niyologist said:

Yeah. That's bothering me too. Good news is that the Source Code was released yesterday. One step closer to unlocking the bootloader.

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Was the source code for the bootloader part of the release?  If not, the code won't do much to help...

Also, to my GREAT surprise...the Axon 7 works with my Verizon SIM card out of the box! Even the unlocked HTC 10 wasn't able to do that. I tested it making calls (no VoLTE unfortunately) and data throughput was solid. 
 
I may use this as my main phone instead of my S7 on Verizon. 
 
-Collin-

madcat207 said:

Was the source code for the bootloader part of the release?  If not, the code won't do much to help...

Click to expand...

I don't know.

Engadget giveaway: Win an Axon 7 smartphone courtesy of ZTE!

https://www.engadget.com/2016/08/04/engadget-giveaway-win-an-axon-7-smartphone-courtesy-of-zte/

This newly launched handset has top specs and Dolby Atmos audio.

It's getting easier to find high-quality phones at affordable prices these days and this week's giveaway offers one of the latest in that category.ZTE's Axon 7 smartphone just launched this month and offers a series of premium features just $400. Inside the aluminum unibody shell, there's a 2.15GHz quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor running Android 6.01 Marshmallow, plus 4G of RAM and 64GB of storage. On the front you get a 5.5-inch, 2K resolution screen protected by a sheet of Gorilla Glass 4.0, and for selfies you get eight megapixels worth of duckface smiles to share with friends. There's a rear-facing 20-megapixel camera, as well, for serious captures. Oh, and it has Dolby Atmos software on board and front-facing speakers for some serious sound. Sound good? Luckily, ZTE has provided one of these handsets in gold for a lucky reader this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning a ZTE Axon 7!

Got my Axon 7 Tuesday night. I thought the headphone Audio was good, but turning off Dobly Atmos (which might be default with headphones, I may have turned it on while messing with things) is sounds so much better over the headphone jack. I find it clearer, punchier and louder than with Atmos enabled.
 
I'm even driving my HE500 right now. At max volume it adequate enough to sound good and be enjoyable. I'd like a little more volume, but it MUCH better than my other phones(nexus 6P, LG G5). It even drives my DT 1770 just past what I can listen to for an extended period at max volume. unfortunately one notch down a little less than I'd like and one notch up (max) is just louder than I'd like for more than a short listen.
 
I just sold my JDS Labs C5D the day before picking up the Axon 7. Sure the C5D was better overall and can drive to greater volumes than the Axon 7. But having not to carry an external DAC/AMP is sooooo much more convenient.
 
I even modded one of my sims so I could run both SIM cards and still use my MicroSD card.
 
EDIT: What I said above apparently applies mainly to Google Play Music. Apparently Atmos can be good with spotify but I think my music from the Google Pay Music library sounds better without Atmos.
 
Edit 2:
Just tried with mt Shure IEM and I get a bit different results. Atmos dosen't sound bad through IEM with Google play music as it does with my full headphones, though it seem to bring up the high make it sound "sharper". Sound goo eaither way, but perhaps a little artificial. Some will like it some will not.
 
Spotify don't sound as bad without dolby via IEM as it did with my headphones.
 
bottom line is you going to have to try both with you IEMs/headphone and figure out what works best for you.

Anyone who has used an HTC10 able to give some comparisons regarding the two?

rojastkd said:

  Got my Axon 7 Tuesday night. I thought the headphone Audio was good, but turning off Dobly Atmos (which might be default with headphones, I may have turned it on while messing with things) is sounds so much better over the headphone jack. I find it clearer, punchier and louder than with Atmos enabled.
 
I'm even driving my HE500 right now. At max volume it adequate enough to sound good and be enjoyable. I'd like a little more volume, but it MUCH better than my other phones(nexus 6P, LG G5). It even drives my DT 1770 just past what I can listen to for an extended period at max volume. unfortunately one notch down a little less than I'd like and one notch up (max) is just louder than I'd like for more than a short listen.
 
I just sold my JDS Labs C5D the day before picking up the Axon 7. Sure the C5D was better overall and can drive to greater volumes than the Axon 7. But having not to carry an external DAC/AMP is sooooo much more convenient.
 
I even modded one of my sims so I could run both SIM cards and still use my MicroSD card.
 
EDIT: What I said above apparently applies mainly to Google Play Music. Apparently Atmos can be good with spotify but I think my music from the Google Pay Music library sounds better without Atmos.

Click to expand...

 
I found all of the same, except that mine was much louder with Atmos enabled. I still do not like the sound using Atmos though. All these "enhancements" are starting to annoy me (boomsound on HTC, etc.). "Tube amp" on Samsung is the worst. Just give me a clean signal already!
 
-Collin-

seesax said:

I found all of the same, except that mine was much louder with Atmos enabled. I still do not like the sound using Atmos though. All these "enhancements" are starting to annoy me (boomsound on HTC, etc.). "Tube amp" on Samsung is the worst. Just give me a clean signal already!

-Collin-

Click to expand...

Poweramp Alpha Build and Dolby Atmos are a powerful combination.

niyologist said:

Poweramp Alpha Build and Dolby Atmos are a powerful combination.

Click to expand...

What setting are u using in Poweramp Alpha? Hi-Res output, or OpenSL ES output?

how does this compare to the lg v10

wwyjoe said:

What setting are u using in Poweramp Alpha? Hi-Res output, or OpenSL ES output?

Click to expand...

Hi Res Output for my Audio Technica M50x.

Would the phone be powerful enough to drive the HD650s ? The amplifier / DAC chips support some serious numbers - I'm just wondering if that could translate over to amplification.  

talkingparrot said:

  Would the phone be powerful enough to drive the HD650s ? The amplifier / DAC chips support some serious numbers - I'm just wondering if that could translate over to amplification.  

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CAn it drive the HD 650s as well as a quality desktop DAC/AMP, nope. Can it drive them better than 95%+ of other smartphones out there, yes.
 
It's still a phone and more suitable to potable headphones, Having said that it drives my Beyerdynamic DT1770 to more than C levels. It even drives my HE500 to a satisfactory level, not quite as loud as I'd like but the HE500 do require a good amount of voltage to really drive them. I recently sold my HD600s just before getting the Axon 7 so can't really say  how well they would drive them, but I'd quess it would do a decent job driving your HD650s, comparatively speaking of course.
 
Of course the HD650 not really being a portable headphone and your better off keeping them at home with a proper desk setup.

rojastkd said:

.... Of course the HD650 not really being a portable headphone and your better off keeping them at home with a proper desk setup.

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I don't know why, but this mind set drives me batty.  Maybe i am nuts, but i have never had any issues taking my 650s around with me and enjoying them on the go. Nothing about them says they should stay tied to a desk.. and even then, when i am at work at my desk... i cant have all my audio gear with me, so...

seesax said:

  Also, to my GREAT surprise...the Axon 7 works with my Verizon SIM card out of the box! Even the unlocked HTC 10 wasn't able to do that. I tested it making calls (no VoLTE unfortunately) and data throughput was solid. 
 
I may use this as my main phone instead of my S7 on Verizon. 
 
-Collin-

Click to expand...

Regular LTE works? That's great news. I may sell my Note 5.