[drftr]

Recently I have tried to find sound improvement over LG V60, but failed.
Tried: Mojo, Hugo 2, L&P W2, Cayin RU6, Chronos…. none of these USB DACs can get close to the sound quality of V60.

The more I try, the more I realize how good V60 really is: true reference sounding: with ultimate correctness, transparency, resolution, details, balance.

(To get the best sound out if V60, need to use UAPP player. It can get around the V60's default 3 filters. I hate all of the 3 filters.
These 3 filters sounds like OS filters, they will make sound processed, incorrect.
Using UAPP to bypass them, the sound is like NOS mode, the true original correct sound.)

I think it would be interesting and valuable if you'd post this on the RU6 forum. It makes for a great discussion what aspects exactly are better in the one vs the other.

drftr

 

[6Channel]

Hate to beat a possibly dead horse, but I've just landed my 4th consecutive V60 with the prime requirement to have an FM radio. I want the V60 for audio, but I have several very good FM stations in my area that sound stunning (can I use that term?) on my V20 & V30. My first 3 TM's (only TMobile models spec FM, I'm told) didn't have the radio, but the one I received last week DOES; however, it plays in monaural only and has poor dynamics, no HF, little LF and unlistenably muddy mids. Does anyone know of a "trick" or setting I'm missing out on to restore proper performance? I use the audio out jack, as FM doesn't process digitally in my older phones.

This will be my last crack at the V60 - I'd be REALLY upset if I had to swap cells when I want to hear FM.

 

[tL47]

Does anyone know of a "trick" or setting I'm missing out on to restore proper performance?

Actually FM chip is always there it gets enabled by a specific config flag per phone operator provider. Try NextRadio instead of using stock LG FM radio app.

 

[6Channel]

Actually FM chip is always there it gets enabled by a specific config flag per phone operator provider. Try NextRadio instead of using stock LG FM radio app.

Thanks, tl47, but I'm a screwball: I use my V models exclusively for audio - no carrier, not internet, no SIM. I'd still be enjoying my great-sounding V20, except I clumsily left it within range of wifi when either TMob or LG pushed Android 8 onto it, and there went the fabulous FM. From reviews, I'm led to believe the ATT & TMob V60s that came with Android 10 still featured the great FM. Unfortunately, the repackaged ones I've received the past month are already updated - I've still got my trusty V30, but the new Snapdragon/Sabre chips in the V60 elevate the SQ a couple of notches. I'm tiring of finding an original V60, so may just keep protecting my V30 for the long run . . . . just hoping a tech junkie might read this who knows how to resurrect the FM. I've spent too many hours scouring the AndroidCentral & xda boards to pursue this much more.

 

[TK33]

Thanks, tl47, but I'm a screwball: I use my V models exclusively for audio - no carrier, not internet, no SIM. I'd still be enjoying my great-sounding V20, except I clumsily left it within range of wifi when either TMob or LG pushed Android 8 onto it, and there went the fabulous FM. From reviews, I'm led to believe the ATT & TMob V60s that came with Android 10 still featured the great FM. Unfortunately, the repackaged ones I've received the past month are already updated - I've still got my trusty V30, but the new Snapdragon/Sabre chips in the V60 elevate the SQ a couple of notches. I'm tiring of finding an original V60, so may just keep protecting my V30 for the long run . . . . just hoping a tech junkie might read this who knows how to resurrect the FM. I've spent too many hours scouring the AndroidCentral & xda boards to pursue this much more.

Out of curiosity, I unhid the FM Radio app just now on my V60 (T-Mobile US) and it is still there and still works. I dont think upgrading OS to Android 11 has anything to do with it since my V60 is on Android 11.

Edit: Why not at least give the suggestion from @tL47 a try? If your V20 no longer has the FM app for some reason, might as well try it on that phone.

 

[6Channel]

Out of curiosity, I unhid the FM Radio app just now on my V60 (T-Mobile US) and it is still there and still works. I dont think upgrading OS to Android 11 has anything to do with it since my V60 is on Android 11.

Edit: Why not at least give the suggestion from @tL47 a try? If your V20 no longer has the FM app for some reason, might as well try it on that phone.

Well, TK33, it was certainly worth a try. I had to install "APK Pure" in order to install the NextRadio apk, and eventually it installed. It sticks on a frame "Find local radio stations", after which I entered my zip and punched "FIND STATIONS NEARBY". It always just sits there indefinitely, not showing work or activity, and no field of stations ever appears. I am suspicious, again, that this app will only work on a phone with 4G or wifi data network - and it doesn't even respond with a STATIONS result when plugged into the connection from which I acquired the app in the first place. And, yes, I've got my cans plugged in. My V60 is also on Android 11, but the radio is neutered as on the previous 3 I ordered. I think it's back to Amazon again. Tkx !

 

[tL47]

Well sad to hear that @6Channel then definitely FM chip is disabled on your V60 by this config setting.
Anyway V60 suffers with a lot of issues with High Impendence cans and ARB on V20 Oreo prevents rolling back to Nougat, so only way for you is to use your V30.

 

[fablestruck]

I thought of upgrading my V30 so ended up with both a V50 and a V60 (don't ask why).
I think that the V50 has a softer more bassy signature.
What do you guys think?

 

[tL47]

As an owner of every V by LG I can say V50 running Pie and its functionality suits me best in the sound department and compared to V20 or V40 it has less bass and it is more natural tuned. Next will be V40 then V35 on Oreo and without tweaks will be my second, then V30 and finally V20. V60 and V10 stay out of this list as those are far from being capable to output decent sound at all.

 

[fablestruck]

As an owner of every V by LG I can say V50 running Pie and its functionality suits me best in the sound department and compared to V20 or V40 it has less bass and it is more natural tuned. Next will be V40 then V35 on Oreo and without tweaks will be my second, then V30 and finally V20. V60 and V10 stay out of this list as those are far from being capable to output decent sound at all.

I thought so. Though I wouldn't say the V60 sound is not decent. In fact it might be better for critical listening in my experience so far.
But the V50 has a more pleasant (yes more natural) tuning and being smaller is more practical. The bigger screen (but with less analysis) and the battery are advantages of the V60. I will use them interchangeably.

 

[tL47]

Absolutely agree. My V60 ended with a dongle attached to it and thanks to his enormous battery and microsd it can be used this way for real HI Res listening.

 

[fablestruck]

It seems that my V60 does reproduce MQA on UAPP streaming Tidal.
So what's the story after all? Does the V60 play MQAs or not ?

 

[tL47]

It seems that my V60 does reproduce MQA on UAPP streaming Tidal.
So what's the story after all? Does the V60 play MQAs or not ?

Actually that is the problem. V60 only "plays" MQA via first software unfold done via UAPP but not by the DAC and only if you buy MQA core decoder plugin for UAPP.
I will not comment on MQA and its quality we all know this video and what happened afterwards, but the result you get on V60 playing MQA is really sad - you get only first unfold according to MQA specs then it got passed converted to PCM (and gets wrongly amplified by DAC in case you are using High Impendence output) which brings tons of artifacts in the output from MQA (and known Hi Imp V60 distortion bug)

Spoiler: dumpsys media.audio_flinger

Historical Thread Log 01-23 10:23:00.579 -
-Output thread 0xb400007a16075b80, name AudioOut_A5D, tid 4281, type 1 (DIRECT):
- I/O handle: 2653
- Standby: yes
- Sample rate: 32000 Hz
- HAL frame count: 2560
- HAL format: 0x3 (AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_32_BIT)
- HAL buffer size: 10240 bytes
- Channel count: 1
- Channel mask: 0x00000001 (front-left)
- Processing format: 0x3 (AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_32_BIT)
- Processing frame size: 4 bytes
- Pending config events: none
- Output devices: (Empty device types)
- Input device: 0 (AUDIO_DEVICE_NONE)
- Audio source: 0 (AUDIO_SOURCE_DEFAULT)
- Timestamp stats: n=1 disc=1 cold=0 nRdy=0 err=0 rate=nan jitterMs(unavail) localSR(nan, nan) correctedJitterMs(unavail)
- Timestamp corrected: no
- Threadloop write latency stats: ave=-0.059948 std=0 min=-0.059948 max=-0.059948
- Master volume: 1.000000
- Master mute: off
- Normal frame count: 2560
- Total writes: 0
- Delayed writes: 0
- Blocked in write: no
- Suspend count: 0
- Sink buffer : 0xb400007a1605c180
- Mixer buffer: 0xb400007aa60c7060
- Effect buffer: 0xb400007a1605ef00
- Fast track availMask=0xfe
- Standby delay ns=3000000000
- AudioStreamOut: 0xb4000078c6066a40 flags 0x1 (AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT)
- Frames written: 0
- Suspended frames: 0
- Hal stream dump:
- Standby: yes
- Frames written: 0
- Errors: 0
- Signal power history: (none)
- Master balance: 0.000000 Left: 1.000000 Right: 1.000000
- Stream volumes in dB: 0:0, 1:-21, 2:-26, 3:-21, 4:-16, 5:-23, 6:-inf, 7:-18, 8:-23, 9:-96, 10:-23, 11:-21, 12:0, 13:0, 14:0
- Normal mixer raw underrun counters: partial=0 empty=0
- 0 Tracks
- 0 Effect Chains
- Local log:

timelm:/ $

And here is how this looks like in UAPP:

Spoiler: UAPP direct

Now same screen using MQA capable dongle with full unfold:

Spoiler: UAPP USB DONGLE

 

[fablestruck]

Actually that is the problem. V60 only "plays" MQA via first software unfold done via UAPP but not by the DAC and only if you buy MQA core decoder plugin for UAPP.
I will not comment on MQA and its quality we all know this video and what happened afterwards, but the result you get on V60 playing MQA is really sad - you get only first unfold according to MQA specs then it got passed converted to PCM (and gets wrongly amplified by DAC in case you are using High Impendence output) which brings tons of artifacts in the output from MQA (and known Hi Imp V60 distortion bug)

Spoiler: dumpsys media.audio_flinger

Historical Thread Log 01-23 10:23:00.579 -
-Output thread 0xb400007a16075b80, name AudioOut_A5D, tid 4281, type 1 (DIRECT):
- I/O handle: 2653
- Standby: yes
- Sample rate: 32000 Hz
- HAL frame count: 2560
- HAL format: 0x3 (AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_32_BIT)
- HAL buffer size: 10240 bytes
- Channel count: 1
- Channel mask: 0x00000001 (front-left)
- Processing format: 0x3 (AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_32_BIT)
- Processing frame size: 4 bytes
- Pending config events: none
- Output devices: (Empty device types)
- Input device: 0 (AUDIO_DEVICE_NONE)
- Audio source: 0 (AUDIO_SOURCE_DEFAULT)
- Timestamp stats: n=1 disc=1 cold=0 nRdy=0 err=0 rate=nan jitterMs(unavail) localSR(nan, nan) correctedJitterMs(unavail)
- Timestamp corrected: no
- Threadloop write latency stats: ave=-0.059948 std=0 min=-0.059948 max=-0.059948
- Master volume: 1.000000
- Master mute: off
- Normal frame count: 2560
- Total writes: 0
- Delayed writes: 0
- Blocked in write: no
- Suspend count: 0
- Sink buffer : 0xb400007a1605c180
- Mixer buffer: 0xb400007aa60c7060
- Effect buffer: 0xb400007a1605ef00
- Fast track availMask=0xfe
- Standby delay ns=3000000000
- AudioStreamOut: 0xb4000078c6066a40 flags 0x1 (AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT)
- Frames written: 0
- Suspended frames: 0
- Hal stream dump:
- Standby: yes
- Frames written: 0
- Errors: 0
- Signal power history: (none)
- Master balance: 0.000000 Left: 1.000000 Right: 1.000000
- Stream volumes in dB: 0:0, 1:-21, 2:-26, 3:-21, 4:-16, 5:-23, 6:-inf, 7:-18, 8:-23, 9:-96, 10:-23, 11:-21, 12:0, 13:0, 14:0
- Normal mixer raw underrun counters: partial=0 empty=0
- 0 Tracks
- 0 Effect Chains
- Local log:

timelm:/ $

And here is how this looks like in UAPP:

Spoiler: UAPP direct

Now same screen using MQA capable dongle with full unfold:

Spoiler: UAPP USB DONGLE

this is so interesting.
much obliged for the info

 

[bronco1015]

i stopped using my V60 as a phone and switched to my Pixel 6 Pro at the end of October, which has been a mixed bag, but mostly not great for audio in my experience. lots of issues with LDAC especially. it's fine, but not on the level of the V60 for bluetooth which frankly i don't think should be the case. I've been using my V40 and V60 with my PM3, my Aonic 50 wired and wireless, some Audiofly and Shure iems, and man has it been great. Bluetooth on both LG's has been more stable than the P6Pro, and the V60 seems to pair better with my H95, Aonic 50 and other headphones via bluetooth. i'm tempted to switch back to the v60 as a phone and DAP and keep the V40 as a DAP. Anyone switch back to the V60 as a phone from another device recently?