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iPhone 4 as an iPod (sound quality)

the iPhone 4's max volume is no where near as loud as my previous iPhones.
my fingers are crossed that it is just a software issue bc it is killing me.
:(
 
tmthydunne said:
the iPhone 4's max volume is no where near as loud as my previous iPhones.
my fingers are crossed that it is just a software issue bc it is killing me.
:(
Click to expand...

What headphones are you using? My iPhone 4 gets loud enough to hurt my ears with both my Klipsch s4is and my Koss Portapros.
 
The iphone 4 through the external speakers is definitely lacking when compared to the iphone 3gs...but it may just be ios 4 thats the issue!
 
I use a pair of $40 sonys while working out with my iphone and the volume goes loud enough where I feel an uncomfortable level of vibration inside my ear when there is loud bass... Sound isolation headphones btw... Only sound complaint I have is the eq... When the song has really low bass and I turn on the bass boost all it seems to do is lower my highs so I have to turn up the volume anyways... Maybe its just me...
 
Maybe it's an OS issue? I do remember (before I sold it) that my 3GS onboard speaker sounded significantly quieter after doing the 4.0 upgrade, even on maximum volume with no volume limit.
 
There is definitely an issue with the iPhone 4 sound and speakers. I use the ipod function pretty much everyday to and fro to work and the gym.

With my 3gs and previous ipod models i only needed to turn the volume bout halfway up. Now im finding myself having to turn it almost to the max. I can also tell as when im on the train, i can hear the sound of the carriage whereas with my 3gs it would all be blocked out.

I've also noticed a drop in sound when playing music via the speakerphone and that my ringtones sound a lot louder and clearer but when i play the same song via the ipod there is a drop in volume.

Im using the same earphones Sennheiser MM50
 
Still not as good as vinyl though.

Imagine the admiring glances I get as I set up my Linn Sondek LP12 next to the gyms Stairmaster each night.
 
nwlondonlad said:
There is definitely an issue with the iPhone 4 sound and speakers. I use the ipod function pretty much everyday to and fro to work and the gym.

With my 3gs and previous ipod models i only needed to turn the volume bout halfway up. Now im finding myself having to turn it almost to the max. I can also tell as when im on the train, i can hear the sound of the carriage whereas with my 3gs it would all be blocked out.

I've also noticed a drop in sound when playing music via the speakerphone and that my ringtones sound a lot louder and clearer but when i play the same song via the ipod there is a drop in volume.

Im using the same earphones Sennheiser MM50
Click to expand...

I can confirm that the iPhone 4 is not as loud as the 3Gs. I listen to music heavily on my iPhone and with the 4 I had to crack up the volume about 20% more to get to the same level as my 3Gs.

I have filed a bug report here http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

please do the same.
 
Nautigar said:
According to the gsmarena review, the sound quality of the iPhone 4 is identical to that of the iPad (not surprising - same hardware), and better than all previous iPhones:

http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_4-review-490p7.php
Click to expand...
And I heartily agree with them. Iphone 4 sounds fantastic. Way better than my Ipod Classic (160gb 2007 model.) I have missed my 5g Ipod for a long time, but no more - this finally reproduces the enjoyment of sound that I got from that one. They changed audio chips (Wolfson to Cirrus Logic) after that and it altered the sound in a negative way. Now that great sound is back (still Cirrus Logic, but the quality is finally back to what I expect.)
 
I compared the same song on my 30GB Ipod Video and my IP4 and the iPhone 4 had much clearer and more accurate sounding audio.

YMMV? Or your ears may be biased one way or another.
 
Kabir8 said:
I compared the same song on my 30GB Ipod Video and my IP4 and the iPhone 4 had much clearer and more accurate sounding audio.

YMMV? Or your ears may be biased one way or another.
Click to expand...
No, there's definitely something goofy with the EQ. It may be for people who did a restore rather than a clean install, though. Shrug!
 
i love my iphone 4...like a disabled child...smh

nooaah said:
Yeah, messing around with the EQ fixed any issues I had with the sound quality and volume. I think it sounds great now. :D
Click to expand...

to match my iphone 4 external speaker quality to my iphone 3gs...i had to up the overall set volume in my itunes library, and my iphone 4 is still lacking in fullness and clarity. my 3gs is on 3.1.3 and my ip4 4.0.1... there is a definite issue concerning the EXTERNAL SPEAKER.:confused:
 
gloss said:
I feel like the iP4 sounds cleaner, clearer and more defined than I remember my 3GS sounding, but maybe it's in my head. I don't use EQ.
Click to expand...

I have my 160GB '07 iPod Classic here (still use it, got lots of music) and I've compared it to my iPhone 4. The Classic sounds louder overall and even puts out more bass. However, the iPhone 4 sounds much cleaner and clearer. I just have to put it at max. volume in order to match the loudness of the Classic.

This reminds me of listening to music using my dad's old HP Jornada pocket pc. The sound quality was almost funny, it did the job but the quality felt so fake and flat at times. That's why I seem to have doubts with phones with music player functionality.
 
I bought a 160GB Classic after getting a 32GB 3GS as I didn't wanna burn into the iPhone battery. The 3GS was slightly better than the 160GB iPod Classic but not enough for me to risk the battery life.

I put some Apple lossless tracks on the iPhone 4 earlier in the week to have a listen and was amazed how clean and clear everything was. Since then I've done some side by side listening using UE TF10's, Senn IE8's and Shure SE530 and have left the iPod home the last couple days.

My opinion is that the iPhone 4 sounds great :cool:
 
Music played via my new iphone 4 used with B&W's external docking speakers (zeppelin) is Much lower and has noticeably worse sound than the ipod touch (vers. 3x software).

Unfortunately the B&W speakers build in amplifier is preset and can't boost the sound enough - probably because it where build to match the ipod "3x-generation". (it sounds absolutely great with an ipod touch (3x))

And this makes the iphone 4 useless for music for me ???

PLEASE apple correct this (or make an option for louder/better music)
 
I use my IP4 often hooked up to a pretty high end audio system. (Aragon 4004 Mk2 amp, Aragon 18K preamp, and floorstanding Epos speakers, connected with MIT cables), and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised with the sound quality I get from the IP4, I basically no longer even use my Cal Audio Labs Icon Mk2 CD player. I do notice the overall output of the IP4 seems a little on the low side, but as long as you turn it up enough, you get good volume, and very clean sound.
 
I find my iP4 sounds louder than my old 3G. I have had to reduce the volume on the iP4 from what I used on my 3G.

make sure in setting>iPod

That you don't have sound check and volume limit set to on.
 
To be perfectly honest, I've actually had a noticeable improvement from my 3G to my iPhone 4. Maybe my 3G was defective... ;)
 
Regardless, Apple audio quality has a long way to go when pitted against any Sony walkman.. too bad their presence is zero in the states.
 
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