iphone 4 sound quality

[Anaxilus]

More like design control

 

[FrostyMMB]

I've enjoyed my iPhone 3GS headphone out with the Etymotic ER-4P with S adapter cable and old black foam tips (not the new gray foam), now modified Comply tips, for a year. In fact I've enjoyed two 3GS headphone outs since I got a "white box" (refurbished) replacement phone from the Apple store a couple months ago. I always found the sound to be impressively detailed and smooth, with a naturally full frequency response. I could listen for hours without fatigue and had absolutely no qualms with the quality of sound. Very pleased.
 
I upgraded to the iPhone 4 and immediately noticed a change. Significantly more upper midrange energy, more forward presentation, and less separation of instruments. More aggressive. I turn up the volume, and things get harsh on the top end. It's a noisy wall of sound. After an hour of listening at my normal volume, I'm tired and my ears are ringing. It's downright fatiguing, and I'm left feeling uncomfortable.
 
This is nothing like my 3GS. The biting, forward upper midrange closes in the soundstage and the overall tonality can only be described as bright compared to the rich tone of the 3GS. 'Overly digital' comes to mind. I can barely stand to listen to my music on the iPhone 4, whereas I thoroughly enjoyed the 3GS to the point of making my home system jealous. This appears to be completely opposite to what everyone else is reporting when comparing the 3GS to the iPhone 4.
 
I will give it some more burn in time and drop in to the Apple store to compare the iPhone 4's on the floor with mine and my 3GS. I'd hate to try to return or exchange this one though. My experience has been pretty awful in the past; it's always an exchange of faults. Exchanging my original iPhone with charging problems years ago got me an inferior screen with negative blacks. Exchanging my 3GS months ago because of dust under the glass got me an inferior screen with an awful viewing angle and poor contrast. A second exchange got me an even worse screen with a mushy home button. The third screen I have now is the worst of all–yellow and washed out. I have a beautiful screen on my launch day iPhone 4 that's better than even the floor model iPhone 4's, and I fear getting stuck with another awful replacement.

 

[sling5s]

I have never heard the iphone 3gs but it's the instrument separation and more forward imaging that I loved about this iphone 4 compared to my old iphone 2g.

 
Quote:

I've enjoyed my iPhone 3GS headphone out with the Etymotic ER-4P with S adapter cable and old black foam tips (not the new gray foam), now modified Comply tips, for a year. In fact I've enjoyed two 3GS headphone outs since I got a "white box" (refurbished) replacement phone from the Apple store a couple months ago. I always found the sound to be impressively detailed and smooth, with a naturally full frequency response. I could listen for hours without fatigue and had absolutely no qualms with the quality of sound. Very pleased.
 
I upgraded to the iPhone 4 and immediately noticed a change. Significantly more upper midrange energy, more forward presentation, and less separation of instruments. More aggressive. I turn up the volume, and things get harsh on the top end. It's a noisy wall of sound. After an hour of listening at my normal volume, I'm tired and my ears are ringing. It's downright fatiguing, and I'm left feeling uncomfortable.
 
This is nothing like my 3GS. The biting, forward upper midrange closes in the soundstage and the overall tonality can only be described as bright compared to the rich tone of the 3GS. 'Overly digital' comes to mind. I can barely stand to listen to my music on the iPhone 4, whereas I thoroughly enjoyed the 3GS to the point of making my home system jealous. This appears to be completely opposite to what everyone else is reporting when comparing the 3GS to the iPhone 4.
 
I will give it some more burn in time and drop in to the Apple store to compare the iPhone 4's on the floor with mine and my 3GS. I'd hate to try to return or exchange this one though. My experience has been pretty awful in the past; it's always an exchange of faults. Exchanging my original iPhone with charging problems years ago got me an inferior screen with negative blacks. Exchanging my 3GS months ago because of dust under the glass got me an inferior screen with an awful viewing angle and poor contrast. A second exchange got me an even worse screen with a mushy home button. The third screen I have now is the worst of all–yellow and washed out. I have a beautiful screen on my launch day iPhone 4 that's better than even the floor model iPhone 4's, and I fear getting stuck with another awful replacement.

 

[FrostyMMB]

It's been about a year since I had the original iPhone, but I never had any unpleasant harshness with it, and I remember that the 3GS was a positive upgrade in all regards. Coming from the 3GS, my iPhone 4 does not define instruments from each other as well and so separation is poor by comparison. This sounds to be an effect of the messy and forward upper midrange that obscures fine detail and spatial cues. I'm not against an intimate soundstage as long as there is a defined soundscape with well separated instruments. I am using an IEM after all. However, my iPhone 4 fails in this regard.

 

[Anaxilus]

I'm surprised you were able to get decent sound w/ an ER4-P + S converter from HPO w/o an amp.

 

[Buckster]

performed an A-B with my 2G Touch (and my new Iphone 4 32 gig)
 
and have to say the Iphone 4 sounds OK - but perhaps not quite as good as the Touch although its similar sounding
 
it seems a bit warmer in sound than the 2G Touch, but the warmness seems to be partially as it sounds more muddy.  Bass doesn't seem as accurate - as if the Iphone is not driving my Senns (HD225) as well as my Touch.
 
I have a feeling hte Iphone 4 + external amp may sound special - I have a feel the muddiness is due to the amp section but only a guess.
 
could just be that the Iphone needs some more usage to improve in sound.
 
don't get me wrong though the overall SQ is good, as in someways more listenable to the Touch.

 

[Rico67]

I haven't heard Iphone 4.
I own 3G / 3GS and Ipad.
the better sound from headphone line is (for me) the 3GS.
3GS sound as 3G with more details an keep the same natural flavour sound as 3G.
the Ipad headphone line out sound with great details and more separate sound, but is quite "metalic" with a lake of Natural...
I have test Ipad with the camera Kit and my devildac cable, and ... result is really Better.
I think it's better that the sound i obtain from my 5G Imod +Vcaps, but maybe is just due to the fact that the level of the line out with camera Kit is higher than level from Imod and give more punch.
If Iphone 4 sound as Ipad, i 'll stay with my 3GS.

 

[Buckster]

well have to say after a few days usage the sound does seem to be opening up somewhat on the Iphone 4 - and I'm not a burn-in believer
 
certainly before when I did an A-B (I still have my 2G Touch) - the difference was obvious, to the Touch's favour, but its much closer now
 
I still feel though that the Iphone seems to struggle a bit with my 225 Sennheisers compared to my Touch 2G - almost as if the headphone out is lower power
 
I've a LOD - so going to buy a CMOY to experiment with
 
cheers, Buckster

 

[IDK]

After reading through this thread, its safe to say that the 3GS sounds slight better than the 4...thats a bummer.

 

[Farnsworth]

Quote:

After reading through this thread, its safe to say that the 3GS sounds slight better than the 4...thats a bummer.

I dont think thats the general consensus. I got the feeling that most, including myself, find the iPhone 4 improves upon the 3GS. I certainly feel that the iPhone 4 provides a much cleaner, transparent and more detailed sound over the 3GS.

 

[Onza]

I've had the 3G, 3GS and now the iPhone 4. The 4 improves on the 3GS by having a crisper sound to the treble. They definitely make my IE8s sound awesome - noticeably better than the 3GS.
 
One thing that is a bit strange is making calls with headphones on, since the iPhone 4 has an external mic (which listens for and mutes outside sounds) you hear these outside sounds through your headphone when making the calls

 

[nc8000]

Still waiting for the 4 to be released in Denmark

 

[Golden Ears]

Quote:

I dont think thats the general consensus. I got the feeling that most, including myself, find the iPhone 4 improves upon the 3GS. I certainly feel that the iPhone 4 provides a much cleaner, transparent and more detailed sound over the 3GS.
 
+1

 

[nc8000]

Let's see if the iPhone 4 gets withdrawn from the market today. Apparently the odds at the bookmakers are better for it staying on than for it being withdrawn

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Let's see if the iPhone 4 gets withdrawn from the market today. Apparently the odds at the bookmakers are better for it staying on than for it being withdrawn

Yup, free bumper cases for all.  You can put your Lance Armstrong wristbands back on.