LG V20 with ESS 9218 quad dac

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by Madaboutaudio, Oct 31, 2016.

  1. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    545
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Singapore
    I just done a quick demo listen and yikes the v20 does inherit the dreaded sabre glare, and yes it is pretty razor sharp and will kill @Psalmanazar with a thousand daggers. It's pretty full bodied sound though, typical ESS fast/fat bass.

    Better than iphone or dx90 but not better than mojo or zx2
     
  2. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,455
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Oh well. My search for an audiophile smart phone continues.
     
  3. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Wild off-chance, but anyone who gets one of these and has a pair of Andromeda, I have a track I'd like to get feedback on. There's no way I'll get to hear one of these down here in SA unfortunately.
     
  4. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,426
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I've enjoyed my V10 quite a bit. *shrug*

    Not surprising for a sabre dac to sound like a sabre dac, but if it was a quick demo I do wonder about all the settings/software used.
     
  5. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    I enjoy my V10 with Andromeda, I just get some weird noise/interference on quiet passages with pronounced bass. I'm curious if the V20 cleans that up with the 'quad dac' implementation.
     
  6. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    4,521
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    London, UK
    Thanks for taking one for the team, and giving this a listen!

    That said, I don't think I'd voluntarily buy a non Nexus/Pixel Android device these days, too many issues with AWOL updates and unfixed security issues. If it was an OEM Android or bust, I think I'd just get an iPhone instead, courageous lack of headphone socket or no.

    Interesting little Forbes article about it- mostly how it'd appear to non-nerds (i.e. not People Like Us, who will suffer almost any number of indignities for a good sound):

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/elaineramirez/2016/10/30/could-the-lg-v20-be-too-asian-for-the-u-s/
     
  7. mulolomu

    mulolomu New

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Is there any member in here have some experience with Meizu Pro 5? i found it to be free from "sabre glare" despite using es9018k2m...its pretty well implemented in my opinion, good amp section too...in my ears, pro 5 is having sound signature like hifiman house sound, "audiophile" type, warm lush with wonderful bass and a little bit soft/rolled off in top.
     
  8. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    545
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Singapore
    The gentler sounding mobile phone that I tried was the Sony Xperia XZ. Granted it wasn't as resolving(plankton and soundstage) as it's dedicated DAP brother ZX2, I was quite impressed by the silence(no hiss) of it's headphone output and the lack of really noticeable sigma delta buzziness or grainy gremlins in the sound. Also the Sony Music Player has a pretty slick and fast UI. It's a quite a good listen for a mobile solution.
     
  9. Pyotr

    Pyotr Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    46
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Michigan
    Dang, that really sucks to hear. I was looking at getting one as an upgrade but if it's too incisive than I think I'll pass since most of my portables are on the brighter side. Thanks for the heads up!
     
  10. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Too late.
     
  12. JewBear

    JewBear Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Do you want Chinese spyware cause that's how you get Chinese spyware.
     
  13. mulolomu

    mulolomu New

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    8

    Pardon me...i just dont get what are you trying to say?
     
  14. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    545
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Singapore
    Xiaomi does it too. Not sure about Huawei but I think if you are concerned then stick to Apple. There's too much loopholes on Android OS that makes it easy for Apps to steal your info.
     
  15. JewBear

    JewBear Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    63
    There's been reports that Meizu phones come bundled with Chinese government spyware.
     
  16. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    4,521
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    London, UK
  17. mulolomu

    mulolomu New

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    8
    OMG...damn...seriously thinking to move to LG v20 right now...
     
  18. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    545
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Singapore
    I think you might want to pair your iems carefully with this LG V20. The very fast transient response and strong dynamics of andromeda might not be a good pairing to the ultra aggressive sabre sound. I tried the v20 with the Sony XBA-Z5(with Sony upgrade cable) and it was screamingly loud/peaky/overly bright all at the same time.


    I would think a more mellow sounding K10U or Westone or Jomo 6 or TFZ should be more suitable for v20.
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2016
  19. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2016
    Likes Received:
    746
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I was dead set on getting this phone. I really enjoyed the V10. Now I'm leaning towards the Pixel XL.
     
  20. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    4,521
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    London, UK
    Leaning towards not getting the XL myself- the only up to date Nexus when I bought my last phone was the Nexus 6- and that sort of massive clownphone can really ruin the line of some clothes, and be a pig to get out of your pocket.. plus it's way too big to stash and take with me while running. I realised that I don't actually need the real estate as much as I thought- even though it's easier to poke things on a clown phone, if you have big hands.
     

Share This Page