I consider buying the Z3 Compact. However, I read that the volume of the stereo speakers is really low and the sound is muffled.
Read this for example here:
gsmarena: "Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: Not your usual suspect"
youtube: "Sony Xperia Z3 vs Z3 Compact speaker comparison"
In contrast to that the S5 mini is said to have great speakers. What do you think?
hindman said:
I consider buying the Z3 Compact. However, I read that the volume of the stereo speakers is really low and the sound is muffled.
Read this for example here:
gsmarena: "Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: Not your usual suspect"
youtube: "Sony Xperia Z3 vs Z3 Compact speaker comparison"
In contrast to that the S5 mini is said to have great speakers. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
difficult to say, but I doubt it's "really low", it's all relative to what you compare it to. Maybe if you're worried you should wait until it's out and test it at some store.
charliebigpot said:
difficult to say, but I doubt it's "really low", it's all relative to what you compare it to. Maybe if you're worried you should wait until it's out and test it at some store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stereo speaker is indeed not as loud as the one from the Z1C.
But therefor the ear speaker is much louder and clearer.
UserX10 said:
The stereo speaker is indeed not as loud as the one from the Z1C.
But therefor the ear speaker is much louder and clearer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just found this about the speakers, maybe it can give you some indications.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwBV2s0naC0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
hindman said:
I consider buying the Z3 Compact. However, I read that the volume of the stereo speakers is really low and the sound is muffled.
Read this for example here:
gsmarena: "Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: Not your usual suspect"
youtube: "Sony Xperia Z3 vs Z3 Compact speaker comparison"
In contrast to that the S5 mini is said to have great speakers. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this should also give you an answer:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/questions-belong-t2868300
Volume of Speakerphone Z3 C
The Youtube Video with the comparison between Z3 and Z3 Compact showed quite loud speaker volume for Z3 Compact but it was
kind of muffled on higher frequencies compared to Z3 .
Hopefully , Sony will fix this in production units.
However the Compact was peaking at 70 to 80 db which is very good compared to many.
I don't understand how GSM Arena is so low on this measurement.
You can hear in the Video that Z3 was above his speech level where GSM Arena would suggest otherwise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTmq3jbWLJA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Here is a more recent Video in which a Z3 Compact Speaker completely dominates a Nexus 5 in volume, fullness, and quality.
Again, the Z3 Compact is much louder than speech level.
Not scientific and it's Italian but the Speaker is very loud and clear for a phone.
robertkoa said:
The Youtube Video with the comparison between Z3 and Z3 Compact showed quite loud speaker volume for Z3 Compact but it was
kind of muffled on higher frequencies compared to Z3 .
Hopefully , Sony will fix this in production units.
However the Compact was peaking at 70 to 80 db which is very good compared to many.
I don't understand how GSM Arena is so low on this measurement.
You can hear in the Video that Z3 was above his speech level where GSM Arena would suggest otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Z3C speaker volume is little lower than Z#, but still it is quite loud for its size.
I was reading a review recently where the reviewer actually claimed the Z3/Z3C speakers were better than the HTC M8. I highly doubt that, but the fact that he was willing to making the comparison at all is very promising. I guess we'll see soon. It's already been determined that the Z3 has more clarity than the Z3C though, but I'm sure volume won't be an issue.
boojay said:
I was reading a review recently where the reviewer actually claimed the Z3/Z3C speakers were better than the HTC M8. I highly doubt that, but the fact that he was willing to making the comparison at all is very promising. I guess we'll see soon. It's already been determined that the Z3 has more clarity than the Z3C though, but I'm sure volume won't be an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe not - the Z3 Compact in the Btekt Video had a muffled quality which I hope was just a problem on that Unit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTmq3jbWLJA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
This Italian Video has another Z3 Compact with no muffled high end and it is loud and full sounding.
Hopefully this is how actual production Units sound.
If so and SONY fine tunes Manual 20 megapixel Camera Modes - a great Phone and big seller.
here Z3C speakers are louder than z1c: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW7eYbktArQ&feature=youtu.be&t=04m27s
boojay said:
I was reading a review recently where the reviewer actually claimed the Z3/Z3C speakers were better than the HTC M8. I highly doubt that, but the fact that he was willing to making the comparison at all is very promising. I guess we'll see soon. It's already been determined that the Z3 has more clarity than the Z3C though, but I'm sure volume won't be an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both the Z3C and M8 and there's absolutely no comparison. The M8 speakers win by a mile in every category...loudness, clarity, stereo sound, etc.
Yes, I've been spoiled by the speakers on the M8 that I've been using for the last 6 months, no doubt, but what I find weird about the Z3C speakers is how clear and loud the earpiece is on a phone call yet when you turn on speakerphone, they suddenly become muffled with a much lower volume.
Are they BAD? No, not at all. But I've found that in an environment with normal ambient noise, they're just a little too muffled and have just a bit too low of a volume. I'm sure this has something to do with the waterproofing, so I'm OK making a compromise in one area for a net gain in another. I've just been a bit surprised (and possibly expected too much).
I just got the phone and by boosting the midrange frequencies on the equalizer (I use Google Play Music), you can get a *much* improved sound quality coming out of the speakers. For whatever reason, the default configuration for the speakers is relatively poor.
kaimyn said:
I just got the phone and by boosting the midrange frequencies on the equalizer (I use Google Play Music), you can get a *much* improved sound quality coming out of the speakers. For whatever reason, the default configuration for the speakers is relatively poor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool tip! I'm not sure about fuller sound, but maxing out the equalizer has definitely increased the volume without any noticeable degradation to sound quality.
I am fairly certain that Z3 C speakers vary in volume and
clarity due to speakers used (which factory ?) or size
of cutouts on glass or other variations.
Comparison with One M 8 Mini:
Xperia Z3 Compact vs One Mini 2 Speaker Test: http://youtu.be/euz6DU3IUzY
Remember the Mini is not as loud as full sized HTC ONE
M 8 I heard both HTCs next to each other.
I have not heard Z3C yet but varied responses from users, reviewers, Videos suggest a lot of variation.
EDIT; Heard Z3C in Sony Store, new USA Z3C, and was very quiet on Speakerphone lower than Galaxy Alpha.
Some Videos demo very loud Z3 Cs.
Sony Xperia Z3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Compact vs HTC O…: http://youtu.be/h2Z_vp9NMB0
The above Video the Z3 C is close in Volume to the full Z3 and both close to HTC ONE M 8 .
,Disregard Decibel Meter ( placed improperly) and use your ears.
Unfortunately, most Z3 Cs are not this loud.
I don't think it's soundproofing as much as actual speakers used, I suspect.different speakers in different
batches or factories.
Low speakers
I think the One m8 speakers are just a little bit better.
In my z3c top speaker is bit low more then down one. Or it is only me!!! Can anyone notice ?
Even I do love while listening songs on it, its a great piece .
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
kaimyn said:
I just got the phone and by boosting the midrange frequencies on the equalizer (I use Google Play Music), you can get a *much* improved sound quality coming out of the speakers. For whatever reason, the default configuration for the speakers is relatively poor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS is the solution. I don't know why Sony had the speakers set to how they came out of the box, but you get a significant improvement if you play with the EQ etc
can you tell us which setting to tune for higher volume of the speakers?
+1 and how volume up when i speak with someone on speaker beacuse voice is very quiet, definitly when i drive car.
My z3 compact speakers are just as loud as my htc one m7 but they sound much more tiny than htc. No bass.
Related
There have been a few posts that say the call quality is bad.
GSM Arena's review states that calls are loud and clear, but the speakerphone performance is awful.
(Link to specific page for GSM Arena review)
While everyone is wondering about the display and battery life (two very important qualities in a phone),
can anyone provide details about the CALL quality?
yeah yeah,.... a few weeks ago it was cool hyping the xperia z in reviews....now it seems that bashing it is the new way to go...i've even seen reviews that complain about the too edgy design of the device, and it doesn't feel as good in the hand as the s3 htc one does...
(don't get me wrong, nothing against you, but people should stay cool about all the upcoming news on how bad this and that aspect of the z is...)
Disappointed by the loudspeaker, but "loud and clear" calling is good for me. Don't use speaker really so don't care too much about that.
M.
keithgrobertson said:
GSM Arena's review states that calls are loud and clear, but the speakerphone performance is awful.
(Link to specific page for GSM Arena review)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All they actually say is:
The built-in secondary microphone is used for active noise-cancellation, so calls are loud and clear even in noisy environments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way that's phrased makes me wonder if they actually tried making calls with it, or if they are simply noting the fact that it has active noise cancellation.
I've only seen one review that specifically mentions call quality, and it's fairly negative: http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Sony-Xperia-Z-Review_id3247/page/4
call quality is fine but nothing exceptional. The earpiece is a bit weak for our taste, meaning that you may have some trouble hearing your callers when in noisy locations. Do not expect wonders from the quality – everything will sound quite high and digital. Strangely, the sound that gets transmitted through the microphone of the Xperia Z gets somewhat modulated and appears distorted on the other end of the line. Lowering the volume can help you to remedy this issue, but still, it's something we though was worth mentioning because we haven't encountered it in many other phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shasarak said:
All they actually say is:
The way that's phrased makes me wonder if they actually tried making calls with it, or if they are simply noting the fact that it has active noise cancellation.
I've only seen one review that specifically mentions call quality, and it's fairly negative: http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Sony-Xperia-Z-Review_id3247/page/4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here, I've got a 8/10.
But there is no details...
any more opinions?
Call quality (both ends of the call) is excellent, quality and volume are top-notch.
The Z has a "waterproof" main speaker and the output is quite low, so not great when used as a speakerphone. The ZL on the other hand has a freakin amazing speaker - really loud.
I've had my Xperia Z for 2 days and when im on call the sound is very low and crap compared to my samsung galaxy mini 2 Why is this expensive phone crap against a cheap phone? Also when listening to music the volume is crap and fails to beat other devices. I might get a refund today.
Memz12 said:
I've had my Xperia Z for 2 days and when im on call the sound is very low and crap compared to my samsung galaxy mini 2 Why is this expensive phone crap against a cheap phone? Also when listening to music the volume is crap and fails to beat other devices. I might get a refund today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed that the in call quality was not very good, than I noticed that I didn't hold the device correctly with a minor adjustment it sounded much better. I think this is because the ear speaker is pretty small so it is easy to muffle it with a part of your face/ear. For music listing via ear phones and head phones I think the volume is loud enough as I never had to put it over 80% but I'm not deaf and have always been relatively careful with my ears.
Many reviews have mentioned about the poor speaker and not so good call quality. I guess it's due to being water-resistant, the speaker grill blocks most of the sound.
I also find that the volume through headphones is also weak. At maximum, the loudness is only half of my iPhone 4s
Memz12 said:
I've had my Xperia Z for 2 days and when im on call the sound is very low and crap compared to my samsung galaxy mini 2 Why is this expensive phone crap against a cheap phone? Also when listening to music the volume is crap and fails to beat other devices. I might get a refund today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, stop using the word crap in every sentence. It's not "cool".
Volume is and will be lower because of waterproof body - it was obvious and that info is not a secret.
Volume through headphones is not low - and it wasn't made to "beat" other devices. It beats most of them in sound quality, and I'm pretty sure that's what Sony was aiming at. With the headset that came with the phone it is lower than most, but that's because it has high independence value ( strong speakers ). Connect your Samsung headset and you'll see no difference - at least I don't see it with Note 2 headset, the volume is exactly the same - but on Sony's headset it is lower.
Did the Arc not originally have very poor sound and was then was fixed with an update? Mine should arrive tomorrow, whats's the comparison between the two?
Akiainavas said:
First of all, stop using the word crap in every sentence. It's not "cool".
Volume is and will be lower because of waterproof body - it was obvious and that info is not a secret.
Volume through headphones is not low - and it wasn't made to "beat" other devices. It beats most of them in sound quality, and I'm pretty sure that's what Sony was aiming at. With the headset that came with the phone it is lower than most, but that's because it has high independence value ( strong speakers ). Connect your Samsung headset and you'll see no difference - at least I don't see it with Note 2 headset, the volume is exactly the same - but on Sony's headset it is lower.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with you volume through headphones are not low, it's louder than my Note 2 and S3 was! Quality is also better!
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2
Check the call settings, there is an equalizer for voice calls. Play a little with the options and you'll find something that sounds good
Ambroos said:
Check the call settings, there is an equalizer for voice calls. Play a little with the options and you'll find something that sounds good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have mate, nothing seems to work.. the quality isn't good enough. My cousin has been researching for me because it's waterproof the sound isn't high enough. I showed my xperia z to my friends today they said the phone has amazing graphics but the sound and design fails it.. also when you press on the screen you can see those pixel things popping up :/ but when i do that on my friends Note 2 it doesn't happen.
Memz12 said:
I've had my Xperia Z for 2 days and when im on call the sound is very low and crap compared to my samsung galaxy mini 2 Why is this expensive phone crap against a cheap phone? Also when listening to music the volume is crap and fails to beat other devices. I might get a refund today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem, i could barely hear the caller on the other end and for that reason alone im exchanging for the HTC One, i loved everything else about the phone though, just couldnt get used to the low call volume.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
I have to agree with OP, but thats not all, the sound mutes even more, and makes crackling noise like the volume is overdriven even if its very low, its like hearing the speaker for the ear on the top is playing the sound on way to high volume... But its not, its the "external" speaker...
Whats wrong?
Ive tried to reboot and kill all apps to see if something is conflicting with the internal soundcard, no luck.
Its kind of ironic, Sony is a high end TV, Hifi and camera producer, but what ive seen so far is one of the poorest quality all over, everything is years behind Iphone...
Then why have u bought the XZ if u don't know its features etc? Jezz man,go sel it and stop cry'n :banghead:
Sony Xperia Z
AcoAlex said:
Then why have u bought the XZ if u don't know its features etc? Jezz man,go sel it and stop cry'n :banghead:
Sony Xperia Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So one of the feautures is unstable volume/speaker?
I bought it cause i THOUGHT it was the best android phone, and because i work with cross platform app dev and needed to get into the Android system.
Ive been using Iphone for the past 6 years, but i realize now that even iOS might have a boring UI, its lightyears ahead of other phones when it comes to intuitive control, screen quality and stability, but i forgive your ignorance, and im not offended :good:
I also feel the in-call volume is quite soft. Hope someone can make a mod to increase the speaker volume
Don't get me wrong it's just because I used to be ios users all'so and it got boring sooner than expected :thumbdown: but that's not the point...if u still gonna keep your XZ,just wait till 4.2.2 updated comes,with 3.6 kernel its the fix for the 1080p screen n all other good stuff on this baby peace-out
Sony Xperia Z
Memz12 said:
also when you press on the screen you can see those pixel things popping up :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt you can see pixels popping up when you press on the screen, pixels on the Z screen are tiny, and always there they don't pop up and down, every inch (linear inch not square inch) there are 440 pixels. I don't doubt your seeing something though Probably LCD bleed, either you are pressing with great force (something you shouldn't be doing), or the unit is faulty. If it is the latter you should get it replaced under warranty.
AcoAlex said:
Don't get me wrong it's just because I used to be ios users all'so and it got boring sooner than expected :thumbdown: but that's not the point...if u still gonna keep your XZ,just wait till 4.2.2 updated comes,with 3.6 kernel its the fix for the 1080p screen n all other good stuff on this baby peace-out
Sony Xperia Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob dude, just venting back :laugh:
Guys lets be realistic here. OP - you are comparing another phone with a TOTALLY DIFFERENT DAC. The WCD9310 is pretty quite, i totally agree with that but you can't blame it on the whole phone or software... I have tried experiments to increase volume levels, it somehow increases volume levels SLIGHTLY but increasing any further resorts to distortions, DAC popping noises (When you stop any sound, the DAC forces all the vibrations to stop immediately) and background hissing sounds (Too much voltage going on)
The DAC itself cannot handle loud volumes very well but it does a pretty good job at audio quality.
The DAC on the galaxy mini 2, however, is totally different from the DAC in this phone (Not sure what DAC is on the galaxy mini 2). Samsung generally uses Wolfson or "Good" DACs which are able to produce loud sounds without a problem.
The Droid DNA/HTC Butterfly has the same chip and dac as the Xperia Z BUT! it is able to produce louder volumes.. Why?
Well, it's because HTC uses a extra internal amplifier to make sounds much louder. This way, HTC is able to produce much louder volumes with no distortions because of that amplifier.
Next time you choose a phone, make sure it's not using a S4 PRO... or that it's using a WCD9310 DAC...
I'm sure the S800 processor will have a much better DAC (Not sure about S600 though)
Just to clear up a little thing, my concern was not the sound in general, but a bug that comes and goes, it can disappear just from one lock screen session to another.
IF i was to guess, it could be a conflict with a sound enhancement plugin, ive tried to narrow it down to just one in addition to the built in...
So far i didnt notice any improvement, it still comes and goes irregularly...
---------- Post added at 01:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 PM ----------
One more thing, dont know if its pure coinsidence, but it seems to happen after each time i rinse the phone in water... Yes all hatches firmly locked... maybe a auto moisture detection/protection?
I have purchase Xperia Z before 5 days everything is better but volume and WiFi drop signal is bad effect of it,
Before i have Galaxy S3, it's sound volume and WiFi signal are strong. Please tell me how can fix it on xperia z?
Akiainavas said:
First of all, stop using the word crap in every sentence. It's not "cool".
Volume is and will be lower because of waterproof body - it was obvious and that info is not a secret.
Volume through headphones is not low - and it wasn't made to "beat" other devices. It beats most of them in sound quality, and I'm pretty sure that's what Sony was aiming at. With the headset that came with the phone it is lower than most, but that's because it has high independence value ( strong speakers ). Connect your Samsung headset and you'll see no difference - at least I don't see it with Note 2 headset, the volume is exactly the same - but on Sony's headset it is lower.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice and perfect post... I agree 100%
Xz is is very cool phone tiny body with large display and big design.
I have a Q
Can I try to wash this phone. I scare that water resistance not works for me:-/
Sent from my C6602 using Tapatalk 2
Hello Guys,
I sold my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 today, due to it being a little to large for me. Due to it's size, it is almost impossible to capture pictures with just 1 hand (I have large hands).
One thing I liked about the phone is that the Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack output audio quality is excellent. Even without installing any mods, the music output quality is amazing. What about the Xperia Z? I am aware that there are some Note 2 users here, so how is the audio output quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2?
I have both. On stock ROMs comparison, with good headphones Xperia Z sounds nicer. Warmer mid tones and tighter bass.
------------------------------------------
Sony Xperia Z C6603 Purple | RomAur 2.3.1 + DooMkernel v5
I am an audio enthusiast that does like some extra bass now and then but mostly like neutral sound. And in that respect the Z delivers. Some people like it when their sound has SRS effect, more treble, more bass etc...I'd buy Bose if that's what you're looking for but I'm more into the more or less neutral sound, I want to hear music as it was intended and not have it disformed by software. In terms of volume it delivers adequately, nothing more nothing less. Not special, not bad.
arvin2212 said:
Hello Guys,
I sold my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 today, due to it being a little to large for me. Due to it's size, it is almost impossible to capture pictures with just 1 hand (I have large hands).
One thing I liked about the phone is that the Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack output audio quality is excellent. Even without installing any mods, the music output quality is amazing. What about the Xperia Z? I am aware that there are some Note 2 users here, so how is the audio output quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you can find a detailed explanation:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2116920
Does anyone yet know how the speaker (and headphone) quality & loudness compare to other phones
Especially the Z & Z Ultra as the waterproofing evidently degraded the sound volume and quality.
Hoping it's been rectified this time.
There's a video on speaker sound comparison between Z1 and HTC One if u like to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXydSEFLaKs
Mythusme said:
There's a video on speaker sound comparison between Z1 and HTC One if u like to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXydSEFLaKs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The HTC One seems to have better sound for me
I wouldn't expect it to be, tbh, as long as it's better than the Z and loud enough, that's fine for me.
It sound loud enough fr me, but hey nobody want to hear your music, thats why we got an earphone
Sent from my C6603 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
The HTC one has the best sound of all android phones due to beats and boomsound. I found that the Z1 speakers were not as loud as my S3 speakers but the sound out of them was definitely was of a better quality. Headphones was good but I need to mess around more with the settings etc to confirm!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Comparing to other phones I have, the Z1 speaker is obviously not as good as my One nor the S4 (I9500). It's about on par with my N7 which isn't bad but not at the top of end either.
techguyone said:
Does anyone yet know how the speaker (and headphone) quality & loudness compare to other phones
Especially the Z & Z Ultra as the waterproofing evidently degraded the sound volume and quality.
Hoping it's been rectified this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey mate, I compared the Z and the Z1 video playback (speakers) on my hands on video. Here is the link if you wanna check it out:
http://youtu.be/nMDqzFBs1Qg (skip to 1:55)
Well, I'm using XS with AC!D sound engine and sound is pretty good, I'll buy a Z1 in the next month just hope that AC!D team will support Z1 in the next versions.
Sent from my Xperia S using Tapatalk 4
I currently own an HTC ONE GPE and trying to make a switch to Moto X. HTC ONE is considered to have the best DAC and best audio volume according to GSM arena. My only worry is audio volume and quality via headphones on Moto X ?
I have done tons of research on the topic and there seems to be mixed reviews on audio quality.
What do you guys say -
Is the audio volume loud enough ? Is it louder or par with iphones ?
Is the sound quality comparable with HTC One ?
Do i need to use low impedance or high impedance headphones ?
Or should i use bluetooth headphones like jay bluebird earbuds ?
Let me know
I thought the moto x had terrible audio quality when I got it but turns out the 3d EQ setting is on my default . to me it made it sound like crap. Turn it off and walla
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Not sure about the iPhone 5, but my Moto X speaker puts my wifes 4s to shame. And I just use my Samsung ear buds... They sound pretty good to me.
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone.....
The moto x's speaker is suprisingly loud, clear, and bassy. Headphones sound great.:thumbup:
Anthony445 said:
The moto x's speaker is suprisingly loud, clear, and bassy. Headphones sound great.:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
QFT, all my friends and family were surprised on how loud it was. You won't be disappointed by the speakers performance. It was another reason I chose it over the Nexus 5.
Sent from my Moto X
Definitely louder and richer sound on the speaker than my Nexus 4. However it doesn't sound as good through earphones, at least from what I remember. That could be equalizer settings though.
I had the HTC One Mini, and Iphone 5s before I got the MotoX. The Moto X sound is way louder then both of those. I really notice when I put the Moto X on its back while playing music, it makes it louder. This is with WinAmp as the player. I really like the Moto X for playing music. No complaints here.
My thoughts after a week..
Call quality is good. Nothing to necessarily boast about, but no negatives to report. 75% more than loud enough for me, no complaints about quality on my end.
Speaker sounds good, again nothing to really boast about. I usually don't listen to music from the speaker - podcasts, occasional youtube - so I can't really offer up any detailed diagnosis. Definitely sounds better coming from my Galaxy Nexus, and more than suitable for my daily use.
As for headphones.. I have a decent pair and a crummy pair and they sound comparable with my other devices and music. I mainly use my Jaybird Bluebud headphones and absolutely zero complaints. 16 Ohms* for reference, and they sound great, but I haven't heard any unusual reports about headphone consistency anyways so whatever you have should translate in quality (source consistency provided). Bluetooth issues and 4.4+ seem to be more consistent with speaker setups / car use but don't quote me, but I've had no bluetooth issue between 4.2.2 and 4.4 and my headphones. Can't comment on other bluetooth compatible issues.
Can't find anything in this department to fault the device on, personally, but YMMV, of course :good:
*
lower impedence is generally regarded as a good thing in iems but for reference;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphones#Impedance