So, is the stereo music quality good, or not?

[anon(5506951)]

I was at my local AT&T store today looking at the S9+. Of course, I tested the audio through the headphone jack with my 32 ohm earbuds. The sound was very loud, to where it doesn't need to be at max volume at all, yet I hardly noticed any distortion at max volume. Dolby Atmos toggled on definitely makes a difference. The Adapt Sound setting allows you to set your own custom sound profile based on your hearing.

I personally still prefer BoomSound, only because there's just something about how music sounds as if it was first deconstructed, then reconstructed so that you hear every instrument individually, yet as a whole. It also has just the right amount of punch from the bass without being annoying, and there's absolutely no distortion at max volume.

Still, I'm thinking with a quality headset, most people will be fine. Although you might experience distortion at higher volumes with higher impedance earbuds or headphones, since it's plenty loud, even at the level Samsung's set before you get the warning. I think they did well.

 

[rushmore]

Tested the 9+ today with the Pixel 2 XL and iPhone X at a local Verizon store. Speaker output for music and movies is noticeably better than both of those devices. Also better than my Moto X Pure, which had good front firing speakers. Please test in a more quiet place like an AT&T or Verizon store, rather than a loud acoustically challenged Best Buy. 9+ has surprisingly good sounding speakers, even after nitpicking them.

Added: Not particularity a fan of non in-person audio or visual comparisons, but the OP used a Hidef set-up to capture the audio comparison (presuming the user is also streaming and listening in Hidef). Even to a non audio buff, the sound quality stands out. Far more so in person. TE is a good source for audio reference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoMusI-nsX8

TechGuy also posted comparisons of the iPhone X and Pixel XL2. Both clearly confirm the S9+ speakers sound far better than either.

 

[t11rmh]

On my opinion it is just louder with more of the same quality from two speakers.

 

[lucianus_luciferus]

the speakers are loud and there is a noticeable bass. i don't even have to set the volume up to max to feel that.
same when listening to headphones. max volume is too loud for me.