[Sludig]

Hello,
 
I´m trying to find some information about new Apple´s tablet, but only information/measurements about sound quality are from gsmarena, where they talk about its sound in a good way in iPad Air case, but not very well with the mini one: 
http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_mini-review-846p8.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_mini_2-review-1015p7.php
 
I´d like to know if someone knows any more measurements and/or has tried them compare to an iPhone 4S/5S or Touch 5G, which I love.
THanks!

 

[Sludig]

anyone?

 

[Stellvertreter]

I think the gsmarena tests are pretty accurate. I own an iPad Mini 2 (retina), an iPad Air and my brother a Mini (non-retina) and would rate it as this in a direct comparison:
 
iPad Air: Superior
iPad Mini 2 (retina): Very Good
iPad Mini (non-retina): Good / Average
 
I tested with a Sennheiser HD650 & Beyerdynamic T50p.
 
Before that I owned an iPad 3rd which was also excellent regarding audio quality. However, I couldn't make a direct comparison any more.
 
 
Here is the table from the latest GSMARENA tests:
 

Test	Frequency response	Noise level	Dynamic range	THD	IMD + Noise	Stereo crosstalk
Apple iPad mini 2	+0.04, -0.39	-93.8	93.7	0.0011	0.0067	-82.9
Apple iPad mini 2 (headphones attached)	+0.11, -0.00	-93.6	93.6	0.0023	0.030	-62.2
Apple iPad Air	+0.09, -0.29	-93.9	93.9	0.0016	0.0067	-89.9
Apple iPad Air (headphones attached)	+0.05, -0.32	-94.0	94.0	0.0040	0.015	-66.2
Apple iPad mini	+0.08, -0.09	-82.8	82.8	0.0019	0.017	-80.8
Apple iPad mini (headphones attached)	+0.18, -0.02	-82.8	82.9	0.0036	0.115	-80.7
Google Nexus 7 (2013)	+0.00, -0.23	-92.2	92.3	0.036	0.020	-92.3
Google Nexus 7 (2013)(headphones attached)	+0.83, -0.12	-92.4	92.3	0.010	0.208	-49.3
LG G Pad 8.3	+0.14, -0.11	-93.8	92.9	0.0021	0.0082	-93.8
LG G Pad 8.3 (headphones attached)	+0.29, -0.11	-90.7	92.7	0.0074	0.208	-53.6

 
Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_mini_2-review-1015p7.php

 

[Sludig]

Thank you very much. This is what I was looking for. It important that you say about new mini retina sounds better than the other one. I had the old mini and sounds good, but my touch 5G had superior sound quality IMO.

 

[mannkind246]

I think the gsmarena tests are pretty accurate. I own an iPad Mini 2 (retina), an iPad Air and my brother a Mini (non-retina) and would rate it as this in a direct comparison:

iPad Air: Superior
iPad Mini 2 (retina): Very Good
iPad Mini (non-retina): Good / Average

I tested with a Sennheiser HD650 & Beyerdynamic T50p.

Before that I owned an iPad 3rd which was also excellent regarding audio quality. However, I couldn't make a direct comparison any more.


Here is the table from the latest GSMARENA tests:

Test	Frequency response	Noise level	Dynamic range	THD	IMD + Noise	Stereo crosstalk
Apple iPad mini 2	+0.04, -0.39	-93.8	93.7	0.0011	0.0067	-82.9
Apple iPad mini 2 (headphones attached)	+0.11, -0.00	-93.6	93.6	0.0023	0.030	-62.2
Apple iPad Air	+0.09, -0.29	-93.9	93.9	0.0016	0.0067	-89.9
Apple iPad Air (headphones attached)	+0.05, -0.32	-94.0	94.0	0.0040	0.015	-66.2
Apple iPad mini	+0.08, -0.09	-82.8	82.8	0.0019	0.017	-80.8
Apple iPad mini (headphones attached)	+0.18, -0.02	-82.8	82.9	0.0036	0.115	-80.7
Google Nexus 7 (2013)	+0.00, -0.23	-92.2	92.3	0.036	0.020	-92.3
Google Nexus 7 (2013)(headphones attached)	+0.83, -0.12	-92.4	92.3	0.010	0.208	-49.3
LG G Pad 8.3	+0.14, -0.11	-93.8	92.9	0.0021	0.0082	-93.8
LG G Pad 8.3 (headphones attached)	+0.29, -0.11	-90.7	92.7	0.0074	0.208	-53.6

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_mini_2-review-1015p7.php

Are they (Air, Mini and Mini Retina) using the similar DAC chip?
Just curious between iPad Air and iPod Classic 160G, which one sound better?

 

[OscarPaz]

They all are Apple Cirrus Logic chips. Strangely, only the iPad mini with retina (not the Air) seems to benefit from an updated version.
 
iPad mini with Retina display: 338S1213 · http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+Mini+Retina+Display+Teardown/19374
iPad Air: 338S1116 · http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+Air+Teardown/18907
iPad mini: 338S1116 · http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+mini+Wi-Fi+Teardown/11423
 
(The 338S1116 chip is also present in the iPhone 5c).

 

[donunus]

These specs don't really mean much. Has someone actually sat down and compared these models using their own headphones?
Stellvertreter, how do they differ in sound with the cans you tested them with? Can you give more of a subjective description?

 

[bixby]

I just listened to my sons latest gen ipad min (non retina) .  The headphone out on this device is pretty bad.  Bass is boomy, stereo image is poor, width is terrible, mids veiled, and just not up to the SQ of other Apple devices like the ipods.  My 5th gen Touch killed it and that is not hyperbole.
 
Not sure how it will sound out of the digtial out into a compatible dac/amp, but it should sound lots better.

 

[goodvibes]

Should be closer than that. Check that it's updated, the file quality, and that no EQ etc is engaged. 

 

[bixby]

  Should be closer than that. Check that it's updated, the file quality, and that no EQ etc is engaged. 

Close and my comments are relative, of course.  I just feel it is a big step down vs the touch.  Others may not perceive this much of a drop.  As for updates, it is.  As for file quality 16/44 aiff, as for eq, always off as well.
 
And as I said, I am sure it would do much better via lightning to a dac/amp.  Or with a better player than the apple music player.

 

[goodvibes]

Thanks for the update.