LG V60 ThinQ 5G review

19 April 2020
While we were all expecting a successor to the G8, LG instead announced a successor to the V50. The LG V60 ThinQ 5G is the latest fully featured flagship smartphone from Samsung’s Korean rival. LG doesn’t go quite as hard with the spec sheet as others like Samsung and Oppo, but it also doesn’t go as hard with the price point.

Sort by:

RishiGuru, 25 Apr 2020Vivo never clarified the use of three Analog Devices SSM632... moreThey probably used two as in line amplifiers (it's not balanced design to go per chanel) & third one as OP Amp as it has only one on/of gain stage (in software). All put tightli together on small peace of separate PCB (which actually ain't good) no SIP or POP fur sure. They can refer to DAC as they want but it's a CS43198, package does not determine that. End result counts & it's really a SINAD of 114 dB (one dB less than stated) which for phone is phenomenal. It dose have some distortion il lows and that's it. I don't know what output power it is. What did you menage to push with it (headaphones / impedance/ LPS)?

    ZolaIII, 23 Apr 2020Sorry I thought you live there. It's bizarre why they used ... moreVivo never clarified the use of three Analog Devices SSM6322 op-amps as buffer stages after the audio DAC (Cirrus Logic CS43199) in Vivo NEX (NEX S in China). The only answers from them was they took these four components and made a single SIP (chip) out of it hardware wise. And the phone has an official measured dynamic range of 130 dB & distortion (THD+N) of -115 dB.

    Soomal in its review states Cirrus Logic CS43199 (DAC) used in NEX is a customized version of Cirrus Logic CS43198 (DAC) with different packaging as required by Vivo. And both these DACs comes without any integrated headphone amplifier.

    So it very well be the first SSM6322 op-amp in NEX is used for I/V conversion & low pass filtering and then the next two is used one for each audio channel as discrete headphone amplifiers. What I can guarantee is NEX have awesome output power at high gain stages for a phone that is. However in the end these are all my assumptions and I could be wrong.

    I once read an audio review on NEX by an Italian media (use google tranlate) though the review was very subjective:

    https://www.evosmart.it/audio-multimedia/recensione-audio-vivo-nex-s-potenza-sopita-scottante-sorpresa/18569/

      Phones fan, 19 Apr 2020LG will pay for the wrong choices.What type of wrong choices?

        htx, 24 Apr 2020LG V60 perfect match is a Sennheiser HD 820 (2500usd) and ... moreSure if you trow in a Atom or Schiit Magni Heresy 3+ in between. Try out with Creative Aurvana Live or Air instead which are about 70$ on a good deal. Senns are over rated and I hope you will learn not to mix portable with desktop gear by the way whose complaining?

          • h
          • htx
          • nTb
          • 24 Apr 2020

          ZolaIII, 24 Apr 2020OPA1622 act's as OP Amp when you switch it on & you are... moreLG V60 perfect match is a Sennheiser HD 820 (2500usd) and you will never complain about sound quality ever again!

            ZolaIII, 24 Apr 2020OPA1622 act's as OP Amp when you switch it on & you are... moreShielding not shilling...

              RishiGuru, 24 Apr 2020It seems TempoTec Sonata HD Pro is a good USB DAC. It shoul... moreOPA1622 act's as OP Amp when you switch it on & you are probably right. Take a look at difference in output power (mV/mW) @ audiosciencereview.com for TempoTec Sonata HD Pro & Meizu HiFi Pro. TempoTec uses only integrated Amp on CS43131 and Meizu uses it & OPA1622. The ES9018KM2 + SABRE9601 is a reference ESS design later they integrated it into single IC the ES9218KM2. It's a similar story with CS43131 (with amp) & CS43198 (without it). I bought Sonata iDSD as I wanted self battery powered portable DAC which won't pick additional filth from USB power supply (they all do) and whose lucky it's very easy with enough space left around the bord to modify. You can do that with tiny dongle alike one's. Whose it worth it it's open to discussion. Anyway it works with (almost) any OS & has additional HiBy USB A (so could "magic" line actually just costume based USB connection solution) input line which is nice as you can use it with it as dedicated player only (as a DAP) & being able to use regular USB cable is fabulous thing. Unfortunately for me Sony didn't done USB host software controls properly (I can't disable charging of the phone in this HiBy connection mode) so I don't use it like that. Circus mode really bad support regarding drivers for CS43131 (no where to be found) which is a such a shame as its a such a great DAC IC.

              Anyhow to have adresed that problems with low end on any portabl DAC or AMP (including integrated ones and in phone one's) no matter of the price (with possible exception of newer AKM DAC's which have other problem being grounded to much) you have to do (shilling) your self (for now). Vivo really had some very interesting and good products regarding smartphone audio to bad they are no where to be found hire where I live (Bosnia & Hercegovina). Thing is DAC's reached what there whose to reach & 110 dB is enough what you will ever need & even that much if you are young and have perfect hearing (otherwise even 100 dB is enough). What's left is that bottom (low bass) end tightening which is actually a minor design approach thing. Same thing regarding noise eliminating applies to Amp's with additional matching & biosing but again it's only a question of proper design.

              Thanks for a lovely & educational convention.

                ZolaIII, 24 Apr 2020Yup... It's a tad worser than NEX around 102 dB SINAD. It ... moreIt seems TempoTec Sonata HD Pro is a good USB DAC. It should be.

                What came as a surprise while reading the review was ESS made this dedicated ESS ES9018K2M + ESS ES9601K combination on request from Vivo for their X5Max smartphone in 2014. Because during 2012 to 2015, Vivo was the only manufacturer with mobile phone audio innovations and ESS was an integral part of that.

                However, in X5Max the ESS ES9601K was used as an I/V converter where as next in the line OPA1612 acts as the headphone amplifier. What TempoTec Sonata HD Pro did is to use the same custom setup of X5Max, but this time use the ES9601K as an amp. Personally I believe there was no need of the OPA1612 in X5Max's audio chain and the ES9018K2M + ESS ES9601K was more than enough. Maybe Vivo overlooked the strength of ES9601K as a headphone amplifier.

                All said and done, what Vivo did in terms of sound quality with X5Max in 2014 was an extraordinary achievement for a phone that is.

                  RishiGuru, 24 Apr 2020Thanks. Just for you interest technical audio review fo... moreYup... It's a tad worser than NEX around 102 dB SINAD.
                  It also has distortion in the lower bass but less than NEX.
                  This is my DAC:
                  http://www.soomal.com/doc/10100007002.03.htm
                  Seams they did only 48 kHz test. It has less low bass distortion all do inter modular one is similarly high.
                  I use it with Sony Xperia XZ1 which doesn't suffer from USB Audio 2.0 problems as S7 used hire. Stock USB C cable is a garbage, I use Shanling L2 (whose price whose hard for me to justify but there isn't anything good normally priced on the market). I adresed inter modular distortion with graphite shilling, bottom end is now tight as it can be. It all together goes up to about 110 dB SINAD and all do that's both worser than NEX and TempoTec Sonata HD Pro the tighter bottom end worths more (as there's no material - music that will go that high with dB range anyway). Molding takes half a hour, you need a Philips small screwdriver and cost's 1$ to 5$ depending on will you use plane graphite power or made graphite plates.

                    ZolaIII, 23 Apr 2020Sorry I thought you live there. It's bizarre why they used ... moreThanks.

                    Just for you interest technical audio review for my Vivo X5 Max: (Use google translate)
                    http://www.soomal.com/doc/10100005500.htm

                    X5Max is a 5 year old smartphone but still its audio over headphone is stellar.

                      CAw, 21 Apr 2020So which phones have "Dedicated" DAC? I want to know more, ... moreI only buy smartphones which are available in India and are Google certified. They simply put are secure & uses Google eco-system. I personally own below phones with dedicated DACs:

                      1) LG V30+

                      HiFi Mode: ESS ES9218P (QuadDAC)
                      Standard Mode: Qualcomm Aqstic WCD9341
                      Native DSD Support: Yes

                      2) Lenovo Vibe X3

                      HiFi Mode: ESS 9018C2M + (3 X Texas Instruments OPA1612) op-amps
                      Standard Mode: Wolfson WM8281

                      3) Vivo X5Max

                      HiFi Mode: ESS ES9018K2M + (ESS ES9601K + Texas Instruments OPA1612) op-amps
                      Standard Mode: Qualcomm generic audio codec
                      Audio Review: https://soundreview.org/tech/portable/vivo-x5-max-audio-review/

                      4) Vivo NEX (Vivo NEX S in China)

                      HiFi Mode: Cirrus Logic CS43199 + (3 X Analog Devices SSM6322) op-amps
                      Standard Mode: Qualcomm Aqstic WCD9341
                      Native DSD Support: Yes

                      5) Vivo V5Plus (Vivo X9 in China)

                      HiFi Mode: AKM AK4376
                      Standard Mode: Qualcomm generic audio codec

                      6) Meizu 16th (Meizu 16 in China)

                      Standard Mode: Qualcomm Aqstic WCD9341 (A better implementation that Vivo V5Plus )

                      ---

                      Other phones which are available in country with dedicated DACs:

                      1) LG G7+, LG V40, LG G8X -> ESS ES9218P
                      2) iQOO 3 (Vivo's sub-brand) -> AKM AK4377A
                      3) Vivo X21 -> AKM AK4376A

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • Py$
                        • 24 Apr 2020

                        TimApple, 20 Apr 2020Nah, they're perfectly fine provided you get a decent pair ... moreyou can't use the audio jack and charge your phone at the same time then

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • Py$
                          • 24 Apr 2020

                          Thilak, 20 Apr 2020Why did they removed QHD+ resolution on this phone?? I do... moreProbably because they wanted to mass produce screens so they decided to go for the cheaper FHD displays. Remember that the dual displays have the exact same displays ae the phone.
                          Also two QHD displays will definitely minimize the battery life alot.

                            Anonymous, 23 Apr 2020Hopeless phone. As always, this phone will have LG's horren... moreToo early to expect. Stop trolling blindly

                              • g
                              • gt
                              • nTb
                              • 23 Apr 2020

                              ZolaIII, 23 Apr 2020Sorry I thought you live there. It's bizarre why they used ... moreMeizu makes toasters and toys?

                                RishiGuru, 23 Apr 2020Thanks so much for your valuable insights!!! Adding my 4... moreSorry I thought you live there. It's bizarre why they used 3 OP Amp's in mobile, if they were gone with CS43131 and single OP Amp that I would understood. SIP is just a marketing, every stand alone DAC is that. Take a look at Meizu HiFi Pro or E1DA 9038S to see how much is possible to cream in such a small space. Nice to hear Vivo did software support so good.
                                C u and enjoy.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • I@a
                                  • 23 Apr 2020

                                  Hopeless phone. As always, this phone will have LG's horrendous software update support - selective software updates only to Korean and some US variants and absolutely ZERO software updates for the rest (international variants).

                                  Spend your money elsewhere if you don't want to regret.

                                    • K
                                    • Kiza
                                    • pp@
                                    • 23 Apr 2020

                                    Where is stereo speaker test, ufs3.0 still isn't corrected in specs, and how's battery endurance much lower than s20 line, when have fhd and lower refresh screen??

                                      ZolaIII, 23 Apr 2020To start with it seams how CS43131 & CS43198 bare to ea... moreThanks so much for your valuable insights!!!

                                      Adding my 4 cents regarding my Vivo NEX:

                                      1) Vivo have a system-wide HiFi ON/OFF switch. The review just said on HiFi mode the output through audio jack is line level (0 dB) and on standard mode -7 dB. So correct me if I am wrong the output is 1 Vrms in HiFi mode. And I have seen from other audio reviews from Soomal they never stretch the amp, so that 1 Vrms is most probably the 1st gain step. On second step I have found by NEX is really loud. I am assuming all these in my limited technical abilities. So bear with me.

                                      2) Vivo seems to integrate the Cirrus Logic DAC + 3 Analog Devices SSM6322 op amps in a single system in package (SiP) to reduce area used on the main PCB. I do not think it has any benefits in terms of audio quality but to reduce cost as space is at premium inside phones.

                                      3) The test was done when the phone was running with Android 8.1. After the Android 9 update, the default music player got upgraded and the DSD playback issue had been taken care of. Android 10 is on the way for Vivo NEX. UAC2 issue still remains, but I do not use it.

                                      4) Got the Vivo NEX six months back for $320 brand new in India. Vivo India made sure we get the global version with full Google certification in place and Google Playstore pre-installed. I do buy Android phones without Google certification.

                                      5) I live in India, so shipping to China is bit of a stretch. However, for official reasons if I ever travel China I will definitely love to see the real test performed.

                                        ZolaIII, 23 Apr 2020To start with it seams how CS43131 & CS43198 bare to ea... moreES9218 not ES9028 & Sound BlasterX G6.

                                          6 of 16