[zach8278]

Hi everyone! So, i have an iPhone 6 Plus. It is good, but iOS is so bland, boring, and not for me. 
 
What phone should i look at/check out if i want something with a good customizable type of software and a usable interface?
 
Thanks to anyone and everyone who can help!

 

[cel4145]

Any Android phone will be far more customizable than an iPhone.

Get a Samsung Note 5. Notice how the audio output measures as well (or better if crosstalk is important) as the iPhone 6 Plus: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note5-review-1286p7.php

2nd Samsung Note I've had. Love 'em

 

[zach8278]

@cel4145 i was thinking about getting that phone! Thanks!
 
The Note line of Samsung phones have gotten a lot of positive feedback over the years that they have been out. Would you say that Samsung is the brand to look if i want a good sounding smartphone or should i consider other alternatives?

 

[cel4145]

I'm not an authority on all phones (lol).

Use GSMarena. Look at their full reviews that have the audio test like with that Samsung review and look at the headphone output. When THD is less than .001 like that, you know it's good. When IMD+Noise is < .05, you know it's good. When crosstalk numbers are that high, you know it's good. Dynamic range and noise level in the 90s, also good

 

[zach8278]

The measurements for everything on the note 5 are awesome, and i know a person should not form a main opinion based on what one person says, but.. yeah.

 

[cel4145]

The measurements for everything on the note 5 are awesome, and i know a person should not form a main opinion based on what one person says, but.. yeah.

There may be other phones that measure as well. I just don't know. I had the Nexus 6 for about a year, but it had problems and the audio was not that good. I also have XXL hands, so I have not researched smaller phones. That's why I said use GSMArena. Very helpful

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Get a Samsung Note 5. Notice how the audio output measures as well (or better if crosstalk is important) as the iPhone 6 Plus: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note5-review-1286p7.php

2nd Samsung Note I've had. Love 'em

 

I second the Notes. I don't know why the S series gets the rep for audio, the Notes all sounded more neutral to me and cleaner. My SGS was too warm, the SGS3 (non-Wolfson, if that matters) was more neutral in the overall tone but the bass to lower midrange was distorting. It's not overexcursion with say the bass drum going "thum-thwack!" but the bass guitar can get boomy but doesn't sound deep.

 

Also, GSMArena measurements show the Note 3/4/5 comparable enough that for an audiophile you can choose it for its other features than sacrificing on some features and paying more for the LG G5 + B&O HiFi DAC module. I mean, native high res files are debatable in terms of benefits solely from high res encoding and playback vs redbook anyway. Even I only have FLAC on my microSD because I use it as a music server with a dock (and USB OTG); music that don't have much information in the lows (or bassy but aren't exactly that critical, like party music and pop) are the ones I run from Spotify.

 

Note 3 (what I'm using now)

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_3-review-996p8.php

 

LG G5 (includes B&O module)

http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g5-review-1416p6.php

 

The Note5 is even better than the Note3 and really puts into question whether you'd want to give B&O any of your money.

 

[cel4145]

I second the Notes. I don't know why the S series gets the rep for audio, the Notes all sounded more neutral to me and cleaner. My SGS was too warm, the SGS3 (non-Wolfson, if that matters) was more neutral in the overall tone but the bass to lower midrange was distorting. It's not overexcursion with say the bass drum going "thum-thwack!" but the bass guitar can get boomy but doesn't sound deep.

Also, GSMArena measurements show the Note 3/4/5 comparable enough that for an audiophile you can choose it for its other features than sacrificing on some features and paying more for the LG G5 + B&O HiFi DAC module. I mean, native high res files are debatable in terms of benefits solely from high res encoding and playback vs redbook anyway. Even I only have FLAC on my microSD because I use it as a music server with a dock (and USB OTG); music that don't have much information in the lows (or bassy but aren't exactly that critical, like party music and pop) are the ones I run from Spotify.

Note 3 (what I'm using now)
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_3-review-996p8.php

LG G5 (includes B&O module)
http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g5-review-1416p6.php

The Note5 is even better than the Note3 and really puts into question whether you'd want to give B&O any of your money.

When I got the Note 5, I was out of town and my Nexus 6 was becoming more unreliable and I had to have a new phone at the moment. So I just went and traded it in since I had a Note 3 and my brother hand a Note 4, and we both loved them. I was surprised when I looked at the audio specs after getting it, for it should be fairly transparent within the range of hearing based on measurements alone. That crosstalk rating with the headphone output of -84.1 is better than some of the <$200 amp/dacs people are buying. And many of the specs for using just the DAC as a line out are pushing ODAC territory.

This, and the audio of the iPhone 6, is where we ought to be with phone audio. It's time for all mid tier and flagship model phones to sound this good. Then if we could strike down the EU for that stupid crippling volume requirement that has discouraged phone manufacturers from adding stronger amps, we'd be all set