The LG Velvet has become the focus of much attention due to its unusual design, powerful features, and versatile performance. Of the many specifications making the device attractive to the buyer, sound quality probably matters most as a user depends on his phone for media consumption, gaming, and communication. This particular review will be delving into every detail of the LG Velvet’s sound quality in terms of hardware, software, user experience, and perhaps some improvements.
1. Introduction to LG Velvet’s Sound
1.1 A General Introduction to LG Velvet
The LG Velvet is a midrange-level Android smartphone that distinguishes itself with stylish looks, an OLED display, and a versatile camera configuration. But the other thing that really stands out is its sound: every detail in the audio architecture has been carefully studied to yield an interior soundstage. Whether it’s music or videos or games, the Velvet tries to put out rich and satisfying sound.
1.2 Importance of Sound Quality in Today´s Smartphones
In the twenty-first century, the smartphone is at the epicenter of entertainment and communications. It must produce good sound for one to enjoy music, watch a movie or do video calling. LG Velvet, by virtue of loud sound, ought to satisfy the demanding audiophile and a laid-back listener.
2. Hardware: The Foundation of Sound Quality
2.1 Speaker Setup of LG Velvet
Stereophonic speakers on this phone provide a balanced and immersive sound experience. They are positioned to provide clear sound irrespective of whether the user holds the phone in the portrait or landscape mode.
Dual Speakers: The device features a bottom-firing speaker and an earpiece that acts as the secondary speaker to create the stereo effect, theoretically allowing for a greater sound stage from the mono speaker.
Speaker Placement: The speakers’ location is such that the sound is rarely muffled by holding the phone. This becomes more pertinent when one is gaming or watching videos with audio clarity.
2.2 Hi-Fi Quad DAC: Legacy Feature
LG has long been committed to granting unparalleled audio quality, and Velvet preserves this legacy with the embedded Hi-Fi Quad DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). Wherein this feature operates only with a wired headset attached.
32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC: This DAC reduces noise and distortion for superior sound quality, offering a rich and detailed listening experience through high-impedance headphones.
Wired or Wireless: While a Quad DAC can enhance audio signal sent through wired headphones for much better sound quality, keep in mind that Velvet also supports some high-quality Bluetooth audio codecs like aptX and LDAC, which also increase wireless audio quality.
2.3 Microphone and Call Quality
The LG Velvet has multiple microphones used to capture clear and high-quality audio for calls and recordings.
Noise Cancellation: The noise cancellation technique is adapted on the microphones to cancel out background noise during calls so your voice will be heard clearly.
Voice Recording: The Velvet’s microphones are optimized for voice recording to provide clear and crisp audio for voice memos, interviews, or any other audio recording needs.
3. Software and Audio Enhancements
3.1 Sound Tuning and Customization by LG
The LG Velvet includes software enhancements that allow the user to customize their audio experience.
Equalizer Settings: The equalizer allows users to adjust their sound profile with several presets including Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost. These can be selected manually to tweak the sound according to an individual’s taste.
3D Sound Engine: The Velvet comes equipped with LG’s 3D Sound Engine, which, in theory, creates a deeper immersive experience by devising the sound based on the type of content being played. So, basically, 3D Sound Engine optimizes the sound depending on what type of content is being played-whether you listen to music, watch a movie, or play a game.
3.2 Audio Processing and Software Optimization
LG Velvet has various audio processing technologies that enhance the sound experience.
DTS
3D Surround Sound: The technology aims to provide a virtual surround sound effect with sound coming from all directions. Thus, it is very fitting for watching movies and gaming.
Volume Leveling: An automatic feature of Velvet regulates the volume on different kinds of media to an equal volume setting, so consistency is maintained in sound. Sudden volume changes are prevented when one switches between apps or media types.
Clear Voice III: This further greatly enhances vocal clarity, making it easier to follow dialogues in movies or TV shows, also improving voice clarity during calls.
4. User Experience: Sound Quality in Everyday Use
4.1 Music Playback
Music playback is an area in which the LG Velvet shine in terms of sound quality. The wire headphones with a built-in quad DAC or wireless earbuds: Velvet fulfills the promise of rich and detailed sound.
5.1 Music Playback
Bass Response: The Velvet offers punchy and loud bass, especially pleasing with the Bass Boost preset or quality headphones. The bass is heavy without being overpowering; it just adds to the sheer enjoyment of listening.
Mid and Treble: Vocals and instruments in midrange are rendered with utmost clarity, giving them an entirely natural and lifelike appearance. High-frequency treble frequencies sparkle but never grow harsh or fatigue.
Streaming Services: The Velvet supports high-quality streaming using services such as Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. The difference in audio quality is most apparent when streaming high res files through the Quad DAC.
4.2 Movies and Video Playback
It is also competent for movies and videos with stereo speakers and sound enhancement.
Immersive Soundstage: The stereo speakers disperse sound on a wide and immersive soundscape that cannot feel transmitted directly from the phone. Hence, this gives profound effects when watching action or high soundtrack movies.
Dialogue Clarity: Thanks to the Clear Voice III, dialogue never loses clarity and is intelligible, even when background noise fills the scene. This makes tracking the storyline much easier and lessens the need to reach for the volume button.
DTS 3D Surround: When active, this setting will amplify the movie and video spatial effects so explosions, footsteps, or noises felt real.
4.3 Gaming Audio
Sound is paramount to a good gaming experience, either for immersion or for the competition. An LG Velvet gives both.
Place Sounds: The Velvet stereo speakers with DTS
3D Surround Sound give gamers the ability of accurate positional audio, which can be used to pinpoint the location of footsteps or gunfire. It shows competitive application in any game.
Effects and Music: The Velvet deals with complicated soundscaping of modern games and ensures crisp sound effects and subtle, dynamic music. The 3D Sound Engine will change the sound profile automatically to enhance the gaming experience.
Low Latency: The Velvet, when connected with good Bluetooth headphones, supports low-latency audio that keeps the sounds in sync with the on-screen action. This would have been crushingly important for smooth gaming.
4.4 Call Quality and Voice Clarity
LG Velvet stands apart in this domain, with high-end microphones and audio processing capabilities.
Clear voice calls: The noise-canceling microphones of the Velvet and Clear Voice III technology ensure that your voice is heard clearly even in loud surroundings, making the Velvet an ideal phone for vociferous callers.
Video Calls: This top-notch sound quality also goes to video calls, ensuring that your end of the conversation and the other person’s end in clear audio.
VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling: Velvet supports VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling that increase call quality by providing more bandwidth for voice data, upping the clarity and naturalness of the calls.
5. Comparing LG Velvet’s Sound Quality Against Other Competitors
5.1 LG Velvet versus Samsung Galaxy A71
The Galaxy A71 from Samsung is the Velvet’s natural competitor, and the focus on sound was paid equal attention to there.
Speaker Comparison: The stereo speakers in the Velvet create a more immersive soundworld when compared to a single bottom-firing speaker on the Galaxy A71. This wider soundstage created by the stereo setup on the Velvet makes it ideal for media consumption.
5.1 Acoustic Hardware:
The A71 lacks a 3.5-mm Trilocular DAC; hence, it is no match for the Velvet in audio quality via wired headphones; thus making the Velvet the preferred choice for audiophiles who enjoy wired sound. Software Enhancements: Though both phones support audio enhancements, the Velvet’s DTS 3D Surround and 3D Sound Engine offer a more customizable and immersive experience than what Galaxy A71 offers.
5.2 LG Velvet vs. OnePlus 8
On performance grounds and for good sound, OnePlus 8 stands right in the middle of the pack.
Speaker Performance: Both have stereo speakers, though people describe the Velvet as being richer and more balanced. The OnePlus 8 speakers might be a little more treble-heavy and hence, are not liked by everyone.
Wired Aural: The Quad DAC onboard the Velvet provides it with a distinct ascendency in terms of wired aural quality, which the OnePlus 8 definitely lacks. Thus, the Velvet would stand better as an option to competitive users who believe in wired listening.
Bluetooth Audio: Infact, both support high-quality Bluetooth codecs, but with the Velvet software enhancements like 3D Sound Engine it carries a slight edge in wireless audio customization.
5.3 LG Velvet vs. Google Pixel 5
With the Pixel 5 offering the clean software experience along with camera prowess, it is no less promising for audio. However, there are notable distinctions where sound quality differentiates the Pixel 5 and the LG Velvet.
Speaker Comparison: The Pixel 5 gives you stereo speaker output, much the same as the LG Velvet. LG Velvet speakers give a more rich and dynamic presentation, especially for bass-heavy content. The Pixel 5 speakers, being clear but less deep, would make the LG Velvet sound better to individuals who value audio.
Wired Audio: No headphone jack present on the Pixel 5 and not having any internal DAC available for wired listening. The LG Velvet, on the other hand, has a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, making the LG Velvet definitely better for wired headphones.
Audio Customization: The Pixel 5 provides basic audio settings, but it cannot stand up to the provided audio customizations on the Velvet. For example, the LG Velvet offers a full equalizer, 3D Sound Engine, and DTS 3D Surround Sound, thereby giving the user more customization to hone their audio experience.
6. Areas Where Improvement Can Be Made
While the LG velvet comes with a greater audio reputation, there are a few areas that might be worthy of improvement to make the audio interface stand out further.
6.1 Speaker Performance
Volume Levels: The speakers of LG Velvet are capable of delivering clean and balanced sound, but the overall maximum volume could have been heightened. Users who play songs or videos in the noisy environment might find the volume to be a little low.
Bass Response: Since the bass is very good in general, some might want it a little more hitting, especially compared to what an out-and-out portable speaker or a higher-end setup would deliver. Aiding the bass response could be a good thing-especially if this happened without cutting down clarity.
6.2 Bluetooth Audio
Latency Issues: On the LG Velvet, with its support of low-latency Bluetooth codecs like aptX and LDAC, random delays may be encountered particularly with wireless earbuds or headphones not made by LG. A further anti-latency optimization tied with a greater variety of devices would have been a better user experience.
Connection Stability: Some users claim there have been Bluetooth connection drops, mainly when switching between a multitude of Bluetooth devices. Better stability with connection maintenance and switching are welcomed.
6.3 Audio Software
Further Customization Options: Although the Velvet presents an array of sound customization possibilities, adding further granular controls, such as equalizer adjustments for each band or more complex audio profiles, might appeal to end users, as they could opt for additional adjustments.
Headphone Audio Profiles: An auto-detection and optimization method for various types of headphones, much like other brands do, would ensure that the user always has the very best sound quality provided for his or her choice of headphones.
7. User Feedback and Real-World Experiences
From a user perspective, the LG Velvet has generally been reviewed positively for its sound capabilities. A summary of the verdicts on the sound aspect for the Velvet would therefore look as follows.
7.1 Positive Feedback
Clear and Immersive Sound: This was admired by several users, especially during movies and gaming, for the clear and immersive sound emanating from the stereo speakers of the Velvet.
Hi-Fi Quad DAC: Audiophiles appreciated the presence of the Hi-Fi Quad DAC, stating that the output quality of wired headphones is enhanced to become more rich and detailed altogether.
3D Sound Engine: Users into gaming or movie-watching say that the 3D Sound Engine is indeed useful for building an immersive sound environment, making media consumption a real joy.
7.2 Areas of Concern
Volume limit: Some of the users said the speaker volume is not enough for their liking, especially outside in a noise environment. It has been a common comment from people that often use their phone speakers outdoors.
Bluetooth connectivity: There are positive remarks; however, sometimes there are complaints about connectivity issues, mainly while using the wireless device of non-LG brands. According to users, if one improves the stability of Bluetooth, one may obtain a better overall experience.
Bass: They stated that a minority of users felt that the bass intensity could be enhanced, especially when using the Phone speakers or standard wired headphones. They stated that in their view, a proper bass profile would make the sound more engaging.
8. Conclusion
LG Velvet, unlike other smartphones competing in the market, focuses on delivering good sound quality. Starring stereo speakers, Hi-Fi Quad DAC, and modern audio software, Velvet can provide an excellent sound experience to any user.
8.1 Strengths of LG Velvet Sound-Quality
Balanced Audio-Clear and Immersive: The Stereo speakers give lucid, clear, and immersive sounds, an ideal suite for entertainment, game and call experience on the Velvet.
Hi-Fi Quad DAC: The 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC is a major selling feature, especially for audio connoisseurs who prefer wired headphones. This ensures a premium listening experience with a rich and detailed sound.
Advanced Audio Features: LG’s sound customization options, such as 3D Sound Engine and DTS 3D Surround Sound, empower the user to modify the audio according to their taste to increase enjoyment.
8.2 Areas for Future Improvement
Speaker Volume and Bass Response: Enhancement of the maximum volume level and an increase in bass would surely help make Velvet-level sound compete with high-end smartphones.
Bluetooth Optimization: Further attempts toward reducing latency and increasing stability would mute some of the small gripes users occasionally report, turning the wireless audio into a seamless experience.
Wider Customization: Expanding the possibilities of audio customization to include things like band-specific equalizer controls and automatic headphone optimization would make the Velvet more attractive to users wanting precise control over their sound.
In conclusion, the LG Velvet is a very nicely balanced audio package for most users, especially for those who need the styling for versatile sound experience. It will please-audio lovers with its superior wire audio, but if you are just a casual user who likes to stream music and watch videos, the Velvet sells itself with great sound.