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Does anyone else think that the Samsung plays music much better than the Apple?

While I know that Spotify isn't the best sound reproduction.  To me, Samsung sounds significantly better than Apple. 

Four years ago I fired Apple as my phone hardware and went with Samsung.  I got tired of Apple slow downs every time I updated my software.  Got the Samsung home and noticed that my music via Spotify sounded much better. 

Recently I had to fire Samsung.  I had a Note 9 and was trapped in a infinite do loop.  It continually wanted to update the software, via forced shutdowns.  The phone would reboot and go through the whole cycle again.  Found out that the phone doesn't support the new software and it was just going to keep doing that. 

So, I decided to give Apple another try.  Got it home hoping with all their hardware upgrades it would sound better than before and nope, very disappointed.
hoosierinohio
soix
8,799 posts
 
Have you tried changing the audio EQ settings on the iPhone?  I find “Rock” or “Jazz” sound best (and much better than the default “Flat” setting) so would be worth exploring if you haven’t yet.  Of course it’s still compressed Spotify crap audio so it’s not gonna sound good no matter what you do, but that’s another subject.  Hope this helps. 
mahler123
3,074 posts
 
I use the LG Velvet phone, and I bought it for it's Audiophile credentials (it is the descendent of the LV 30 that was on the cover of Stereophile, and it uses an ESS Sabre DAC).  LG is discontinuing it and I've been thinking about getting a second one to replace the current when the battery dies, as I've seen them going for under $400 on line.
hoosierinohio OP
146 posts
 
Very much appreciate the suggestions.  I have 4 systems in the house and this is for my screened porch, hanging out with the wife and letting her pick much of the music, passing the phone back and forth.  I was just amazed at how much difference there was in the sound and how much worse the Apple sounds.  I will definitely try the EQ settings, which I just changed to "jazz", per suggestion and will know this evening.  I'm guessing that the LG Velvet will soon find the fate of my Samsung and will no longer be supported, if my luck were to hold. 
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
This conversation doesn't mean much without mentioning the music format and apps being used. FLAC and AIFF files played through Poweramp app on iphone sound a ton better than Apple Music on same phone. 
Also, assuming you're using bluetooth to wireless headphones/buds, the newer bluetooth protocols sound promising, or at least noticeable, so if you're judging the hardware, be sure you're talking apples-to-apples. Cheers,
Spencer
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