Spotify VS Poweramp

Submitted by Acceptable_Crazy_117 t3_10istid in headphones

I've been using poweramp for a little while now and I'm starting to wonder if there's actually a difference in audio quality over spotify on very high. I currently use the Etymotic er4sr and ifi hipdac2 to listen to music on the go. In any case, it's difficult for me to tell the difference between the apps and I'm wondering if I should start using spotify exclusively again since it's much easier to work with. The main advantage I see with poweramp over spotify is the eqalizer. I know next to nothing about equalizers and wouldn't know where to begin. So, should I switch back to spotify or stick with poweramp? And if I stick with poweramp, should I start using the equalizer to get more out of my audio experience?

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----_________------ t1_j5g9bp2 wrote

Do whatever suits your needs best. If the differences are minor and spotify is more convenient, then change.

There is the EQ, but unless you are constantly tweaking profiles, just use Wavelet

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ConsciousNoise5690 t1_j5gbmlo wrote

Assuming you are talking Android, there is a systemwide EQ.

>Etymotic er4sr

Pretty neutral but a bit light in the bass department. Use the systemwide EQ to boost 100 Hz with 2 up to 3 dB. That is all you need IMHO.

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RubenRag t1_j5ghifl wrote

Is power amp not just for local files?

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pinkcunt123 t1_j5gyzcu wrote

Ive been using Poweramp since 2017, before that I used the media player on my Samsung phone.

Not for the quality benefit, which btw does not exist. 320kbit high quality spotify is indistinguishable from CD quality even for trained listeners after all.

I use Poweramp because I hate monthly subscriptions and I hate the Spotify interface.

Since Poweramp now even offer parametric EQ, which wasn't always the case, there is now a reason to use it other than preference.

PEQ is the single most powerful tool in audio land.

PEQ is the difference between an abysmally poor tonality and literal heaven.

PEQ has the potential to turn any headphone into one, which sounds just the way YOU like it.

Basically: use PEQ. Does not matter whether it's tied to poweramp or not. I think without EQ one is missing out.

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Acceptable_Crazy_117 OP t1_j5h6qju wrote

This is super helpful. If I wanted to get a PEQ that works for spotify, what app would you recommend?

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drbobb t1_j5iy1pt wrote

Well aren't you missing out by not having access to any music other than what you have been able to obtain as files?

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pinkcunt123 t1_j5j1uxv wrote

No? Why would I? I have been buying all the music I want ever since I was 14. In fact, there has been a time where spotify was missing quite a bit of the underground stuff I listen to.

If I feel like I need something new, I usually go on a bandcamp/youtube deep dive to find new artists, whose albums I can then buy.

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drbobb t1_j5lltyf wrote

If that keeps you happy, great. As for me, streaming allows me to learn about and enjoy a lot more music than ever before (I have been alive for quite a while now), and a lot more than I could afford to buy on physical media - especially older stuff, classic rock, jazz of the bop/cool/fusion eras, and so on.

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TagalogON t1_j5id8gf wrote

I have Etymotics too and used to listen with my Android phones. These days I just use TWS earbuds but the app/settings/etc. remain the same.

Ear tips and cables, resources for Etymotics: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/10i5ha8/7_unused_at_a_local_amazon_warehouse_store/j5dpuij/

See here for more info about parametric EQ, squig.link comparison graphs, AutoEQ, ear tips, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/10hhn0g/i_dont_notice_a_sound_difference_between_the/j58iozt/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/109meb5/eq/j40cy1n/

Timmy from Gizaudio explaining squig.link and AutoEQ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpQalW_bjLQ

You can do (parametric) EQ with $8 Neutron Music Player or UAPP on Android. If on PC, the free (Peace) Equalizer APO. There are free apps on Android(/Apple) that can also do a good enough job, but most of them have those graphics sliders instead of parametric or just plug the numbers in EQ. EQ can also be used to help with channel or ear imbalances.

There's also the free Wavelet app that has the AutoEQ available now. And other free apps for more simple graphic sliders EQ, etc.

Don't forget oratory1990's preset EQ list, mainly for headphones but there's some IEMs there: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets

So I have my 16-bit and 24-bit FLACs with Neutron/etc. and then listen without EQ. Sometimes I'll apply EQ but I enjoy the stock sound of my Etymotics/TWS earbuds/etc. anyway (I spend a lot of time looking at graphs and reading the reviews so that I don't waste money/time) and so ya it's just there.

Parametric EQ is actually useful if you know your particular IEMs are not good with specific genres and like you have no other different sounding pair at the moment to switch for that desired genre. As with just a few numerical inputs or button presses, with parametric EQ the bass/treble/etc. can be altered accordingly.

Anyway TWS earbuds often have their own app and EQ system too. So things are changing for better (parametric) EQ everywhere.

It's expensive at $110-130 but the Qudelix 5K has a pretty nice user experience.

In theory any device you pair the Qudelix 5K with will have the parametric EQ still applied. There's also the various preset parametric EQs already available, just adjust according to your taste. Like you'll probably want to fine-tune a bit the AutoEQ values.

Qudelix is making a gaming/7.1/etc. device called Qudelix T71, so no successor to the Qudelix 5K for maybe 2023 or 2024: https://forum.qudelix.com/post/qudelixt71-12037543?pid=1334122761

The Qudelix 5K has no competition for value and features. They recently released the v2.0 update, it's just unparalleled software achievement: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/zsjmng/qudelix_5k_v20_update_released/

Here's a bit more info/resources/etc. about the Qudelix 5K Bluetooth amp/DAC dongle as it's often out of stock these days: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/zgk4s8/equalizer_apo_doesnt_for_me_best_alternative/izhf43z/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/zsjmng/qudelix_5k_v20_update_released/j18t8qo/

This thread link talks about the Qudelix 5K, AptX Adaptive dongles, and specifically Apple devices: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/zc1znn/qudelix_5k_arent_these_issues_a_big_issue/iyuh35j/

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No-Context5479 t1_j5lei9k wrote

u/Acceptable_Crazy_117 well there's the Poweramp Standalone Equaliser app which can be used over Spotify so you listen to Spotify but use Poweramp Equaliser (not the music player) as the systemwide EQ... I can help set that up.

But if you have local files that you play that are not found on Spotify I think it's best getting this app rather, USB Audio Player Pro and then running Poweramp Equaliser as the systemwide EQ so it EQs the files played through USB Audio Player Pro.

Link to Poweramp Equaliser - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxmpz.equalizer

Link to USB Audio Player Pro - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.extreamsd.usbaudioplayerpro

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Acceptable_Crazy_117 OP t1_j5sdy8c wrote

I decided on using the Poweramp Equalizer. I'm happy with it now, I just want to make it systemwide if you could assist me

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