LG V20 Sound Quality

[Oo Meitar oO]

Hi guys, Newcomer here.   I'm really interested in buying the V20 since the thing I do most with my phone is listening to music (I currently own the LG G3 and quite dissatisfied with the audio playback, both quality and volume wise. I read some of this thread and realized not all headphone trigger the V20's high capabilities (only high impedance earphone will).
 
Does the V20 have any affect in improving audio with low impedance headphones? I own Sennheiser IE 80 earphones, which are supposed to have great capabilities but they are low on impedance (and i spent a good amount of money on them..). 
Since im not going to spend my money on new headphones any time soon, will i be able to get better audio quality and higher volume with the V20 than with my G3? will the difference be noticeable?
 
I dont want to spend my money on a new V20 and realize I cant even utilize the feature im buying it for..
 
Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[Fadem]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but the latest rumors are that the LG V20 will not come to Europe. However, it seems that the Japanese version of the LG V20, the LG V34 Isai Beat will be rebranded as the V20S. There are some differences between the V34 and the regular V20, namely it's screen size (5.2" vs 5.7"), battery capacity (3000 mAh non-removable vs 3200 mAh removable), only available in 32 GB version - oh and it's also waterproof. All the other features, including its SoC, screen resolution, cameras etc. will be retained. Most importantly, the quad DAC will stay as well! Source
I was looking for a new phone since my HTC One M8 bricked itself, so I'll be waiting for this to get released. I'm now using S4 Mini and that is such a huge step back in audio quality, so hopefully the V20S is released sooner than later.

 

[stenog]

Order this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KE5NJ7W?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Connect this first to the jack stick and then the IE 80 into this. It will trigger aux mode and give you more than enough power and great audio. I use it with the V10.

 

[stenog]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but the latest rumors are that the LG V20 will not come to Europe. However, it seems that the Japanese version of the LG V20, the LG V34 Isai Beat will be rebranded as the V20S. There are some differences between the V34 and the regular V20, namely it's screen size (5.2" vs 5.7"), battery capacity (3000 mAh non-removable vs 3200 mAh removable), only available in 32 GB version - oh and it's also waterproof. All the other features, including its SoC, screen resolution, cameras etc. will be retained. Most importantly, the quad DAC will stay as well! Source
I was looking for a new phone since my HTC One M8 bricked itself, so I'll be waiting for this to get released. I'm now using S4 Mini and that is such a huge step back in audio quality, so hopefully the V20S is released sooner than later.

Great if true. I have read the same rumors independently of your link.

 

[Oo Meitar oO]

Order this:...

Connect this first to the jack stick and then the IE 80 into this. It will trigger aux mode and give you more than enough power and great audio. I use it with the V10.

Thanks for your answer. do you use it specifically with IE80s, or with other similar earphones?
and is there any risk enabling more power to the low-impedance IE80s?

 

[stenog]

Thanks for your answer. do you use it specifically with IE80s, or with other similar earphones?
and is there any risk enabling more power to the low-impedance IE80s?

I use it with all iems and never had a problem. Just remember to turn the volume down . I don't have the ie 80 anymore but don't remember it being a problem. The V10 has very good SQ and apparently the V20 it's better.

 

[amstel78]

Apologies if this has been discussed already, but can someone please confirm what impedance value the phone uses to switch between low and high output?  The reason I ask is I've noticed that my phone and a pair of Sony MDR-1A headphones (personally tested at 48.3 ohm average) will sometimes switch to low mode when plugged in for the first time, or will on most occasions switch over to the high-impedance setting whenever the phones are plugged in.
 
To add, no matter how many times I unplug and reconnect a pair of 38 ohm headphones, will the V20 switch from low impedance to high impedance mode. On the other hand, when I use my Sony MDR-1As, perhaps 2 out of 10 times, the phone will start in low impedance mode.
 
It's my understanding that the phone should go to high-impedance mode whenever phones rated from 50-600 ohms are connected.  I've read however that anything above 40 ohms generally triggers high-impedance mode.  

 

[RockStar2005]

  I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but the latest rumors are that the LG V20 will not come to Europe. However, it seems that the Japanese version of the LG V20, the LG V34 Isai Beat will be rebranded as the V20S. There are some differences between the V34 and the regular V20, namely it's screen size (5.2" vs 5.7"), battery capacity (3000 mAh non-removable vs 3200 mAh removable), only available in 32 GB version - oh and it's also waterproof. All the other features, including its SoC, screen resolution, cameras etc. will be retained. Most importantly, the quad DAC will stay as well! Source
I was looking for a new phone since my HTC One M8 bricked itself, so I'll be waiting for this to get released. I'm now using S4 Mini and that is such a huge step back in audio quality, so hopefully the V20S is released sooner than later.

 
That's incredible Fadem! 
 
Any chance people in the U.S. can get this?? I hate phablets, but love the V20 for everything else. It would be great to have this phone (V20 S). I currently have the int'l Sony Xperia X Performance, so I'm now more familiar with int'l phones, though I'd prefer it if they just released it here unlocked too. 

 

[TJ Max]

I've ran some test on the differences in loudness with each Quad Dac Mode; Normal, High, and External.
I 'm using a Tenma 72-860 Sound Level Meter, and a pair of Beyerdynamic T1 2.gen @ 600 ohms.
As I said before my T1 is not being recognized as a headphone, but as an external audio device.
I was curious as to what type of volume I was getting on external mode vs the high impedance mode.
I had to trick the V20 into getting to these settings with the T1 by using a 3.5mm female to 3.5mm male adapter while switching between my HD 558 and T5p and then back to the T1 with the adapter still connected to the V20.
I used some continuous pink noise I found on Youtube for the test, and I set the volume at 100% (75 in Quad dac settings)
Decibel readings are in dBA
 
External Audio Device
Quad Dac on 74.2db
Quad Dac off 72.db
74 db is a fair volume for most music, its loud but still safe and comfortable. Quiet music will sound lacking though.
And there is only a 2db difference between on an off. The audible sound difference is just a slightly fuller sound when its on.
 
High Impedance
Quad Dac on 80.5 db
Quad Dac off 69.2 db
Now this was disappointing, There's a 6 db gain in volume over the External Mode, This is what I should be getting but I'm not, without tricking the V20.
Its also weird that with the Quad DAC Off I'm getting a lower output than with the External Mode off. So does this mean that even with the Quad DAC off, the V20 is still adjusting the headphone to a small degree?
 
Normal Impedance
Quad Dac on 67.7 db
Quad Dac off 66.1 db
This provided the lowest output to my T1. 
And again the Off setting is different from the High and External Off settings. So the V20 is still adjusting the output somewhat, based on what it thinks is connected even when the Quad Dac is off.
 
Very interesting, hopefully there will be an update or perhaps an app that will allow us to get full control over the output, especially for situations like mine.
Any how I just thought I'd share.

 

[gr8soundz]

Nice testing @TJ Max. Great to read that level of detail on the issue.
 
I also have the T1.2 but not the V20. Just retried mine with the V10 and stock cable (no adapter; just unscrewed the 1/4in connector) and got High Impedance. Obviously the V20 has some differences but strange that your pairing isn't behaving as it should.
 
Not sure if this will help but the thought occurred to me several times since reading about your experience:
Have you tried removing and reinserting the L/R earcup connections? The T1.2 connects are recessed and sort of lock in place. Maybe the connections aren't fully seated (enough to sound ok but loose enough to cause external detection?).
 

 

[TJ Max]

  Nice testing @TJ Max. Great to read that level of detail on the issue.
 
I also have the T1.2 but not the V20. Just retried mine with the V10 and stock cable (no adapter; just unscrewed the 1/4in connector) and got High Impedance. Obviously the V20 has some differences but strange that your pairing isn't behaving as it should.
 
Not sure if this will help but the thought occurred to me several times since reading about your experience:
Have you tried removing and reinserting the L/R earcup connections? The T1.2 connects are recessed and sort of lock in place. Maybe the connections aren't fully seated (enough to sound ok but loose enough to cause external detection?).
 

 
Yep headphone connectors are secure. I even tried using the cable that came with my T5p, its the same cable just shorter.

 

[jagwap]

  I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but the latest rumors are that the LG V20 will not come to Europe. However, it seems that the Japanese version of the LG V20, the LG V34 Isai Beat will be rebranded as the V20S. There are some differences between the V34 and the regular V20, namely it's screen size (5.2" vs 5.7"), battery capacity (3000 mAh non-removable vs 3200 mAh removable), only available in 32 GB version - oh and it's also waterproof. All the other features, including its SoC, screen resolution, cameras etc. will be retained. Most importantly, the quad DAC will stay as well! Source
I was looking for a new phone since my HTC One M8 bricked itself, so I'll be waiting for this to get released. I'm now using S4 Mini and that is such a huge step back in audio quality, so hopefully the V20S is released sooner than later.

​I wonder how they will get around the volume capping laws?  Will the impedance measuring system be enough, or maybe not including a set of headphones in the box?
 
It would be a shame to loose the high output capability on this phone because of EU regulations.

 

[gr8soundz]

​I wonder how they will get around the volume capping laws?  Will the impedance measuring system be enough, or maybe not including a set of headphones in the box?
 
It would be a shame to loose the high output capability on this phone because of EU regulations.

 
Good question.
 

 

[FSTOP]

Spent some time listening to on my headphones using Poweramp Alpha 704. Just from memory (and not an actual comparison) I think I did hear an improvement in sound quality vs. regular Poweramp. The music somehow seems to have a bit more "life" to it now, so I will be keeping this Alpha version for now. The only album art issue I had was not on the first song of a new album, but when getting deeper into an album it would randomly display the album art from the PREVIOUS album. But my pressing on the album cover part of the screen, a menu would pop up to let me change it back to the song's own album art. It only happened once or twice over a couple hours, so no big deal. Other than that, it seemed great! 

Concerning album art: pushing on the art (or the PA logo when there is no art) has been a feature on previous versions, but alternatively you can press the three dots at the top right and select Album Art.
Also, there are selections for Album Art in the Settings tab, which includes automatic finding, don't remember what the defaults were but wouldn't hurt checking what your settings are, it should auto-generate when you are connected to WiFi or data. I've also found if I have missing art, it's easier and faster to go into the Album tabs (instead of tracks or artist) which will apply the art faster and to all of the tracks in the same album at once... This really helps when you have over 10k songs on your card!

 

[FSTOP]

That was the Snapdragon Aqstic variant.

The 3rd Party Hi-RES issue I believe stems from coding not detecting the Auxiliary DAC.

I say Auxiliary since LG makes it seem like you can turn the Quad-DAC off and use the Qualcomm DAC.

Which is why I was curious as to why LG did not use the Snapdragon Aqstic DAC like the Note 7 or HTC 10 and instead used the normal Snapdragon DAC from devices like Galaxy S7/S7 Edge.

As I understand it, Qualcomm treats Aqstic DAC/Codec/Amp package as upgrade for Snapdragon 820 but it is standard on Snapdragon 821.

Which is why I was extremely disappointed with how Pixel was out of the box? If Pixel had at least sounded like my Note 7s it would have been promising before root.

Ultimately I got LG V20 to replace Note 7 and it is the best audio I have had from a Stock Sprint Compatible smartphone. (Since CDMA support limits my smartphone choices considerably)

I still have my Pixel and it is rooted, with Elemental Kernel to lower Analog Gain to reduce noise floor, and WETA mods for Viper4Android.

I'm using Campfire Jupiters and Shure SE535 (w/ Brown Knowles dampners) through DHC Symbiote Hybrid cable.
Viper DDC has SE535 setting which seems to correct the slight bass boost from stock Pixel EQ. But I shouldn't have had to do all that work if Google had optimized Aqstic DAC.

On the LG V20 I may Root once it is definitive that the B&O variant has different audio tuning, as I feel US most likely got shafted. I know Harman Kardon HTC M8 had different sound signature than normal HTC M8. Also LG couldn't(wouldn't) let B&O Hi-fi DAC module be sold state side Officially...ugh

I'm hoping Aqstic is the standard Qualcomm DAC going forward which will mean that LG V30(Or whatever LG V20 successor is called) will have a 24-bit HI-RES fallback DAC.

I feel 2016 really was great for Xiaomi Mi Mix and LG V20. (HTC 10 was great but got curbed by T-Mobile and sales were disappointing, Samsung didn't include USB-C on normal Galaxy S7 series and Note 7 is defunct, OnePlus pulled an old'skool HTC move releasing more than 1 one Flagship, and the Google Pixel was apparently rushed.)

(Pixel mic/headphone jack failure issue, Lens flare, and lack of Audio optimization really shoe what was prioritised)

The only smartphone purchase that has left me satisfied this year is the LG V20.
(I've had to RMA iPhone 7 (lightning port ruined by Sprint Rep)and Pixel (mic/headphone jack died)

Ah, great info! I wondered what chips were in the Note7. Believe my Note3 had the yamaha variant, which was decent.
The n7 sounded like crap outofthebox, until I could implement the Experimental Hi-Res and few other settings, then it sounded quite good. But v20 is much better overall, soundwise. Still miss my stylus for writing notes photo/actual drawing art though!
Sorry about your Pixel issues, it was a consideration for me, but too many other things I didn't like... Still hoping to get a replaceable back with wireless charging for the V20 however. No stylus and wireless charging are my main miss-list from n7, but in other ways much happier with v20.