iPhone 6 & 6 Plus Audio Quality

[Wildcatsare1]

Trying to assess that gripes about iPhone 6 bass i have been comparing it to my good old iPad 3 (which i deem as warm, and sounds almost identical the iPhone 4s).

Well i don't hear the 6 being any warmer. What sticks out it's that transients and percussion sound more clear, natural and life like on the 6 which makes the iPad 3 sound a bit compressed.

I think that 5s has been the only Apple handheld that steered clear from a warm tone and the 6 is just the return of the usual iPhone warmth but keeping the killer transients and percussion that 5s brought to the table.

As i said at high levels the 6 is mesmerizing. Like being at the studio.


Fear the man wearing velcro strapped sandals, for he has nothing left to lose.

Agreed, my iPhone 6+ actually sounds better straight to my PS500e's than my MacBook Pro. I haven't tried it with an iem yet, still looking for one that I like, and suggestions?
 
Cheers 

 

[krismusic]

My point really is that I worry that Apple has chosen to buy Beats. This does not bode well for anyone who cares about SQ IMHO.
The fact that the iPhone has such an excellent UI as a smartphone and that I use Spotify and therefore need a wireless enabled DAP means that I don't see me changing brand anytime soon.

 

[SilentFrequency]

I seriously doubt Apple is going to lower their sound quality, it's just not going to happen.

Plus, I've heard the iP4s/5s and obviously the iP6+ (my current phone) and I can say from my experience that the iP6+ is the best Apple phone to date and in sq, so I can see that Apple are totally improving their sq and not lowering it with new models they release for sure.

And one of my friends who owned the 5s saw my 6+ and now has her own 6+ as she was so impressed by it and that type of thing just does not happen unless someone is genuinely impressed enough to change phones as she was pretty happy with her 5s up until that point.

 

[moedawg140]

Agreed, my iPhone 6+ actually sounds better straight to my PS500e's than my MacBook Pro. I haven't tried it with an iem yet, still looking for one that I like, and suggestions?

Cheers 

What's your budget and preferred sound signature? If you like a blissful neutral sound with a slight bass tilt to it, and won't break most people's banks, I would recommend the EarWerkz Supra. My review of it is in my signature if you are interested in learning a little more regarding the Supra, and EarWerkz as a company.

 

[SilentFrequency]

What's your budget and preferred sound signature? If you like a blissful neutral sound with a slight bass tilt to it, and won't break most people's banks, I would recommend the EarWerkz Supra. My review of it is in my signature if you are interested in learning a little more regarding the Supra, and EarWerkz as a company.

I just checked the earwerkz supra thread and they look totally great and from what I understand they are custom ear types?

If my understanding is right for these you have to have silicon impressions made of your ear first also but I also read a new article on head-Fi by Jude who has highlighted a new technology that uses laser scanning to do the job of silicon (which to me sounds totally gross) only in a much more quicker and convenient way!

I've never tried custom ear buds myself but that's just because I've tried ordinary non custom ear buds and just don't like things in my ears like that personally but I think maybe customs with this new laser ear mapping may overcome this for me as I totally get the convenience factor of earbuds over headphones for portable user surely.

I have actually tried my friends earbuds on my iPhone 6+ and despite me feeling uncomfortable with the fit and feel, they actually sounded pretty good for a standard pair of buds but if I remember correctly I think I did use on of the preset EQ options in the music settings though.

But, for sure, I can say through my personal experience that ear buds also sound good on the iP6+

 

[krismusic]

IEMs do feel as if someone has poked their fingers in your ears! I found it quite easy to get used to. YMMV. Mainly because the type of listening that they give is fantastic. It's great having these tiny little things that transport you into a world of your own with just your music. Highly recommended!

 

[rasmushorn]

I don't share your faith in Apple. Note that they bought Beats. Not Sennheiser!

They did not buy Beats because of their headphones sound quality. They bought Beats because of their music streaming service algorithms, which they deemed better than the rest in the market to select and play music.

 

[obsidyen]

 
They did not buy Beats because of their headphones sound quality. They bought Beats because of their music streaming service algorithms, which they deemed better than the rest in the market to select and play music.

Beats has good music streaming algorithms? Sorry but this is laughable. Spotify is the best service in terms of UI, user friendliness etc. Tidal is the best at sound quality. Beats? It's just a ghetto fashion brand pretending to be a headphone brand. They sound absolutely horrible. And their service is inferior to competitors. Apple bought Beats because 95% of Apple owners think Beats is the best headphones brand, they also think it's a cool brand. It's like thinking Justin Bieber, Selina Gomez, Nicki Minaj etc. are good artists. They have a brand name, they can sell devices. But they are crap.

 

[SilentFrequency]

Beats has good music streaming algorithms? Sorry but this is laughable. Spotify is the best service in terms of UI, user friendliness etc. Tidal is the best at sound quality. Beats? It's just a ghetto fashion brand pretending to be a headphone brand. They sound absolutely horrible. And their service is inferior to competitors. Apple bought Beats because 95% of Apple owners think Beats is the best headphones brand, they also think it's a cool brand. It's like thinking Justin Bieber, Selina Gomez, Nicki Minaj etc. are good artists. They have a brand name, they can sell devices. But they are crap.

Wow! :eek:

 

[Koolpep]

 
Beats has good music streaming algorithms? Sorry but this is laughable. Spotify is the best service in terms of UI, user friendliness etc. Tidal is the best at sound quality. Beats? It's just a ghetto fashion brand pretending to be a headphone brand. They sound absolutely horrible. And their service is inferior to competitors. Apple bought Beats because 95% of Apple owners think Beats is the best headphones brand, they also think it's a cool brand. It's like thinking Justin Bieber, Selina Gomez, Nicki Minaj etc. are good artists. They have a brand name, they can sell devices. But they are crap.

 
Correction: 95% of all people think beats are awesome - man that bass
 
Now, did you try their music service? It's not about UI. Also, their latest headphones are actually good! I agree they were horrible but since the Solo2 (before Apple bought them), I think things changed. They even made it onto Tyll's inner fidelity wall of fame. And I respect his opinion an awful lot.
 
Here is why Apple bought beats:
http://recode.net/2014/09/26/here-again-is-why-apple-bought-beats-music/
http://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-on-why-apple-bought-beats-2014-9
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-09-23/so-why-did-apple-buy-beats
http://www.tuaw.com/2014/09/02/and-you-wonder-why-apple-bought-beats/
 
I think the most important reason is: digital Music sales are declining, streaming services are growing. You can't miss the boat. Apparently beats has one of the best curation services, so let's see what comes out in 6 months or so. 
 
Cheers,
K

 

[obsidyen]

Ok, you could say 95% of all people. I think more like 90%. I know lots of people who buy iPhone because "duh.. it's the iPhone". The same people who value brand power over anything else.
 
If I were Tim Cook, I'd buy Tidal instead, actually make a difference. Promote it saying "The first mobile phone brand to natively support high-res streaming." But hey, average joe doesn't care about audio quality.

 

[SilentFrequency]

Correction: 95% of all people think beats are awesome - man that bass

Now, did you try their music service? It's not about UI. Also, their latest headphones are actually good! I agree they were horrible but since the Solo2 (before Apple bought them), I think things changed. They even made it onto Tyll's inner fidelity wall of fame. And I respect his opinion an awful lot.

Here is why Apple bought beats:
http://recode.net/2014/09/26/here-again-is-why-apple-bought-beats-music/
http://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-on-why-apple-bought-beats-2014-9
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-09-23/so-why-did-apple-buy-beats
http://www.tuaw.com/2014/09/02/and-you-wonder-why-apple-bought-beats/

I think the most important reason is: digital Music sales are declining, streaming services are growing. You can't miss the boat. Apparently beats has one of the best curation services, so let's see what comes out in 6 months or so. 

Cheers,
K

Really interesting post!

And I had no idea beats made such good headphones either or the other points you raise.

Ok, you could say 95% of all people. I think more like 90%. I know lots of people who buy iPhone because "duh.. it's the iPhone". The same people who value brand power over anything else.

If I were Tim Cook, I'd buy Tidal instead, actually make a difference. Promote it saying "The first mobile phone brand to natively support high-res streaming." But hey, average joe doesn't care about audio quality.

You know what? I actually buy the iPhone simply because it's pretty great with also great sq and I don't think it's fair or kind to brand Apple buyers/users or dismiss as "average joes"

 

[Uberclocked]

Really interesting post!

And I had no idea beats made such good headphones either or the other points you raise.
You know what? I actually buy the iPhone simply because it's pretty great with also great sq and I don't think it's fair or kind to brand Apple buyers/users or dismiss as "average joes"

Most people ARE "average joes" with no head-fi experience, Apple device users or not.

 

[SilentFrequency]

Most people ARE "average joes" with no head-fi experience, Apple device users or not.

To call non headfiers ie "average joes" as not caring about sound quality is dismissive and incorrect IMO.

 

[Uberclocked]

To call non headfiers ie "average joes" as not caring about sound quality is dismissive and incorrect IMO.

I personally know ONE person who is on head-fi and actually values sound quality.  All the other people I know could care less about sound quality and use stock earbuds that come with their devices.