowerAmp's "pre amp" is just an additional software amplifier "boost." Although handy for increasing the volume on particularly quiet MP3 files, it will cause distortion in the same way any software amplifier will. If anything, you will want to lower "pre amp" a tad if you plan to increase the Android media volume to 100%, but in the end, the resulting distortion will always be proportional the the volume.
Props to the developer for Voodoo Sound. It really changed the way I listen to music. Before I buy my next device, I am going to make sure it will eventually be compatible with Voodoo Sound Control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. So much. Thank you for this educated post.
Hardware amplifier > software amplifier.
Sent from my SPH-D700
I rely on voodoo sound to maximize my overall hardware output, especially getting that lower level ooompf that the phone generally lacks.
This is especially helpful when using a music player without any sound control- most notably Pandora.
Poweramp is my preferred mp3 player app, and has some nice tweaks I can make when I need to- like if a particular mp3 sounds dull I can turn the tone on or adjust the octaves. Overall I usually have the preamp turned up just to get more volume out of the device.
Definitely Max out voodoo. never completely Max out the phone's volume level, doing so causes distortion.
sent from my secret underground bunker
Equalizer>Poweramp.. just saying works on all sounds on the phone not just the app.... helps make pandora listenable and my mp3's like a studio... or close to my laptop with beats =]
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Of course your going to get a ton of different opinions in this thread, everyones ears hear things different, so instead of arguing or denying what other people hear, I'll just give you my 2 cents.
I use Voodoo AND Poweramp together through a pretty cheap set of Skullcandy Titans listening to predominantly metal/punk/progressive music. Voodoo is mostly used by me to have a more fine tuned volume control, and to reduce/prevent distortion like so many have mentioned earlier. If you notice the stock volume control only has like 9 steps, where Voodoo can go up by 1-2 db at a time. This gives you alot more fine tuning possible with your volume level. I've found stock android steps are either too quiet, or too loud once I bump it a notch...
Oh and then theres the poweramp side, I just have always loved poweramp, even been a fanboy. Since the days of Android Music players where NOBODY had an EQ I've been using it with great success. I've tried the stock music player/EQ, PlayerPro, as well as 5-6 others I've only kept for a day or two, and my ears always take my back to poweramp. Other music players may tout the same features, but to me Poweramp just sounds better to ME personally. My best buddy has the same phone, same rom setup, and prefers Voodoo and stock music player though... again it's just a matter of what your ears like to hear.
glen_e said:
What you need to understand is that Voodoo Sound Control increases power to the device's built in hardware amplifier. This is where it's at. If you can't tell the sound quality difference between the software and hardware amplifiers, you probably shouldn't even use something like Voodoo Sound Control.
The Galaxy S models are among few devices available that have a configurable hardware amplifier. Typically, the volume rockers on phones control the software amplifier, while the hardware amplifier is locked to a single output. This is probably due to output limitations determined by the manufacturer in order avoid lawsuits involving inner ear damage, in the event of an immediate volume change (we're all familiar with Android's rather mediocre sound control quirks due to hardware fragmentation).
Try this:
- Disable Voodoo sound or set it back to default system values, and disable all sound modifications.
- Plug your phone into your car stereo or home speaker system with the 1/8" jack, and crank the volume on your phone all the way up, using Android's system media volume.
- Then, crank up your stereo. It probably sounds like balls.
Okay, now let's experiment with the hardware amplifier.
- Now back the media volume down a few notches to around 80%.
- Increase Voodoo Sound's amplifier controls to +2db or so, enable Hi-fi play, etc. Keep the media volume at around 80%.
- Turn up the volume on your stereo system again. I will be absolutely damned if you don't notice a difference.
PowerAmp's "pre amp" is just an additional software amplifier "boost." Although handy for increasing the volume on particularly quiet MP3 files, it will cause distortion in the same way any software amplifier will. If anything, you will want to lower "pre amp" a tad if you plan to increase the Android media volume to 100%, but in the end, the resulting distortion will always be proportional the the volume.
Props to the developer for Voodoo Sound. It really changed the way I listen to music. Before I buy my next device, I am going to make sure it will eventually be compatible with Voodoo Sound Control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no, trust me, I do know what Voodoo Sound does, I did need a post like yours to confirm my speculation on Hardware Amp > Software Amp though. So far, after reading everyone's replies, I think I'm going to definitely continue to primarily use Voodoo Sound, and use an equalizer off the market, or poweramp's equalizer. Thank you all for taking the time to voice your setups and preferences. Much appreciated!
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Love the info this thread has provided, I have a pair of creative aurvana neodinium DJ headphones and without voodoo control they are generally too quiet to enjoy, however without proper EQ's I cannot listen to certain artists (kid cudi) without hearing craclkes and pops due to the limitations of the neodinium speakers.
Sent from my MIUI V4 Epic 4G via Tapatalk 2 beta 4
xopher.hunter said:
Love the info this thread has provided, I have a pair of creative aurvana neodinium DJ headphones and without voodoo control they are generally too quiet to enjoy, however without proper EQ's I cannot listen to certain artists (kid cudi) without hearing craclkes and pops due to the limitations of the neodinium speakers.
Sent from my MIUI V4 Epic 4G via Tapatalk 2 beta 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try messing with miui equalizer settings I have a great set up
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Cm9b1....run voodoo plus. Set of shure ec2's, a pretty ok car system, and a polk studio speaker home system with a nice denon amp. I think I killed my hearing back in high school, but I've realized now that a "clean" or pure source makes the best sound for me. I can't hear minute differences that well but I CAN usually tell.....good to bad. My old crappy mp3 player with cheap headphones compared to my epic with the shure's is obvious. But I can't really tell you why
I do need to do that software/hardware comparison though. And I've never used poweramp.....ill have to try it.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA
Neutron + Voodoo Sound + Galaxy S + AKG 319
I actually usually turn my phone media volume to 100% and leave voodoo at -2db, ill try turning down my media and turning up voodoo
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Hey guys,
So my previous Android device, I downloaded a graphic EQ, and it just worked. Even if I was watching a movie sans headphones, I could use it to boost mid-range so that dialogue was a little louder. It didn't increase overall volume, but it did shape sound and it didn't decrease overall volume.
On my T211, I have downloaded EQs, and they work provided I am not streaming audio via bluetooth. It would kind of be cool if they worked with bluetooth speakers as well (not sure if they work with bluetooth headphones) - but the bigger annoyance for me, is that if I boost one frequency, it seems that the overall media volume declines proportionately. I don't know if it works exactly to that effect, but it is something like that; the EQ improves the sound quality quite a bit, in fairness the bass is better quality than with my previous phone (w/headphones), but the music only gets so loud. Then I turn the EQ off, and the music is noticeably louder, but the sound is flat and lower quality. It's as if there's an internal safeguard to limit overall audio output, or the power it uses, or something.
There seem to be several files in the system/etc folder which would seem to govern volume and audio effects. But I haven't figured out any more than that. Not a big deal - I own a headphone amplifier - but I have seen a tweak to improve headphone volume on the Note 2 and more generally I feel this is a worthy subject for discussion. Anybody have input? If it matters, I deleted my MusicFX.apk file and 'Music Effects' no longer appears in my settings menu (which shouldn't make a difference considering my EQs do work.