Sony Xperia Z3 DAC vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4 DAC (etc)

[RockStar2005]

Between these two new phones, which one has the better DAC (please include sample sizes if you can), and also, which one has the better overall sound capability? 
 
Thanks, 
 
RockStar2005

 

[smilemantts]

Would also be curious to hear feedback on this question?

 

[Duncan]

DAC is relatively unimportant (if taking music playback off-board with either USB or APTX), what I can say is that the Note 4 (snapdragon) has a fuller, richer sounding output than the Z3 when using headphone jack...

This 'could' be as a consequence of me being in the EU, and Sony playing more by the EU legislation than Samsung, or - it could just be that Samsung output is better than Sony...

 

[RockStar2005]

Perhaps in EU that is the case, and maybe here in the U.S. too? I did however, after posting my starting post above, come across this article (see #3) which seems to clearly favor Sony, though it's Z3 vs Note 3, not 4. But he does say Samsung in general has been disappointing. 
 
I guess the only way to prove it is to have the exact same settings on both phones and the exact same music playing as well. 
 
 
RockStar2005

 

[Duncan]

Having been around the block a bit, am hugely sceptical of this point...

iii. High quality 24bit 96khz DAC – True to life DAC that will deliver pure sound.

...all that means is that Sony have (like Samsung did with the Note 3, and LG with the G3) implemented audio output at a higher API level than native android, which is great for USB connections, but is easily bettered by third party solutions (UAPP as example)... also, this:

ii. Digital noise cancelling that cuts out nearly all ambient sound

This is either referring to only using included earphones, or regarding general telephony, either way - not that helpful...

Not saying the Z3 is bad or otherwise, just being objective... Best general headphone output (so, ignoring USB OTG functionality) has to go to HTC One M8 (now they've fixed the audio issues - unfortunately too late for me, as I sold my M8 on)...

 

[RockStar2005]

Yeah I had the M8 as my last phone and the headphone output was louder, but I have an amp (FiiO E11k), so doesn't matter to me anyway. 
 
I don't use USB connections, just audio cable connection. The fact is, it can process 24/96 where certain other phones (i.e. iPhone, which can only do CD-Quality) can't. How well it does it vs Samsung, LG, etc., is the question. As a side note, Samsung and LG (esp Samsung) need to stop making phones with the speakers (or in Samsung's case, speaker) on the back. What? lol My former LG G2 at least had 2 speakers, but they were bottom-facing. On the G3 however, LG decided, hey, let's take a step BACKWARDS and put the speakers on the back, and oh, take one of them away. lol Sony and HTC do it right!  
 
Yeah the noise-cancelling wasn't really relevant since it actually applies only if you use these earphones, which only come with the Z3 in certain countries (not U.S., cuz God forbid lol). In most cases you have to buy them separately. 
 
I think I randomly saw somewhere that the Note 4 can do 24/192, but how well it does it vs the Z3's 24/96 is another question. lol
 
 
RockStar2005

 

[Duncan]

I think I randomly saw somewhere that the Note 4 can do 24/192, but how well it does it vs the Z3's 24/96 is another question. lol


RockStar2005

As I said in my post above, this is mostly marketing BS - ANY half modern (Snapdragon 800/801/805, maybe 6xx too, any iPhone with a lightning connector, and maybe some of the older ones too) will be comfortably able to do that, and higher - just need an external app to do it (Android as an OS is limited to 16/48)... All these manufacturers know that people love to chase the numbers

 

[RockStar2005]

True. lol But the Z3 (and Sammy + LG??) does it w/o any additional equipment, third party apps, etc. 
 
Of course if you send the music via usb or whatever to a stand-alone DAC, it's prob gonna sound somewhat better (I guess?), but it's more work and expense. I actually read somewhere that the DAC on the iPhone 6 IS allegedly capable of Hi-Res (in this case, 24/96), but Apple locked it at CD-Quality (16/44.1). My guess is b/c they wanna save more juice for the battery? I dunno. So they could always send an update and unlock it, if the author of that article was actually right. I don't get why they keep that DAC info such a secret, and by they I mean all smartphone makers. lol I know Samsung uses Wolfson DACs, but is it the same quality Wolfson as their stand-alones? I doubt it. It would just be nice if Samsung and LG advertised their sound info more like how Sony has been doing. The fact that they aren't makes me suspicious. 
 
 
RockStar2005

 

[RockStar2005]

Well perhaps you were right after all............ at least for the Galaxy S3........... what the U.S. got and what Europe got WERE different. But this thread from here on Head-Fi seems to confirm that the U.S. versions of the Note phones through Note 3 never had Wolfson either, but Qualcom (which is what I think the Sony Z phones have). And as for the new Note 4...... still a "no go" here in the U.S. lol 
 
This thread sheds more light on exactly what the Z3 has with regards to Hi-Res Audio processing. It sounds like some of the people responding were comparing it to other smartphones as well. On Page 4 of that thread, the OP makes it very clear that at least HE thinks the Z3 sounds better than the Note 4 and iPhone 6. Sounds like the Nexus 6 may be equal to the Z3 when speaking about audio capabilities, though it doesn't have the Walkman app. Then again, I think PowerAmp is slightly better than Walkman. lol
 
 
RockStar2005

 

[thepooh]

According to some sources , the Note 4 (Exynos version) has the latest Wolfson mobile chip which should give better performances than the S5, I also guess that it may have the dedicated Seiren Cortex A5 audio processing chip such as the Galaxy Alpha Exynos.
 
Some headfiers reported that the sound quality isn't really better than most flagships out there, the Sony Z3 seems to take the lead in mostly every aspect except the low output power