Note 9 Headphone Audio?

[LilSweetLin]

To anyone who has their devices so far, how would you rate the audio quality, specifically through good quality, high impedance (50+ ohms) headphones? I ask because I listen to my music library a lot, and having owned the LG V30 for about a month, the quad DAC definitely makes a huge difference to the listening experience. While I loved it and the battery life, LG's UI leaves a lot to be desired, both aesthetically and feature-wise. I don't expect headphone audio on the Note 9 to best the V-series, but if it's at least comparable, along with the reports of good battery life so far, the Note 9 will be the upgrade to my Nexus 6P. Thoughts, anyone?

 

[ZOMMBIE1]

Have a pair of level on pro's that sound really good with my N9

 

[FACTagent]

based on previous Samsung phones, I was somewhat skeptical as to how good the sound quality would be. after I setup a custom sound profile for my hearing, sound was better than expected on my Bowers & Wilkins P9 headphones. Clarity is okay and there's a decent amount of bass, but it still doesn't match my Onkyo dpx1 dap in terms of Sound Stage and separation. in other words, I hear more instruments and and General audio detail on the Onkyo, but the lesser amount of audio detail I hear on my Note still sounds good for what it is. Source files were audio CD's original rip to apple lossless and batch converted to WMA lossless so that they would work with the Samsung music player which doesn't support ALAC. My Onkyo can play ALAC files natively so these files didn't need to be converted. I really need to a/b those WMA files on my Onkyo and the note to rule out any quality issues related to the conversion.

 

[jmk32]

I did a very quick listen to one or two songs on PlayerPro on my V-Modas and Beats headphones and didn't sound any better than my S8+.(even with Dolby Atmos switched on). But I haven't gotten around to doing the custom sound profile thing, or messing around with equalizers, etc yet or finding my flac files. Just a very quick listen as I'm still setting up apps and stuff.

I ordered the AKG free headphones with my pre-order and hope they sound good with the N9.

I'll mess around more with my good headphones and settings soon.

 

[dannejanne]

If the sound is the same as in the Note 8 or S8 phones I would say don't bother. If you are used to the sound of the V30 then it's going to be a big step down. Samsung has some of the worst headphone output today out of all manufacturers they are getting behind in that regard. The sound just lacks dynamics and space. They sound flat without life and when I had a Note 8 I didn't want to listen to music with it at all as the music lacked life and soundstage. Pretty much every manufacturer outperforms Samsung today when it comes to music.

 

[chanchan05]

That's just preference. Mainly because it's AKG they're getting to tune their sounds. AKG tuning leans to reference preset, meaning flat clear sounds. Commercial brands like low to mid range Senns, Sony or Bose, or God forbid Beats differ in setup and are far from reference.

Anyway, the S9 uses a 32bit DAC for music. AFAIK only the V30 has a better built in DAC hardware, plus Samsung has the software sound profiling via audiometry (which they can use since they have a flat profile) which makes it close enough.

If the sound is the same as in the Note 8 or S8 phones I would say don't bother. If you are used to the sound of the V30 then it's going to be a big step sound. Samsung has some of the worst headphone output today out of all manufacturers. The sound just lacks dynamics and space. They sound flat without life and when I had a Note 8 I didn't want to listen to music with it at all as the music lacked life and soundstage.

 

[eg757]

Note 9 sounds great with headphones. I've tried them with Grado PS1000's and they sounded awesome, and this morning ran a few tunes thru Westone W60 in ear monitors and was happily surprised by how great they were sounding. Maybe not quite to the LG DAC level.....but very pleasing.

Worth trying Jet Audio Pro and some enhancements to mp3 if you want more control, and as always higher bit rate music.

YMMV

 

[Mike-Mike]

I am on an airplane using these AKG headphones with the wire, and they are pretty solid

 

[freddyttt]

If the sound is the same as in the Note 8 or S8 phones I would say don't bother. If you are used to the sound of the V30 then it's going to be a big step down. Samsung has some of the worst headphone output today out of all manufacturers they are getting behind in that regard. The sound just lacks dynamics and space. They sound flat without life and when I had a Note 8 I didn't want to listen to music with it at all as the music lacked life and soundstage. Pretty much every manufacturer outperforms Samsung today when it comes to music.

THATS DEFINITELY IYHO.

my wifes s8 sounds great !

 

[stackberry369]

Imagine if Samsung added a Quad Dac along with Dolby Atmos lol

 

[FACTagent]

Imagine if Samsung added a Quad Dac along with Dolby Atmos lol

That would be my perfect phone.

 

[Chet Patel]

I'd say the Note 9 is very clear and detailed. With a set of low impedance earphones, it rivals many of the phones out there. The amp part of this phone is definitely lacking. Higher impedance headphones struggle with the note 9 I think. I have a pair of Shure se846s and they sound very good.

 

[dre22era]

I have Bose QuietComfort 35s and briefly tried them on my Note 9 with Tidal through bluetooth.
Sound is good but like the Note 8 not as loud. However that may just be a Bose issue. Shrugs

 

[freddyttt]

Ive compared side by side the p20 pro and the note 9-

Loudness and clarity!

Bluetooth
earbuds-

the Note 9 out-performed by a pretty wide margine in both BY and EB.