Long gone are the days when our mobile phones were nothing more than phones. With the introduction of games, calendars, MMS, and the first built-in audio players, our phones slowly transitioned towards the smartphone territory and became the ultimate tools for entertainment and business.
But while mobile game design has advanced to the point where you can enjoy anything from RPGs and first person shooters to HD online casino games (check this great portal for reference), not much has been done in the audio department. And yes, it’s true that flagship devices come with great headsets and built in-players, but are they truly up to the standard games have reached?
Well, the answer is both yes and no. There are some devices which deserve to be called an audiophile’s dream but there are also those that are nothing more than “average” when it comes to sound quality. With that in mind, if you call yourself an audiophile and want the best Android to match your love for pristine sound, check out these top devices.
HTC 10
HTC’s workhorse of a phone is a great device to have if you’re looking for more than just audio quality. Boasting the Snapdragon 820 , Adreno 530, and Super LCD5 5.2 inch screen, HTC’s flagship device is also a serious gaming phone that is only complemented by its audio perks.
The biggest plus for music fans is the two-speaker system, which works excellent when placed in a horizontal position. The top speaker is for mid- and high frequency output, while the bottom speaker is focused on providing the bass. Between the two, you get a nice rounded sound which not many smartphones can match.
And although it doesn’t quite sport the old Boomsound many HTC fans have learned to love, the 10 comes with other features to make it worth your money:
- Automatic dynamic adjustments to your music;
- Loud enough to cover your room without distortion;
- Lean bass frequencies;
- Precise mids and sparkly highs.
Marshall London
When Marshall announced that they will be launching their own smartphones, they left many audiophiles intrigued. After all, the most famous guitar amp manufacturer going into the phone business – was this really a good idea? But the truth is, if anyone knows how to make things loud and clear it is Marshall.
Although the phone might not be as universal a performer as the HTC10 with its 720p display and the Snapdragon 410, the London is still an audiophile’s dream. Not only does this phone come with stereo Marshall speakers but the audio reproduction is fuller than most, if not every, smartphone today. This means that you can forget about ever plugging in your headphones just so you can get a better sound.
And even If you did want to plug in you can get two separate outputs, each with their own volume control, and an audio-equalizer that is beyond any compare. With the full range of frequencies available through your EQ setup, there isn’t an audio spectrum which you can’t reproduce. And to complement the experience, the phone also comes with the following specs:
- 2500 mAh battery that lasts longer due to lower hardware specs;
- Dedicated Wolfson WM8281 Audio Hub;
- Dedicated player button;
- Audio app bundles (including DJ-APP and LoopStack).
LG V20
Even though it was only released in October 2016, this phone is already grabbing the attention of Hi-Fi enthusiasts. While its predecessor, the V10, was nothing short of a great audio device, the V20 comes with other features that make it the better contender.
Just like the HTC10, this is a phone that’s aimed at both audiophiles but also those who want top-notch performance and design. In the audio department, the V20 comes with the first-ever Quad DAC 32-bit chip that is bound to impress music fans. Take that and add the diverse Lossless audio format support and the 72-stage volume control, and you end up with a serious music device.
And apart from the impressive DAC chip, the LG V20 also sports the following audio features:
- Dual microphone system with 24-bit, 48kHz recording;
- Video recording at loud volumes without distortion;
- Lossless audio recording;
- 2Vrms headphone amp.
All opinions are the authors.
Credit Google image search for pictures.
