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Does anyone else think that the Samsung plays music much better than the Apple?

While I know that Spotify isn't the best sound reproduction.  To me, Samsung sounds significantly better than Apple. 

Four years ago I fired Apple as my phone hardware and went with Samsung.  I got tired of Apple slow downs every time I updated my software.  Got the Samsung home and noticed that my music via Spotify sounded much better. 

Recently I had to fire Samsung.  I had a Note 9 and was trapped in a infinite do loop.  It continually wanted to update the software, via forced shutdowns.  The phone would reboot and go through the whole cycle again.  Found out that the phone doesn't support the new software and it was just going to keep doing that. 

So, I decided to give Apple another try.  Got it home hoping with all their hardware upgrades it would sound better than before and nope, very disappointed.
hoosierinohio
8 responses Add your response
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
This conversation doesn't mean much without mentioning the music format and apps being used. FLAC and AIFF files played through Poweramp app on iphone sound a ton better than Apple Music on same phone. 
Also, assuming you're using bluetooth to wireless headphones/buds, the newer bluetooth protocols sound promising, or at least noticeable, so if you're judging the hardware, be sure you're talking apples-to-apples. Cheers,
Spencer
hoosierinohio OP
162 posts
 
Very much appreciate the suggestions.  I have 4 systems in the house and this is for my screened porch, hanging out with the wife and letting her pick much of the music, passing the phone back and forth.  I was just amazed at how much difference there was in the sound and how much worse the Apple sounds.  I will definitely try the EQ settings, which I just changed to "jazz", per suggestion and will know this evening.  I'm guessing that the LG Velvet will soon find the fate of my Samsung and will no longer be supported, if my luck were to hold. 
mahler123
3,318 posts
 
I use the LG Velvet phone, and I bought it for it's Audiophile credentials (it is the descendent of the LV 30 that was on the cover of Stereophile, and it uses an ESS Sabre DAC).  LG is discontinuing it and I've been thinking about getting a second one to replace the current when the battery dies, as I've seen them going for under $400 on line.
soix
9,456 posts
 
Have you tried changing the audio EQ settings on the iPhone?  I find “Rock” or “Jazz” sound best (and much better than the default “Flat” setting) so would be worth exploring if you haven’t yet.  Of course it’s still compressed Spotify crap audio so it’s not gonna sound good no matter what you do, but that’s another subject.  Hope this helps. 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,598 posts
 
I have good reasons to stay away from both. And play music on Cowon. And buy a new smart phone every year for non music.
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
I tried moving away from apple. Got the cheapest new Samsung phone.  Using Samsung's Music playback app was simple and sounded really super nice.  If I had to, I could use the Samsung for music and just music, it is great.  Yet, as a communication device it's not as easy to use as apple.  Blu-Tooth uni-connect didn't work well in my car but worked great in my wife's.  The phone was just plain buggie.  I went back to my old iPhone 6 after frustrating myself for a few months.    I found something odd about iPhone.  I live off the grid, my cabin has satellite wifi with a cell phone repeater/range extender.  My Wife's new iphone gets terrible wifi calling and can't connect to cell repeater yet my old iPhone 6 connects to the repeater, no problem. so much for new and improved.   
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
Yes, Samsung does sound better. So do the other media, particularly Qobuz and any FLAC files. Might be because I believe Apple is still using mp3?... But I do love the iPhone over Android for ease of operation, not sound. You should realize they are now downgrading the DAC used in phones...
spatialking's avatar
spatialking
610 posts
 
You know, with respect to sound quality, you might be expecting too much from your phone.  Keep in mind, the "Market" for music via cell are teens, who predominately listen to mpeg music.   

I don't like Apple because of their business practices concerning vendors, but that is my opinion.   Consequently, I never buy Apple products.
Bummer on Samsung, I just upgraded my phone from an LG (about 7 years old!) to a One Plus 7T and it seems to work very well.

Spotify is mpeg compression although an upgraded plan we have uses AAC.  That being said, I recently read where Spotify is moving to FLAC files to complete with Tidal and other premium servers, so perhaps Spotify won't be so bad, comparatively.  
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