[Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SMARTPHONEPC:
Speaker comparisons

The Note4 speaker is the only thing I'm not convinced is an upgrade over my great Note2 speaker that can sound good at max volume while the two times I tested out the Note4 its speaker sounded terrible at max volume (while it sounds louder the quality of sound from the Note4 seems worse-definitely at max volume but didn't test extensively on lower volumes where it may be comparable or perhaps even an upgrade as long as the volume is more regulated than the Note2 that typically sounds good on all volumes). I did notice the Note4 speakers sound good with certain high quality recordings like certain 1080p movie trailers while other YouTube videos sound significantly less enjoyable. Of course I do have various bluetooth speakers but I'd like not to have to carry them when I want to show something to a few people when mobile. The Note3 speaker was so bad it was a deal breaker for me so I didn't get it (definitely seemed worse than the Note2 speaker) but I hope not to have to wait for the Note5 for decent speakers so please owners-reviewers let us know your experience with the Note4 speaker vs Note2&3 speakers & I hope Samsung focuses more on speaker quality next time as it's such a great multimedia handset otherwise.

Below were my comments after the first time with a Note4 at BestBuy (2nd time was last night) in response to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VArmujW0hEI:

I finally had a chance to see the Note4 in person at BestBuy on Oct 1 (just after I saw the iPhone 6/+Plus again for my dad & left even more unimpressed with the iPhone6s) while the Note4 screen is stunning. It is so much brighter & crisper with pleasing colors (not so obviously oversaturated in a nauseating artificial cartoony way as in some prior amoled displays) compared to my dimmer 720p Note 2 but also the comparatively duller iPhone 6 screens I'd just seen.

The camera shots ability to zoom in the 16MP photos was amazing so in that sense more pixels really is helpful compared to iPhone's 8 MP & the quality was excellent although some shots looked hazy yet the lighting was not great at the time so will need to keep testing. The front facing 3.7 MP camera may be too wide angle for many potential uses but you can adjust the modes some it seems.

I too had been obsessing somewhat on the slow mo quality & not having sound like the iPhone (although I tested slow mo quickly on iPhone6+ & the sound recording was weak but still better than no sound). I remember the slow motion & fast motion video options on my Note2 was fun (before the iPhone had slow mo) but Samsung hasn't really advanced much there (although slow motion now seems FHD where only fast motion was FHD on my note2). My Note2 also had many of the same video effects like cartoonify but noticed other cool ones like Oil Pastel & Moody etc that should be fun along with its dual camera mode (like the Note 3 but with better cameras) recording both the front & rear facing camera simultaneously that I'll likely use more than a slow mo that still records without any sound in Note2,3,4.. maybe Note5 will have slow motion audio capture with front facing speakers..

I'm disappointed that Samsung does not focus more on sound as while the Note4 speaker is very loud at max volume it sounds terrible requiring a volume lowering to sound acceptable while my Note 2 speaker is solid mostly even at max volume & the Note 3 speaker was so bad I couldn't "downgrade" to it. Samsung is more known for their display technology than sound technology but I was hoping for at least as good as my Note2 speaker & I'm not convinced it is although it is definitely louder but I wouldn't keep it at higher volumes due to sounding so strained & unpleasing. Note 4 speaker is definitely better than the Note3 speaker where it was a deal breaker for me but Samsung should do better. Also noticed the iPhone 6 no longer has 2 speakers like in the iPhone 5s rather one smaller speaker at the bottom in the new thinner iPhones that seemed unimpressive but don't remember distortion at loud volumes like with the Note 4 so would recommend staying away from those louder volume settings when avoidable in the Note4. The Nexus 6 is supposed to have dual front facing stereo speakers so curious about it & its other specs but don't know yet if it will have removable battery functionality like the Note line. I simply pop in a new inexpensive replaceable battery on my Note2 daily & thus no need to be a wall hugger like iPhoners (or no longer have to put up with so called "range anxiety" that many current electric car owners describe).

The Note 4 feels much more dense & solid in the hand like a weapon compared to plastic making it feel more premium but no longer get that feather light feeling that some may be used to. BestBuy only had the white model which is better looking with metal frame+accents & more premium feeling than the noticeably taller white iPhone 6 Plus. I'd like to see the Note4 in black like my Note2 but the display definitely pops on the white display with its metal accents yet I'm still leaning toward black with cases to change its looks (typically get http://www.seidioonline.com/samsung-galaxy-note-4-surface-kickstand-case-black-p/csr3ssgt4k-bk.htm (plus removable http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EVFO1G ) but may get http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MAWQKIW & open to suggestions as cases have spared me from damage. After seeing this drop test I'm considering a screen protector for its gorgeous screen but previously have preferred naked gorilla glass screens with cases providing a protective barrier lip from direct (but admittedly not indirect angle hits).

What's ridiculous is that BestBuy can not manage to supply consistent wifi so during the 2 hours of testing had about 8 minutes of WiFi to stream 1080p content on YouTube & no chance to stream 4K YouTube content. Because it was in display mode it would (eventually) see my android tether but would not connect to it. I mentioned to the Samsung rep that if BestBuy can't manage to provide WiFi to them that Samsung should supply their own private WiFi to properly showcase-sell Samsung products otherwise many people just walk away frustrated.

I'm hoping when I go back to BestBuy I'll be able to properly test whether 480p-720p-1080p content looks worse upscaled on a 2K screen of the Note4 compared to Note3's native 1080p screen or Note2's native 720p screen. Most of my & YouTube's videos are 480p-720p-1080p & not yet 4K so would like someone to try to settle the debate of whether the Note4's native 2K display is a less practical resolution for legacy videos despite its brighter more vivid display..

Look forward to checking it out again soon..﻿

Update: On my 2nd visit last night I was able to stream 4K YouTube videos which was cool but not mind blowing on the 2K screen (native 4K recording on its screen seemed more impressive to me visually for some reason maybe because it was self enpowering & less passive) & in limited tests upscaled 480p-720p-1080p didn't look problematic but did not have the opportunity to do side by side testing where native resolutions matching content without upscaling typically looks best (e.g. blow up lower resolution photos to a higher resolution & it looks less sharp) so I'm still curious if 2K resolution is the most practical resolution for most legacy videos but the main issue leaving me feel underwhelmed & dissatisfied is its speaker that I'm not convinced is better & actually worse sounding at max volume than the Note2 so I had to keep it at least 1-3 levels below max depending on the recording I was listening to.

Interested in more discussion of the Note4 speaker from owners-testers compared to Note2.:highfive: