Smartphone Audio Quality Testing
by Chris Heinonen on December 8, 2013 5:15 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Audio
- Mobile
- Tablets
- Testing
Right now we have full data on four phones and partial data on a few more. We are working to compile as much data as possible to provide an overall look at the quality of audio from smartphones available today. The largest difference in current models is the power of the headphone output as some are much better equipped to drive more demanding headphones than others. As we compile data on more and more products we hope to see more differences arise.
We also have not seen much difference with different loads applied to the headphones. We will continue to test all three sets of headphones but the data here is for the Apple Earbuds. If different loads provide different results, then we will certainly report those different numbers in the future. It also appears that running Android phones in the automated routine causes the 20 kHz tone to be left out of the frequency response test. Humans usually can't hear this, I certainly can't, and so there isn't a huge amount of real-world ramification to this. It causes the reported THD+N to exclude that tone and provides a better result that phones that play it back. For the future, this will be done manually.
Here are the four phones we currently have, and more phones are being tested and reported on as quickly as possible to be added here.
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Impulses - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
All great suggestions IMO.haukionkannel - Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - link
I allso agree. Maximum volume level is not the same as guality, you have to find measures that are relevant in normal listening volumes. They vary yeas and depends a lot of used headphones. So I would allso recommended of using headphones with different impedanses! One pair of high impedance hifi headphones. One pair of low impedance hifi headphones and one pair of high guality (but commonly used) low impedance headphones.Otherwise it would be like testing 780 triple sli setup using 320p resolution mini monitor...
(Well actually not likely because phones have not been very high guality sound sourses, but I think that you got the point.) Good sound qaulity is important factor to me, so I am very eager to hear more (pun inteded ;-) about these test and allso the results!
DaveSimmons - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
Thanks for doing this. When my 120 GB iPod dies I'll probably replace it with a smartphone or tablet, so this will help me choose which one to use.estarkey7 - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
As others have stated, and I will reiterate, Only Anandtech! Bravo!I would love to see a similar article comparing HD Voice for the carriers. I know that test may be more difficult to conduct, but ever since Sprint hyped their HD Voice and didn't deliver, I'd like to see some real engineers do the topic justice.
hlovatt - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
Congratulations AnandTech, yet again you show the rest of the review industry what they should be doing. Keep up the good work and it should be fascinating to see the full set of results. Thanks.willis936 - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
Is there any comment on the practical issue of noise at low volumes? Noise floor testing is uncommon but phones are noisy and are typically listened to with sensitive buds. Who cares it'd the dynamic range is 100dB if you never turn the volume up past 30%?pr1mal0ne - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
I disagree with you testing all phones at maximum volume level1) the max volume differs, some companies may reasonably make the choice to let quality suffer while volume improves. at the least volume needs to be reported alongside these quality discussions. Preferably it would be set to a base volume and tested there.
Tuxedo - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
Amazing article. I have always been impressed with audio quality on iPhones and disappointed with GS2, GS3, Atrix, Lumia 900 and now OG-Pro. Really shows how much attention Apple pays to the products they build.edwh - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
what about output impedance?fishjunk - Monday, December 9, 2013 - link
I don't really use the audio jack on my Nexus 5. Are there any tests done on the phone mic and speakers.