Best smartphone for music AND best way to connect

[paulbike]

I will buy a new smartphone shortly which I plan to use as my primary music source with Tidal streaming in my car system. I am not overly technical, but I do love music.

Many people like the Note 4, but I'd like to know from you technocrats if it is warranted and if so, which connection is preferred (headphone jack, USB, Bluetooth). Bluetooth seems easier to use, but I suspect it will degrade the sound.

Additional info: Upgraded JBL factory head unit (2007 Solara convertible); Audison Bit 10 processor - probably Audison DRC digital remote control.

I will not understand highly technical descriptions, but I'm hoping to hear something like: the Note 4 has the best hardware & DAC for music and USB will give the optimal quality if directly connected to the Bit 10.

Of course, it's probably not that easy and if there are tradeoffs and you are willing to describe, I'll read and try to understand.

Thanks for reading.
Paul

 

[shortylickens]

Welcome new guy!!



I like my Sony Z3 Compact, but I dont know the stats of its audio processor. It works lovely with my Nissan Bose system.

 

[Yuriman]

I think Bluetooth 4.0 sounds fine, but earlier versions noticeably degrade sound quality, even in a car's listening environment. Your head unit might be old enough that it doesn't support 4.0. I dislike wires, but occasionally bluetooth shows odd behavior with most head units and is a pain (and likely dangerous) to troubleshoot while driving.

As far as smartphones go, there will not be much (any?) real difference between any phone that you'll be able to hear in your car. The Note 4 is the basically most expensive phone on the market, and I'd only pick it if you really want a Note 4 for other reasons. I personally use a Moto X on Republic Wireless, which has unlimited data plans for $25 per month on Sprint's network, and roaming on Verizon.

 

[Commodus]

Have you considered an iPhone?

Whatever you think of its audio processing (it's good but not great), the iPhone simply has a better music ecosystem right now. It tends to get new app features first, more accessories, more support for car infotainment units (important whenever you replace that Solara) and more service choices. Look at it this way: if you decide that you don't like Tidal, this gives you the maximum support possible for alternatives.

 

[paulbike]

Thanks for the replies. I've been quietly lusting after the Note 4 for lots of reasons, so I think I'll probably go that way. Since it will be connected to the Bit 10 as a source, it won't go through the JBL head unit and I was hoping to be able to use USB. If anyone knows specifically about how to connect it so the phone also charges while playing, I'd welcome the info. I'll look into bluetooth 4 (never heard of it before) and maybe it would make things easier if both the Note 4 and Bit 10 have it.

Regarding, the iPhone - I used iTunes very early on when it was the only way to record my CDs onto a portable product (the iPod) and when I wanted to change formats, Apple made it extremely difficult to do. So, I decided not to use Apple products after that. I should have learned from 8-track and the Betamax :'(.

 

[Crono]

The HTC One generally has the best or one of the best amp/DAC each generation. The M9 isn't as competitive in other areas anymore versus the competition, but it's still easily the best smartphone for audio, and that includes audio output via the headphone jack, not just the excellent front-facing speakers.

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m9-review-1230p7.php

Using auxiliary gets you much better quality sound than bluetooth.

 

[GTRagnarok]

My Note 4 is fine in my car, Bluetooth or aux, but it could be a lot better with my low impedance IEMs. I get a lot of crackling noise at low volumes. Same thing with my Galaxy S4. I think my iPhone 4 was much better in this aspect.

 

[Harry_Wild]

I go with a Lumia 635 if it is only use for a music player! Cost is around $50 and with a micro SD card inside; you can expand it to 128GB. You get Nokia Music too! Microsoft Zune too. 4.5" screen size and removable battery!

 

[Oyeve]

While I have and love my note 4 I find my HTC m8 to have much better sound. Not talking about the front facing speaker but sound quality. The amp and dac are much better than the Note 4. Note 4 is still great tho.

 

[MrSquished]

The HTC One generally has the best or one of the best amp/DAC each generation. The M9 isn't as competitive in other areas anymore versus the competition, but it's still easily the best smartphone for audio, and that includes audio output via the headphone jack, not just the excellent front-facing speakers.

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m9-review-1230p7.php

Using auxiliary gets you much better quality sound than bluetooth.

what this guy said.

 

[darkswordsman17]

The HTC One generally has the best or one of the best amp/DAC each generation. The M9 isn't as competitive in other areas anymore versus the competition, but it's still easily the best smartphone for audio, and that includes audio output via the headphone jack, not just the excellent front-facing speakers.

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m9-review-1230p7.php

Using auxiliary gets you much better quality sound than bluetooth.

Sorry to be pedantic, but I wouldn't say easily, especially considering your link indicates the S6 is right there with it (and bests it even in several of the tests).

There's several other factors that need to be taken into account as well, like performance with different headphones (and if you're doing analog output I wish they actually tested devices for all of that). Oh and they put all devices at max volume which means things could be different at normal listening levels. Also something else to keep in mind with their tests, they use the music players provided with the device and try to turn off all "enhancements" (which might not even be possible, as we saw with Creative and their old Audigy cards resampling everything). Plus if you use other players there's no guarantee that it works the same (although it should, but if they test using certain bit and sampling rate, then it's possible that it might not represent music listening). And also the Android audio stack has more latency than iOS which could present a problem (depending on how bad it is and how good your ears are for something like that you're probably not likely to "hear" it easily but it might still be there). Overall I'd wager HTCs is one of the better ones, and coupled with their front speakers they offer good sound all around.

 

[paulbike]

I use the Galaxy S4 now and my primary source is Tidal in "offline mode" (from the SD card).

Yesterday, I spoke with an "advanced tech support" guy at Samsung who actually seemed to know a few things. He said that the best sound quality with my new set up would be to use the USB connection directly into the Audison Bit 10 and to set the phone to output from the SD card as a "media device", thereby bypassing the phones DAC and using the Bit 10's DAC and using no media software.

It "seems" that using this approach makes the phone's internal hardware a moot point and my S4 would likely provide exactly the same quality as any other phone. He suggested that keeping the volume setting on the phone low and using the Bit 10's volume control would generate the lowest distortion.

As a relative novice, this makes sense to me, but I don't know if it's true that the Bit 10's DAC and related hardware is better or if the approach makes technical sense. I'd love it of it was this simple.

He did add that the Galaxy S4 uses USB 2.0 and the Note 4 uses USB 3.0. One questions is: does USB 3.0 improve sound quality or just the speed (and if it does improve SQ, by how much? In my case, I drive a convertible, so sound is already compromised.

Does this sound right to those of you who actually know how the sound is produced and delivered?

 

[lazybedone]

nice to have your phone as your primary music source. good luck to the market of m3 players