Who would recently think that mobile phones will become quite a good source of sound? New products from Chinese manufacturers are increasingly encouraging the use of full DAC (yeah, usually 9018K2M ESS Sabre) and more or less decent amplification (yeah, usually made by datasheet’the ESS). But where the big surprise was the announcement of the phone Boost 3 from the Russian company Highscreen, has made another big step towards high-quality sound.
I shall warn that I’m not more picky enough phones to satisfy me and simple enough (simple enough iPhone 6 Plus), so don’t wait from me a particularly critical attitude to Boost 3. I’m not playing games, few use apps (my main phone from Apple and it’s all worth it). So for me, Boost 3 is first of all the sound, and I consider it for myself rather as a cool media player with Android on Board, and LTE (just kidding, of course, but in each joke…).
First, let’s understand a little theory.
The sound in the phone, like any modern player, is stored in digital form, and we listen to an analog signal (won’t go into details about the digitization of the signal), so the first thing to do is to convert a signal from digit in analog. Almost any modern chipset for mobile phones it is composed of so-called “codec” chip, able to convert digital signal to analog and Vice versa. The only problem is that these codecs don’t differ in the quality of their work, so use them to obtain superior sound will not work. Come to the aid of a specialized chip digital-to-analog conversion, designed specifically for use in audio equipment. Especially popular in mobile solutions received the 9018K2M Sabre chip from ESS. This “Junior” version of the very popular 9018 chip, optimized for use in mobile devices. It features a large dynamic range, low noise and overall very good sound.
But only one chip DAC for high-quality sound is small, the received analog signal must be strengthened, so that the amplifier plays a role equally (if not more) than the Converter. Mobile device imposes on the audio channel of the amplifier in General and in particular a lot of restrictions on the size, power consumption, heat dissipation and even immunity to electromagnetic interference, so what works well in a desktop or even portable highly specialized solutions for audio, the phone will not work properly. Therefore, smartphones require a special approach.
Chinese manufacturers are not the first year of use. 9018K2M in their devices, although their approach to strengthening not differ a special variety. Usually they use amplifiers in accordance with the recommendations of the ESS themselves (for example, Meizu), or put the most simple amplifier for power optimization (for example, Alcatel). Such an approach gives a good result, but you can always do better, if we approach the development of audio wisely. So thought in I and attracted to the development of amp your phone Mikhail Orlov, a Moscow electrical engineer, known in the circles of lovers of quality sound under the pseudonym sanmigel. Michael has many years of experience in the field of portable audio, so he has developed for the new telephone amplifier using the ADA4897-2 from Analog Devices. It is possible to achieve sound noticeably better than the competition.
But, of course, no hardware cannot operate without software, and even a great audio track will be useless if the sound mixer is the native Android. That is why the developers of the phone have tried and made it so that all programs players play through the DAC and the amplifier. In addition, the firmware comes with the player Muz_On made based on the popular USB Audio Player Pro. He is able to play high resolution files without downsampling (software reducing the sampling rate). Also, the developers have thought about the banal comfort of music lovers, and added a 50-step volume control (usually Android phones less) and a Gain switch, allowing a little to reduce the power of the phone for use on sensitive “plugs”.
We must understand that even the best audio section and corrected to not produce anything without quality headphones. So I teamed up with wonderful artists of sound from Fischer Audio and all buyers offer phone discount on headphones “Phishers” (at the time of writing, the promotional discount is 20%), so the problems with good headphones the phone will not arise.
The last thing we should mention in the introduction to the review, is the price. The cost of a standard Boost 3 at the time of this writing is 19 900 rubles, but just recently got the Pro version, which doubled the amount of internal flash memory (now 32GB) and added an additional GB of RAM (now 3 GB) and made the housing black. The price for this variant only 1000 rubles above. To be honest, I don’t even understand why you are not Pro-version. If judged from the point of view of the players, and the price is very, very good, Boost 3 can compete with players of similar pictures, losing them quite a bit. But then we still have a full-fledged smartphone that gets almost a free bonus.
Specifications
- Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop
- Processor: 8-core, MediaTek MT6753, 1.3 GHz
- Video Processor: Mali-T720
- Screen: IPS Full HD 5″ 1080 x 1920, OGS, Curved
- SIM cards: 2 × MicroSim
- Battery: removable, set of 2 battery 3000 mAh and 6000 mAh
- Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800 / 1900MHz); 3G/HSPA+ (900/2100 MHz); 4G/LTE (3/7/8/20)
- Camera: 13 Megapixel, ISOCELL sensor, AF, led flash
- Lens: F/2.0, 6 lenses
- Front camera: 5 MP, AF
- ROM: 16 GB (32 GB in PRO version)
- RAM: 2 GB (3 GB in PRO version)
- Memory card: MicroSD (with SDHC support)
- Audio channel: ESS9018K2M + ADA4897-2
- Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Navigation: GPS, GLONASS
- Dimensions: 141 mm x 71,4 mm × 9 mm with battery on 3000 mA/h. 141 mm x 71,4 mm × 13.9 mm with battery 6000 mAh
- Weight: 140 g with battery on 3000 mA/h; 200 g with battery 6000 mAh
Packaging and delivery package
Don’t know whether to write about the box, it is quite good, and, I think, at the modern level of technology development and otherwise. Thick cardboard, according to tradition rests on top of the phone, underneath neatly Packed and complete accessories, which are many.
In addition to the phone you will receive: charger with USB connector, MicroUSB cable, two battery 3000 mAh and 6000 mAh and two back covers for small and large batteries. It is two batteries are the main feature of this model, in addition to the sound, of course. You can choose which option suits you best phone — stylish and slim or thicker, but long-lived. Sorry, however, included no external charging for batteries to charge second battery without phone.
In Highscreen prudently prepared all necessary accessories — a few models of covers (each of them exists for large and small variant of the case) and a protective film on the screen. Accessories in addition to encouraging good quality and affordable prices, so it is worth to pay attention to them in our online store.
Design and management
Actually, the look of the phone, in my opinion, very good, especially in a thin version. Of course, this is not the iPhone and not the flagships from leading manufacturers, but for the price in 2 times less, Boost 3 looks and feels in the hands is just great. I clearly found that the size of the screen when it is very convenient for most use cases, but the phone still turns into the perfect shovel. The device lies well in the hand and does not draw unnecessary pockets thick. Moderate weight is great complements the image very portable device.
Installing the battery pack 6000 mAh transforms the phone, the thickness becomes very solid, the lid with ribs looks easier, in addition, it occasionally creaks from strong taps. Increased the battery also leads to violation of mass balance and the worse phone in the hand. But all this is quite a reasonable fee for the time of life that can show Boost 3 with a large battery.
Under the cover are two slots MicroSIM (one of which I unfortunately broke due to the use of the NanoSIM with adapter) and MicroSD slot.
The front panel is almost entirely occupied by the screen, it slightly falls short of the iPhone, but even Apple is spoiled in my opinion — good. It really is at times superior to those screens that offer even top players. With this screen you can comfortably watch a movie with great sound, climb on the Internet or with pleasure porazglyadyvat favorite album cover. Pleased with the screen and viewing angles and good behavior in the sun. The most edge glass covering the front panel, is made with small fillets, which gives the appearance of the phone a certain charm.
The control buttons are standard, with one side of the screen placed normal to the volume rocker, with another — button on-off switch and a programmable button that can be assigned different functions in the menu (I chose the camera). Traditional three buttons under the screen — touch backlit. In General, the controls are positioned well, control the device easily. It would, of course, separate buttons to control playback, but Oh, no.
I specifically did not run any hardware benchmarks, because in daily use, the phone does not work, so I decided to behave with it as with Apple products and assume that output is sufficient. About the same with the camera, it lags behind in quality from the iPhone 6 Plus, but in normal light its results are more than good, and in the dark still without a faithful Sony NEX essential.
Managed by Android phone 5.1, don’t know if I can do it under 6, I think it’s unlikely, but I want to say thank you to the developers that did not cling to any third-party launcher and embed in the firmware unnecessary software.
Naturally, I spent the time test battery life because the phone I have is running in native player, I it and tested it. Switched off wireless interfaces Boost 3 playing FLAC resolution 44.1/16 for 12 hours and 25 minutes (the player, of course, Muz_On) with battery on 3000 mA/h. Charging the phone for quite a long, thin battery is charging a little over 5 hours from charger to iPad.
The sound
To listen to the phone we used the following headphones:
- HiFiMan Re600
- ZMF Omni
- Oppo PM-3
- Dunu DN-2000J, Titan 1, Titan 3 and Titan 5
- Lear LHF-AE1d
- Ambient Acoustics AM10
The first thing that impresses in Boost 3, is power. Don’t know specific numbers, but the phone is doing well even with 250-Ohm headphones, IEM and sensitive. More precisely, just have to say “thank you” to the developers for 50-step volume control and the ability to reduce gain).
Supply phone something like HUM Pervasion (not 100%, but a General tendency to sound), Boost 3 also tries to play “tasty”, feeding the sound is very tight and together, the expense of a small loss of detail.
The bass is very quick and has a surprisingly good resolution. If a little fault, he has a bit lack of depth and physicality, but really it’s not very pronounced and for me personally quite annoying. If the owner want more powerful bass you can get headphones pobezovice and to obtain the desired density. But in terms of speed and texturely bass this smartphone quite capable to compete with players of their segment on equal terms, and the other phones he’s going around without straining.
MIDs generally don’t cause any complaints. They are a little embellished, but it’s done very carefully, using programming terms, this is “not a bug, but a feature”. The expense of a small loss of resolution we get involving music and flow, providing the player with sufficient tolerance to quality records. The width of the imaginary scene a little less than average, but very well-researched depth, and it is captivating, creating a nice realistic effect of sound, especially in live recordings. The tools seem to be slightly accented, which also adds to the supply of “Goodies”.
The upper frequency is also carefully tuningova. I do get the feeling (perhaps erroneous) that the player sound is carefully and accurately adjusted to achieve the desired result. If the same Alcatel with 9018K2M the developers just took the DAC, added a simple amplifier and got a good result, because the used chip, Boost 3 to the sound approached more than seriously, and treble clear evidence of this. They are clearly muted in order to create the sharpness and ringing, but it does not seem sluggish and blurred, excellent coping with its task of making melodies of lightness.
The developers have managed almost completely to avoid interference from radios, even in very sensitive earplugs they are barely audible, the same goes for the noise amplifier, but I would advise in any case to choose something with an impedance of not less than 32Ω. Another note, which is very good to Boost 3 to watch movies with headphones, video sound is also very pleasing.
Compatibility
If you are thinking to buy this phone and still have no favourite headphones, we recommend to use the proposed discount and for him to pick up something from the range of Fischer Audio. Quality headphones — just the same necessary attribute for full disclosure model, and good discounts is not that bad. The margin of power Boost 3, of course, enough for most overhead models, although high-resistance earphones is better revealed with a desktop amplifier. I liked the Boost 3 with FA Dubliz, Lear LHF-AE1d, Dunu Titan 3. From the miscellaneous models well-played half-forgotten FA Oldskool 33 1/3 and hated by audiophiles Koss Porta Pro (I over them I’m just teasing, and I like the result), “full-size” headphones very well behaved Takstar and Oppo PM-3. Of course, the list of cool headphones that will be great to play with this phone, not limited to these models.
Thanks to the taste Boost enough supply 3 album recordings, even very good tracks can be hear (6 points on a notional 10-point scale). Genre he also came highly versatile, the phone is very good for its price even cope with a complex records type of orchestral classics and brutal metal.
Some traditional examples
Yes — South Side of the Sky. I’ve mentioned many times about what miracles Stephen Wilson with old prog-rock records. Was no exception and the classic Yes, carefully remixed and mixed again this year. It is surprising that in the process of “overhaul” sound Wilson carefully preserved the atmosphere of the record and the fine nuances of sound. So technically Fragile now sounds as if was recorded just a couple years ago, although the sound clearly sends us more than 40 years ago. Boost 3 a very good job with this track, especially the rhythm section that sets the whole basis of the song.
Bijelo Dugme — Pjesma mom mlađem bratu. And another remaster, this time made by the author himself, by Goran Bregovic. By 1980, the classic Yugoslav rock scene “White button” fell under the influence of the new wave, so the album “Doživjeti stotu” surprised fans unusual lightweight sound, mixed in his everything from electronic music to punk. At the same time, “the Song my little brother” sounds greetings previous works of the group: an interesting melody, rich vocals, beautiful symphonic arrangement, a small insert heavy guitars and choir — all are reminiscent of past epic canvases of the group. Boost 3 and then shows their best side, passing gently lyrical atmosphere of the track.
Eluveitie — Slania”s Song. It is a pity that Eluveitie are stuck in self-plagiarism and attempts to repeat his classic work, because at one time they were a breath of fresh air that had been missing from the European metal scene. A spectacular cocktail of folk and brutal metal with growling male and clean female vocals sounded very unusual and interesting. Adding to this the hit tunes with catchy riffs, we get a group, no wonder become the headliner of many festivals. Of course, their music — a difficult test for the source, which, however, Boost 3 passes with flying colors. His permission enough not to dump all the music in a heap, and spectacular MIDs emphasize all the anger and brutality of deposits made by musicians in recording.
Conclusions
Not afraid of big statements, but Highcreen made a phone with the best sound in the world (among phones). It is also good when used for their original purpose: good display, normal (though not top-end) hardware, two battery kit, a decent camera is all that there is. Android adds to the musical possibilities of the player are nice bonuses type of support of streaming services (especially cool in light of the availability of LTE) or DLNA. I’m not talking about that on the phone you can easily look at the road movies.
Of course, specialized players similar price segment still sound better, but in this case we are talking about a universal device that offers a ton of features not available to ordinary players, so Higscreen Boost 3 in terms of price and capacity quite easily becomes the leader. The quality of its sound will delight any listener, not the audiophile suffering in the terminal stage, and for the inexperienced music lover, and can be a revelation.