The ZTE Axon 7's audio - ZTE Axon 7 Questions & Answers

Hello,
So I'm using the Axon 7 for a few days now and I'm really happy with this device so far.
I listen to music quite a lot myself with Spotify Premium (Extreme Quality) and I do believe that the non-rooted stock Axon 7 ROM provides amazing sound already.
On my previous devices I'd have to unlock the bootloader(, disable system write protection), root and install Viper4Android to get similar audio quality.
I guess I could improve the sound quality even more with Viper4Android now but I don't want to mess with my phone and warranty yet.
There seem to be four audio settings this phone can have on the stock ROM without root:
(1) Dolby Atmos
(2) Headset Standard Hi-Fi audio
(3) Headset Super audio
(4) Nothing? Default?
So I'm guessing the audio settings work like this (excluding sound being played from a Bluetooth device because I don't have such device so I don't know):
(a) Is Dolby Atmos enabled?
Yes, phone uses (1).
No, go to (b).
(b) Is the sound being played through the phone's built-in speakers?
Yes, phone uses (4).
No, go to (c).
(c) So sound is being played from the 3,5 mm audio jack. Is Headset Super audio selected in 'Sound and Vibration' in the phone's settings?
Yes, phone uses (3).
No, phone uses (2).
My opinion when using the:
- phone speakers, the audio sounds better with Dolby Atmos disabled. (Maximum volume seems higher with Dolby Atmos disabled too)
- 3,5 mm audio jack, the audio sounds better with Dolby Atmos enabled with speakerboxes/headphones/earphones.
- 3,5 mm audio jack with Dolby Atmos disabled, the audio sounds the same when comparing Super audio with Standard Hi-Fi audio with speakerboxes/headphones/earphones. (Super Audio is much more amplified though)
Maximum volume differences in my opinion (bigger = louder):
With phone's built in speakers: Nothing/Default > Dolby Atmos
With 3,5 mm audio jack in use: Super audio > Dolby Atmos > Standard Hi-Fi audio
So I wonder what the real difference is between Super audio and Standard Hi-Fi audio except for the amplification.
It would be nice if someone who knows about this could explain me
It seems that Dolby Atmos doesn't work together with the Super audio/Standard Hi-Fi audio settings.
So you can only use one of the three at a time with a headset for instance where Dolby Atmos overrides the Super audio/Standard Hi-Fi audio setting.
I'd love to see some combination like Dolby Atmos + Super audio purely for the amplification only.
And I wonder how the independant dual Hi-Fi chips work like.
Why 2 chips? Is it 1 for audio output/playing and 1 for audio input/recording?
Or maybe 1 for the right audio output channel and 1 for the the left audio output channel?
Do(es) the chip(s) work for all audio output options?
So do(es) the chip(s) work for the phone's built-in speakers as well as for the 3,5 mm audio jack output?
I know this phone is capable of recording in Hi-Fi quality but is that also true if a microphone is connected through the 3,5 mm audio jack?
I don't know so much about the purpose of the independant dual Hi-Fi chips really...
I guess I'm not really the only one wondering about these things or the only one being interested in these things, so if anyone could clarify it, well that would be great!
Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Abiram26

Why 2 chips? Is it 1 for audio output/playing and 1 for audio input/recording?
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Correct.

Find answers to your few questions here.
http://www.androidauthority.com/taking-audio-next-level-zte-axon-7-706898/
Probably ZTE use 2 DACs because they haven't found single ADC chip in AKM list or wanted to provide less power consumption solution too.
---------- Post added at 12:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 AM ----------
Regarding different amplification between Super audio and Standard Hi-Fi. I think it is due to only one reason. It indicates that user did change something otherwise no one can hear the difference under normal noise circumstances listening average quality music. There is no technical reason at all.

I am wondering also about the :
- "standard" Hi-Fi
and
- "super (as in superior) enhanced audio performance" Hi-Fi
I think its more than amping ...the soundstage open up. DSP? 32 bit resample?

Related

[Q] Sound Issue... HELP!

Has anyone had issues with there audio through the headphone jack? It sounds like I am listening though a tunnel!!! And even through the speakers I notice it a little. Any suggestions?
I had this issue with the first set of headphones I tried (the set that came with my Samsung Galaxy S). I swapped the headphones for a better set (Sony's standard €20 earbuds) and the problem was fixed.
Just disable Dolby Mobile in Settings when listening with the headphones. Dolby Mobile seems to be related to (optimized for) the internal speakers.
Mautflucht said:
Just disable Dolby Mobile in Settings when listening with the headphones. Dolby Mobile seems to be related to (optimized for) the internal speakers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will indeed fix your issue. Also make sure the jack seated correctly... sounds silly but on the iconia I have noticed many times that it didn't correctly sense my headphone jack and audio was coming through the cable but sounding very thin, as well as still playing out the iconia speakers.

bluetooth dac?

I just plugged in a cheap pair of headphones and wow, the sound is amazing using the hifi dac. I don't know much about it but I have a much better pair of Sony bluetooth headphones, is there any work around to use the hifi with bluetooth?
I don't believe so. I could be wrong but I very much doubt it.
Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk
This is a post from reddit user /u/codefyre explaining why the DAC can't be used over bluetooth (this was related to the v10, but applies to the v20 as well):
Not possible. Nutshell explanation:
All audio, the audio you hear with your actual ear, is analog. Sound is an analog vibration through the air.
The audio recordings in your phone are digital. MP3, MP4, whatever. Unless you're listening to an old record or cassette recording, you're playback source is digital.
The DAC is a Digital Analog Converter. A high quality DAC converts high quality digital audio into high quality analog audio. A higher quality DAC generates a better reconstruction of the original analog signal. Because wired headphones are analog, they simply transform the analog electrical signal into analog speaker vibrations.
If you think about this for a moment, you should understand why it can't be used with Bluetooth. BT is a digital protocol, so the connection between your phone and your Bluetooth receiver is digital. Bluetooth receivers typically perform an on-chip conversion of the digital signal to an analog output during playback. Some high quality BT speakers have onboard 24 bit and 32 bit DAC's to improve the fidelity of their audio output.
So, if the V10 allowed the DAC to be used with Bluetooth, your signal would be Digital Source - > Analog 32 bit HiFi DAC -> Digital Bluetooth -> Analog Output. Because your audio quality is limited by the lowest fidelity step in the reproduction chain, your final output quality is never going to exceed the fidelity of the conversion in your Bluetooth device. And because the analog -> digital conversion actually lowers audio quality, the highest quality Bluetooth playback can be achieved by keeping the signal digital until it reaches the output device. Running the signal through the HiFi DAC would actually result in lower quality Bluetooth audio.
If you want to match the quality of the HiFi DAC using Bluetooth, you'll need to buy a Bluetooth receiver with a high quality onboard DAC of its own.
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Couldn't have got a better answer, thank you.

Bluetooth Music Quality

How the does bluetooth sound for you guys? Mine seems to be worse after the B29 update (not for certain that's when it degraded). I have a decent car stereo setup, but bluetooth distorts and crackles in the mids and highs. It's not unlistenable, but I thought my stereo was on the fritz until I used my 3.5mm input from the headphone jack, which sounds just fine. It can't be that the DAC is that much better, as my other phones sounds fine and this used to.
Do you have any thoughts or experience with something besides a small bluetooth speaker?
And I have tried playing with the Dolby settings. They make no difference with the distortion.
After some perfunctory tests I have noted that Bluetooth audio seems to introduce a significant amount of extra noise at high volumes. Aside from the additional background noise I have not noticed distortions with Bluetooth yet. I have only checked this on B29.
PiArc said:
After some perfunctory tests I have noted that Bluetooth audio seems to introduce a significant amount of extra noise at high volumes. Aside from the additional background noise I have not noticed distortions with Bluetooth yet. I have only checked this on B29.
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Just something to try...I have a BT device hooked to my AVR, and when I stream through that, if I have the volume on my phone up it sounds horrible. If I stream through it with the volume up just 1 click of the volume button, it sounds good. I increase volume at the AVR instead of the phone.
Through Bluetooth hands free working flawlessly to my.(A2017G version)
I'm having 2 LG 1100/2 Sony SBH 80 and 2 SBH 20.
Haven't try it with external speakers(since I don't own any kind) and on my car I'm using the handsfree and not connected to the car audio system.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I have a A2017G on B05 and a somewhat cheap aukey BT headset: it seems to sound fine for me, no crackling or hissing. Have you tried it on different devices to compare?
A2017U on B29, using Jaybirds Bluebuds X, the sound its great, no distortion or cracking.
I use the Bluetooth on my car stereo too and the sound is excellent. No dolby, but the equalizer works fine.
Did you verify that all your bluetooth devices supports aptx? if not then you will lose sound quality :S
idk, i dont like bluetooth audio streaming... even with aptx. Its not bad but if you want to steam flac music it will still limit the quality. Somehow if i stream the music via bluetooths aptx it sound flat not dynmic and
voluminous.
I haven't tried it with the volume just below full. I'll give it a shot in the morning on my commute.
Other devices (S5 and 6P) sound just fine when paired to my headed unit, so it's likely something with my Axon 7.
-----
Quick test with the volume just under full seemed better. I'll know more after a drive tomorrow. Thanks everyone.
yamils said:
A2017U on B29, using Jaybirds Bluebuds X, the sound its great, no distortion or cracking.
I use the Bluetooth on my car stereo too and the sound is excellent. No dolby, but the equalizer works fine.
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EQ on on your car stereo or phone? I don't know of an EQ on the phone (maybe I've overlooked something).
admrusty said:
EQ on on your car stereo or phone? I don't know of an EQ on the phone (maybe I've overlooked something).
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On the phone. I meant to say that it's not using the HiFi audio, but the Dolby eq it's fine on Bluetooth. Sorry for the confusion.
I think it sounds about 95% better just one click below full volume. I never would have thought that digital Bluetooth volume would have been the problem, having always set it to 100% with every other device. Thankfully, Tasker makes for a quick fix.
Thanks for the tips and feedback, everyone.

Dolby Atmos unable to fully function as desire on my Zte Axon 7 Mini.

I think it is the biggest concern regarding Dolby setting wont remain as it should be after adjust set to full performance especially on the treble point. Something that we pay for nothing over stupid Dolby company. Unless someone can help with that and would be much appreciate. Thanks.
Well, depends on headphones (bad idea to hear kind recordings via phone-speakers, though it sounds better than usual). I had better sound quality on my prev phone with root and Viper4Android (and i'm w8ing it for my axon 7 mini), but anyway as for me - dolby atmos works good. Ofc it is more powerful for 6ch ac3 audio, but even with stereo it works good.
I pref jazz, orchestral and piano music. My Dolby settings: Auto Volume, Voice correcting (idk how it named in english version), equalizer +1(2) -1 0 +1 +2(3). Headphones Marshall Monitor.
Gl.

how to get sound better?

Hi guys.
A friend of mine who is good into sound stuff, headphones ,dacs etc recommended me this phone just so I can get better sound over bluetooth and other wired headphones.
I used S7 edge with some average bluetooth buds and got average sound.
Now I got this device,in used condition and I think I have even worse sound then with my S7 edge.
Dolby Atmos is enabled and I'm on Android 7.1.
I expected even better sound over speakers,which is nice but kinda lacks a lot of bass,and sound stages.
Even speakers on my tablet Samsung S5e are way much better in sound.
Yeah sound is nice with my Beyerdynamics MMX300 Gen 2 but so is the sound with them on my S7 edge.
I mean I am not impressed at all with this phone so I thought to ask, maybe I need some other ROM,software etc,huh?
Help is appreciated.
I use mostly average quality bluetooth earbuds,and listen to trance music.
I can name the devices if it's important.
paparazzo79 said:
Hi guys.
A friend of mine who is good into sound stuff, headphones ,dacs etc recommended me this phone just so I can get better sound over bluetooth and other wired headphones.
I used S7 edge with some average bluetooth buds and got average sound.
Now I got this device,in used condition and I think I have even worse sound then with my S7 edge.
Dolby Atmos is enabled and I'm on Android 7.1.
I expected even better sound over speakers,which is nice but kinda lacks a lot of bass,and sound stages.
Even speakers on my tablet Samsung S5e are way much better in sound.
Yeah sound is nice with my Beyerdynamics MMX300 Gen 2 but so is the sound with them on my S7 edge.
I mean I am not impressed at all with this phone so I thought to ask, maybe I need some other ROM,software etc,huh?
Help is appreciated.
I use mostly average quality bluetooth earbuds,and listen to trance music.
I can name the devices if it's important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly audio quality over 3.5mm jack is so good on this phone that I still havent found a successor to it. Using it as my daily. In order to get best audio follow this:
First disable Dolby Atmos. It really does not improve the sound, more the opposite. Then check in Audio / HiFi settings that "Super" mode is activated. This will enable AKM4490 chip.
Bluetooth Audio depends on your buds and not your phone. Just make sure in developer options that best available codec is activates. On Sony buds you can enable LDAC (needs Andrioid 8.0 or newer) to get best quality. But no bluetooth buds can match the quality of 3.5mm jack on this phone.
TruePlaya1977 said:
Honestly audio quality over 3.5mm jack is so good on this phone that I still havent found a successor to it. Using it as my daily. In order to get best audio follow this:
First disable Dolby Atmos. It really does not improve the sound, more the opposite. Then check in Audio / HiFi settings that "Super" mode is activated. This will enable AKM4490 chip.
Bluetooth Audio depends on your buds and not your phone. Just make sure in developer options that best available codec is activates. On Sony buds you can enable LDAC (needs Andrioid 8.0 or newer) to get best quality. But no bluetooth buds can match the quality of 3.5mm jack on this phone.
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I mean I do get good sound over 3.5mm...I thought I will get great sound as well over BT.
All this above is already preconfigured.
Since I purchased used phone,when I plug in headphones into 3.5mm jack,thouse don't go all the way in like on other phones where I can simply feel when the 3.5mm connector goes all the way in.
I suppose I were wrong reagarding bluetooth sound since I mostly use bluetooth headphones.
But thx for help.

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