Android phones....finally decent audio quality

[Tpr5.0]

I purchased a Droid turbo cell phone to replace the iPhone last year. The iPhone was nice because I could plug the phone into the USB port and the music quality was so much better than streaming via blue tooth. I wanted to see if this would work with the Droid turbo. Earlier tonight, I stopped at the Verizon store and the rep advised that the Android phones currently are unable to do the same function as the iPhone of yet. The rep suggested going to Radio Shack and purchase a stereo cable and plug into phone and into the aux port for a direct connection. I purchased a 3', 1/8" stereo cable and it worked. The sound quality is amazing. The only drawback is that you cannot fast forward/rewind tracks using the steering wheel controls. You have to manually change the song via the phone music player.
I cannot stress enough how much better the direct connection audio quality is than streaming via blue tooth.

After connecting the stereo cable from the phone to the aux port, the AUX option appears:

Then click AUX, this screen appears and music plays:

My apology if this was previously posted. For those that just found out about this option as well, enjoy.

 

[goochylittlepig]

you do realize that plugging a phone or ipod (or discman or walkman) into the aux input is something that has been around for 15-20 years?

of course you can plug your android or iphone into it, and the sound will be (somewhat) better than bluetooth. but as you said, it means having an ugly cable sticking out that needs to be connected, and you lose functionality. i haven't noticed any sound quality issues with bluetooth.

 

[Tpr5.0]

Obviously I was not aware this option was availible for the phone or I wouldn't have created this thread. I disagree the sound is somewhat better as you wrote.
There is an amazing difference in sound quality going this route IMO. Mods feel free to delete this thread.

 

[amartz]

It's a valid conversation, BT quality vs. direct wired. Since my G1 doesn't support BT streaming, I've purchased a second BT receiver that does plug into the aux port. I think the sound quality is pretty good! I wonder if there's any significant audio quality difference between my after-market BT receiver, and the one built into the newer Genesis.

 

[Lord Humunculous]

There shouldn't be if they are the same BT spec except maybe an extremely slight delay

 

[goochylittlepig]

Obviously I was not aware this option was availible for the phone or I wouldn't have created this thread. I disagree the sound is somewhat better as you wrote.
There is an amazing difference in sound quality going this route IMO. Mods feel free to delete this thread.

i mean this is a valid discussion. i'm new to the genesis, but have been using an aux input for my phone for many years in other cars. i've been mostly using bluetooth in the genesis and have compared the sound with the aux input. i just don't think it makes that much of a difference if you're streaming from something like google music or pandora. all of that stuff, and most mp3s, are at a lower bitrate than something lossless like a cd. i am curious about this issue, though.

 

[k9kids]

The only drawback is that you cannot fast forward/rewind tracks using the steering wheel controls. You have to manually change the song via the phone music player.

Pick up one of these, pair it via Bluetooth to your phone and locate it in a convenient place.

Much easier than grabbing the phone to change tracks etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Satechi®-Blue...49754349&sr=8-1&keywords=satechi+media+button

 

[k9kids]

In case you're curious as to the size.

 

[amartz]

i've been mostly using bluetooth in the genesis and have compared the sound with the aux input. i just don't think it makes that much of a difference if you're streaming from something like google music or pandora. all of that stuff, and most mp3s, are at a lower bitrate than something lossless like a cd. i am curious about this issue, though.

I use Slacker, and it has an option for a much higher bit rate and higher fidelity, which is how I run it. And the difference between those two settings is striking. I couldn't tell you how close it is to a 320mp3 or flac, but it sounds pretty damn good to me!

 

[amartz]

I found one article about Slacker that says "Sound quality: 320kps — excellent quality for mobile listening and very good quality for desktop, but not up to full audiophile standards."
Well, 44000 at 320kps works pretty good for me, It's what I put on my flash drive for the Genesis.

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[TEF]

While connecting an android phone to the Genesis system via an audio cable is one way to get around BT, I just received this from Hyundai USA when I asked why my 2016 Genesis did not have the same android features as those in the Sonata. Apparently the Genesis does not have the same connectivity features with an android as it does an iphone. Anyway, herewith Hyundai's response:

We are currently working on other vehicles that have the same Navi system as the Sonata. Those included Genesis(standard AVN), Veloster, Elantra GT, Sonata HEV and the Azera. More models and trim levels will be added when the display audio system launches. At this time we do not have an estimated time of arrival for Android Auto, however we will have more information this summer.

It's not coming real soon, but at least it's not a negative response from Hyundai.

 

[MikeyTG]

If you don't want to stream music you can get one of these, put your music on it in artist\album folders, and leave it plugged in to the USB port. You can control it from the screen or jog dial and it shows cover art and song info.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LLEODCK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

 

[GenesisAWD]

Spotify Premium also has sound quality setting both for streaming as well as for tracks that you've made available offline. I agree that there is a HUGE difference in those settings. The options are labeled as "Normal" "High" or "Extreme". I have my downloaded playlists set to "High" and the sound quality is great. You can definitely notice a difference compared to "Normal".

I've never actually used the "Extreme" option but I'll have to try it sometime to see if it's that much more noticeable over "High".

 

[amartz]

Spotify Premium also has sound quality setting both for streaming as well as for tracks that you've made available offline. I agree that there is a HUGE difference in those settings. The options are labeled as "Normal" "High" or "Extreme". I have my downloaded playlists set to "High" and the sound quality is great. You can definitely notice a difference compared to "Normal".

I've never actually used the "Extreme" option but I'll have to try it sometime to see if it's that much more noticeable over "High".

It'd be interesting to see what the numbers for those settings are.

 

[barboo]

I purchased a Droid turbo cell phone to replace the iPhone last year. The iPhone was nice because I could plug the phone into the USB port and the music quality was so much better than streaming via blue tooth. I wanted to see if this would work with the Droid turbo. Earlier tonight, I stopped at the Verizon store and the rep advised that the Android phones currently are unable to do the same function as the iPhone of yet. The rep suggested going to Radio Shack and purchase a stereo cable and plug into phone and into the aux port for a direct connection. I purchased a 3', 1/8" stereo cable and it worked. The sound quality is amazing. The only drawback is that you cannot fast forward/rewind tracks using the steering wheel controls. You have to manually change the song via the phone music player.
I cannot stress enough how much better the direct connection audio quality is than streaming via blue tooth.

After connecting the stereo cable from the phone to the aux port, the AUX option appears:

Then click AUX, this screen appears and music plays:

My apology if this was previously posted. For those that just found out about this option as well, enjoy.

Phone?

Experience sound the way it was made to be heard in the Genesis, especially with the top of the line Lexicon system:

Buy a stand alone "Fiio X3" music player, put all of your CD's on the largest micro SD care you can buy, uncompressed, plug in a stereo cable to the line out jack on the player, into the Genesis head unit, and enjoy.

You'll be stunned.

 

[Tpr5.0]

Phone?

Experience sound the way it was made to be heard in the Genesis, especially with the top of the line Lexicon system:

Buy a stand alone "Fiio X3" music player, put all of your CD's on the largest micro SD care you can buy, uncompressed, plug in a stereo cable to the line out jack on the player, into the Genesis head unit, and enjoy.

You'll be stunned.

The phone is mentioned in the first sentence.

 

[srobak]

If you care about sound quality at all - do not use BT. Ever.

BT does not have the bandwidth to support anything near full-spectrum sound. Unable to even match the lossy 320k bitrate of max-ripped MP3s. Your best bet is to put 320k .mp3 or .wav files on the car's hard drive - if you don't run a cable.

 

[amartz]

If you care about sound quality at all - do not use BT. Ever.

BT does not have the bandwidth to support anything near full-spectrum sound. Unable to even match the lossy 320k bitrate of max-ripped MP3s. Your best bet is to put 320k .mp3 or .wav files on the car's hard drive - if you don't run a cable.

Any idea what BT does support?

 

[MikeyTG]

Any idea what BT does support?

This article says 20 - 20k Hz, same as the AUX input.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-y1aby37g1dR/learn/learningcenter/car/oem/connections_sound_quality.html

 

[amartz]

This article says 20 - 20k Hz, same as the AUX input.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-y1aby37g1dR/learn/learningcenter/car/oem/connections_sound_quality.html

As you said:

"As for the numbers, Bluetooth transmissions are full-bandwidth, having a frequency response of 20-20k Hz. The signal-to-noise ratio is dependent on the source player, so that number will vary. As a high-quality, short-range, digital transmission, the Bluetooth process itself should have little or no impact on the sound quality. "