Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I have used the Droid since Friday and the one thing that surprised me is how weak the sound quality is compared to my G1, Dash and Zen 32gb from the 3.5mm jack. Dash has OK sound quality, but the G1 and Zen have very good sound quality.

It then struck me that Droid and the N900 have the same chipsets. I am now concerned that the N900 could have the same weak sound quality. Sure, Droid's speaker sounds very good for a phone speaker, but the 3.5 mm jack output is low in volume and weak audio spectrum depth. Highs are especially weak.

I tried ACDC, Dire Straits, Led Zeppelin, Rush and Wolfmother with same result- wimpy sound from Droid compared to the G1 or Dash.

Could it be Androids lack of decent audio drivers are the cause of this or a chipset constraint?

added:

I used 13ohm UE's and V-Moda buds with the same conclusion.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Since I don't have a pre-production unit, I can't answer your question.

But, I can say that it should have nothing to do with the Android's drivers if your G1 had good sound/s.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

The sound quality seems relatively neat, according to the videos I've seen. And if it sounds good through video recording, it's surely 50% better in real-time.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Havalook at this....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TquCVQNVQqg

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Don't know about quality but the n900 has a lower volume than the n800 (due to speakers).

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Good point. G1 audio is very good so probably not the issue. Sure hope an audiophile that is using the N900 now could respond too.

Droid 3.5 mm output is weak and same chipset.

Added:

External speaker is loud and clear, so surprised 3.5 mm through ear buds pretty much sucks.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Thanks for the links! I am using Droid now and watched the link using Droid- ironic. Droid external speaker sounds very good, but the music quality using the ear buds with the 3.5 mm jack is the problem- weak.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

This will be the third time now that I've answered this exact thread on these forums. Kindly learn to search in the future.

They have the same SoC, but that have little to do with sound output. The N900 has a high-end TI headphone amp and sound quality both from the speakers and the 3.5mm jack is excellent.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Yup, I was going to say...

The reviews that I have read said sound quality on the Droid was stellar.

>> http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/m...-droid-review/

In the past, /\/\otorola has been know for their exceptional speaker phone feature and crystal clear earpiece and microphone performance in both their radios and cell phones. They have been doing it a long time.

You may have a defective unit, jack, or earbuds.

...and the chipset should have very little to do with sound quality issues. Software could though, but it would effect sound from the external speakers as well.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I have been using the DROID since the 6th, and I was very pleased at the audio quality of the device. I do agree that the audio amp is a little weak, so perhaps with higher impedance headphones, you may want to suppliment the audio with a headphone amplifier like the Fiio E5. I found the sound quality, not volume, to be superior of the N810, so using streaming audio it's been nice.

I too hope that the N900 has good sound quality for both headphones and and external speakers. Especially since the N900 is such a media-centric device.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Sorry General, missed the amp part. Just got spooked since the earlier model Archos 5 that I have also has the 3430 chipset and also has weak dB output like Droid from the 3.5 jack (known issue on A5).

I tested using 13ohm UEs and Vmoda 16ohm buds. An amp will of course make huge difference :)

Added:

The actual quality is not too bad, but less instrument definition compared to G1 and Zen 32gb. I guess everything is relative.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I had the same issue on a Samsung Eternity that belon gs to my wife. It seems that these devices are turned down on the Headphone out pro Liabilty purposes. It was easy to get into the Service Menu of the phone and contour the volume control. You could adjust the in call volume as well as the MP3 volumes separately. Perhaps this same functionality can be found on the N900?

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

N900 has an amp so we are good:)

General kindly mentioned in the thread.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Even an amp, most likely an opamp, has an attenuator. The Samsung, you could contour all the steps of the volume control separately. such as step 7= -30 dB, step 6= -21 dB, step 5 = -15 dB, etc. all the way up to step 1 which may even be more gain such as +5 dB. This was all available on the Sammy.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

The N810 has a really awful sound output. It's somewhat helped by the excellent speakers, but it's sad that when you sit in a quiet room and have the volume at one step above minimum, you can still hear the noise floor right there through the built-in speakers, whne holding the device in your hand.. Not to mention the noise floor sitting right in the middle of the music when you use low-impedance headphones...

Which brings me to the next question, any decent headphone amps that aren't noisy at low volume and low impedance headphones? I vaguely recall forum posts saying Fiio E5 is too noisy..

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Can someone tell me how loud this device is from the 3.5mm jack (using headphones)? I like to listen to my music very very loud.

Just sold my ipod touch in anticipation of the release of this (and to give me money towards the N900 purchase price), Hate ipod like hell and always had Creative mp3 players but they have really lost their way recently. Was going to wait for the Zune HD but then heard its European release was uncertain so I decided to do what I had been saying for years I would rather die than do - buy an ipod. Used it for 3 months then decided I couldn't take it anymore and had to sell it. Was eventually too ashamed to bring it out in public and look like the masses that buy anything ipod related cause they think it makes them look cool. And with the ipod touch being touch screen it meant that when I was on the tube I couldn't skip songs I didn't want to hear.

I know people say ipod has poor sound quality but I am not an audiophile so didn't notice it having bad quality. What I noticed was it was really loud just the way I like it. How does the loudness of the N900 compare?

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

The noise floor with low-impedance headphones is gone on the N900. I almost never used my N810 for listening to music because this was so annoying. Now with the N900 is pure joy :)

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

What do you mean you couldn't skip because it's a touch screen? If you use the Apple earbuds you can skip with the button in-line (just need the iPhone earbuds). You can pause and go back with it too. I think there are even aftermarket ones, heaven forbid you have to show the general public that you own a common MP3 player.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

What about A2DP quality?

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

The speaker quality on the N900 is limited by the fact that all output has to pass a HP filter due to hardware issues (very low freqs can damage the speakers).
But nonetheless, speaker quality is very good on the N900, and IMHO a lot better than it is on the G1, which disappointed me in terms of speaker quality.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I can only speak of FMTX quality and this is excellent. I use it almost daily on my car's radio.

To be honest, FMTX quality is excellent as long as other FM stations don't disturb. The FMTX doesn't have a strong signal and thus gets easily disturbed. :(

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I'm the kind to really enjoy good earphones and good sound quality. N95 8GB I currently have is really bad for good music listening through expensive earphones. It just feels cramped with very narrow soundstage. Treble is harsh, bass is weak. Definitely not an audiophile device by anymeans.

I really hope N900 is much better and as good as a decent dedicated MP3 player. Can't wait for GSMArena's detailed sound quality review.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Hi Guys,
I'm a member of an audiophile Headphone Forum. I'm talking up to $15,000 for headphones and earphones, that kind of forum.

I can really recommend the the Yuin PK3 as a real bang for the buck set. Sound like $150-$200 Shures.

http://www.head-direct.com/

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

it wasn't that long ago when the UK made personal FM transmitters, designed for this sort of in-car use, legal, and there are very severe restrictions on the power output to prevent interference

some cars have heated windscreens which act as antenna, these are probably more successful with the N900 than those with traditional antenna which is further away

you're still better off with an AUX input on your car radio - sometimes you need to buy a proprietary adaptor, sometimes the "ipod" adaptor is really just a cable with one end being a proprietary connector one end the other a 3.5mm jack. or, get a car radio with a2dp receiver, though they're not very common.

anyway, when I was in Nokia London Flagship store, there was a lot of ambient noise and I was able to crank the n900 up quite loud. not as good as the n800 but probably plenty good enough for podcasts etc.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Wasn't aware the iphone earbuds had any such functionality. But heaven forbid I even use apple earbuds. That would show the world that I own an ipod without even having to bring out the device.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

You don't even need the Apple ones.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...i_sku=12343460

I guess I just don't understand the iPod hate.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

The Buds I have posted 3 Posts up are the real deal. These Sony's are Junk, no offense intended. I know they don't look like much, but they got the sound. If you want kewler looks get the Sony. If you want to be blown away by the sound get the Yuin.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Soundmagic PL-50 is imo one of the best for around $50. Super light, comfortable and excellent sound quality from single BA driver. I can't stand normal earbuds. Not enough isolation for both listener and neighbours. So I recommend in-ear for listening to music in public places.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

les_gart, thanks for the heads up on those yuin pk3.

I ordered a pair, after reading the reviews and noting how freaking cheap they were. I didn't even think about how much I was going to want some badass earbuds :) I'd have been disappointed when the phone came in (right, like it ever will) and I just had stock buds.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I have a lot of friends who have custom IEM's (Intra Ear Monitors costing ) and they use those for their Cheap sets and rave about them as well. These are Folks with $5000 Headphone Amps and $5000 headphones! I think the mistke Yuin makes is that they package them like $5 ear buds off ebay. The Chinese get the technical details real well but fail a lot in the cosmetics. A lot of stuff we get has the cosmetics, but the tech sux ala SkullCandy!

Enjoy the buds and post back how they sound with the N900 when you get them. I think you'll like the awesome tight bass they have and clear crisp midz.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Having used my phone for a couple of hours, I can confirm that the sound is excellent. I was listening to music on the subway all the way home from the store (luckily I had a micro SD with a bunch of music in my DSi). The sound from the speakers can fill a room.

The first time I used the phone was to call my wife in Finland and the sound clarity was insane compared to the iPhone3G I've been using for the last year.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Good news! I don't care for the sound out of my iPod, so we'll see how this phones sounds.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Can you recommend best in-ear headphone for the N900 with line-in controls. Budget priced please. Thanks in advance,

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Sorry, not sure how the Line controls factor in.

Audiophiles don't really believe in the Line Vol controls.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Thanks for the response.

Actually, with line-controls, I meant play/pause/next song/prev song. I am not that knowledgeable in this area. I use a Creative EP-630 that I got them in a deal. Do you think that is good earphones for N900. EP-630 also doesn't have line-controls.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

I think it will be hard to find that for the N900. It would have to have control of the SW in the N900.

If you want to get into this though. Go here and register: http://www.head-fi.com

Pay Particular attention to the Portable Categories.

Ohhh, and keep your hands firmly wrapped around your wallet!

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

most funny poll... ever

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

There's a great pair of in ear headphones that ships with the phone.

Re: Are we SURE the N900 has good sound quality?
 

Everything is relative of course!

These will be my next IEMs

http://www.jhaudio.com/store/