iPhone 6 & 6 Plus Audio Quality

[Lieon]

Putting technicalities aside, i'm actually a lot happier with how my iPhone 6 sounds compared to the previous 5. I guess this also depends on earphone pairing, but I generally found that treble and vocals on the 5 were too upfront and "in-your-face". The iPhone 6 has a more laid-back presentation, gives a very pleasant concert-hall / stage like aural experience. I also found the bass too impactful with the 5, which also has been slightly tamed down on the 6. Overall, the 6 sound I feel is more organic sounding and therefore makes music more enjoyable to listen to while i'm on the go. I'll be getting the Fiio X1 DAP in the next couple days (still waiting on the mail man), so would be interesting to compare to. So far, my fav DAP still goes out to my HM-901 but the iPhone 6 isn't too far behind. Its still a lot better sounding than my Nexus 5 IMO. 
 
I've only tested the iPhone 6 with my IEMs, which are all super easy to drive. Can't really comment on harder-to-drive headphones though, sorry. 

 

[elfary]

  Putting technicalities aside, i'm actually a lot happier with how my iPhone 6 sounds compared to the previous 5. I guess this also depends on earphone pairing, but I generally found that treble and vocals on the 5 were too upfront and "in-your-face". The iPhone 6 has a more laid-back presentation, gives a very pleasant concert-hall / stage like aural experience. I also found the bass too impactful with the 5, which also has been slightly tamed down on the 6. Overall, the 6 sound I feel is more organic sounding and therefore makes music more enjoyable to listen to while i'm on the go. I'll be getting the Fiio X1 DAP in the next couple days (still waiting on the mail man), so would be interesting to compare to. So far, my fav DAP still goes out to my HM-901 but the iPhone 6 isn't too far behind. Its still a lot better sounding than my Nexus 5 IMO. 
 
I've only tested the iPhone 6 with my IEMs, which are all super easy to drive. Can't really comment on harder-to-drive headphones though, sorry. 

 
Subjective impressions are always helpful to put objective data in perspective. And yours was pretty well put together. Thanks
 
If would still be great if some skilled owner could measure output impedance which is still unknown.

 

[tomscy2000]

GSM Arena has its own battery of tests using RMAA; it's less accurate than the Audio Precision tests from AnandTech, but there's a wider selection of test results directly comparable:
 

Test	Frequency response	Noise level	Dynamic range	THD	IMD + Noise	Stereo crosstalk
Apple iPhone 6	+0.06, -0.02	-94.0	93.9	0.0012	0.0065	-73.4
Apple iPhone 6 (headphones attached)	+0.11, -0.06	-93.8	93.8	0.0022	0.099	-65.1
Apple iPhone 5s	+0.02, -0.05	-93.6	93.7	0.0013	0.0068	-90.3
Apple iPhone 5s (headphones attached)	+0.12, -0.00	-93.4	93.3	0.0016	0.060	-76.1
Apple iPhone 5	+0.06, -0.51	-91.3	91.3	0.0015	0.0093	-76.5
Apple iPhone 5 (headphones attached)	+0.00, -0.26	-90.6	90.6	0.0035	0.111	-56.2
Samsung Galaxy Alpha	+0.01, -0.04	-96.6	92.8	0.0058	0.0091	-97.1
Samsung Galaxy Alpha (headphones attached)	+0.04, -0.01	-95.7	92.7	0.013	0.033	-65.6
Sony Xperia Z3	+0.02, -0.08	-86.4	86.4	0.014	0.021	-86.6
Sony Xperia Z3 (headphones attached)	+0.29, -0.10	-85.7	85.7	0.035	0.064	-50.8
Samsung Galaxy S5	+0.02, -0.08	-96.3	93.3	0.0017	0.0089	-95.2
Samsung Galaxy S5 (headphones)	+0.01, -0.08	-96.3	93.3	0.0095	0.018	-61.9
HTC One (M8)	+0.04, -0.10	-95.4	93.4	0.0012	0.010	-93.2
HTC One (M8) (headphones attached)	+0.04, -0.08	-94.9	93.9	0.0014	0.018	-79.7

LG G3	+0.02, -0.08	-99.4	98.9	0.0016	0.035	-100.0
LG G3 (headphones attached)	+0.02, -0.09	-93.7	93.3	0.0060	0.032	-78.5

 
The iPhone 6 is still a good performer in the smartphone sector (the ES9018K2M-equipped Chinese phones from BBK Vivo and TCL don't necessarily perform any better, likely because of lackadaisical PCB layout). The others from Android have essentially caught up, however.

 

[Baroninkjet]

  I am not loving the 6 with RE400s so far. Despite being a pretty analytic guy, the combo is a bit too edgey for my taste. ...

 
I wanted to give a quick follow up. My RE400s came back from repair yesterday (replacement set, actually for a cord problem) and what I am hearing now is much, much better with US 6 than the first couple of days. No harshness at all. Burn in?? (My eyes roll as I say it, but...) The new RE400s sound pretty much the same as previous set on other devices.
 
Also interesting is comparing my recollection of the harshness before to the Anand distortion/noise charts. The frequencies seem pretty similar. It would be interesting to see if the results were the same 100 hours in, though I doubt there is any chance of that happening.

 

[live1]

iphone 6 rmma sucks .htc one mini 2 destroys it in numbers

 

[Baroninkjet]

FWIW...
 
Quote:

Apple’s audio has always been one of our favourites on a smartphone, but with a few handsets offering high-resolution music in 2014, is that still the case?
 
In short, yes. The rich, full-bodied character we know and love remains, but with a touch more clarity compared to the iPhone 5s, meaning it’s more detailed and dynamic than ever.
 
It’s as enthusiastic as it is engaging, jumping into life with a play through of Run the Jewels’ self-titled track; the bouncing bassline getting your foot tapping.
 
The treble steers clear of ever sounding hard or harsh, while the midrange is focused and expressive, providing a well-balanced listen that works with all genres and is never tiring to listen to.

There’s no high-res music support here, but with a standard resolution sound this good, it’s hard to be disappointed about that.
 
This beats any other audio performance we’ve heard on 2014’s smartphones to date, and with the majority of people using their smartphone for streaming and nothing higher than CD-quality rips, it’s this standard-res performance that’s the most important to get right. Apple has nailed it once again.

 
http://www.whathifi.com/apple/iphone-6/review

 

[Jnjy]

Just sharing my 2c.
Immediately noticeable to me is that the 6+ seems to have a V-shaped character compared to the 5. I guess this experience echoes reviews saying "more detailed" due to bumps in high and low regions. I'd say though that the warmer quality of the 5 sounds definitely more natural to me and that I'd ironically consider more detailed. Fearing the more natural response of the 5 is lost, I got alternative apps with EQ to see if the 6+ can follow a 5-like response and so far seems it can. Another interesting observation is after EQ, impact and tightness also follows the 5 character. Without EQ, I'd say the 6+ sounds slow and bloated vs the 5.
 
Cheers

 

[elfary]

  Just sharing my 2c.
Immediately noticeable to me is that the 6+ seems to have a V-shaped character compared to the 5. I guess this experience echoes reviews saying "more detailed" due to bumps in high and low regions. I'd say though that the warmer quality of the 5 sounds definitely more natural to me and that I'd ironically consider more detailed. Fearing the more natural response of the 5 is lost, I got alternative apps with EQ to see if the 6+ can follow a 5-like response and so far seems it can. Another interesting observation is after EQ, impact and tightness also follows the 5 character. Without EQ, I'd say the 6+ sounds slow and bloated vs the 5.
 
Cheers

 
What struck my the most was the slopiness in the bass when compared to the tightness and quickness of iPhone 5s. Some people might like it the current way though (but to me the 5s sounds tonally more accurate and faithful to the music than the 6).

 

[moedawg140]

  Judging only from my first day experience, I may well  have passed. It was a little rough. But it has mellowed over the last week or so. 
 
It's too bad Anand didn't include 5s in their comparisons. I don't remember all their earlier tests; did they test anything but Android before? 
 
p.s. Something else I have noticed: To me, the stock music player with Apple lossless CD rips sounds noticeably worse than the same material on Spotify (extreme). I am new to itunes, and it is possible I goofed up the upload somehow. But that is what I am hearing. Is there a Neutron/PowerAmp equivalent for iOS?

 
I came from a 5, and my 6 (Space Gray, 128 GB) is a marked improvement for me.  I tested a 5s and my 6, listening to the same tracks on YouTube, and even though the 6 to me sounded better, it was not by much.  I always tell anyone that is interested in upgrading to the 6 or 6 Plus, if you have the 5s, you should only get the 6 or 6 Plus if you want the larger screen.  Everything else (aside from internet speeds!!) is an incremental speed and performance boost.
 
As for music players/apps, on the iPhone, they are not created equal.  I have listened to all of the ones I can get a hold of, and it pretty much goes like this: As for the 3 main music players that I use and most smartphone audiophiles should be worried about  - the stock Music player sounds the worst of the 3.  Spotify Premium - Extreme is what I use (you can get it for $5 a month if you are a college student), and its audio tracks in the Extreme Setting just sounds amazing.  You can also EQ it if you please (I usually don't EQ, but have my custom EQ on standby to bump up the bass and add a little V and U signature if I want.)  I also use Neutron Media Player as well for the 6.  Very powerful and sounds the best of the 3, or any iPhone media player especially since the app has 64-Bit Processing, dither, surround sound, specific frequency settings and other highly customizable settings to fine-tune your audio listening experience.  I am a part of a all-encompassing euphoric real-life dream that I experience with my Shure SE846, modded black filters, HL Silver Litz cable, Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves and the iPhone 6.  Pure bliss. 

 

[elfary]

   
I came from a 5, and my 6 (Space Gray, 128 GB) is a marked improvement for me.  I tested a 5s and my 6, listening to the same tracks on YouTube, and even though the 6 to me sounded better, it was not by much.  I always tell anyone that is interested in upgrading to the 6 or 6 Plus, if you have the 5s, you should only get the 6 or 6 Plus if you want the larger screen.  Everything else (aside from internet speeds!!) is an incremental speed and performance boost.
 
As for music players/apps, on the iPhone, they are not created equal.  I have listened to all of the ones I can get a hold of, and it pretty much goes like this: As for the 3 main music players that I use and most smartphone audiophiles should be worried about  - the stock Music player sounds the worst of the 3.  Spotify Premium - Extreme is what I use (you can get it for $5 a month if you are a college student), and its audio tracks in the Extreme Setting just sounds amazing.  You can also EQ it if you please (I usually don't EQ, but have my custom EQ on standby to bump up the bass and add a little V and U signature if I want.)  I also use Neutron Media Player as well for the 6.  Very powerful and sounds the best of the 3, or any iPhone media player especially since the app has 64-Bit Processing, dither, surround sound, specific frequency settings and other highly customizable settings to fine-tune your audio listening experience.  I am a part of a all-encompassing euphoric real-life dream that I experience with my Shure SE846, modded black filters, HL Silver Litz cable, Sensaphonics Custom Sleeves and the iPhone 6.  Pure bliss. 

 
Since anantech detected that the 6 clips at full throttle with low impedance iems...have you tried (with a very low intrinsic volume album, of course) to assess that with the SE846?I It'd be interesting to know many volume squares are usable in low load scenarios before clipping creeps in.
 
Some albums that allow for full throttle testing without damaging the ears are:
 
- Leonard Cohen 'Songs from a Room" (1st CD pressing)
- Waylon Jennings "Honky Tonk Heroes" (MFSL edition) It's my to go option since it has almost 20 decibels of dynamic range and needs lots of power to go loud.
- Steely Dan 'Aja' (MFSL edition)
- R.E.M. ' Murmur' (1st CD pressing)
- Steely Dan 'Aja' (MFSL edition)
- Ry Cooder 'A MeetingBy The River'

 

[moedawg140]

   
Since anantech detected that the 6 clips at full throttle with low impedance iems...have you tried (with a very low intrinsic volume album, of course) to assess that with the SE846?I It'd be interesting to know many volume squares are usable in low load scenarios before clipping creeps in.
 
Some albums that allow for full throttle testing without damaging the ears are:
 
- Leonard Cohen 'Songs from a Room" (1st CD pressing)
- Waylon Jennings "Honky Tonk Heroes" (MFSL edition) It's my to go option since it has almost 20 decibels of dynamic range and needs lots of power to go loud.
- Steely Dan 'Aja' (MFSL edition)
- R.E.M. ' Murmur' (1st CD pressing)
- Steely Dan 'Aja' (MFSL edition)
- Ry Cooder 'A MeetingBy The River'

 
I will not be able to test those specific tracks until later today, but I can say that whatever I have thrown at it, the iPhone 6 as well as the SE846 has never had any signs of clipping with any genre - no where close to clipping under normal use.  I'm sure any IEM will clip if you administer tests that are beyond the limits of what humans can listen to before they have a much faster risk of hearing loss.  I have had much worse experiences with regular eternal amps, i.e. having to put the source in airport equivalent mode so I don't hear a hum/hissing/popping, and TOTL DAPs' interfaces not being up to snuff and not playing certain tracks.
 
Oh, and I won't be able to go full throttle with any tracks, since it's already too loud for me almost halfway the volume limit with just about everything I listen to.  The supreme isolation of the SCS will not help in this regard as well, as it will take a lower volume for me to hear a higher volume of the sizes-fit-all tips.  But again, I'll give it a try I guess.  I would just say plug in the iPhone 6 with your favorite C/IEM/headphones, relax and listen, simple as that!

 

[elfary]

   
I will not be able to test those specific tracks until later today, but I can say that whatever I have thrown at it, the iPhone 6 as well as the SE846 has never had any signs of clipping with any genre - no where close to clipping under normal use.  I'm sure any IEM will clip if you administer tests that are beyond the limits of what humans can listen to before they have a much faster risk of hearing loss.  I have had much worse experiences with regular eternal amps, i.e. having to put the source in airport equivalent mode so I don't hear a hum/hissing/popping, and TOTL DAPs' interfaces not being up to snuff and not playing certain tracks.
 
Oh, and I won't be able to go full throttle with any tracks, since it's already too loud for me almost halfway the volume limit with just about everything I listen to.  The supreme isolation of the SCS will not help in this regard as well, as it will take a lower volume for me to hear a higher volume of the sizes-fit-all tips.  But again, I'll give it a try I guess.  I would just say plug in the iPhone 6 with your favorite C/IEM/headphones, relax and listen, simple as that!

 That was just a suggestion !. Ry Cooder's A Meeting By The River has an RMS of -28 dBFS so i bet it's the lower volume album you have ever listened to.
 
As for relaxing that's what i'm just doing but with the 5s. For the moment.

 

[elfary]

Those are the softer albums i own (read chart from the bottom of the list):

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[moedawg140]

 That was just a suggestion !. Ry Cooder's A Meeting By The River has an RMS of -28 dBFS so i bet it's the lower volume album you have ever listened to.

As for relaxing that's what i'm just doing but with the 5s. For the moment.

Thank you for the suggestion, sir or ma'am (I'm a man). I will test using the Ry Cooder's song you suggested sometime later today.

 

[gavinfabl]

I have tried my akg k845 and philips m1bt in wired mode and bluetooth. my 6 Plus does an amazing job. best I have ever heard them both sound.

I had a lg g3, s5, m8, note 3 and 5s. but I prefer the iphone 6 Plus.