Best Smartphone for audiophile Part II (Updated: Jan 2020)

[352178]

(I was referring to v40 and v50)
anyhow >

• V30 and G6 (Asian market G6 only) – ESS Sabre ES9218P Quad DAC (tuned by B&O Play)
• V40 and G7 – ESS Sabre ES9218P Quad DAC (tuned by Meridian)
• V50 and G8 (and G8x) – ESS Sabre ES9218P Quad DAC (tuned by Meridian)
• V60 – ESS Sabre ES9219 Quad DAC (most likely tuned by LG)

Hello! I read some 20 pages of the thread. I'd like to ask for advice. I got HTC 10, which is great with CCA C12, while V10 is awful with it. I bought a refurbished G710N and I will return it. My question is, with Focal Clear Pro, will the LG V50 be any upgrade over a G7, sound-wise? I only care about audio and flickering on the display. Nothing else in the phone. I know G7 has 1174 Hz PWM, while V40 and V50 have about 250 Hz.
My second question is about Korean and US versions. My G7 has some Bloatware in Korean. Are US versions any better, especially in audio, please? I quite agree that G7 sounds strange and artificial, and picky about headphones. My V10 triggered high impedance mode only once with an extension cable, and it was jaw-dropping compared to aux. LG Hi-fi status showed 50ohms mode. My Focal Listen Pro came alive, as if I removed the bananas from my ears. V10 and G7 sound so different, I can't compare them.

 

[Thieftime]

otherwise i will ask which full size headphones do you recommend for Asus Rog Phone 5 for disco pop music electronic rock?

 

[wildforest]

I've been using this phone, it's audio section from 3.5 is very nice, smooth and soothing with decent detail. Just make sure you turn on hifi mode which puts the Qualcomm DAC into high power mode.

what player you recommend to use with this redmi note 10 pro? can i get bit perfect play just using phone + audio player app and what audio player app you recommend? i`m listening 16 bits 44.1 khz flac and wav files

 

[jagwap]

Hello! I read some 20 pages of the thread. I'd like to ask for advice. I got HTC 10, which is great with CCA C12, while V10 is awful with it. I bought a refurbished G710N and I will return it. My question is, with Focal Clear Pro, will the LG V50 be any upgrade over a G7, sound-wise? I only care about audio and flickering on the display. Nothing else in the phone. I know G7 has 1174 Hz PWM, while V40 and V50 have about 250 Hz.
My second question is about Korean and US versions. My G7 has some Bloatware in Korean. Are US versions any better, especially in audio, please? I quite agree that G7 sounds strange and artificial, and picky about headphones. My V10 triggered high impedance mode only once with an extension cable, and it was jaw-dropping compared to aux. LG Hi-fi status showed 50ohms mode. My Focal Listen Pro came alive, as if I removed the bananas from my ears. V10 and G7 sound so different, I can't compare them.

I have the Korean G8, and while I could remove most of the bloatware, it always has a second timezone in Korea. I cannot flash it, as it is different hardware to the others, with 3 cameras.

It sounds a little better than the already very fine G6, and noticably better than the V20.

It is a great compact flagship phone. The only thing a more recent phone improves on is computational photography. The G8 does fake boke etc, but not as advanced. It has most of the features of the V50/60, but the V60 does have better sensors.

 

[_mouse_]

I know is a debated question, but...
I'm planning in 2022 to renew my lg v40 and I'm considering 2 ways
1. Pixel 6 + something from ifi (like hip dac v2 or maybe a gryphon)
2. Some android 12 phone and a separate dap like hiby r6
Maybe have your opinions?
Tia

Ps primary use is listen from tidal app or uapp with a pair of fiio fh5
Secondary use with a old pair of akg 145 or ultrasone hfi780

 

[TK33]

I know is a debated question, but...
I'm planning in 2022 to renew my lg v40 and I'm considering 2 ways
1. Pixel 6 + something from ifi (like hip dac v2 or maybe a gryphon)
2. Some android 12 phone and a separate dap like hiby r6
Maybe have your opinions?
Tia

Ps primary use is listen from tidal app or uapp with a pair of fiio fh5
Secondary use with a old pair of akg 145 or ultrasone hfi780

Any reason why you are distinguishing between Pixel 6 vs any other android phone? I don't think the Pixel performs any better than another phone with an external DAC and you should be able to use any phone if you plan on using an external DAC or a separate DAP. The question you should be asking is external DAC vs. DAP vs. phone with headphone jack.

If you need UAPP, it currently does not work with the Pixel 6 (does not show up on the app store on the phone).

I use a V60 as my "DAP" on an unused line for when I want a headphone jack without dongle (I do have a Dragonfly Cobalt). Also use my Pixel 6 (no aptX adaptive but found B&W PI7s to be more stable via aptX HD on Pixel 6 vs. aptX adaptive on V60) and an OnePlus 8T (also has aptX adaptive). All three phones work fine with my Dragonfly Cobalt (no UAPP on Pixel 6).

For LDAC, the OnePlus 8T and LG V60 have no issues connecting to my Qudelix 5K over LDAC 990kbps without me even forcing it in Developer Options (just goes up to 990 on it's own). Pixel 6 seems to require forcing 990kbps in Developer Options every time.

 

[_mouse_]

What do you suggest? A combo smartphone+dac or a separate smartphone and dap? The price difference may udible in my set?

 

[TK33]

What do you suggest? A combo smartphone+dac or a separate smartphone and dap? The price difference may udible in my set?

Why not something like the Sony Xperia with a headphone jack? Seems to be well regarded here. Since you are coming from the V40, seems like you may want to stay wired

For mobile use, I find myself using wireless more to be honest, especially since I got the TW2 adapters for my Shure IEMs and also have a Qudelix 5K. I find myself using TWS almost exclusively when I am out and about or doing chores around the house and rarely ever use my V60 headphone jack or DFC anymore.

For wired, I have a RME ADI-2 DAC on my desktop that works really well with my Aeon 2 Noire and SE846. It is fed by a Node 2i so I usually use that at home (another reason my my V60 and DFC have gotten very little use since work from home started due to the pandemic). I also wear glasses and find wired IEMs to be annoying when I have to also wear a mask.

 

[mainguy]

I know is a debated question, but...
I'm planning in 2022 to renew my lg v40 and I'm considering 2 ways
1. Pixel 6 + something from ifi (like hip dac v2 or maybe a gryphon)
2. Some android 12 phone and a separate dap like hiby r6
Maybe have your opinions?
Tia

Ps primary use is listen from tidal app or uapp with a pair of fiio fh5
Secondary use with a old pair of akg 145 or ultrasone hfi780

If Tidal then a dongle would be the wise move with an iPhone tbh.

A DAP sounds better than a dongle, i have an SR25 & ifi go blu, the SR25 is wayyy better than the go blu.
Iphone dongle sounds really good tbh, better than the Ifi imo.

As you'd be using over ears I wouldn't reccomend the xperia series, as my 1ii can't even drive my portable headphones to a decent volume. It's an iem only phone imo.

 

[_mouse_]

No thanks cause I'm not a iPhone lover. In meantime I've reading about Xperia, the 5 series do not come in Italy, so...

 

[Deadleg]

I see the Xperia 1 and 5 seem to be reasonably popular here, has anyone tried the 10 III?

 

[drftr]

For LDAC, the OnePlus 8T and LG V60 have no issues connecting to my Qudelix 5K

Do you prefer the sound quality of the K5 over the V60? Or were practical issues the reason you added the K5? Tnx...

drftr

 

[TK33]

Do you prefer the sound quality of the K5 over the V60? Or were practical issues the reason you added the K5? Tnx...

drftr

Practical convenience. I did not add the 5K to the V60 but bought it to replace my ES100 because I liked the convenience of Bluetooth and the excellent feature set of the 5K (the PEQ over LDAC is fantastic and it can even drive my Aeon 2 Noire). I do find that I rarely use the headphone jack of the V60 anymore and enjoy the freedom of wireless.(the 5K works great with my SE846 and my music is no less enjoyable with that setup or some of my TWS). Also, since I have been mostly working from home for almost 2 years now, I use a Node 2i and a desktop DAC/amp (RME ADI-2 DAC) when I want wired (V60 can't really compete with that).

 

[_mouse_]

Practical convenience. I did not add the 5K to the V60 but bought it to replace my ES100 because I liked the convenience of Bluetooth and the excellent feature set of the 5K (the PEQ over LDAC is fantastic and it can even drive my Aeon 2 Noire). I do find that I rarely use the headphone jack of the V60 anymore and enjoy the freedom of wireless.(the 5K works great with my SE846 and my music is no less enjoyable with that setup or some of my TWS). Also, since I have been mostly working from home for almost 2 years now, I use a Node 2i and a desktop DAC/amp (RME ADI-2 DAC) when I want wired (V60 can't really compete with that).

Sorry just courious why no a bt directly with v60?

 

[TK33]

Sorry just courious why no a bt directly with v60?

For TWS or Bluetooth headphones, I do connect directly to the phone (V60 supports LDAC, aptX adaptive, aptX HD, etc). The Qudelix 5K is a Bluetooth receiver, capable of aptX adaptive, LDAC, etc. It allows you to use your wired IEMs or headphones wirelessly via Bluetooth.