I should note that most of my music files are in lossless form but, even songs that I but from Itunes sound great on iPhone.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone's ipod poor sound quality
- Thread starter Andrew07
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The sound quality coming out through the iphone's headphones is not good, I agree with most people. I have a pair of Sony headphones that sound really good, with really good bass, I highly recommend getting a pair, about $50. Also, you don't need a crappy adapter. Just get an exacto knife and cut a little bit of plastic off of the headphone wire until it fits in the hole :^)...
Also, the EQ presets definitely distort a little bit of the mid-range frequencies, it was really bugging me on many songs, particularly Radiohead. I tried every possible audio conversion, ending with Apple Lossless, and I was still getting that mid-range distortion, mostly from guitar parts. Then, I turned off the EQ on the iphone's ipod settings, instead of choosing one, and the problem was gone. So, I was relieved that I didn't have to settle. Now I have great, bassy, headphones and a great ipod in my iphone. Beautiful! I am a little confused as to why the engineers over at apple would create the coolest gadget ever and have crappy EQ presets that distort sound. Nobody at apple is a sound engineer with discerning ears? Wierd.
Of course Apple have people who know their stuff when it comes to sound.
Unfortunately, most people who buy the iPhone don't.
Also RE the hardware in the 5.5 Gen and 6th gen iPods and the iPhone/iPod Touch, this is incorrect. The hardware AND software in the latest versions is very different to that in the previous versions.
How do you turn the visulization part of the iPhone EQ on?
I had it on so where I could see the settings on each of the different settings and then if you made any change to any of them it would turn into a custom one but now I can't seem to figure out how to see the actual settings (the sliders).
Thanks.
I had it on so where I could see the settings on each of the different settings and then if you made any change to any of them it would turn into a custom one but now I can't seem to figure out how to see the actual settings (the sliders).
Thanks.
What are you talking about?
Are you saying that I don't have good ears/don't know my audio or other people who haven't noticed the inherent flaw in the iphone's equalizer presets (that cause distortion in th midrange) have poor ears? If it's an insult to me it doesn't make sense and, in fact, I am correct, unfortunately. If it's an insult to everyone who doesn't notice this, then, right on, I don't understand how people could not pick this up...however, I am a sound engineer and musician!
Are you saying that I don't have good ears/don't know my audio or other people who haven't noticed the inherent flaw in the iphone's equalizer presets (that cause distortion in th midrange) have poor ears? If it's an insult to me it doesn't make sense and, in fact, I am correct, unfortunately. If it's an insult to everyone who doesn't notice this, then, right on, I don't understand how people could not pick this up...however, I am a sound engineer and musician!So, if apple has sound engineers that know their stuff, and most people don't, then you are saying they intentionally built the iphone with severely problematic eq presets because they knew that no one would notice? I don't get it man...no offense, please elaborate!
My my... research goes a long ways
Some people are just totally ignorant to engineering physics... And just because a book can look the same on the outside, doesn't mean that all the inner workings are the same!
http://www.ipodlinux.org/Generations
Following the above link will will provide you with detailed hardware specifications for various ipod models dating back to the first. note that the iphone is not listed... but for what I am about to explain, it doesn't have to be... just that it is similar to the "touch" which is listed.
Now take a look at the "audio" context in each model. You'll see all ipods stayed exclusive to wolfson "DAC's"... atleast until recently when priority went to Cirrus chips... whole different topic so I won't jump into it here.
Anyways, starting with the basics, data is stored on the internal HDD, or RAM for some. This data is digital. Assuming we use identically imaged data files (due to many variations in sampling and bit depth), and play them back on all versions of ipods... many audiophiles who spend night and day dissecting and analyzing every bit of audio output will all agree that the ipod 4th gen, 5th, 5.5 U2, Ipod touch and the iphone all sound superior to any other ipods. Refer back to the table and you'll see they all have the Wolfson WM8758 chip. This single chip is what brought most audiophiles to the ipod player.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital-to-analog_converter
The above will explain the DAC's purpose, but quickly summarizing it converts the digital signal coming off the HDD into an analog signal thats then fed to the ipods quite small capacitor containing mini-amp. for listening through the headphone out.
This particular DAC reproduces analog sounds closer to that of the real source signal. Therefore resulting in improved sound.
The limiting factor however is that internal amp. It's small circuitry, and narrow bandwidth is not capable of transmitting the full potential of the wolfson DAC.
http://www.i-qube.nl/index.php?id=17
At the above link you'll see some people couldn't resist attempting to improve the sound from these quaint little devices. LOD's (line out docks) provide a pure digital signal which is then fed to an external, more expensive high end DAC for even more true to life reproduction.
So what your perception is most inevitably placebo in nature. To many wet dreams? lol. Didn't we all though... such a great device. One of those, "How did I live without it."
Ron
Some people are just totally ignorant to engineering physics... And just because a book can look the same on the outside, doesn't mean that all the inner workings are the same!
http://www.ipodlinux.org/Generations
Following the above link will will provide you with detailed hardware specifications for various ipod models dating back to the first. note that the iphone is not listed... but for what I am about to explain, it doesn't have to be... just that it is similar to the "touch" which is listed.
Now take a look at the "audio" context in each model. You'll see all ipods stayed exclusive to wolfson "DAC's"... atleast until recently when priority went to Cirrus chips... whole different topic so I won't jump into it here.
Anyways, starting with the basics, data is stored on the internal HDD, or RAM for some. This data is digital. Assuming we use identically imaged data files (due to many variations in sampling and bit depth), and play them back on all versions of ipods... many audiophiles who spend night and day dissecting and analyzing every bit of audio output will all agree that the ipod 4th gen, 5th, 5.5 U2, Ipod touch and the iphone all sound superior to any other ipods. Refer back to the table and you'll see they all have the Wolfson WM8758 chip. This single chip is what brought most audiophiles to the ipod player.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital-to-analog_converter
The above will explain the DAC's purpose, but quickly summarizing it converts the digital signal coming off the HDD into an analog signal thats then fed to the ipods quite small capacitor containing mini-amp. for listening through the headphone out.
This particular DAC reproduces analog sounds closer to that of the real source signal. Therefore resulting in improved sound.
The limiting factor however is that internal amp. It's small circuitry, and narrow bandwidth is not capable of transmitting the full potential of the wolfson DAC.
http://www.i-qube.nl/index.php?id=17
At the above link you'll see some people couldn't resist attempting to improve the sound from these quaint little devices. LOD's (line out docks) provide a pure digital signal which is then fed to an external, more expensive high end DAC for even more true to life reproduction.
So what your perception is most inevitably placebo in nature. To many wet dreams? lol. Didn't we all though... such a great device. One of those, "How did I live without it."
Ron
Really.
So what your perception is most inevitably placebo in nature. To many wet dreams? lol. Didn't we all though... such a great device. One of those said:Big Ron, Big Ron,
What the hell are you talking about? Great, the technical specs are laid out in beautiful fashion. Nothing changes the fact that the Iphone's EQ presets amplify the sound to a degree that distorts and causes most people to realize a "degradation" of sound. "Inevitably placebo in nature?" What, do you work for apple? This is a joke! What are you talking about? My ears are not making up a digital distortion that is corrected by simply turning the EQ off!! The fact of the matter is what I have stated again and again, and until I hear some rational, true explanation of why this occurred, I will continue to think that the presets were just completely botched and due to a higher up poooooooor decision...oh well.
"Inevitably placebo in nature?" Most ridiculous quote of the year!
I have to agree that some of the iPod EQ presets are horrible in that they distort the sound.
I also have to admit that the iPhone does sound better than my 160GB iPod Classic. I am amazed at how well it sounds and how crisp the audio is.
I also have to admit that the iPhone does sound better than my 160GB iPod Classic. I am amazed at how well it sounds and how crisp the audio is.
iphone eq problem
I haven't seen any other articles in a Google search relating to the iphones eq but I concur about the distortion when the eq is enabled.
Given the specs Big Ron showed. I believe there maybe two causes to the distortion. One, the Digital to Analog Converter maybe outputting a hot (overloaded) signal to the headphone amplifier because I still get the same distortion at low levels, or it may also be a distortion in the eq program it self.
Often you may have distortion added between different pieces of equipment or modules. Think of audio in a linear path ( like a road map). File > Ipod player > eq > compression > amplification.
The eq maybe only boosting the signal which increase the overall level of power going to the next module. The problem here is that the boost is obviously too hot for the next input and is digitally limiting (very ugly form of distortion because it is 100% total harmonic distortion aka THD) when it reaches this limit on transient wave forms. If it were doing this on an all analogue setup the distortion would be less discernible to an untrained ear because the THD would be much less (maybe 1% but still aurally audible).
The problem can be fixed easily if they alter the equalizer settings to boost and cut levels and make sure the output result is of equal overall power. It is a simple thing to do with some study.
It is just strange that no one in QC picked this issue up.
I have tried a few different headphones from cheap Philips to my $500 monitoring heaadphones. All have the same distortion issue but obviously sounding slightly different because the speakers in each headphone colours the sound generated (hence "good" and "bad" headphone quality - look at your headphones frequency response chart).
I am qualified to speak about audio because I have a Bachelor Music Technology from the Qld Conservatorium of music (here's a link to the course if you doubt me)
If any one has questions or would like more info about Music or Sound in general please ask away.
I haven't seen any other articles in a Google search relating to the iphones eq but I concur about the distortion when the eq is enabled.
Given the specs Big Ron showed. I believe there maybe two causes to the distortion. One, the Digital to Analog Converter maybe outputting a hot (overloaded) signal to the headphone amplifier because I still get the same distortion at low levels, or it may also be a distortion in the eq program it self.
Often you may have distortion added between different pieces of equipment or modules. Think of audio in a linear path ( like a road map). File > Ipod player > eq > compression > amplification.
The eq maybe only boosting the signal which increase the overall level of power going to the next module. The problem here is that the boost is obviously too hot for the next input and is digitally limiting (very ugly form of distortion because it is 100% total harmonic distortion aka THD) when it reaches this limit on transient wave forms. If it were doing this on an all analogue setup the distortion would be less discernible to an untrained ear because the THD would be much less (maybe 1% but still aurally audible).
The problem can be fixed easily if they alter the equalizer settings to boost and cut levels and make sure the output result is of equal overall power. It is a simple thing to do with some study.
It is just strange that no one in QC picked this issue up.
I have tried a few different headphones from cheap Philips to my $500 monitoring heaadphones. All have the same distortion issue but obviously sounding slightly different because the speakers in each headphone colours the sound generated (hence "good" and "bad" headphone quality - look at your headphones frequency response chart).
I am qualified to speak about audio because I have a Bachelor Music Technology from the Qld Conservatorium of music (here's a link to the course if you doubt me)
If any one has questions or would like more info about Music or Sound in general please ask away.
yep. its not exactly a huge secret that ipods/iphones have poor sound quality compared to other mp3 players.
It is worse that that. The sound quality of the new 3Gs is really bad, and Apple can't even say the quality can't be better, because I have a Samsung i760 and the sound quality is so much better. The first thing that you notice is that the bass is almost gone. Then when you listen closely to the high notes, they are a little flat too. When I use my Samsung the bass almost vibrates my head, and the high notes are very clear. I have tried like a dozen headsets on each, and even the over priced $150 Shure SE210MPA is horrible on the iPhone. It is a shame too, because the iPhone has so many other amazing features. And the comment one person made here about sound quality being dependent on who is listening is plain silly. Unless a person is tone def he can tell the difference easily.
Pretty late reply, but, i have an iphone 3gs and the SQ is terrible in comparison with my ipod classic 80GB. The classic has a crisp and balanced sound but the iphone just hasn't got the same stereo seperation, the high just sounds a bit weak, just as the bass.
I hope this is just a flaw in the software, but i'm not so sure. I am afraid Apple is throwing away the winning aspect (sound quality) of the ipods/iphones in the latest generations...
-edit-
I compare them on my marantz amplifier with monitor audio speakers (really hifi setup), so it's not my audio hardware that distorts the sound..
I hope this is just a flaw in the software, but i'm not so sure. I am afraid Apple is throwing away the winning aspect (sound quality) of the ipods/iphones in the latest generations...
-edit-
I compare them on my marantz amplifier with monitor audio speakers (really hifi setup), so it's not my audio hardware that distorts the sound..
The problem is that what you think is high quality is actually very low quality due to massive postprocessing that you can't even shut off.
You probably like normalized audio too, pfft.
I don't think you ever listened to music on a very good/exspensive audio set, and have compared the sound of a good cd player and an ipod classic and iphone. If you had, you would know how a high quality sound shoud sound. A lossless file on the iPod Classic comes the closest of all apple products I ever had. The iPhone 3GS in contrary is terrible. The detail you hear on the cd just isn't there, and the sound overall just doesn't give the feeling you are really there. This is because the stereo seperation isn't good (the difference of the left and right channel is less than the original)
Maybe the sound of the samsung of dennyhayes is very much preprocessed, i don't know. What I do know is that the sound quality of the iPhone is BAD..
iPhone to stereo - bad sound quality
I'm able to connect my iPhone to home stereo, but it seems to take half of the power out of it - sounds flat and thin. When I try to connect it to aux of car stereo, it doesn't work at all. iPod Nano of friend works in my car. Anyone an idea why quality degrades so much via home stereo and doesn't work at all in car? Thanks.
I'm able to connect my iPhone to home stereo, but it seems to take half of the power out of it - sounds flat and thin. When I try to connect it to aux of car stereo, it doesn't work at all. iPod Nano of friend works in my car. Anyone an idea why quality degrades so much via home stereo and doesn't work at all in car? Thanks.
EQ - where do I turn that off?
Sorry, if this is something everyone knows, but I have no idea what EQ is or where to turn it off on the iPhone. Please, advise. Thanks.
Hi,
Yes.
IMHO it could be many reasons like build variance, subjectivism, people who claim they can hear a difference, surroundings, source material, temperature, and whether I've had a Southern Comfort.
I too agree with you, and as 'evidence' I'd simply cite what happens using the same material on other mobiles with the same headphones.
I tried to go round local showrooms and see if they would let me load an SD card and play. Not many did, but there were differences and the iPhone was surpassed at least three times.
For me the differences were usually marginal, but two or three seemed better.
Others might argue that this is not a fair test, and I might agree in principle. However, for me, the iPhone's sound could be improved.
I'd even go as far to suggest that the iPod's sound is in the same category.
Final observation. As other's have said, the headphones that are used make a big difference.
A