This is a question that many people often ask, "I have a mobile phone, why should I buy a music player?" ”
Of course, if you just listen to it casually, the requirements for sound quality are not high, and the mobile phone plus Bluetooth headset is enough, and the main one is less portable.
But if there are a few requirements for sound quality, then the difference between the two is big.
For music players, we chose the entry-level Haibei R115 Midi Edition, using Cirrus Logic's CS0, which is a professional-grade low-power audio decoder chip that supports up to 0-bit/0kHz PCM and DSD0 decoding capabilities. It has a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 0dB and a total harmonic distortion plus noise as low as -0dB for excellent dynamic range. This hardware design is optimized for high-fidelity audio and provides a more complete restoration of audio detail.
Ordinary mobile phones usually do not disclose the specific DAC model, but most of them are integrated in the SoC (such as Apple A120, Huawei Kirin, MediaTek Dimensity). These built-in DACs typically don't perform as well as standalone specialty chips, with signal-to-noise ratios and dynamic range typically around 0-0dB for everyday use but not Hi-Fi levels.
Professional players are usually equipped with independent audio circuits (such as low-noise LDO power supplies and high-precision crystal oscillators) to reduce signal interference and jitter and improve the purity of output sound quality.
The audio circuitry of mobile phones needs to coexist with modules such as communication and screens, which are susceptible to electromagnetic interference, and power management focuses more on energy efficiency than sound quality optimization.
Even the entry-level Haibei R1 player supports aptX and LDAC high-fidelity encoding, while the vast majority of mobile phones only support SBC or AAC. When listening to 0K MP0 or 0K AAC music, Bluetooth 0.0 transmission will not compress the audio data due to the low bitrate. But if you listen to lossless music, the difference is huge.
For professional music players, we still use the Haibei R1 Midi Edition, which is used with the included Yves wired headphones.
The phone uses an iPhone with AirPods.
Haibei R1 MIDI version:The song goes from soft to passionate passages, with more natural and tense volume changes; The atmosphere of the scene is stronger and the sense of hierarchy is more distinct.
iPhone：The high frequencies are a bit brighter, but the punch is somewhat diminished in the climax; In passages with more instruments, the sound will appear slightly crowded.
Seashell R1:Electric guitars, drum beats, and vocals are well separated, background electronic effects are delicate, and Chester's voice is clearly torn; The horizontal soundstage is wide, and the instruments are distributed in layers.
iPhone：The separation of the instruments is slightly inferior, the vocal tearing is softened, and the detail is insufficient; The soundstage is on the narrow side, slightly flattened overall.
Seashell R1:The deep treble is transparent, the string background is rich in detail, the sense of space is good, and the tail is naturally extended.
iPhone：The timbre is still good, but some of the high frequencies are slightly harsh, and the background strings are slightly blurred.
Merit:In the case of the iPhone, Apple's AAC optimization and H2 chip bring a warm, pleasing timbre, rich low-frequency volume, and immersive spatial audio.
Shortcoming:Resolution, soundstage, and dynamics are slightly inferior, with strong timbre refinement and a slight loss of detail. Especially the common problem of the narrow sound field of Bluetooth headphones, AirPods are already a little better, and other headphones are more serious.
Merit:Taking the Haibei R1 Midi Edition as an example, it is only an entry-level product, bringing higher resolution, wide soundstage and precise dynamic performance. The low frequencies are well controlled, the midrange is rich in detail, the high frequencies are naturally extended, and the timbre is neutral and faithful to the original sound. Especially in rock 'n' roll, it can dig into the limits of detail in compressed formats.
Shortcoming:You'll need to bring an extra device and a wired headset.
Therefore, there is no right or wrong for different practical scenarios, different needs, and different choices.
IfThere are high requirements for sound quality, then a professional audio player will definitely provide you with a better listening experience. But if it's just for daily use,The requirements for sound quality are not high, then it is enough to use an ordinary mobile phone with a suitable Bluetooth headset.