Sound quality apple vs Samsung

[gotluck]

iPhone 5s cost more then nexus 5 and lg 2, s4 which where compared in the Anandtech review. No notes or galaxy s compared. The point is that they are all good phones, but built to a price, and from a hardware point of view all have an Achilles heel. The camera in the nexus 5, etc etc... The iPhone might have great hardware, but you trade os flexibility.

That's my point for something to cost less, then you have to be prepared to give up on some component, no free lunch. It's a machine there is a compromise.

From the Anandtech review the trade off for the S4 et al, is a less powerfully amplifier, but these phone cost less than the iPhone they where compared too.

i believe the cost breakdowns that dont take r&d into account determined that the parts in the S5 actually cost more than the 5S, cost to build is higher
$199 vs $256
5S vs S5

granted there are parts that iphone doesnt have to pay for like nfc, sdcard slot, and ir blaster

 

[Vegastouch]

i believe the cost breakdowns that dont take r&d into account determined that the parts in the S5 actually cost more than the 5S, cost to build is higher
$199 vs $256
5S vs S5

granted there are parts that iphone doesnt have to pay for like nfc, sdcard slot, and ir blaster

Add to that, the screen and digitizer is 1.1" smaller on the iPhone,....the full price of the iPhone is only about $10 cheaper.

 

[Deadlake]

The iPhone 5s vintage is the S4. The S5 has a slower processor, but a better camera, bigger screen and battery. The samsung are made if plastic. I've not seen any reports into the sound quality of the S5 which is the scope of this thread.

 

[Danijel Turina]

Since the thread seems to be long-lived, I'll jump in to share my experiences.

Context: I own iPhone 4s, iPad mini and Samsung Note 3 N9005. I'm listening on Audio Technica ATH-M50 studio monitor headphones. My hearing is not what it was decades ago but I know how to listen to stuff, because my brother builds HiFi equipment and I used to be his guinea pig.

Opinion: the all the above devices are excellent and more-less indistinguishable and interchangable. Right now I listened to e-bow by Sigur Ros and Pie Jesu by Sarah Brightman on both iPad mini, which has an excellent DAC, and on N9005, and I can't hear a difference. Both are excellent. I actually expected the Samsung to have a different sound, either better or worse, but they are identical within my capacity to hear a difference. I now tried the 4s as well just to be sure, and result is the same. All three devices reveal the track identically, within the limits of my hearing and my headphones, and I honestly doubt anyone is going to listen to it on anything more analytical.
Basically, I've been switching the headphones back&forth between 4s and N9005 within the same track for the last five minutes and I'll be damned if I hear a difference. Since 4s is usually lauded as the iPhone with the best DAC, rest assured that if you buy N9005 you're not trading down.

 

[Switchback666]

Since the thread seems to be long-lived, I'll jump in to share my experiences.

Context: I own iPhone 4s, iPad mini and Samsung Note 3 N9005. I'm listening on Audio Technica ATH-M50 studio monitor headphones. My hearing is not what it was decades ago but I know how to listen to stuff, because my brother builds HiFi equipment and I used to be his guinea pig.

Opinion: the all the above devices are excellent and more-less indistinguishable and interchangable. Right now I listened to e-bow by Sigur Ros and Pie Jesu by Sarah Brightman on both iPad mini, which has an excellent DAC, and on N9005, and I can't hear a difference. Both are excellent. I actually expected the Samsung to have a different sound, either better or worse, but they are identical within my capacity to hear a difference. I now tried the 4s as well just to be sure, and result is the same. All three devices reveal the track identically, within the limits of my hearing and my headphones, and I honestly doubt anyone is going to listen to it on anything more analytical.
Basically, I've been switching the headphones back&forth between 4s and N9005 within the same track for the last five minutes and I'll be damned if I hear a difference. Since 4s is usually lauded as the iPhone with the best DAC, rest assured that if you buy N9005 you're not trading down.

When I had my Note 3 (exynos version) I fixed my problems with audio quality on headphones with a simple tweak that increased the volume limit.

 

[Danijel Turina]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the maximum sound volume was lower on the Note 3 than on my iOS devices, but I didn't perceive that as a problem since my loudest listening volume on the Samsung was 14/15, because I felt anything louder than that could damage my hearing. YMMV, of course, especially with headphones with different impedance. Apparently, it's a software thing and not weaker headphone amplifier, and I do see the wisdom behind it.