[DISCUSSION] Why Atrix is the perfect audio player

[Drakonas]

Ok, in light of my recent hair-pulling problems with CM10.1 lately, I have decided to give to the community instead of taking from it.

The Mega-Audiorific Atrix Discussion Thread
Drumroll please... Wait... How could I forget about the bass.
If you are lazy with listening to music (shame on you), skip to 0:56

This thread is here for 2 reasons.

1. It is hard to find the information I'm about to provide.
2. I want people to provide their insight on anything music related to the Atrix such as the following:

Examples:
* What music player app do you like the most on your Atrix?
* What audio format do you listen to normally (MP3, FLAC) with it?
* What apps make your music sound better on the Moto Atrix?
* What rom makes the audio sound the best for you?
* What music sounds the best on your Atrix?

To keep this thread in this subforum however, and not the General Android Discussion section,
I ask that you only provide answers to these questions regarding the Atrix, and make that known.
This is not a "I love this artist!" or "I don't think you know very much about music." thread.
Please keep replies to a minimum, so that this does not get flooded with flamers or Nazi's (no offense meant...sorry if I offended).

Everyone has their opinion, and they have the right to defend it, but they don't have the right to attack with it.
Be mature. Pushing opinions on others will get you nowhere. Opinions are opinions, not facts.



Without further ado, let's get started.
And I will start with the main reason audio sounds generally better with your Atrix.



The reason your Atrix sounds so good is... (dun dun duuuuuh...badum ch!!)
The Atrix 4G has a dedicated audio chip in it! =3 It's a medium-low end Wolfson chip.

Hard to find the info for it, but I wanted to know what made PowerAMP with FLAC
sound so good compared to an iPhone with ALAC. (both with equalizer off, charger port on iPhone -> Audio jack/headphones)

If you do some digging, you'll find this to be true.
I'm going to miss my Atrix when it becomes time to move on to another phone

I have my eyes set on the HTC One X+ or the Samsung Galaxy S4,
depending on what my budget is when the time comes.​

 

[andresrivas]

* What music player app do you like the most on your Atrix?
* What audio format do you listen to normally (MP3, FLAC) with it?
* What apps make your music sound better on the Moto Atrix?
* What rom makes the audio sound the best for you?
* What music sounds the best on your Atrix?

1)Was using motorola's default. on gb had the best sound.
now im using xenoamp.

2) mp3. too little space for flacs

3)Again, xenoamp. its calibration functions REALLY makes a difference. like listening youtube in 240p vs 480p.

4)officicial bkur gb had the best stock sound... now, only xenoamp does...

5)Rock and techno.




Sent from my MB860 using xda app-developers app

 

[Drakonas]

1)Was using motorola's default. on gb had the best sound.
now im using xenoamp.

2) mp3. too little space for flacs

3)Again, xenoamp. its calibration functions REALLY makes a difference. like listening youtube in 240p vs 480p.

4)officicial bkur gb had the best stock sound... now, only xenoamp does...

5)Rock and techno.

Cool. I haven''t heard of XenoAMP. I'll check it out.

I guess I can answer the questions with my answers. Also, future readers, please don't think that you have to use these questions, specifically. This is a discussion thread! It's not just a poll!


1: I've used PowerAMP since I got into FLAC. For me, nothing has beaten the audio quality and ranges I can get out of PowerAMP.

2: I guess I answered this in #1 and my OP. I love and always will use FLAC. With that said, the best way to do this is to purchase the CDs yourself! To be honest, most local CDs are the same price, or even less expensive, than iTunes or other markets (Import albums, of course, cost more usually). Not only that, but you get upwards 10x the quality! How can you beat that? Seriously, try sticking an official CD (not burned from iTunes) in your car radio, if you have one, and hear the difference for yourself!

Of course, I understand that MP3's are way smaller, and going along with what andresrivas said, not everyone has a 16+GB SD card. xD

3: I will say that when I used to use GB, and I was testing out audio, I didn't feel like spending time working on PowerAMP's 10-band equalizer. It was just too much. So, I looked into other apps, and found that Equalizer helped to make things sound better, using its 5 band equalizer and many presets that I actually used to use. Check it out if you're looking for a better equalizer for your entire phone! (I'm guessing XenoAMP does something similar?)

4: Actually, recently I trying CM9 out (krystianp's version with the 3.1.10 kernel), and my phone sounded better than I heard it immediately upon restoring my PowerAMP app+data through TiBu (Titanium Backup) Pro. It was amazing, and I hadn't even changed the usual preset's settings that I used. For some reason, CM10.1 by Epinter doesn't sound as good though, which saddens me...

5: Drum & Bass. The phone and the audio systems I regularly use are able to really pick up those residual base backgrounds along with the short, punchy beats up front. Also, Hifana's albums sound amazing! You can check one of their songs out here, if you're interested. I linked to track 12 because it's awesome and shows you their style, but you will need to sign in to listen. I highly recommend this site for listening, because it's much higher quality than Youtube (almost lossless, it feels like), and they have a lot of albums available for free listening...

If you want more of Hifana, listen to that whole album, and then check out their Channel H album. All of their music is good, in my opinion.

 

[J()KER]

* What music player app do you like the most on your Atrix?
PowerAMP
* What audio format do you listen to normally (MP3, FLAC) with it?
MP3 Flac and aac
* What apps make your music sound better on the Moto Atrix?
DSP Manager
* What rom makes the audio sound the best for you?
CyanogenMod 7.2
* What music sounds the best on your Atrix?
Heavy Metal :good:

 

[crack.mech]

Well.. its sad, My Atrix just stopped sounding. Neither from speaker, nor from headset. Wish I could do something about it without spending too much. :crying:

 

[anaschillin]

1. Player: Play Music

2. Music Format: MP3

3. App: DSP Manager with bass enhancement.

4. Rom: MROM

5. Music: Anything with good beats especially old school hip hop and glitch music.

 

[Drakonas]

Well.. its sad, My Atrix just stopped sounding.

Sorry to hear about that.

You should try searching the forums, something like "Atrix 4G no sound" or "Atrix 4G sound issue". Adding your rom name or searching "stock" in addition to those might help if they apply to you.

I realize that you're just commenting on your situation (and not asking for support). Thanks for this.

If you're on stock, I can't help you much anyways. I haven't used stock Atrix in 2 years. I would search first, as per XDA rules/requests (plus it's just being courteous), then ask in the Atrix Q & A section of the forum. Perhaps a rom reinstall might help? (You can Factory Reset without rooting/unlocking bootloader)

Make sure to read instructions in the General threads, and of course the Beginners' Guide. They might help as well.

Just thought I'd try to help

(For future readers) This is in the general section, so support questions don't apply here. I'd also prefer not to have support question clutter. (I know you weren't exactly doing so, crack.mech )

 

[crack.mech]

Sorry to hear about that.

You should try searching the forums, something like "Atrix 4G no sound" or "Atrix 4G sound issue". Adding your rom name or searching "stock" in addition to those might help if they apply to you.

I realize that you're just commenting on your situation (and not asking for support). Thanks for this.

If you're on stock, I can't help you much anyways. I haven't used stock Atrix in 2 years. I would search first, as per XDA rules/requests (plus it's just being courteous), then ask in the Atrix Q & A section of the forum. Perhaps a rom reinstall might help? (You can Factory Reset without rooting/unlocking bootloader)

Make sure to read instructions in the General threads, and of course the Beginners' Guide. They might help as well.

Just thought I'd try to help

(For future readers) This is in the general section, so support questions don't apply here. I'd also prefer not to have support question clutter. (I know you weren't exactly doing so, crack.mech )

Thanks for the suggestions Drakonas. I have been flashing different ROMs for a while now, and it doesn't seem to help. Though I hear some sort of crackling noise through the headset when I turn up the volume to full while playing music. As per my (re)search this seems to be a flex cable issue, but seems a bit wierd, as the speaker is not connected via flex cable ( I have opened up my atrix a few times!1 ). So I seriously doubt replacing the flex cable would help. But except for the audio issues, my atrix is still going strong, all thanks to the great developer community here.


And, I am seriously sorry to hijack this thread. Please accept my apologies.

 

[reph05]

Thanks for the suggestions Drakonas. I have been flashing different ROMs for a while now, and it doesn't seem to help. Though I hear some sort of crackling noise through the headset when I turn up the volume to full while playing music. As per my (re)search this seems to be a flex cable issue, but seems a bit wierd, as the speaker is not connected via flex cable ( I have opened up my atrix a few times!1 ). So I seriously doubt replacing the flex cable would help. But except for the audio issues, my atrix is still going strong, all thanks to the great developer community here.


And, I am seriously sorry to hijack this thread. Please accept my apologies.

Did you try to connect your atrix through an external portable amplifier? This may help.

 

[Drakonas]

1. PowerAMP
2. MP3 Flac and aac
3. DSP Manager
4. CyanogenMod 7.2
5. Heavy Metal :good:

1. Yep... I like it too.
2. Hey, whatever suits your preference.
3. Yeah, with some tweaking of it, you can get good sound. (This is from/for CyanogenMod roms for those who don't know) If I'm listening to music with PowerAMP, though, I don't like DSP Manager on. It's my preference, since I've customized PowerAMP's 10-band equalizer myself, vs DSP Manager's 5-band equalizer. Running 10-band through 5-band can defeat the purpose of the 10-band, but it depends I suppose.
4. Love CyanogenMod! Are you using a popular rom, by chance? I don't have the knowledge to customize a rom yet, so I usually just use one of the pre-built roms out there. My favorite for CM7 on the Atrix was Neutrino, but I changed to Atrix-MROM because it had the same battery-life and even better performance for me. Plus, the developer knows more what he's doing. He's part of the new 4.0 Kernel Project team.
5. I don't really listen to heavy metal, not anymore at least. I guess I grew up around teens that listened to it and thought it was the most amazing thing ever. (plus they often didn't care to try any other music. This probably differs you from them, hopefully ) I soon learned that there are thousands and possibly millions of styles of music out there, and there's more around every doorstep. I've spent the last 5 years building my music tastes, and I've switched favorite genres about 20 times, until I found the underground 20-year-old Drum & Bass scene.

But to each their own. Any specific artists that you like? I used to listen to DragonForce a lot, but I guess that's more Power Metal than Heavy Metal.

1. Player: Play Music
2. Music Format: MP3
3. App: DSP Manager with bass enhancement.
4. Rom: MROM
5. Music: Anything with good beats especially old school hip hop and glitch music.

1. Hey, saving music in the cloud can be really useful. I guess the only reason I wouldn't want to is (A) I prefer FLAC which isn't usually provided and (B) I don't have a data plan currently, so playing on the go would be impossible. I have a lot of space anyways... I suppose you have a phone without much space to hold music?
2. Again, space. Plus I suppose it's the best format to use with Play Music.
3. Yeah, DSP really helps with MP3. I agree. I will say that if you get better headphones, you'll get better bass and clarity. I recommend some $10 to $20 Koss in-ear headphones for the lowest price, if you're not the person to have money laying around. Off-brand are usually crap, like Skullcandy. And for goodness sakes, if you want high-end headphones don't buy Beats by Dr. Dre. It is well known that they are overpriced pieces of crap compared to what you could get for half (or even less) of the price. Get some Audio-Technica Over-the-ears if you have that kind of money.
4. I love MROM. Best CM7 for Atrix in my opinion.
5. Nice! Make sure you check out Autechre and Flying Lotus, if you haven't already!

 

[J()KER]

1. Yep... I like it too.
2. Hey, whatever suits your preference.
3. Yeah, with some tweaking of it, you can get good sound. (This is from/for CyanogenMod roms for those who don't know) If I'm listening to music with PowerAMP, though, I don't like DSP Manager on. It's my preference, since I've customized PowerAMP's 10-band equalizer myself, vs DSP Manager's 5-band equalizer. Running 10-band through 5-band can defeat the purpose of the 10-band, but it depends I suppose.
4. Love CyanogenMod! Are you using a popular rom, by chance? I don't have the knowledge to customize a rom yet, so I usually just use one of the pre-built roms out there. My favorite for CM7 on the Atrix was Neutrino, but I changed to Atrix-MROM because it had the same battery-life and even better performance for me. Plus, the developer knows more what he's doing. He's part of the new 4.0 Kernel Project team.
5. I don't really listen to heavy metal, not anymore at least. I guess I grew up around teens that listened to it and thought it was the most amazing thing ever. (plus they often didn't care to try any other music. This probably differs you from them, hopefully ) I soon learned that there are thousands and possibly millions of styles of music out there, and there's more around every doorstep. I've spent the last 5 years building my music tastes, and I've switched favorite genres about 20 times, until I found the underground 20-year-old Drum & Bass scene.

But to each their own. Any specific artists that you like? I used to listen to DragonForce a lot, but I guess that's more Power Metal than Heavy Metal.

2. The most part of music i keep in mp3
4. Yes, i use official cm, last nightly. But recently i was try cm 10.1 with 3.1 kernel... and i like it
5. I love this music from childhood

Iron Maiden, Chrome Division, Черный обелиск and little Ария. I also listen other genre of rock and metal . List all my favorite groups take much time, so i attached screenshot

Sorry for my bad English

 

[chiikko561]

How about adding links to all music enhancers... i.e. dsp manager, beats, voodoo or what ever else they have for Atrix... And I know voodoo is not for Atrix...

Sent 4rm My O.G. Atrix on it's Lapdock using Weptop+... Which let me add is so Extra F***ing Beast... Galaxy S4 can't touch this...

 

[MICMIC_2ND]

Atrix MROM with Shure E4c

Nice to know there are still Atrix fans. I am addicted to the sound quality delivered by Moto Atrix since 2011. Now I have three of it (one 2.3.4 as mobile, one MROM with minor touch screen defect as music player and one brand new as spare).

music app -> DoomPlay (it plays additional ALAC, 24bit96 WAV, BUT play mp3 may distort);
audio format -> mainly 16_44 WAV, some ALAC;
app sound better -> DSP manager with enabled bass boost set moderate, enabled equaliser set acoustic;
rom sound best -> MROM with DSP manager
best music sounds -> M.J., The Carpenters, Korea OST like ht tps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6n5Ho9n9OPM

Moto Atrix drives my shure E4c earphone pretty well. No portable amplifier required.

 

[MICMIC_2ND]

Instead of MROM, I find the music sound seems a bit better from my Atrix 2.2.2.

I can feel the pure silence, position is more accurate and more crisp clear.