Aptx-HD on S9 without rooting?

[classact]

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer but thought I'd ask in case.

Is there no way to install AptX-HD on the S9 without rooting the phone?

I'm a business user and prefer not to root a phone -- never have and not sure I want to start now. Maybe it's just my lack of knowledge.

 

[anon(10614692)]

Samsung supports aptx only. Unless your source is 24 bit it offers no advantages.

 

[classact]

Samsung supports aptx only. Unless your source is 24 bit it offers no advantages.

Are you sure about that? I don't know for sure either way, but it sure seems to me that when I play Tidal HiFi files with a wired connection it's must better sound than the Bluetooth using AptX.

I'm using Tidal downloads (and streams), some of which are Masters. Tidal says that's "typically 96 kHz / 24 bit".

I've got Shure SE425 IEMs. They come with both a wire and Bluetooth option.

The weak link when I'm using the Bluetooth option that comes with the Shures is unquestionably the fact that I'm limited to AptX on the S9. (The Shure's can support AptX-HD, but not LDAC -- which of course is what the S9 offers along with AptX.)

Almost no chance an update will include AptX-HD, then, huh?

Any suggestion on what phone to get for AptX-HD that would be comparable to, say, the S10 or Note 10? (Not that I really want to go to a different phone right now -- so much time in setup etc.)

Thanks!

 

[anon(10614692)]

Totally sure about there is only benefit for 24 bit sources.

No Samsung devices support AptX HD, this may be why https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-A-Series/APTX-support/td-p/1304239/page/4

Can't find up to date info on supported devices, here's an old one https://www.pocket-lint.com/headpho...-what-is-aptx-hd-and-which-devices-support-it

 

[classact]

Totally sure about there is only benefit for 24 bit sources.

No Samsung devices support AptX HD, this may be why https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-A-Series/APTX-support/td-p/1304239/page/4

Can't find up to date info on supported devices, here's an old one https://www.pocket-lint.com/headpho...-what-is-aptx-hd-and-which-devices-support-it

Thanks. So now I'm looking for Bluetooth with a connecting cable that has on-cord controls, LDAC support, and MMCX connectors for the IEMs.

I'm not optimistic that I'll find that.

But I assume from what you've said that with almost all of my music my current AptX is literally identical to what AptX-HD would provide anyway -- with everything except the Tidal Masters. Is that correct?

Thanks again.

 

[anon(10614692)]

Totally correct, it's only the Hi Res 24/96 files will have an issue. The non Hi Res are in flac format which I use all of the time and as you know flac is lossless.

 

[classact]

So I wonder why the wired cable sounds better when playing the Tidal HiFi files -- or at least I "think" the wired cable sounds better. Should the AptX match the wired cable for those HiFi files, or is it just still the fact that Bluetooth will never match wired with the current technology?

 

[guygampell]

aptx HD to my ears sounds indistinguishable to a wire (I helped develop it and tested it loads), aptx does not sound as good, when we had phones and alpha versions of the HD encoder to test, I could tell when it wasn't working by my ears. To my knowledge, Samsung never implemented aptx HD so you just will get classic aptx with the S9. reason is they developed their own higher resolution codec called UHQ, good luck finding headphones with UHQ in them. I've had a Xiaomi Mi8 Pro phone now for more than 2 years it has classic aptx and aptx HD as do Sony Xperia, Asus Zenfone and many more. the Mi8 Pro is now 3 generations old, the Mi 11 is now out, with aptX Adaptive which itself is the successor to aptx HD.

 

[classact]

Since posting the OP I've discovered absolute Bluetooth heaven with my S9 phone. (Thank goodness for www.Head-Fi.org members.)

I'm using a Fiio BTR5 in LDAC, with Shure SE425 IEMs using Shure triple-flange tips (tried everything else) and the Shure cable with in-line controls.

Not extreme audiophile level of purity, but for the money and my level of need, and the limits of the phone for that matter, I couldn't possibly be happier.

I practice tai chi and other arts a lot while listening to music. I also play a series of tracks for "breathing" in a meditation practice that have a tic toc sound that spread the duration of a breath longer and longer. And I listen to audiobooks with an app called "Smart" Audiobooks player.

When practicing tai chi etc, I keep the BTR5 clipped to the back of my belt (or "waist pack" belt) with the phone on a holster on my right side.

This enables me to have all the benefits of Bluetooth since I can grab the phone and use it without the headache of a cable attached, especially when re-holstering.

Sound quality with music with the BTR5 and Shure IEMs and triple-flange is amazing! At least it is to my ears, anyway.

And the controls on both the BTR5 and inline on the cable give me everything I could ever want! Vol up/down, play/pause, and next/previous track!

Next/previous track goes a long way indeed! It's not just useful for music!

With the breathing tracks, I can sit meditating or even lying in bed (with normal headphones in that case) and have the BTR5 in my hand, and with eyes closed and no movement other than a simple press of the thumbnail I can go to the next longer or next shorter "breath" length based on my current breathing. And if lying in bed falling asleep, the last thing I do is press to pause and then to power the BTR5 off, and that's it. Off to dreamland.

And with an audio book, I can press the BTR5 or inline control and go back 10 second to replay what I just missed, or of course press repeatedly to go back further.

And did I mention that with music the sound quality is amazing?

Heaven!