[Whitigir]

LG plans to reveal G5 as the next flagship smartphone soon in the MWC 2016. It will have Magic slot, and according to this one article, LG will release 3 modules: Camera, or DAC, and a Drone controller .....wow...Lg has all the toys listed up on a phone!

http://venturebeat.com/2016/02/17/lg-g5s-first-magic-slot-modules-and-accessories-detailed/

 

[Whitigir]

Confirmed on 3 modules

1/ camera plus
2/ audio plus
3/ one for VR and bot control

http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/18/11044534/lg-g5-accesory-modules-leaks

The LG Hi-fi plus will feature better DAC which was developed together with B&O . Now I want to know if this will come with balanced output or not ? Something tells me that it does. Even if it does not, there will possibly be in the future either from LG or 3rd party.

 

[malifact]

I hope this doesn't mean that the G5 won't have the same amp and DAC combo as the V10. It's nice to have the option of a "better" DAC, but I would not be happy if they crippled the audio capabilities of the G5 so that more people will buy an accessory.

 

[Whitigir]

I hope this doesn't mean that the G5 won't have the same amp and DAC combo as the V10. It's nice to have the option of a "better" DAC, but I would not be happy if they crippled the audio capabilities of the G5 so that more people will buy an accessory.

I hear rumor that it sports the same as in V10

 

[Whitigir]

Rumored Bang&Olufsen DAC module will be around $300 . It will be made for audiophile, and come with extra battery juice pack + USB DAC function to connect to any thing USB ....Woa...I can not wait....I need to know if it would offer balanced connection or not.

However B&O is not very well known in portable audio world....home theater and car systems only. Will this be their first correctly designed portable DAC to the audiophile ? Or ....mezhhh

 

[shwaz]

yum.
i been watching the v10 but never pulled the trigger - now I'm glad I waited. as an audio neophyte with no stack and no intent of ever buying one, this is sounding pretty awesome.
 
 
 
http://phandroid.com/2016/02/17/lg-g5-magic-slot-came-plus-dac-module/ says:
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588)]"Blass also mentions LG has one other module they’ll be showing off at MWC, a DAC the company built with the help of Bang and Olufsen. This digital to analog converter, dubbed the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play, will not only boost the sound experience of media stored on the phone, but can even enhance audio fidelity of other Android devices or PCs routed through the device. Pretty high-end stuff."[/color]

 

[Whitigir]

Ok, according to some rumors, the DAC module is really high-end Audio. It will be priced around $300 ....hehehe.... However, balanced output or the spec from it is still pretty much..."in the box"...hidden

 

[Whitigir]

So far everything had been pointing toward the DAC module is to be said to bring "the best Audio experiences on the mobile device of G5 as a flagship meant to be". They seem to be heavily confirming the audiophile grade module with USB DAC capability....Type C USB. My ghost, the first time a phone make me so excited and counting every day until release....not even IPhone did this to me....what da fun LG ?

 

[malifact]

What kind of sound signature do B&O audio products generally have? One of the things I like about the V10 is it sounds fairly neutral, so I hope this won't change with the G5.

 

[Whitigir]

What kind of sound signature do B&O audio products generally have? One of the things I like about the V10 is it sounds fairly neutral, so I hope this won't change with the G5.

Let's wait until reviews.

LG statement

“The two companies have been working closely together on the new LG G5 to ensure the best sound experience to the customers. LG will be the first company to offer the powerful Hi-Fi audio features co-designed by B&O PLAY.”

 

[MPFit]

Subbed. Very interested as my iPhone 5GS is boring me

 

[canali]

yes looking forward to this for sure.
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/02/18/lg-g5-bang-olufson-bo-play/
 
esp with the sammie S7 being released the same day.
will 'audiophile level' phones finally start to make some traction?
maybe the apple 7 will step things up if sales for their competitors take off
(can you imagine had apple come out with an audiophile level ipod touch?
wow that would have been something).
 
anyway a few articles i thought you'd enjoy:
first about B&O 'play' and how it's a separate division
and is really turning in some revenue for the company.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11593787/BandO-Play-a-grown-up-audio-brand-for-the-smartphone-generation.html
 
second, Audioquest is releasing 3 new portable DACS in the next few months
to replace the current Dragonfly.....even the newer black one will be supposedly both better
and also cheaper (only $100) than the current 1.2v.
-all will have upgradeable firmware.
Best of all: all now functional with IOS and Android devices.
 
 I really invite you to watch the 6 min Vimeo that john supplied
(it's in the body of the article). 
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/01/ces-2016-audioquest-mobilise-dragonfly-black-red/
..goes into detail on their development,
what chip and software companies they approached etc.  
 

 
there will be a bluetooth ''Beetle'' version as well as a Dragonfly ''Red'' "turbo'' version,
built with a better dac chip and designed to drive more demanding headphones at only $200
...both the red and black will have the same small, lightweight profile as the current 1.2v
insightful review and presentation at the CES 2016 exhibition, by Darko
 
 i wonder if audioquest is testing the  market:
they already see how people are willing to spend $500 or such on a Chord mojo
or iFi micro idsd (etc)...and yet they're a bit on the bulky side (even Darko
hints at such in his analysis)...so if these new dragonflys take off (which i'm sure they will)
they might come out with even more devices but still under the mojo's pricepoint.

 

[Whitigir]

yes looking forward to this for sure.
esp with the sammie S7 being released the same day.
will 'audiophile level' phones finally start to make some traction?
maybe the apple 7 will step things up if sales for their competitors take off
(can you imagine had apple come out with an audiophile level ipod touch?
wow that would have been something).

anyway a few articles i thought you'd enjoy:
first about B&O 'play' and how it's a separate division
and is really turning in some revenue for the company.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11593787/BandO-Play-a-grown-up-audio-brand-for-the-smartphone-generation.html

second, Audioquest is releasing 3 new portable DACS in the next few months
to replace the current Dragonfly.....even the newer black one will be better and cheape than the current 1.2v
-all will have upgradeable firmware.
Best of all: all now functional with IOS and Android devices.
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/01/ces-2016-audioquest-mobilise-dragonfly-black-red/

there will be a bluetooth beetle version as well as a Red Turbo version
built with a better dac chip and designed to drive more demanding headphones at only $200
both the red and black will have the same small, lightweight profile as the current 1.2v
insightful review and presentation at the CES 2016 exhibition, by Darko
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/01/ces-2016-audioquest-mobilise-dragonfly-black-red/

 i wonder if audioquest is testing the  market:
they already see how people are willing to spend $500 or such on a Chord mojo
or iFi micro idsd (etc)...and yet they're a bit on the bulky side (even Darko
hints at such in his analysis)...so if these new dragonflys take off (which i'm sure they will)
they might come out with even more devices but still under the mojo's pricepoint.

Thank you, excellent links
If I had contacts with Audioquest, I would ask them to release a module for LG G5 with dual DAC and dual AMP + Balanced out with quality Audio Electrical components such as "film capacitors, resistors"

The interesting thing about G5 is not only Audio quality, but it can also do many other things. Magic slot is like a Universal gate for many modules. LG is already talking about External batter, camera, VR, remote control, Audio quality...etc.

Again, this is very innovative because the phone will act like a "central computing" unit which has an Operational OS, cellphone capability, powerful CPU+RAM, yet everything else can be extended out with Modules. I already suspected that these modules will be future proof into the future G6/G7/G8. Because that is the only way to pull 3rd party to ex-rests interests toward it

 

[canali]

''where is portable audio going and an overview of the new age dap market''
despite writen last summer, it's still interesting.
 
http://cymbacavum.com/2015/05/13/the-biz-where-is-portable-audio-going-an-overview-of-the-new-age-dap-market/ 
written by a fellow headfier 'victor kim'
 
I reached out to john darko today, well known reviewer on all things audiophile related,
via his review column 'DAR'  http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/.
I asked him if he'd be willing to share his thoughts
on where he feels the portable audio market is possibly going.
 
 As we all know there is not one approach to enjoying portable audio:
on the one hand you have the DAP owners who don't feel the sound from a
smartphone is on the same level as their beloved DAPs
(and they also don't like to be interrupted by calls etc)
while on the other hand you have the smartphone owners who believe otherwise ...and they point to
a new array of smartphones coming out this yr--heck this weekend-- that just might
get the audiophile's attention: the LG G5, Samsung S7 (etc)
let alone the LG V10.  others from HTC and Huawei to follow?
 
add to this that portable audio could be losing out on alot of people
who are put off by the bulky sandwiching together of components.  
in a few yrs  the bulky combos might all be passe.
 
Anyway, Darko kindly replied he'll write on such upon his review of the new Dragonfly Red in around April or so, when it is released.

 
On this note I was speaking with a local retailer of $$$ portable audio gear and he, too, feels the new Dragonfly Red just might be a game changer
in the market...we'll see....but seriously what is not to love about this little gizmo if it can do wonders for portable sound: light and small, overall unobtrusive.

 

[AzraelDarkangel]

I don't really care much about B&O throwing their association around with various portables and laptops and whatever. But I like seeing innovative concepts tried out. Really, the only thing I want from B&O is a Beosond 2500/3000 which I've wanted since I was a kid.