[Sony Xperia X Performance Questions & Answers] RockStar2005:
hi espe,

Thank you for your post!

I see. Yes I myself use the Oppo HA-2 as my mobile amp/DAC currently, and love what it does to the sound. I'm hoping to one day just have a phone like the HTC 10 or LG V10 (or V20, which my cousin just got and said sounds AMAZING vs. his former Note 7) where I won't NEED an amp/DAC anymore. I think your take on the XP/X/Z3 comparison is a good one. I myself feel like Sony, in comparison with their competition, have slipped back a notch or two compared to where they were 2 years ago. 2 years ago, the HTC One M8 (which I used to have right before I got my old Z3) was great sounding, but I don't know if it had the sheer weight & power vs. the competition at the time as HTC does now with the 10 over the competition of today. 2 years ago, LG's phones' audio quality was considered a big joke, even worse than Samsung's according to some credible people. Then last year they came out with the V10 and just now V20, and they both are considered OUTSTANDING! So I think that even though the XP may sound better than the Z3 (I honestly do believe you on that front), they still aren't "on top" anymore like they were 2 years ago.

I remember I'd bought the $200 iBasso DX50 and compared it to my Z3 at the time. Amazingly, I could hear no difference in sound quality. That was kind of a shock to me, but an impressive one in Sony's favor. I then returned the DX50 and bought the $300 Sony Walkman A17. It was only THEN that I could hear a difference in quality in favor of the Walkman. But wow, $300! I can't say 100% for sure, but I'm prob 98-99% sure that the V10, V20, and HTC 10 all sound as good as my Walkman did, if not better? 2 years ago I never read any reviews (or AS many) that had such a POSITIVE reaction to the sound quality of any smartphone like I do now for HTC & LG. Even the Z3 I don't remember creating such a buzz, and Sony was even at the time promoting "Hi-Res" very much so. Now maybe because they did that it just took time for most reviewers to notice, but that's a big "maybe". I think it's more likely based on what I've read about the 10's audio prowess and even V10 & V20's that simply put, the bar has been raised significantly, and

not

by Sony. I even created not one but two threads on the Hi-Fi site "Head-Fi.com" about this topic. Feel free to read and comment on them if you wish.

I tend to stay away from earphones myself as I am not convinced they can offer the same "big sound" that headphones can. I used to have a $30 pair of V-Moda earphones and thought I was cool. My, how times have changed since 2 years ago. lol After loving the incredible $150-$200 AKG K550 (over several other more expensive headphones) for a long time, I just recently switched to the

slightl

y better/clearer/more portable $299 Bang & Olufsen 2nd Generation H6 headphones. If you're looking for headphones within the under $500 range, I could not suggest any better options than the K550/K550 MK II (same sound signature) or the 2nd Gen H6. They both wipe the FLOOR with even some popular $400 headphones.

Not sure on the first several issues you mentioned, aside from the auto-rotate issue I've been having since that last mini update. I read through 2 different threads on here about it, but there doesn't seem to be a fix yet. I'm HOPING that the Nougat update we're ALL about to get on our XPs literally any day now will include a fix for that. It is annoying b/c once it kicks in after a restart (normally within a day or less), you can't make any pics or videos fullscreen without a reboot, and it ALSO messes with Smart Call Handling too. But wait, you see dots/tints on the display? Sounds to me like you may have gotten a faulty phone. I already returned my first XP b/c it was overheating BIG time, and another issue too I think was occurring on it. My newer one works much better. I would suggest replacing it if you can. Display issues are very hard to ignore vs. other lesser issues, and I don't know if ANY update could even fix those.

I'm with you there too to a certain point espe. The XP took FOREVER to release (4 mos??!! who does that??). The XZ came out like LESS than a month after it was announced, and has a better (though still crappy IMO) battery life and an improved camera too vs. the XP (though XP's camera is still great overall). But both phones I saw were rated as having the worst battery life and the longest charging times of ALL the 2016 flagship phones. The XP is the worst, and the XZ is a pretty close second. I mean, I too feel cheated b/c Sony always made their "2 Day Battery Life" promise a major selling point, but it is crystal clear to me now that that promise died with the Z series. They don't even mention it on their Sony Mobile site for the X phones anymore like they did in the past. My XP can't even make it through a full day if I start early enough (6am). Even with Stamina Mode on and turning my phone off a few times for a little while, this one day by like 8pm that night I only had 5% left. THAT is some major BS. They need to stop making these batteries so d*mn small. I know people like thin, but people want great battery life even more. A phone is no fun if there's now juice left to keep it running. lol

I see. Yes you're DEF a loyal Sony fan. I have and/or had a ton of Sony products too, but the Z3 was the only other Sony phone I've ever had, and it was my favorite overall vs. the other phones of its time. The battery life was MUCH better too. But since the death of the 2 Day Battery Life promise, the step back in audio, and other issues.......being forced to buy the int'l XP just to get a functioning fingerprint sensor, the super long waits for the phones to be released (and just the inconsistency of all that), the lack of customer care..........I may seriously go back to HTC next year. If the 11 improves its camera over the 10 (Note: the 10 was the first HTC flagship to use a Sony camera sensor, after Sony bought out camera sensor business of the former seller to HTC.......Toshiba.....and the camera got better. Coincidence? I think not. lol), and hopefully they go back to Classic BoomSound (BOTH speakers on the front, where the f'ing belong! lol), and doesn't go "phablet" (big yuck! lol), I will prob leave Sony for good. HTC makes buying their phones easy, no weird long waits, audio is considered louder AND better than Sony's, fingerprint sensors are included ON U.S. versions (b/c they're not too cheap to pay whatever fees for them to be used in the U.S., unlike Sony Mobile), even their unlocked phones will still offer the VoLTE (including HD Voice) and Wi-Fi Calling certification that T-Mobile requires to use them (which again, Sony Mobile is TOO CHEAP to pay for), Uh-Oh Protection, etc (see my last post for more details). Sony Mobile should be sitting on their THRONE here in the U.S. like they do in other countries (or are at least MUCH stronger in those places), but instead, they are cowering away for NO good reason and letting Apple and Samsung continue to rule over us with phones that overall are very good, but still not as great as Sony's Xperia phones once were and still kinda are. They need to grow some BALLS, and fast! But will they? Doesn't look like it.