MDR-1000X or WH-H900N? What's your flavour? - Sony Xperia XZ1 Accessories

As many of you know Sony has a pretty good offer on pre-ordering a Xperia XZ1 or XZ1 compact. You'll get a free Sony NC headphone!
There is only one dilemma, they offer two types;
The MDR-1000x
https://www.sony.com/electronics/headband-headphones/mdr-1000x/specifications
and the WH-H900N
https://www.sony.com/electronics/headband-headphones/wh-h900n/specifications
The MDR-1000X was voted one of the best NC headphones of 2016 but is an old model. The WH-H900N is a lot newer so there are not a lot of reviews to compare it with the MDR-1000X(so I have no idea if it's any good)
So I was wondering: What headphone are you guys going to choose and why?

Are there any places that are offering this pre-order bonus still? I can't seem to find it, the closest thing I see is by Clove UK which is giving away the SBH24 Bluetooth Headphones.

My research so far resulted in this list of points in favor of the 1000x, when compared to the 100ABN (h.ear on wireless 1):
- subjectively better sound quality
- better noise cancellation
- more comfortable on the head (again, subjectively)
- hard carrying case (instead of a pouch)
- less issues with wind sounds amplified through the mics
Things that are in favor of the H900N:
- probably more responsive touch controls
- less issues with phone calls (mic related)
- sony headphones connect app support
- presumably no headband issues with the 100ABN
- longer battery life (and quick charge support)
- more recent model
But again, this is mostly when compared to the 100ABN; the H900N might just have improved sound quality and/or noise cancellation... let me know if you find any reviews!

I haven't seen that offer on the Compact in the UK. Best offer I've seen was the Clove one with the bluetooth adapter - which what I opted for.
For the XZ1 too, the headphones were limited to the first 400 users to complete a successful claim. Sounded too much like a gamble to me.
I've got some Sennheiser earphones at the moment, but am tempted by a pair of cheap Sony noise-cancelling headphones to go with the bluetooth adapter instead. Drown out some office noise etc.

found this WH-H800 review with some WH-H900N references:
https://nerdtechy.com/sony-wh-h800-h-ear-2-mini-wireless-ear-headphones-review

I was googling for an answer to this question, which is how I ended up here.
So I searched a bit further. My guess is: the WH-H900N is only a year younger (I think) than the MDR-1000X. What is more, The MDR-1000X is last year's top-model and its successor is the WH-1000XM2, not the WH-H900N.
The MDR-1000X had excellent sound quality and great reviews. Sound quality isn't a technology with huge developments, so I think purely sound-wise, the MDR-1000X is probably still better than the WH-H900N with only a year between them.
It also looks a fair bit beefier. Possibly better padding on the earcups; I read it's still very comfortable with glasses.
The WH-H900N does seem to look a bit sleeker and comes in a variety of colours. Maybe a bit more fashionable.
This year's models also come with fast-charge (65 minutes playing after 10 minutes charging) so that's in favour of the WH-H900N. The WH-H900N also has 6 hours more playtime when fully charged.
So MDR1000X seems to have some disadvantages and some (possible) advantages over the WH-H900N. If I'd had to choose right now I'd say MDR1000X, but I'm going to check on the tech issues mentioned above by sssparkkk first.
It's a pretty sweet deal though, whichever you choose!
- edit - checking some reviews on amazon.com and amazon.de (3 stars and below) I read that multiple users have issues with the headband, and other breakage issues. So maybe the WH-H900N after all..

I've ordered the black WH-H900H today. Will write a review when it arrives

The way I see it is that the MDR-1000X is last years top model of Sony, where the WH-H900N is a segment lower. I have compared the MDR-1000X and the H900N's predecessor MDR-100ABN in the store. The 1000X was lighter, had a much better fit and its ANC was clearly of a higher level. The 100ABN was sturdier though, probably can handle more clumsiness. The H900N still has somewhat the same design, making me believe the 1000X still has an advantage there. Also the ANC works better with the earpad design of the 1000X.
Looking at other specs and features they are almost the same. Here are some differences:
The H900N has a better battery life (28 hours), however I think 20 hours of the 1000X is also plenty enough. This is of course a personal choice.
The H900N probably also has a better touch control system, and maybe some more options with a connected mobile app. This I haven't checked.
The 1000X on the other hand has a wider sound spectrum, giving it a more clearer and nicer sound.
The 1000X also has this really nice feature that the ANC adjusts itself to the shape of your head.
So, if you want to be sure you have top notch headphones with probably the best sound quality and definitely the best ANC, go for the 1000X
If you want to have headphones that are a bit more sturdy and have the newest (secondary) features like the application with all its options, go for the H900N
Curious whether you guys agree!

I've got the 100ABNs and am wondering about upgrading to the WH-H900N but I don't really see any reason to do it for touch controls and more codecs. Unless the ANC has improved I'll probably stay on the 100ABNs.

Interesting.
Here, they only offer 3500 headphones for those who register after preordering.

One of the issues surrounding the 1000x, and its upgraded version, is that noise cancellation turns off after 5 minutes unless it is paired or has an audio jack plugged in. Kind of makes it a strange noise cancellation accessory.

I did not buy the 1000x, it has problems in the headband, they break near the hinge. Prefer the new version 1000xM2 that in theory, does not present that construction failure. Greetings.

I own the sony 1000x, great sounding headphones. My one complaint is phone calls the mic picks up to much external noise to make it usable. I would like to think this has been improved given this is one of sony's better nc wireless headphones.

When I was buying headphones I tried WH-H900N and MDR-1000X. After a mounth of calculating I decided that MDR-1000X has better sound quality. Decision was a half good because my MDR-1000X broke after 6 months of use. I don't know if Sony fixed this on newer series of MDR-1000X. MDR-1000X has excellent sound quality but poor build quality. On the other hand WH-900N has better build quality but not good sound quality as MDR-1000X although they have dedicated android app for better sound.
Two months ago I bought MDR-1000XM2 and concluded my searching for now.

WH-H900N vs MDR-1000X vs WH-1000XM2
I initially purchased the H900N, but quickly concluded that the sound quality, even using the cable, was pretty poor even compared to my old $35 Sennheisers from 10 years ago. Before sending the H900N back, I did a sound comparison between the H900N, my old Sennheiser HD212, and a friend's 1000X, with all the features turned off on both the Sony's (i.e. power off, cable plugged in so as to purely compare the quality of the cones, without in-built software messing around with the sound). The H900N sounded lifeless, muffled, lacked fidelity, and made everything sound dull. The 1000X sounded a million times better, much more life-like in the sound, and just sounded great. I then spent ages swapping back and forth between the Sennheisers and the 1000X and concluded the probably sounded better on the 1000X, but my ears are so tuned into the Sennheisers after many years it's probably difficult to tell. However, when I then turned on noise cancelling, the 1000X smashed the Sennheiser out if the park, it just sounded fantastic, and the ability to drown out background noise meant I was able to here so much more detail even at very low music levels.
I can only conclude that the H900N are a low quality headphone but with all the bells and whistles. They're great if you want some well-made noise cancelling headphones, but the audio quality is inferior to even cheap wired headphones, so avoid if you're even slightly an audiophile.
I sent the H900N straight back, and purchased the Sony WH-1000XM2. I did weigh up getting the original 1000X (cheaper, same price as H900N), but was keen to have AptX-HD (which was the original reason I chose the H900N over other brands) so went for the pricier M2. The 1000XM2 is so much more of a premium product than the 900, they sound so much better, the noise cancelling on them is fantastic, bluetooth streaming over AptX HD sounds great, they feel sturdy and comfortable to wear, and they come with a proper case (unlike the H900N which comes with a flimsy soft case). Not looked back since!!

Mangohed said:
I initially purchased the H900N, but quickly concluded that the sound quality, even using the cable, was pretty poor even compared to my old $35 Sennheisers from 10 years ago. Before sending the H900N back, I did a sound comparison between the H900N, my old Sennheiser HD212, and a friend's 1000X, with all the features turned off on both the Sony's (i.e. power off, cable plugged in so as to purely compare the quality of the cones, without in-built software messing around with the sound). The H900N sounded lifeless, muffled, lacked fidelity, and made everything sound dull. The 1000X sounded a million times better, much more life-like in the sound, and just sounded great. I then spent ages swapping back and forth between the Sennheisers and the 1000X and concluded the probably sounded better on the 1000X, but my ears are so tuned into the Sennheisers after many years it's probably difficult to tell. However, when I then turned on noise cancelling, the 1000X smashed the Sennheiser out if the park, it just sounded fantastic, and the ability to drown out background noise meant I was able to here so much more detail even at very low music levels.
I can only conclude that the H900N are a low quality headphone but with all the bells and whistles. They're great if you want some well-made noise cancelling headphones, but the audio quality is inferior to even cheap wired headphones, so avoid if you're even slightly an audiophile.
I sent the H900N straight back, and purchased the Sony WH-1000XM2. I did weigh up getting the original 1000X (cheaper, same price as H900N), but was keen to have AptX-HD (which was the original reason I chose the H900N over other brands) so went for the pricier M2. The 1000XM2 is so much more of a premium product than the 900, they sound so much better, the noise cancelling on them is fantastic, bluetooth streaming over AptX HD sounds great, they feel sturdy and comfortable to wear, and they come with a proper case (unlike the H900N which comes with a flimsy soft case). Not looked back since!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3 months in...did the headband break yet?

rayjr13 said:
3 months in...did the headband break yet?
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Not regretted getting the 1000s for a second... Use them everyday and they're awesome! Robust and sound great. Really appreciated them on a recent flight too.
Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

Related

Recommendations for noise-blocking or noise-cancelling headphones to use with HD2...?

I'm thinking about buying some new headphones to go with my HD2 for train journeys. The existing ones are actually not too bad quality for bundled 'phones, but they are not very sound-proof, so if you want to use them on the London Underground you can't hear anything!
I was therefore thinking about some Etymotic HF5 'phones which have very good acoustic isolation. Has anyone tried these with the HD2? Or can anyone suggest some alternatives?
(For people who want a microphone, there is an equivalent, the HF2, which has one).
Oh, I should also have said that I hate headphones which are bass-heavy. Descriptions like "accurate", "neutral", "detailed" and "transparent" tend to attract me. I also quite like 'phones that emphasise the mid-range. But emphasis on bass puts me right off.
QuietComfort
I have used since long the "QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling" headphones from Bose with my iPod and now also with my HD2. They are especially useful on planes and noisy environments, but also good for listening to speach on the phone. For the last you'll need the "QC3 mobile communications kit", which allows you to use the microphone in the cable.
I have used them to participate in long calls during the last weeks and they always feel comfortable.
I know they are not very cheap, but after having tested 3 or 4 different ones, this one is still my favourite.
I like a bit of extra bass kick so I have the Etymotic ER6i's. Noise cancelling is superb - I use most days on commute into London and whenever I fly. Customer support is excellent even if in the USA. My cable became faulty near the plug end and I'd gone over the 1 year warranty by a month or so. No problem - they gave me a returns code and it just cost me a few quid postage out to the states. New cables and plug, good as new on return.
I recently have modified the htc headset that was shipped with my leo. But it surely doesn't replace a high quality headset...
see wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Leo%2FLEOHTCInEarHeadphones
sorry, can't get the link to work with opera...
cgeboers said:
I have used since long the "QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling" headphones from Bose with my iPod and now also with my HD2. They are especially useful on planes and noisy environments, but also good for listening to speach on the phone.
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I am somewhat torn by high-end noise-cancelling 'phones. Can't decide if the sound quality and comfort are worth the bulk, or if I really ought to go for something I can fit in my pocket....
If anyone is looking for cheaper noise-cancelling 'phones, btw, these are an absolute steal at £50 (RRP £160!): http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...ctive-Noise-Reduction-Headphones/Product.html
pollenised said:
I like a bit of extra bass kick so I have the Etymotic ER6i's. Noise cancelling is superb - I use most days on commute into London and whenever I fly. Customer support is excellent even if in the USA. My cable became faulty near the plug end and I'd gone over the 1 year warranty by a month or so. No problem - they gave me a returns code and it just cost me a few quid postage out to the states. New cables and plug, good as new on return.
Click to expand...
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As far as I'm aware, Etymotic 'phones aren't noise-cancelling, they simply block out noise by sealing your ears, which is quite different.
As I loathe 'phones that emphasise bass, it sounds like I might be well advised to steer clear of these! But thanks for the info (on Etymotic as well as on the ER6i).
hi,
i first tried the bose quite comfort3, very impressive sound expierience. the size, is way to big to travel/transport them around, its more a home device in my eyes. if the battery is empty, it stops working completly, and you need carry the bose charger to load it. the price of 300€ is simply more then i can/want effort.
the next headphone i tried was the Sennheiser PXC 250-II . they are made for traveling, so you can fold them away. the electronic and the batteries are in an extra case that can be clipped to the belt wich makes the headset lighter weight. the device is powered by 2 'aaa' batteries, and the headset needs the power only for the noise cancelation. wich means you have sound even with no batteries inserted. and the price is aroung 140€.
im travelling a lot by plane and both headsets do a brilliant job on noise reduction.
mad.
*EDIT* as i wrote this i saw bose now also have a more travelling like headset quitecomfort15, wich is using a single 'aaa' battery.
If you want portable and noise cancelling, I have a pair of Sony MDRNC22B Noise cancelling headphones and they are fab. good natural sound quality and the battery lasts for about 50 hours.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MDRNC2...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262974379&sr=1-1
Anyone have experience of the Nokia Portabel Handsfree Stereo Bluetooth BH-905? Been interesting in them for a while but haven't been able to try them yet.
derGrafZahl said:
I recently have modified the htc headset that was shipped with my leo. But it surely doesn't replace a high quality headset...
see wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Leo%2FLEOHTCInEarHeadphones
sorry, can't get the link to work with opera...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice guide!!!
I bought some sennheiser MM50ip headphones so that I could it for handsfree, it works but not 100% as they dont have the buttons for channing tracks like the supplied ones. Call quality and sound is great though.
Now do I dare rip them apart to mod them to my likeing
Oh and check out this great site www.fakeheadphones.com if you intend to buy headphones over the internet esp ebay/amazon market place..... its scary how these fake headphones looks so close to the originals
Hey guys, I am looking for a good pair of noise cancelling headphones to use with my iPod touch. I travel long distances every day in the train and seem to have misplaced my old headphones. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S
I wouldn't mind headphones with some extra bass.
For extra bass get vmoda heasdphpnes. However I use klipsch image s4 and can just use the bass eq and wont hear any background noise on the subway. Both are in-ear headphones.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
Get the nuForce NE-6. End of story
http://www.amazon.com/NuForce-NE-6-earphones-NE-7M-without/dp/B002OR6OFW
I'm curious about voice calls. With the noise-cancellation, do you find that you speak too loudly? I know I tend to have that problem, in general, when wearing headphones. I am very interested in getting good noise-canceling headphones (preferably bluetooth) to use in my all-day conference calls from my sometimes-noisy house. But I am concerned about the talking too loud problem.
Buy beats by Dr. Dre studio hd
Simply awesome
SwiftKeyed from my HTC HD2 via XDA PREMIUM APP

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

How do you rate Audio quality of Mi9?

Hello.
How do you guys rate the sound quality taken by a filmed video or a call, does the Mic sounds good enough for this device?
Btw, what about Bluetooth or Speaker, are all well playing or is there a lil inconsistency in lac of bad output?
How's the sound quality using wired earphone? I plan to upgrade from G6 with quad DAC but I'm afraid with the sound quality.
megadust said:
How's the sound quality using wired earphone? I plan to upgrade from G6 with quad DAC but I'm afraid with the sound quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went from HTC 10 to this phone, the difference is definitely there
The included adapter is an analog one (meaning no DAC, just wiring from phone's internal audio dac)
I wouldn't say it's *bad* per se, it's just the most generic solution by qualcomm implemented. No fancy stuff.
However they did implement it good enough to be used by most ppl, but it's probably coming up short by audiophile standard.
The sound is flat, damp, and just a bit loose in my personal opinion. It just somehow got just a bit of sound stage in there though so that's arguably a plus.
I ended up with an external DAC by moshi as daily driver.
So if you're expecting the internal DAC to be as good as some high-end smartphone, probably not. However if you're mostly using it for web video / streaming, and can accept the sound is just damp, it's good enough.
P.S. You're going to use an typc-c to 3.5 mm adapter anyways, so just get a decent adapter (moshi adapter on the cheap side, audiolab p-dac on the higher end side), and call it a day.
jerry855202 said:
I went from HTC 10 to this phone, the difference is definitely there
The included adapter is an analog one (meaning no DAC, just wiring from phone's internal audio dac)
I wouldn't say it's *bad* per se, it's just the most generic solution by qualcomm implemented. No fancy stuff.
However they did implement it good enough to be used by most ppl, but it's probably coming up short by audiophile standard.
The sound is flat, damp, and just a bit loose in my personal opinion. It just somehow got just a bit of sound stage in there though so that's arguably a plus.
I ended up with an external DAC by moshi as daily driver.
So if you're expecting the internal DAC to be as good as some high-end smartphone, probably not. However if you're mostly using it for web video / streaming, and can accept the sound is just damp, it's good enough.
P.S. You're going to use an typc-c to 3.5 mm adapter anyways, so just get a decent adapter (moshi adapter on the cheap side, audiolab p-dac on the higher end side), and call it a day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for your explanation!
I expect the sound quality at least to be on par with my old S6 (which is a bit lower than G6). I tried my friend's new mi9 and I found it so dull and lack of everything (I'm only using low end cans 1more triple driver).
Do you find moshi DAC is on par with G6 (or maybe HTC 10)?
megadust said:
thanks for your explanation!
I expect the sound quality at least to be on par with my old S6 (which is a bit lower than G6). I tried my friend's new mi9 and I found it so dull and lack of everything (I'm only using low end cans 1more triple driver).
Do you find moshi DAC is on par with G6 (or maybe HTC 10)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you're using e1001, that's definitely good enough to hear the difference TBH. The integrated stuff is flat at best, but I'd call it pale (and damp).
And yeah, the moshi dac has been working out pretty well for me, I'm mostly in for the 3yr warranty but the sound is at least on par, if not more than HTC 10 in my opinion. To be fair HTC did a nice job on their audio on 10 so that's saying something.
But I mean, for $25 on a 24/192 audio adapter I'm happy with what I have. (It also works on PC, but I think most external DAC does.)
If you want something more close to sony A-series walkman quality, you'll probably have to check p-dac.
Also, mandatory:
* audio is a very personal experience, these are my personal experience and preference, you should probably try before you buy and shop around. *
jerry855202 said:
Well if you're using e1001, that's definitely good enough to hear the difference TBH. The integrated stuff is flat at best, but I'd call it pale (and damp).
And yeah, the moshi dac has been working out pretty well for me, I'm mostly in for the 3yr warranty but the sound is at least on par, if not more than HTC 10 in my opinion. To be fair HTC did a nice job on their audio on 10 so that's saying something.
But I mean, for $25 on a 24/192 audio adapter I'm happy with what I have. (It also works on PC, but I think most external DAC does.)
If you want something more close to sony A-series walkman quality, you'll probably have to check p-dac.
Also, mandatory:
* audio is a very personal experience, these are my personal experience and preference, you should probably try before you buy and shop around. *
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. Where did you buy the moshi dac for $25? Is it usable while charging the phone?
Use Bluetooth or upgrade to something which does?
My Sony wh1000xm3 sound great!

Question Buds or Wired Earphones

Curious what users are doing for audio. Wired eaphone options are pretty thin if you're connecting via USB but they provide the range that Bluetooth can't match. I've had mixed results, what's your take?
varcor said:
Curious what users are doing for audio. Wired eaphone options are pretty thin if you're connecting via USB but they provide the range that Bluetooth can't match. I've had mixed results, what's your take?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am only using Buds series for a while as they came free with the S-series in Australia when pre-ordered. Very convenient.
Buds+ you need a set if for nothing other than phone calls. That's all I use on my 10+
Using the c port for audio output all the time is going to screw up cables and maybe the port it's self. Tell Samsung to not jack off
varcor said:
Curious what users are doing for audio. Wired eaphone options are pretty thin if you're connecting via USB but they provide the range that Bluetooth can't match. I've had mixed results, what's your take?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I use a USB C to 3.5mm convertor and good wired haedphones (with a wider soundstage and instrument separation) for immersive listening at home (usually in the eveing after dinner, before I go to bed). I use the dongle mainly becasue I already have wired headphones that I don't want collecting dust - and I don't want to spend a lot on larger wireless headphones when a relatively cheap adapter can do the same thing for me.
2. Galaxy Buds live for use during the workday for calls and casual music streaming while going running in the morning, or other outdoor activity. Very comfortable for long use, strong reliable connection and good mic quality for phone calls. Easy to carry around without a tangle of wires.
If I did not have a pre-existing collection of earphones, and was given a gun-to-the-head choice of just one device, I'd choose the wireless earbuds over the wired ones, simply because it fits my needs the best. YMMV.
The big Buds+ thread:
Galaxy Buds, Buds+ Set up
Install the Galaxy Wearable and Galaxy Buds software. Update software and Buds firmware, this is important because the old versions sound sucks. Turn on/go to Developer Options in Settings and on the Bluetooth Codec setting toggle on Samsung's...
forum.xda-developers.com
I haven't used to Buds Pro so I can't comment on them but their body is a different design from the Buds and Buds+. The Pros may not stay in as well though.
The Buds/Buds+ are identical dimension wise.
The wings and ear pieces are interchangeable between these two models.
They don't fall out, ever. For calls you can put them in loosely and they still stay put. The Buds+ bring longer battery life (very long) and better sound Q than the Buds, I have both.
With respect to audio listening devices I'm compelled more towards sound quality than convenience. Buds are developing as the market grows with improved acoustic profiles and software integration for codecs. They also provide a higher flexibility for physical variations like exercise and two way communications.
The biggest drawbacks are the diminished range of audio signals, reliance on the Bluetooth subsystems and charging metrics. In my youth and midlife I spent years in a variety of bands. Rock, alternative, blues, techno and even country. Lots of nights preforming live gigs and even more time in studio sessions. As a result my listening skills are pretty well developed.
Not a big believer in high priced units knowing a $50 set can put a pair of $300 sennheisers to shame. When I surrendered my S10 Plus to my wife I started researching wired units with USB Type C Connectors. Dongles while useful for retaining a good 3.5 jack unit are just another link in the chain so I've dismissed them.
What I've found is there isn't much to chose from, just a handful. Much to my dismay 1MORE Quad Driver, which offers pristine audio quality have yet to expand beyond it's 3.5 jack. So I settled on the next best option which had to deliver a solid bottom and midranges, which most units lack, they're too tinny and treble focused.
In the interim I found a decent set of Samsung/AKG Type C noise cancelling earphones. They no longer manufacture them but a few sellers in South Korea still stock the item. Not expensive at $70 USD and the sound quality is a solid 8 on a scale to 10. Strong response in all ranges and very comfortable in my ears, YMMV. Another plus is the noise cancelling doesn't sap a lot of power which can lead to reduced volume. In conjunction with Poweramp and some solid tunes, life is good!
varcor said:
With respect to audio listening devices I'm compelled more towards sound quality than convince. Buds are improving as the market grows with improved acoustic profiles and software integration for codecs. They also provide a higher flexibility for physical variations like exercise and two way communications.
The biggest drawbacks are the diminished range of audio signals, reliance on the Bluetooth subsystems and charging metrics. In my youth and midlife I spent years in a variety of bands. Rock, alternative, blues, techno and even country. Lots of nights preforming live gigs and even more time in studio sessions. As a result my listening skills are pretty well developed.
Not a big believer in high priced units knowing a $50 set can put a pair of $300 sennheisers to shame. When I surrendered my S10 Plus to my wife I started researching wired units with USB Type C Connectors. Dongles while useful for retaining a good 3.5 jack unit are just another link in the chain so I've dismissed them.
What I've found is there isn't much to chose from, just a handful. Much to my dismay 1MORE Quad Driver, which offers pristine audio quality have yet to expand beyond it's 3.5 jack. So I settled on the next best option which had to deliver a solid bottom and midranges, which most units lack, they're too tinny and treble focused.
In the interim I found a decent set of Samsung/AKG Type C noise cancelling earphones. They no longer manufacture them but a few sellers in South Korea still stock the item. Not expensive at $70 USD and the sound quality is a solid 8 on a scale to 10. Strong response in all ranges and very comfortable in my ears, YMMV. Used in conjunction with Poweramp and some solid tunes, life is good!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Poweramp... whatever earphones or buds you use, use Poweramp to dial them in. I would hate my Buds without it for listening to music.
It's graphic equalizer is second to none.
Poweramp has a steep learning curve but is extremely configurable. Applicable only if you have a music database.
blackhawk said:
Poweramp... whatever earphones or buds you use, use Poweramp to dial them in. I would hate my Buds without it for listening to music.
It's graphic equalizer is second to none.
Poweramp has a steep learning curve but is extremely configurable. Applicable only if you have a music database.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One badass feature Poweramp has which other platforms lack is the preamp slider which actuates as a great gain function, it's versatility second to none.
Guys aren't you a little concerned about the safety of the TrueWireless (TW) buds? I mean, the fact that they have a direct wireless connection passing directly trough your brain, doesn't feels a bit weird.. Something about it seems fishy to me when I think of limiting radiation exposure.
I use Bluetooth headphones where the BT receiver is under my neck. The cable is separately connected to the KZ ZS6 which have 4 speakers in each headphone. The sound is out of this world.
Most buds employ direct wireless connectivity. Does the BT signal cause damage to the brain? Ask an ENT Specialist but the buds don't transmit BT, they recieve it. Excess volume is the number one harmful side effect in near tympanic audio signals. My question is if you're going to use a wired connection in your BT configuration, why not use wired earphones? The audio quality is superior and you won't need to worry about BT scrambling your brain.
varcor said:
Most buds employ direct wireless connectivity. Does the BT signal cause damage to the brain? Ask an ENT Specialist but the buds don't transmit BT, they recieve it. Excess volume is the number one harmful side effect in near tympanic audio signals. My question is if you're going to use a wired connection in your BT configuration, why not use wired earphones? The audio quality is superior and you won't need to worry about BT scrambling your brain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well actually the wired vs wireless quality is not something to even discuss. The above headphones I mentioned, eat any other headphones I have ever tried for breakfast when it comes to quality.
The buds do receive and emit BT and it is happening right next your ears. The bigger issue I mean is that the 2 TW headphones are directly communicating with each other trough some sort of electromagnetic connection that I had never heard of until I googled "how do True Wireless headphones work." That direct connection is not BT and it is emitting and receiving at the same time, directly trough your brain... You feel me?
No one is talking about that and no one is assuring us it is safe. It is almost as if it is magic and no one should be even thinking of it.
The BT headphones with a cable that I showed above, have their BT antenna in the little black thingy you see on the pic, it is usually hanging under my neck, which is at least 20+cm from my brain.
I am aware we cannot fully escape radiation but we could at least try to limit the artificial type a little bit when we can. Just my 2 cents.
Yeah the massive amounts EM radiation that Nicola Tesla subjected himself to killed him at the early age of 86
If a little low energy EM is all it takes to TKO today's whatevers... good luck with the hard stuff.
babyboy3265 said:
Well actually the wired vs wireless quality is not something to even discuss. The above headphones I mentioned, eat any other headphones I have ever tried for breakfast when it comes to quality.
The buds do receive and emit BT and it is happening right next your ears. The bigger issue I mean is that the 2 TW headphones are directly communicating with each other trough some sort of electromagnetic connection that I had never heard of until I googled "how do True Wireless headphones work." That direct connection is not BT and it is emitting and receiving at the same time, directly trough your brain... You feel me?
No one is talking about that and no one is assuring us it is safe. It is almost as if it is magic and no one should be even thinking of it.
The BT headphones with a cable that I showed above, have their BT antenna in the little black thingy you see on the pic, it is usually hanging under my neck, which is at least 20+cm from my brain.
I am aware we cannot fully escape radiation but we could at least try to limit the artificial type a little bit when we can. Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) is the wave you're concerned with, not the BT wave. It's been around a lot longer than BT, first used in hearing aids decades ago. Can't say if it's harmful but I'm sure studies have been done. You really like your setup, whatever works for you but I won't agree sound quality is capable of matching a good wired set. BT doesn't have the range wired sets offer, regardless of how you tweak the codecs, the conductivity is inherently deficient.
I have a pair of Shure se846 earbuds that I connect via the Shure USB/DAC cable and it sounds absolutely fabulous when listening to anything CD quality and above. For convenience sake however, I use the Sony WF 1000XM4s and they sound really just as good. Especially with the LDAC codec.
chetly968 said:
I have a pair of Shure se846 earbuds that I connect via the Shure USB/DAC cable and it sounds absolutely fabulous when listening to anything CD quality and above. For convenience sake however, I use the Sony WF 1000XM4s and they sound really just as good. Especially with the LDAC codec.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The biggest problem with S21 Ultra Codecs is they squashed aptX Adaptive, aptX Low Latency and aptX HD even though the Snap 888 SoC supports it. The reason, they're pushing their own Scalable Codec, Galaxy Buds and they don't want to pay Qualcomm's licensing fees. The aptX Codec available on the device is an older, vanilla version, not much different than SBC. Cheap bastards!
varcor said:
The biggest problem with S21 Ultra Codecs is they squashed aptX Adaptive, aptX Low Latency and aptX HD even though the Snap 888 SoC supports it. The reason, they're pushing their own Scalable Codec, Galaxy Buds and they don't want to pay Qualcomm's licensing fees. The aptX Codec available on the device is an older, vanilla version, not much different than SBC. Cheap bastards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got LDAC and SSC. Get the Buds+ and be happy. I'm using them right now, been using them for the last couple hours... their battery life is really long and they sound good. They link up seamlessly with a Samsung phone. Samsung actually got it near perfect... finally
Or jump ship to the newest Sony with the codecs you want plus a 3.5 mm jack.
Given a choice I'll take a vinyl over a cd or anything digital every day of the week. Why, because it's direct sound, BT just gets in the way. The Samsung/AKG ANC's are dirt cheap with great response throughout the entire range.
Was listening to some old tunes, The Best of Simple Minds. What separates them from others is their dynamic composition and arrangement. As a musician when I listen to a song, I feel the song as a whole, but I'm paying much closer attention to each of the individual instruments. When you can hear the sound of the guitar pick hitting strings, not the reverberation of strings, the click of the pick, your know your audio signal is tight.
When I upgrade it's going to be wired with 4 drivers, likely the 1More Quad Driver, may have to deal with a dongle. There's virtually zero overlap of frequencies. Put that set in your ears and you'll throw rocks at any BT device on the planet.
varcor said:
The biggest problem with S21 Ultra Codecs is they squashed aptX Adaptive, aptX Low Latency and aptX HD even though the Snap 888 SoC supports it. The reason, they're pushing their own Scalable Codec, Galaxy Buds and they don't want to pay Qualcomm's licensing fees. The aptX Codec available on the device is an older, vanilla version, not much different than SBC. Cheap bastards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I totally agree there. Don't know why they did this but at least I can use LDAC and it sounds even better than aptX
Buds+ is mandatory for a Samsung phone if for nothing other than calls. Music sounds pretty good using SSC.
Now the real bad news...
No sealed system can faithfully reproduce the sound stage. You must have a minimum of 2 stereo open air speakers*. The stereo (or more) acoustic waves need open air to interact with one another to reproduce the sound stage. This is what creates the electronically coupled sound stage ie where it was recorded to your listening area.
Headsets and earbuds destroy the sound stage.
Even DTS and Dolby headphone solutions don't come close to the complex sound stage an open air system reproduces.
Read it and weep ( you will when you hear the difference).
*minimum 12 - 50,000+ hz frequency response for optimum sound stage

General PSA: Don't buy this phone if your intention is to use it as a dedicated music player.

Unfortunately, the headphone amplification is lackluster, has a high noise floor, and is generally not rich. Bass does not stand out and cymbals and trumpets are particularly unpleasant to listen to. This is the first Xiaomi phone I've purchased so I can't speak for other devices, but this is pretty bad. The rest of the phone, however, is absolutely excellently priced hardware with the battery life being especially fantastic.
Will continue plugging in headphones into my Fiio BTR5 until a phone comes out that can beat a Bluetooth DAC's richness in sound quality .
MegaHaos said:
Unfortunately, the headphone amplification is lackluster, has a high noise floor, and is generally not rich. Bass does not stand out and cymbals and trumpets are particularly unpleasant to listen to. This is the first Xiaomi phone I've purchased so I can't speak for other devices, but this is pretty bad. The rest of the phone, however, is absolutely excellently priced hardware with the battery life being especially fantastic.
Will continue plugging in headphones into my Fiio BTR5 until a phone comes out that can beat a Bluetooth DAC's richness in sound quality .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The title should be revised to: "don't expect too much on a 200 dollar phone. You just wasted your money expecting a good DAC on this phone."
kpratama24 said:
The title should be revised to: "don't expect too much on a 200 dollar phone. You just wasted your money expecting a good DAC on this phone."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For those who don't follow these phones often and expect budget smartphone DACs to have progressed as much as other aspects of budget devices, it's not entirely unreasonable to assume that the audio quality would be decent.
It's also sad that this topic isn't brought up as much as it should be as the DAC performance in smartphones at all price points is usually neglected. I can understand it somewhat, as the average consumer is clueless in this aspect and usually doesn't care about audio quality beyond the most basic level, but it's still sad nonetheless.
It's funny, but the Redmi Note 10 had a good audio quality overall, miles far away from this device.
And the Mi series, are always better, of course, there is some price difference.
I like to play instrumental music and, definitely, this is not a good device for that.
Anyway, I didn't search deep inside some Magisk module or some modded app that can tweak this, maybe it exists.

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