Audio quality with headphones

[anthonium]

Can anyone attest to the audio quality via headphones? Considering there is no built in DAC(like HTC 10 or LG V20) is it tolerable?

Amended to say it does have DAC built in. Just want to hear about how is the overall quality of it compared to the HTC 10 or LG V20 and if it's tolerable.

Are there any audiophiles in here that can recommend any portable DACs?

 

[AndroidJay]

This would be good to know. I just ordered Bose headphones. Unfortunately I will not get the phone for at least a week based on backordered.

 

[420lyfe]

Good question.. I hope pixel users can let us know

 

[SteelGator]

I am not an audiophile, so that may disqualify me . . . but here it goes anyway.

The Pixel does have a DAC. This has been discussed ad nauseam here.

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/snapdragon/2016/10/04/pixel-phones-made-google-powered-snapdragon-821
The power of the Snapdragon 821 processor extends into the Pixel smartphones’ audio capabilities through stunning Hi-Fi audio playback. The phone features the Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec, designed to deliver high dynamic range and high-resolution playback up to 192kHz/24bit to create a remarkable audio experience designed to match the demands of the modern audiophile.

I have not plugged in headphone to my Pixel yet, I have stuck to BT Jaybird X2s. I am very happy with the sound I get. It is loud enough that my classic rock still rocks and can block out the sound of exercise equipment when I work out. If I am just walking around, I am quite below max volume. The bass is good -- I hate tinny speakers, and it produces a good image too.

I'm sure there are people that are pickier than I am that can go into more depth. But for general listening, the Pixel is as good as I need.

 

[Rumblee1]

Can anyone attest to the audio quality via headphones? Considering there is no built in DAC (like HTC 10 or LG V20) is it tolerable?
Are there any audiophiles in here that can recommend any portable DACs?

Im a professional musician and having my music with me everywhere is important. Listening to music on the pixel is very good. If you want the very best reproduction, get the axon 7, or axon 7 mini. With dolby amos, its absolutely incredible. I wrnt with the mini. Only 300.00 and I use it just for music listening and as a spare phone.

 

[pmendu]

These DAC only comes into play when plugged in to 3.5 port right?
When using Wireless BT headsphones these don't come into play.. Same w/ Note 7, UHD Audio amplifier doesn't activate on BT headphones.

 

[hpilot]

Here is a long thread I started that should help you:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-pixel-pixel-xl/741316-audio-quality.html

 

[billykac]

There's lots of good info in the links provided above.

Asking if someone can "attest" to audio quality is likely to trigger lots of pros and cons for any piece of audio gear, IMO.

You now know that there IS a DAC in the Pixel, you don't need to buy one, and that there ARE audiophiles on this forum.

 

[guitarjamman]

Used the pixel while mowing my lawn all day with the standard headphones that came from my galaxy S6.

Great news, it played music! I'm not an audiophile by any means, but the sound is more than adequate and does not sound any different that my old S6 or my iPhone 6s.

For those of you who are worried, there was NO noticeable difference.

 

[Alex Wetzel]

Weird, I use bose headphones with Google play music, and the audio quality is awful! Had to chance the EQ setting to get decent sound quality.

 

[I800C0LLECT]

EQ is a preference and doesn't denote a quality issue

 

[Amele]

I have a crappy pair of earphones that came with one of my Note7's (the other set got returned) and a decent but not fabulous pair of earphones that cost about 80 bucks a couple of years ago, and my mp3s and flacs sound pretty good through both. The more expensive ones are louder and better bass but even the Samsung ones are ok. The audio through headphones is one of the bright spots on this phone. It's some better than the Note's which was acceptable but no more.

 

[Strife21]

Can anyone attest to the audio quality via headphones? Considering there is no built in DAC (like HTC 10 or LG V20) is it tolerable?
Are there any audiophiles in here that can recommend any portable DACs?

There is 100% a DAC how else do you think its converting digital audio to analog so your ears can hear it. Maybe its not the quality DAC you want but to say there is no DAC is ridiculous. If its using a standard 3.5mm head phone jack there has to be one.

 

[subguy812]

Can anyone attest to the audio quality via headphones? Considering there is no built in DAC (like HTC 10 or LG V20) is it tolerable?
Are there any audiophiles in here that can recommend any portable DACs?

There is a DAC, just not an amp the equivalent of the two other phones you mentioned, which is what I think you are referring too. The sound quality is good in the Pixel, however the sound quality on the V20, when I had it, was incredible. The V20 also had apt-x hd for bluetooth, we could debate the significance in that. I use an Astell & Kern AK120 II as my stand alone DAP.

 

[Aquila]

According to what limited info is available about the HTC 10 internals, the HTC 10, Galaxy Note 7 and Pixel/Pixel XL all share the same DAC.

 

[chilledbeer]

I'm quite picky about Audio quality and come from a HTC 10 and my other phone is an iPhone 7 plus. Also own several boses, beats, ATs. Above mentioned headphones sound tolerable on the Pixel. But the HTC High Res Audio headphones(costs 40 dollars I think) paired with a pixel sound ammaazing! So in summary, Pixel Audio quality is not HTC good but good enough.

 

[bonnie100th]

In my case I came from an HTC M8 which was very decent to hear with the stock phone dual stereo speakers, when I plugged the Beats audio headphones it was simple amazing. Now coming to my current Pixel XL, the single bottom firing speaker sound quality is lame comparing to the HTC M8 dual stereo speakers set up. Having said that I found that I use my Beats audio headphones every day on the pixel XL to attain a decent music sound. Nuff said.

 

[Go0gle]

I have Shure SE 215's, Monster Turbine Pro Coppers, and Monster iVictory Sport IEMs. All of them sound good on the Pixel XL, and volume goes 1-2 notches higher than the Nexus 6P did. I think the sound quality is very good for a stock phone with no external amp/dac but I'm sure it can be improved.

I find these days I just use google music and I am fine with it. I gave up on wasting my time with FLAC files, etc. for casual listening.

 

[WClark57]

Good for me on my audio-technica QuietPoint ATH-ANC7b headphones, listening to Eric Clapton on Pandora. Of course IANAAP.