HTC Boombass - Never Mind the B*ll*cks! - One (M8) Accessories

First, this was a massive step for me. I am a Google Play Edition addict. I just wanted to test the HTC Boombass which arrived today as part of my purchase deal so flashed I back to Sense.
Remember that music listening is completely subjective so what I like you may not. However I am an audiophile. I only listen to FLAC and my home hi-fi is off the scale. I also tend to be quite harsh when reviewing H-fi kit.
I am not going to discuss the cosmetics apart from saying it is a small black and red box about 2" square. The bottom slides out to create a lip for the phone to rest on. The Boombass has a micro USB socket for charging and a small button on the back to enable Bluetooth/Sync. Press it once and you will hear the BT 'enable' sound.
One point to note. The viewing angle without a case on isn't bad. With a case, although the difference is minimal, it is still secure but it is hardly a viewing angle... unless you watch movies almost horizontally! Cosmetics over.
The Sound
First let me say. You haven't paid £/$500 for this. So if you are expecting to be absolutely blown away... leave this alone.
However...
Playlist
Queen's 'Too much love'
Without Boombass. As to be expected the phone was clear and you will all know the sound. As phones go, it doesn't get much better.
With Boombass. I was astonished! It adds a level of bass that is amazing for such a small device. There was no 'thud' or corruption.
Phil Collins 'In the air tonight'.
Without Boombass. Clear lyrics and highs, decent drums but lacking that bass depth
With Boombass.Wow again! Especially for the drum solo. No more to be said.
Pink 'Just like a pill'
Without Boombass. By now I was losing interest in the phone without the box. What had previously sounded 'full' for a phone was now sounding shrill and devoid of character.
With Boombass. Her voice sounded much more like the albums I played on the home hi-fi. There were parts that sounded a tiny bit 'thuddy' but I forgave them due to the fullness of the sound.
Pink Floyd 'Money'
Without Boombass. Still good, but I want more BASS!
With Boombass. OK you can guess where this is going....
Overall.
There are better devices out there without a doubt. But not for the same price. Nothing in the market comes close. However it does have limitations.
It has a limited compatibility set (applicable in this forum...HTC One M8. BUT NOT GPE)
If you are willing to pay more you can get better, but probably double at least to notice any substantial improvement.
Overall I give it 4 stars.
To get 5?
* Compatibility with GPE - after all HTC - you make the device... WTH?
* The phone has a case - consider the viewing angle 'including case'
* Phone charging??? (While on the speaker)
For a bedroom / student this is ideal if you don't have the funds to buy that Mission/NAD outfit you were after. And for anyone else that wants a better sound on a budget (me included!)
My view - as an exacting audiophile? For £50, you won't get better.
For more (see double) you might.
The bottom line?
It is enough for me to stay with Sense until HTC fix GPE compatibility

Are you serious. I'm no audiophile but to my untrained ear it's lame, bass is muffled and weak. Even my wife thought it was pathetic.
Would not waste £50 on it at all, sold mine on eBay.
Ant of these would be better. Or just use it without.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

crustyeye said:
Are you serious. I'm no audiophile but to my untrained ear it's lame, bass is muffled and weak. Even my wife thought it was pathetic.
Would not waste £50 on it at all, sold mine on eBay.
Ant of these would be better. Or just use it without.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am playing 16/24 bit flac which sounds great on the phone. The level of detail these files provide over the bog standard 192 mp3 is the same difference as light and day. Most people use the standard mp3 for file size. The issue is that a standard mp3 is about 3-5mb whereas a high bit single flac track can be 35-40mb plus. Albums can range from 400mb to over a Gb which is why people don't use them
I tried a standard mp3 after reading your response and it produced a muffled thud sound like the old style boombox.
But I did state in the post that I use flac.
I promise you the difference is good.
But hey like I said - 'subjective'.
“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.”
― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt

Related

Best headphones for inc?

Hello
I am on the hunt for some good headphones that I can use to listen to music and answer/talk on the phone. I got some headphones off amazon that said they were for the incredible, however you can't answer the phone by the headphone controls... Has anyone found some good headphones?
Thanks
Swegin
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I'd recommend pre-ordering the Klipsch Image S4A's. I have the regular Image S4's (no inline remote/mic, otherwise identical) and they sound incredible. They're well worth the asking price.
I am notoriously cheap. Um, I mean frugal.
Awhile back I looked around for earbuds and found a few that I liked. I like Koss, though they can tend to be kind of bass-heavy (to the point of muddiness). The Plug by Koss is an example of this: they fit wonderfully but can be a bit biased toward bass.
I replaced my Plugs by Koss with a pair of black Yamaha EPH-20 earbuds. They are quite a bit "brighter" than the Plug but don't skimp on the bass.
I personally can't see spending more than $30 or so on earbuds for my cell phone, so I hope this helps.
No brainier when these come out. Inline control works with Android, iOS and WindowsPhone for $50.
http://www.jays.se/products/earphones/a-jays-one-plus.html
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I use JH Audio 13 PRO with my Dinc and they sound incredible but they are $1,150 ha ha.
I use a pair of JVC Marshmallow 'buds... they're $20 at Wal-Mart, come in several different colors, and sound amazing to me. Yeah, they don't have a built in mic, no external controls, but if what you're looking for is simply music, they're one heck of a deal.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/JVC-In-Ear-Marshmallow-Black/14562427
If you need the built in mic and answer controls, the wired headset earbuds from my old BlackBerry sound decent and the answer button / mic works. $8 on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-HDW-16904-003-Blackberry-Microphone-3-5mm/dp/B002ECE8QY
Regular price $60
On sale for $15
http://www.amazon.com/GOgroove-High-Performance-Hands-free-Playback-Controller/dp/B005MZU0JY/
Thats a good deal
Bang and Olufsen Earset 3 or A8s
I work for Bang and Olufsen, and we make a killer set, for about $200. I might sound a little biased, but honestly I could care less if you chose to by ours over another brand. Why? If I sell one, I make about 5 Bucks commission. And the odds someone reading this forum is going to buy a set from me? Don't really need to answer that one. That being said, hear me out about the inside scoop:
They are made out of aluminum, and aren't the isolation type that get shoved in your ear canal. You lose a little bass, but you can walk down the street and not get jacked because you are oblivious to whats going on around you. They have great sensitivity (don't need to crank your device, which saves battery life), and the stereo imaging is amazing. The highs are clear and sharp and don't break up. They also stay on your ears very well and are great for exercising. Plus, they come with a 3 year international warranty: If you break them, you can bring them into any showroom in the world and we will swap them out on the spot (provided they don't look like you ran them over with a car) if you have proof of purchase (we will help you out with this part by contacting the store you purchased them from).
We also have sets of the Dre Beats In-Ears, Bose on-ears and in-ears (Bose stands for "Buy Other Sound Equipment"), and the Klipsch S4s in our showroom and have tested them against our own. We beat them hands down. Our customers have all agreed as well (comparing them hands-on with their own phones and ipods, not our demo tracks).
Go find a showroom, and give them a shot. Not saying their the best thing since sliced bread, but you might find them to be exactly what you are looking for.
philycheezblunt said:
I work for Bang and Olufsen, and we make a killer set, for about $200. I might sound a little biased, but honestly I could care less if you chose to by ours over another brand. Why? If I sell one, I make about 5 Bucks commission. And the odds someone reading this forum is going to buy a set from me? Don't really need to answer that one. That being said, hear me out about the inside scoop:
They are made out of aluminum, and aren't the isolation type that get shoved in your ear canal. You lose a little bass, but you can walk down the street and not get jacked because you are oblivious to whats going on around you. They have great sensitivity (don't need to crank your device, which saves battery life), and the stereo imaging is amazing. The highs are clear and sharp and don't break up. They also stay on your ears very well and are great for exercising. Plus, they come with a 3 year international warranty: If you break them, you can bring them into any showroom in the world and we will swap them out on the spot (provided they don't look like you ran them over with a car) if you have proof of purchase (we will help you out with this part by contacting the store you purchased them from).
We also have sets of the Dre Beats In-Ears, Bose on-ears and in-ears (Bose stands for "Buy Other Sound Equipment"), and the Klipsch S4s in our showroom and have tested them against our own. We beat them hands down. Our customers have all agreed as well (comparing them hands-on with their own phones and ipods, not our demo tracks).
Go find a showroom, and give them a shot. Not saying their the best thing since sliced bread, but you might find them to be exactly what you are looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I have no doubt that the B&O set is very good, I have difficulty imagining that they're as much bang for your buck as (at least) the Klipsch S4s. I agree with a lot of your points (with Bose and Beats, you're paying for the brand, not for quality) but when you say that the B&O set beats all those, it should... it costs $200. The rest are $75-100, or cheaper if you find a decent deal (not too hard). As great as the B&O set may be, 3/8 the price for at least 5/8 sound quality (S4) makes a much better deal for the average, non-audiophile, consumer who wants great sound from their device.
but also to consider; the Klipsch ones aren't as durable. You'll probably go through 3 pairs in the time you go through one set of B&Os. $200 is for the earset, which has a mic for handsfree calling. 160 gets you headphones only.
philycheezblunt said:
but also to consider; the Klipsch ones aren't as durable. You'll probably go through 3 pairs in the time you go through one set of B&Os. $200 is for the earset, which has a mic for handsfree calling. 160 gets you headphones only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long are you talking about going through the B&O's in? I've had the S4s for about 6 months. That's longer than I've ever had earbuds before (I'm VEEEERY hard on them), and they still look and feel brand new. By my standards, the build quality is extremely impressive.
My buddy is on an earbud hunting kick and I've been helping him out. We've tested just about everything we can find locally and so far the best sounding are the Klipsch X10I. We found them locally for $250.00 and they are worth it. I have a set of JH Audio 13 PRO's and the Klipsch X10I's sound about 50% of the JH Audio and that's really saying something. Besides the JH Audio, the Klipsch X10I's are the best sounding earbuds I've heard yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-S2m-Noise-Isolating-Microphone-Single-Button/dp/B002FB7IWU
I like the S2m. Decent price too.
And BOSE also stands for "Basically...Overpriced Stereo Equipment"
No highs...No lows...Must be BOSE!!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-DRBT101-BLK-Stereo-Bluetooth-Headphones-Black/13904899
I use these as headphone for music and calls. I cannot attest to any sound quality As I am somewhat hearing impaired(need aids) But these are able to play music loud enuff for me listen too. On calls I hear the voice quite well and the caller says they can hear me clearly.
I have a pair of Shure SE210s and I love them, but I can't recommend them unless you're planning on photo-shopping your receipt to make it look like they're still under the 2 year warranty when they break every 1.5 years. The audio quality is fantastic, and I like the in-ear design but they just don't hold up to what I think is normal use.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-200-iems-compared-hifiman-re272-added-10-14-11
That's all you need.
I use the $50-$60 ViSang R03 / Brainwavz M2, and couldn't be happier.
"The ViSang R03 is an incredible performer - a wholesome combination of build quality, comfort, and sound at a price well south of $100. In terms of coherency of sound signature they are up there with the best sub-$100 earphones I have heard. The combination of impactful bass, clear mids, and crisp treble give the R03 a very agreeable sound that can be enjoyed by both the audiophile and the casual listener in equal measure. And that fact alone makes them highly recommended earphones with a sound signature geared slightly towards the mainstream market compared to much of the gear talked about on head-fi. Do I personally still prefer a more analytical sound? Yes. But that does not prevent me from enjoying the R03 in the least. They are not perfect, but they are unreasonably good for what they cost."
PGleo86 said:
How long are you talking about going through the B&O's in? I've had the S4s for about 6 months. That's longer than I've ever had earbuds before (I'm VEEEERY hard on them), and they still look and feel brand new. By my standards, the build quality is extremely impressive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3 Years plus. They will most likely last you well past that, but if they break within 3, you get a brand new pair for free.
Klipsch
I love the new Klipsch S4A great sound quality for a low price, plus it's made specifically for android
I'm going to sound insane compared to folks advocating $50-$250 headphones.
I use OEM Palm Stereo Headset 3.5mm model#3422WW. These are in ear, not in ear canal. They sound better than $30 & $50 headphones I've tried. Oh yeah easily had on eBay $3.50.

Tinny Audio?

Is anyone experiencing tinny speaker audio on the Vivid/Raider? It's tough to listen to music because its so full if treble and increasing the bass makes it sound too blown out...
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk
Yeah, it's embarrassing trying to laugh at YouTube videos with other people because it's so hard to hear.. I've invested in a pair of Skull Candy ear buds with the mic built in. Worth the money
PostaL cm said:
Yeah, it's embarrassing trying to laugh at YouTube videos with other people because it's so hard to hear.. I've invested in a pair of Skull Candy ear buds with the mic built in. Worth the money
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, good plan. I've got so many headphones I can't even keep track of them...lol. I love the Vivid so the speaker really doesn't bother me.
No Phone Speaker Is Great
I don't think any phone speaker is going to match a good set of earphones or even middling desktop stereo speakers. Some phones may be better than others, but is that the main way we are going to listen to audio - music, movies, phone calls? Yes, I know that if you want to show a video to someone else, you need the speaker.
Several other threads have already noted that the Vivid speaker, like other HTC phone speakers, may not be very good. I've listened to music over my Vivid's speaker. It's okay but not great. It's about as good as the speaker sound on my daughter's iPhone. But you just aren't going to get good sound from a tiny speaker.
Does the volume seem low to you guys?
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk
mike123475 said:
Does the volume seem low to you guys?
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does, but its not a deal to me to be honest. Anyone ever try those Monster Bluetooth speakers? I wonder how those sound...
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk
Compare to my old Captivate, the volume of the Vivid is much lower.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using XDA App
is there an app that can boost the audio output?
kiddchris said:
is there an app that can boost the audio output?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also interested in this. I've seen one that increases the 3.5mm output, but not the speaker. I have my HP Touchpad patched to be louder and it works great. With all the dev support behind the Android platform I'd be surprised if there isn't a simple option to accomplish this.
I've noticed this with all of the recent HTC phones I've used. After having an Evo 3d, Inspire and the Vivid I've come to realize that HTC just doesn't care about speaker output. If I put my Vivid next to my 4s and play the same song the difference in volume and sound quality is crazy.
I downloaded equalizer app and it helped a lot
waltah! said:
I've noticed this with all of the recent HTC phones I've used. After having an Evo 3d, Inspire and the Vivid I've come to realize that HTC just doesn't care about speaker output. If I put my Vivid next to my 4s and play the same song the difference in volume and sound quality is crazy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Played with the Rezound again today. First time I really tested built-in speaker. MUCH better than I've come to expect from HTC. Plenty of volume.
Most of these issues, low volume, too much treble, no bass... I was able too fix too some degree with the Volume+ app. It's in the Android market.
It's not perfect, but much better now.
Sent from my HTC Vivid using Tapatalk
Yeah, I noticed that the first time I watched a YouTube video on mine. Even with it turned all the way up it still doesnt have much volume. So, like others have said, Time to invest in a good set of headphones.
Devin.Morris.007 said:
Yeah, I noticed that the first time I watched a YouTube video on mine. Even with it turned all the way up it still doesnt have much volume. So, like others have said, Time to invest in a good set of headphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll second the "invest in a good set of headphones" recommendation, but that's probably because I'm an audiophile. (Ultrasone Edition 8 owner checking in)
Still, I use the speaker on my phones... a lot. It needs to be capable of reaching comfortable levels. At the AT&T store, I did my usual factory reset to the Vivid and then tried both Volume+ (have used before on a different handset with mixed results) and an EQ program. They both seemed to work for system sounds but conflicted with streaming programs like Spotify and Pandora. One made things even quieter. The other locked the phone and required that I pull the battery.
I'm surprised to find that apps that increase volume seem to be niche. There seemingly isn't something out there that's stable enough to be relied upon as an all-purpose solution. Of course, this wouldn't be an issue if the manufacturer invested in a quality component in the first place, but I digress.
As previously stated, I'm quite impressed by the speaker in the Rezound, so it looks like there actually IS something good coming from the Beats partnership. (because their headphones are garbage across the board... as is pretty much everything else associated with Jimmy Iovine) By my ears' account, it held up to the speakers found in the average Samsung handset. (i.e. quite loud) And that screen... best I've seen bar none. The screen on the Vivid is my favorite feature of the handset and, in my opinion, the best by far on AT&T, but the extra resolution on the Rezound takes overall fidelity up a notch. With the recent announcement that HTC is planning another high end phone for AT&T perhaps it will be in the same vein and, if it is, that's the handset I'm opting for. As it stands, I may end up going the bang for the buck route to tide me over and then sell it toward an outright purchase if/when it releases. Of course, should the phone not materialize as expected I wouldn't want to be stuck with something that came as a disappointment and I have to say... the Atrix 2 seems to be the most solid across the board handset currently on the carrier. (and one of the best in this regard on any for that matter)
There is a way to make the phone go to speaker, by turning the phone face down. My Vivid came with that box checked. It seems to affect the sound quality of the whole phone. If you uncheck that box, it makes a world of difference, and the phone sounds better, including any music played through the speaker. Just my opinion, but it worked for me.
Settings>Sound>Flip for speaker(uncheck this box).
grunt0300 said:
There is a way to make the phone go to speaker, by turning the phone face down. My Vivid came with that box checked. It seems to affect the sound quality of the whole phone. If you uncheck that box, it makes a world of difference, and the phone sounds better, including any music played through the speaker. Just my opinion, but it worked for me.
Settings>Sound>Flip for speaker(uncheck this box).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tested with a song using the HTC music player. With the flip box unchecked, I could hear a little difference in the sound from the external speaker. The song sounded a little "deeper" and less tinny as others have described it. Since I've never used the speaker phone feature, I left the box unchecked.
After upgrading to ICS and getting Beats Audio, I can say that the sound quality is noticeably better when patched into my car's system via headphone jack. Beats Audio doesn't do squat unless you're using the headphone jack though.

audio quality and camera quite a bit worse than razr m?

can it be so? according to
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_i_xt890-review-828p6.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_i_xt890-review-828p7.php
thought the audio chip and camera nternals would be the same
alpha beta gaga said:
can it be so? according to
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_i_xt890-review-828p6.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_i_xt890-review-828p7.php
thought the audio chip and camera nternals would be the same
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different SoC's have different DAC's (Digital-to-Analog-Converters [Audio Chips]). Exynos, for example, has the awesome Wolfson DAC, which you can use the Voodoo Audio mod with. The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 has a different, but still very good one. So yeah, it makes sense that this Intel one [probably] has a different DAC considering you're talking about an entire system on a chip. The camera, however is independent and has nothing to do with the SoC. So if Motorola decided to use a lesser quality camera on the i than the M, that was an independent decision.
alpha beta gaga said:
can it be so? according to
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_i_xt890-review-828p6.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_i_xt890-review-828p7.php
thought the audio chip and camera nternals would be the same
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personal experience is that the i has a better camera than the M, but that both are mediocre. Kind of hilarious that the i had a dedicated camera button for a shoddy camera.
-Sent from my Razr i on AT&T.-
Product F(RED) said:
Different SoC's have different DAC's (Digital-to-Analog-Converters [Audio Chips]). Exynos, for example, has the awesome Wolfson DAC, which you can use the Voodoo Audio mod with. The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 has a different, but still very good one. So yeah, it makes sense that this Intel one [probably] has a different DAC considering you're talking about an entire system on a chip. The camera, however is independent and has nothing to do with the SoC. So if Motorola decided to use a lesser quality camera on the i than the M, that was an independent decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're talking about Exynos 4412.
Don't confuse it with 4210 which has the worst audio chips ever made in mankind. (Yamaha)
Livebyte said:
You're talking about Exynos 4412.
Don't confuse it with 4210 which has the worst audio chips ever made in mankind. (Yamaha)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm talking about the current-gen model. I've had the Epic 4G Touch when I was on Sprint (it had the Exynos 4210) and yes it was really bad (flat-sounding). I was trying to illustrate a point though.
maybe not quite as techincal as the gsmarena review but certainly not a 'poor' camera here
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/smartphones/1294792/motorola-razr-i
Can anyone that owns the Razr i please comment on the audio quality? I'm planning on buying this phone, but I listen to music on my phone for hours every day and am buying a new phone, because the audio connector on my Desire is bust. I'm only interested in the sound quality through headphones.
i've just compared it to the gnex. not great i'm afraid. quite a bit of 'hiss'. a few seconds after play comes to a stop, you'll hear a nasty 'clicking off' sound. not quite sure what it is but it is not there on the gnex. i really wanted to love this phone but audio quality is a let down. for that reason alone, i'll be sticking with my gnex and returning the i tomorrow
You've got to be kidding me, how hard can it be to get this right.
I disagree. I am not an audiophile but I find the sound pretty much as good as any other device I have had. There is hiss when not listening to anything but it seems to go away when I am listening to something.
Anyway, I really think its ok.
The Jones said:
There is hiss when not listening to anything but it seems to go away when I am listening to something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is true, you'll only notice it on quiet areas of songs. but those same areas have no hiss at all on the gnex. i'm not trying to big up the gnex here but quality of audio output via headphones is pretty important to me and the hiss i find is unacceptable
Honestly I haven't noticed a hiss when listening to things. I mainly listen to podcasts which have lots of quiet sections and little music. I will turn my ears to the potential hiss next time my headphones are plugged in.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Just got my new XT890. Excellent phone. Have played some MP3s and haven't noticed any problem till now. This phone has much better sound quality than my previous Huawei. Also the results of sound measurement in gsmarena review are similar to those of HTC One X review:
I think the methods of sound quality measurements aren't very accurate and strongly depends on the environment, measuring equipment and event on the specific phone unit (I think such type of benchmarks should be repeated on several units to control convergence of results).
MotoXT890 said:
Just got my new XT890. Excellent phone. Have played some MP3s and haven't noticed any problem till now. This phone has much better sound quality than my previous Huawei. Also the results of sound measurement in gsmarena review are similar to those of HTC One X review:
I think the methods of sound quality measurements aren't very accurate and strongly depends on the environment, measuring equipment and event on the specific phone unit (I think such type of benchmarks should be repeated on several units to control convergence of results).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not scientific with my sound reviews but from my personal experience my XT912 RAZR sounded "meh" quality.
My HTC One S sounded great, probably because of the whole Beats thing.
My RAZR i is on par with my HTC One S for sound quality.
This is all done from me driving around in my '97 Olds with a Cassette to MP3 adapter so take it with a grain of salt... but I am happy with the quality
Nice name by the way
Could it be, that only some handsets are affected? Because a few people complain about the quality, and a few say it's completely fine. And only one reviewer mentioned the problem. I had the obnoxious clicking sound when a track stopped on the Desire aswell, and I would really love, if the Razr i wouldn't have that problem. Could a beter set of headphones help? Me buying this phone is riding on this, because I really love it so far, a compact all-rounder, that has a lovely design, and is something special.
alpha beta gaga said:
i've just compared it to the gnex. not great i'm afraid. quite a bit of 'hiss'. a few seconds after play comes to a stop, you'll hear a nasty 'clicking off' sound. not quite sure what it is but it is not there on the gnex. i really wanted to love this phone but audio quality is a let down. for that reason alone, i'll be sticking with my gnex and returning the i tomorrow
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
update: the tables have turned! i had a 2nd razr i delivered over the weekend. this unit has no noticeable 'hiss' as described above. not sure if the 1st unit was defective or something moto have amended in newer batches? either way i'm more than happy with the audio quality now on the replacement razr i and can fully recommend it to others. i'll be keeping the razr and returning the gnex yes the gnex is still marginally ahead audio quality wise. but the trade off with having a device that can store my entire music collection on removeable sd vs slightly lesser audio performance is well worth it imo.
both units were from reputable online retailers.
Oh dreaded Moto! Defy speaker problem repeats itself? Can you check serial numbers (and other info) on the stickers on both boxes? Perhaps they've different manufacturing dates.
it is not the loudspeaker. i'm talking about listening with headphones. i'll look at the boxes later at post back
Yeah, Defy problem wasn't exactly this one, but it was massive and annoying and moto had to admit the issue later.
alpha beta gaga said:
it is not the loudspeaker. i'm talking about listening with headphones. i'll look at the boxes later at post back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
& what serial number it has?

Audio Quality on Nexus 6?

All I can say is the audio quality through the headphone jack, and speaker on the Note 4 is garbage! That does not make it a bad phone, because with all its other features, the Note 4 is awesome but for an avid audiophile like me, my phone needs a great DAC/ headphone jack. The iphone 6+ Does have fantastic audio quality, but I use android phones as my workhorse, and Ipad as my consumption device, so iPhone is out for me. I am REALLY hoping that since the Nexus 6 has the 2 front facing stereo speakers, that it is being pushed by a strong high quality DAC. I currently have the M8 , and the audio is quite nice, but I have always wanted a nexus device after owning the HTC Nexus 1 , and the Nexus 6 checks all the boxes for me personally. It just has to have great audio and battery life and I'm sold! Hopefully we can get some reviews of the big sexy nexus before pre ordering starts?
I will admit, I am no audiophile. Can you go into detail on what exactly you notice in a bad audio output?
What headphones are you using?
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
_MetalHead_ said:
What headphones are you using?
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
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V-Modda M100's, B&W P7"s
Schoat333 said:
I will admit, I am no audiophile. Can you go into detail on what exactly you notice in a bad audio output?
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Hiss at higher volumes. Crosstalk/ Interference. Lack of soundstage or depth in the audio. Or lack of volume and "punch" in bass. I'm no "hardcore audiophile" that will ONLY listen to FLAC/ High Res music, as I listen quite often to Play Music on the go and at work @ 320kbps track that are streamed to me. But when reviewing new music or at the house wanting to check out new tracks and just want to be taken in by the music, then I load up some 24-bit/192kHz files, Ah the beauty of Android!
I know I can get a dedicated music player that serves this need, and I have one (Still have my old Zune 120 but with the way digital music distribution being so awesomely convenient through Gplay Store/ Itunes, I just like having a device that can "do it all" if I can find one. The Nexus being pure Android, "supposedly" all day battery life" Amazing screen, with hopefully excellent audio performance and supports High res audio files, sounds like that perfect device for me... Crossing fingers.
awareunlikeu said:
V-Modda M100's, B&W P7"s
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I'm not sure if root is available for the note4 yet, but if it is, install V4A. It helps to a degree. The nexus 5 is not a great when it comes to audio, however, with V4A installed, it is bearable. I use UE900 CIEM.
Edit: I am also hoping the N6 will have a powerful audio chip.
awareunlikeu said:
V-Modda M100's, B&W P7"s
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How do you like the P7's? I bought the P5's years ago but admittedly they don't get much use. I have tried the P7's and while I'm not sure if their sound sig is for me, they were insanely comfortable.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
awareunlikeu said:
Hiss at higher volumes. Crosstalk/ Interference. Lack of soundstage or depth in the audio. Or lack of volume and "punch" in bass. I'm no "hardcore audiophile" that will ONLY listen to FLAC/ High Res music, as I listen quite often to Play Music on the go and at work @ 320kbps track that are streamed to me. But when reviewing new music or at the house wanting to check out new tracks and just want to be taken in by the music, then I load up some 24-bit/192kHz files, Ah the beauty of Android!
I know I can get a dedicated music player that serves this need, and I have one (Still have my old Zune 120 but with the way digital music distribution being so awesomely convenient through Gplay Store/ Itunes, I just like having a device that can "do it all" if I can find one. The Nexus being pure Android, "supposedly" all day battery life" Amazing screen, with hopefully excellent audio performance and supports High res audio files, sounds like that perfect device for me... Crossing fingers.
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If it helps, the new Moto G, a £150/$180 phone, comes with an excellent DAC. Its even more impressive given the price of the device.
I can only assume they'll implement the same solution as in the Moto X. Unfortunately I can't comment on that, but I'd assume it's at least equal or better than the Moto X.
Obviously it can't compare to any dedicated player though. I still regularly notice the huge difference between my Note 2/3 Z3 experience and my old ipod touch 3rd gen. iPod destroys everything still.
feedtheducks said:
I'm not sure if root is available for the note4 yet, but if it is, install V4A. It helps to a degree. The nexus 5 is not a great when it comes to audio, however, with V4A installed, it is bearable. I use UE900 CIEM.
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Yeah those UE900's are some mighty fine phones my friend! But yeah I just want superb audio out of the box without tweaking. I know I can get it if I go back to apple for a phone, but I use iPad, so to me having an iPhone with its boring software when I already have an iPad that I use for consumption/work just seems like unnecessary overkill. As I use Android as my workhorse/EDC device. I have the HTC One M8 right now, and its close to what I want, but I don't particularly care for the software, except Blinkfeed, and I loath the camera. Headphone audio is damn good only because it is the loudest phone on the market right now due to the DAC having to push the BoomSound speakers and also pushing that same power to the headphone jack. But louder is not always better. The iphone 6 Plus's audio quality is quite a bit better, but not as loud, or "punchy". I hope its not too much to expect excellent audio quality with the way Googs is going away from the decently priced cutting corners Nexus devices to the absolute best Android has to offer Android device, which is what the N6 is sounding like they are marketing it has.
istrikerx said:
If it helps, the new Moto G, a £150/$180 phone, comes with an excellent DAC. Its even more impressive given the price of the device.
I can only assume they'll implement the same solution as in the Moto X. Unfortunately I can't comment on that, but I'd assume it's at least equal or better than the Moto X.
Obviously it can't compare to any dedicated player though. I still regularly notice the huge difference between my Note 2/3 Z3 experience and my old ipod touch 3rd gen. iPod destroys everything still.
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I know right.. I think Apple's audio superiority comes from the fact that they use a totally separate processing unit, independent of the processor for Audio processing. Where as Android phones generally use qualcomm's SOC and they dont have there own dedicated DAC. I may be mistaken on some of that lingo, but I think its close enough.
"The Nexus 6 comes with a pair of stereo speakers on the front, just like HTC’s phones. And just like the phones from Taiwan, Google’s phablet gives brilliant sound quality. Movies really draw you in with the combination of that huge screen and those crisp speakers And we could fill the whole house with music just with the Nexus 6
Source
awareunlikeu said:
V-Modda M100's, B&W P7"s
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I am a M-100 user as well, hell year brother!
As for audio quality, personally I never use something as spread out as a Cellphone/Smartphone for quality music listening. Most of the time they are not equipped with the proper magic for good audio compared to PMP's and other quality audio sources. That is why I still carry around a PMP for most of my music listening (Better HW for sound, Storage all for Music, Separate battery for Music).
I know it's almost archaic to still have a PMP and a SmartPhone since the latter can technically do both, but if you want the best audio quality it's best to get a PMP for your audiophile needs. I suggest taking a look for this if you are curious for a PMP recommendation: http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000060437344&MenuID=105026016
As for the N6, its up in the air. But I usually would not bet my wallet that it would make a quality music player. It might be good for some music here and there but as a whole with pro cans it just might not be enough to get the most out of them.
To me the original Moto X audio quality through headphones was great. I ordered a Nexus 5 trying to decide which one to keep and ended up sending the Nexus back. One of the reasons was the audio wasn't as good as the X. I HOPE the N6 will be just as good. Motorola hasn't let me down yet.
I wonder if the N6 will be able to play FLAC lossless files. I really would like to hear my music in it's purist form. I have tried looking on Moto's and Google's spec websites and there is nothing about the audio part of the device....
racerxe24 said:
I wonder if the N6 will be able to play FLAC lossless files. I really would like to hear my music in it's purist form. I have tried looking on Moto's and Google's spec websites and there is nothing about the audio part of the device....
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I am fairly sure FLAC files are supported by the current version of android. I just flashed a completely stock rom, no root on my N5 and I am able to play FLAC on it using Shuttle+.
Power amp pro is worth the purchase. It made my N3 sound soooo much better. Out of the speaker, headphones, and aux out for playing music. Also ViperFX and Volume+ were good at tweaking your sound.
amebiasis said:
Power amp pro is worth the purchase. It made my N3 sound soooo much better. Out of the speaker, headphones, and aux out for playing music. Also ViperFX and Volume+ were good at tweaking your sound.
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+1 for Poweramp
I'm curious how the front speqkers compare to my m8. I love the audio on this phone.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
There are 2 main improvement in android L for sound: low latency and usb-enabled headphones. I'm not an audiophile myself but I guess for startes those two should make a difference.
That being said, unfortunatly, headphones quality output is something hard to tell without specific reviews.
awareunlikeu said:
I know right.. I think Apple's audio superiority comes from the fact that they use a totally separate processing unit, independent of the processor for Audio processing. Where as Android phones generally use qualcomm's SOC and they dont have there own dedicated DAC. I may be mistaken on some of that lingo, but I think its close enough.
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Click to collapse
Funny you talk about Apple's "audio superiority" when their headphone jacks across iPad, PowerBook/MacBook, iPhone, and iPod lines have been poorly grounded for years.

Would you recommend the Wireless Bullets?....

... Especially to someone buying their first pair of bluetooth earphones?
They seem good, but a bit expensive. Particularly as there are alternatives for about €30 or less on Amazon :/
One important point: I'm not interested in Google Assistant, just the audio qualities & other features. Considering that, is there another set i should get instead? TIA for responses
Tbh i won't recommend those! And there are not completely wireless as the said which is good and bad at the same time. I would recommend to go with cheaper alternatives
Hey, what did you get? Thanks
To be honest, I would go to gearbest and get xiaomi headphones. Either with audio jack ir wireless.
I currently have "Xiaomi in-ear headphones pro" and I would say - the best headphones I've ever had. The price is very reasonable too.
Importing to India
Hello folks.
1. Does anybody have an idea on the import duty on imported earphones, say for something worth $50 from Gearbest? Country to import is India. Is the free shipping using China post/India post good? Or should people opt for EMS?
2. Is the import duty levied on the goods shipped via EMS more compared to Post?
3. Do any of the imported products get blocked by Indian customs? I know drones are said to almost always get blocked.
msafiri said:
Hello folks.
1. Does anybody have an idea on the import duty on imported earphones, say for something worth $50 from Gearbest? Country to import is India. Is the free shipping using China post/India post good? Or should people opt for EMS?
2. Is the import duty levied on the goods shipped via EMS more compared to Post?
3. Do any of the imported products get blocked by Indian customs? I know drones are said to almost always get blocked.
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Banggood and gearbest sort of undervalue items and ship it. So, there's 50-50 chance you might/not pay custom fee. If at all the customs officer notices it is undervalued and its a product for someone's personal use/ inexpensive, they ll let it slide.
No we can't sound is subjective, go to a store and listen to diferent ones, by the one you think sounds the best,
I'll throw my thoughts in the ring. Quality is good, the magnetic on/off functionality is amazing, very comfortable and *pretty* easy to get a good seal. I wish the size large tips were larger.
In terms of sound, they were alright. Decent balance, not too much bass but not a lot either, sounded a bit thin. Wasn't super impressed tbh.
Now, here comes the really great part:
If you have viper4android or can get it, it will transform these earbuds. Most people know that v4a works magic, but I've had varying levels of success with different headphones. These have responded incredibly well, and now sound like $250 earbuds. The bass is extended and deep without being muddy, cymbal crashes are crisp and present without sibilance, and overall the soundstage is fairly good and the audio fidelity is fantastic. If you're interested in trying this out, I can leave a detailed description of my preset.
In my opinion, they're an okay value on their own but when paired with v4a they become one of the best values out there that isn't from a no-name brand.
steviewunderr said:
I'll throw my thoughts in the ring. Quality is good, the magnetic on/off functionality is amazing, very comfortable and *pretty* easy to get a good seal. I wish the size large tips were larger.
In terms of sound, they were alright. Decent balance, not too much bass but not a lot either, sounded a bit thin. Wasn't super impressed tbh.
Now, here comes the really great part:
If you have viper4android or can get it, it will transform these earbuds. Most people know that v4a works magic, but I've had varying levels of success with different headphones. These have responded incredibly well, and now sound like $250 earbuds. The bass is extended and deep without being muddy, cymbal crashes are crisp and present without sibilance, and overall the soundstage is fairly good and the audio fidelity is fantastic. If you're interested in trying this out, I can leave a detailed description of my preset.
In my opinion, they're an okay value on their own but when paired with v4a they become one of the best values out there that isn't from a no-name brand.
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Click to collapse
Dude, please upload ur Viper4Android FX profile. I want to try your settings.
xTHXxx said:
Dude, please upload ur Viper4Android FX profile. I want to try your settings.
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Not sure if you're still interested, but I'll drop my detailed preset settings when I'm finished figuring out why my phone isn't booting past recovery
steviewunderr said:
Not sure if you're still interested, but I'll drop my detailed preset settings when I'm finished figuring out why my phone isn't booting past recovery
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Here's two different profiles I've been using recently. One has more clarity, but sometimes that's too intense so I'll use the one with the flatter EQ curve for more bass and a rounder sound. A large part of the sound is the "Percocet" VDC which you can find online thru Google easily.
Edit: I messed up the images, and it won't let me delete this post. I'll make two new ones with a complete profile for each.
steviewunderr said:
Here's two different profiles I've been using recently. One has more clarity, but sometimes that's too intense so I'll use the one with the flatter EQ curve for more bass and a rounder sound. A large part of the sound is the "Percocet" VDC which you can find online thru Google easily.
Edit: I messed up the images, and it won't let me delete this post. I'll make two new ones with a complete profile for each.
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High Clarity Profile
Edit: The bass decibel boost should be set at 8 instead of 6
steviewunderr said:
High Clarity Profile
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Strong Bass and Rounder Sound profile

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