Played with an LG v30 today

[Mike Dee]

The V20 at max volume with Quad DAC enabled would damage your ear if you listen too long, the audio output is louder than normal. After using a S7 then switching to the V20, I immediately noticed the difference in clarity. The average consumer probably won't even notice the difference even with a budget Android phone because it sounds good enough to them. As for the volume maxing at 75, maybe it was on retail mode with restricted settings. If you're simply comparing the audio alone, you're missing out on other features. Have you tried the camera? Not a very noteworthy preview or first impression.

75 is full volume with the LG. It is not a scaled percentage to 100. There is nothing wrong when it's at 75. I'm speaking for the Verizon version with normal software. If you use Poweramp they use a 0 to 100 scale.

 

[sjgoten6]

The V20 at max volume with Quad DAC enabled would damage your ear if you listen too long, the audio output is louder than normal. After using a S7 then switching to the V20, I immediately noticed the difference in clarity. The average consumer probably won't even notice the difference even with a budget Android phone because it sounds good enough to them. As for the volume maxing at 75, maybe it was on retail mode with restricted settings. If you're simply comparing the audio alone, you're missing out on other features. Have you tried the camera? Not a very noteworthy preview or first impression.

Wasn't meant to be a preview, just asking a question on why the audio was built like that. I'll leave the previews to those who are better at journalism.

 

[Diehlirious]

Ask any true audiophile and they'll say Beats is not worth the money. The quality of Beats headsets are at the level of around $100 headsets. They're overpriced because of the brand.

I can 100% back you on that. I've been producing for years. I've owned a few of the brands you've mentioned & currently own a pair of HD 25's. I don't take Beats seriously at all.

 

[flyingkytez]

75 is full volume with the LG. It is not a scaled percentage to 100. There is nothing wrong when it's at 75. I'm speaking for the Verizon version with normal software. If you use Poweramp they use a 0 to 100 scale.

I forget Verizon tweaks their phones the way they want (service mode and FM radio disabled, tons of bloatware).

BTW my unlocked V20 can go to 100% volume. It honestly is the best sounding audio player in my home, as long as I hook it up to decent headphones or speakers. I get eargasm when using my Mackie MR5 MK3 studio speakers. A killer audio device, kinda spoiled to have it while everyone else doesn't even have headphone jacks anymore.

 

[flyingkytez]

I can 100% back you on that. I've been producing for years. I've owned a few of the brands you've mentioned & currently own a pair of HD 25's. I don't take Beats seriously at all.

Beats are garbage, only popular because of marketing. Used to be good at one point when Monster Audio were making them, now they are complete garbage with the Apple acquisition. They think "louder" means it sounds better. If you buy beats, you're probably influenced by hip hop stars wearing them. Nothing more than a status symbol.

 

[chanchan05]

Nothing more than a status symbol.

Just like the rest of the stuff Apple sells no? Lol.

 

[TheMarcus]

The problem LG has in making a big deal about the feature is most of us are part of the unwashed masses who don't really care and are happy with the music quality of their current devices.

I couldn't agree more, but the way I see it, the audio stuff is just icing on the cake for those few people who do care about something like that. No other phone has that option for them. For the rest of us, there's still so much good going for this phone.

 

[Mike Dee]

And I was listening to music and trying the quad dac and comparing it with the note 8 and I couldn't tell too much difference. I did notice that the volume on the v30 stopped at 75% so that alone made me prefer the note 8. Any way to change that? I looked all throughout the settings.

Here's a different app to show you what I meant.

 

[chanchan05]

Here's a different app to show you what I meant.

Poweramp is amazing. I hate the interface though. Lol. Bought it years ago when I still had my Galaxy S.

But yeah, in terms of playback quality PowerAmp is probably the best.

 

[Mike Dee]

Poweramp is amazing. I hate the interface though. Lol. Bought it years ago when I still had my Galaxy S.

But yeah, in terms of playback quality PowerAmp is probably the best.

Lots of settings

 

[chanchan05]

Lots of settings

It's not the lots of settings the bugs me. It's how it looks like really. Lol. Even if I theme it. I just don't like it for some reason I can't put my finger on. Lol.

 

[Mike Dee]

It's not the lots of settings the bugs me. It's how it looks like really. Lol. Even if I theme it. I just don't like it for some reason I can't put my finger on. Lol.

I understand...I wasn't referring to lots of settings as an issue but more of a benefit. I've heard complaints about the interface. The visuals for the EQ are interesting but not sure they really purpose. I have made some interesting wallpaper out of them. Some of the settings are not easy to understand either. It works great though and that's what counts.

 

[Blaize19]

The 75 is just an arbitrary number, it could be 1000 or that one could go to 11. Full volume on one phone will likely be different than full volume on another.
As far as the quad DAC, it's my understanding to really be able to hear the difference you need high impedance headphones and a lossless file format (flac, wav). Compressed audio and standard headphones should sound more or less the same on most devices.

I see what you did there.

 

[Rumblee1]

Have a look at hdtracks dot com.

I'm an HD tracks customer too. Currently using a zte axon 7 and klipsch Bluetooth headset. But my klipsch reference headphones also give you the flexibility of using them wired so when doing this, you can clearly hear the difference between the same music files. It's not only loudness, but also what you hear. The clearness of the bass drum, highs of tiny cymbals. And HD tracks really does a great job. They're a little pricy, but often run specials. So I'm hoping that I'll achieve the same distinction when listening to the V30 as I'm getting a on the A7.

 

[freddyttt]

ok covered Audio, lol..... any other thoughts camera ??

 

[sjgoten6]

I'm not a good reviewer fredsyttt but I will say the camera reminded me of the g6. It felt very fast. If the v30, v30 and g6 were offered and I had to choose one it would be the v30 no doubt. I just wish I was good at talking about the phone other than the audio was good and I can't tell the difference because that's not my passion. The display was on point and had inky blacks similar to the galaxies. The floating screen thing reminds me of the edge panel on the galaxies only a lot smaller and movable. I can easily drag it around and scroll through the different "pages". I think the phone itself was the easiest to hold of all the phones, even the g6. It didn't have the thick sides liked the g6.

 

[sjgoten6]

I also held the g6 and the v30 camera side by side and they both had the same degree of wideness. I didn't notice as much jumpiness when I was recording like I did the g6 though.

 

[anon(5506951)]

Also to get more clarification on the source of music, I was playing Sound of Silence by disturbed streaming from Google Play Music. So I don't know of it had to be a special coded song for me to bear a difference

Lol, funny that you say that. I use the "Sound of Silence" cover by Disturbed to test sound quality as well. It's my go to.

 

[sjgoten6]

Yep I love that song! One of the best covers I've ever heard! And no model yet for AT&T. Well at least not my store. I think best buy usually gets theirs before us anyway (since they deal with three carriers) so you may wanna check out theirs.

 

[Mike Dee]

I'm an HD tracks customer too. Currently using a zte axon 7 and klipsch Bluetooth headset. But my klipsch reference headphones also give you the flexibility of using them wired so when doing this, you can clearly hear the difference between the same music files. It's not only loudness, but also what you hear. The clearness of the bass drum, highs of tiny cymbals. And HD tracks really does a great job. They're a little pricy, but often run specials. So I'm hoping that I'll achieve the same distinction when listening to the V30 as I'm getting a on the A7.

The LG and ZTE DACs are both great.
I'm not familiar with your headset, however if it's under 50ohms the LG DAC won't run at full output.