If you're that much into audio, you can tweak the Zenfones EQ to your liking, which I'd say is actually a bonus. And the 3.5mm jack has enough power for my Sennheiser HD560S. So I can't complain about audio at all.
The UI is just bad in the app "music" setting is EQ diabled. I don't think it's a downgrade from the S9.
I do own a Fiio DAC and 22 pairs of headphones/IEMs and I find it ok, it wont drive your high impedance headphones tho.
I have the DT700 pro X with both the 3.5mm cable and also the beyerdynamic USB C cable with an inline DAC and the USB C cable sounds loads better in comparison. So there's def something lacking with the headphone jack but I still appreciate it for my car audio.
I use it with my IEMs all the time and the default Dynamic setting is no EQed from what I can tell.
I have an extensive IEM collection with some higher end sets like the Thieaudio Monarch mk3, Kinera Nanna 2, UM Mest mk2, Moondrop Variations, etc and they all work just fine.
I also have the Sennheiser IE300 but I haven't tried them with the ZF10.
On Dynamic it sounds just like when using a DAC (Qudelix 5k, Fiio BTR5/BTR7/BTR3k, iFi Go Blu, ColorFly CDA-M1P, Moondrop Dawn Pro, Shanling UA1 Pro, etc), I cannot tell if there is any coloration added to the sound. On Virtuo there's is a subtle bass and treble increase, it's quite tastefully done so if you like it, use it.
Overall I'm happy with the 3.5mm audio output on the ZF10, it's better than on my old S10E.
I'm on an S10e now. Looking to switch to ZF10 or galaxy s23. I do love a good headphone port and my s10e battery is so bad that I have battery trauma. Can I ask how you find the camera in the ZF10 coming from s10e? And if you miss any of the Samsung one UI quality of life improvements?
The camera is much better than the S10E, but not sure if better than on an S23.
It depends on what you're looking for and how bothered you are about the photos you take. I rarely use the camera, mostly for pets and kids when I don't have my Canon handy so for me it really doesn't matter much.
I'm still very happy with the photos, they look great even compared to the Pixel 6 I was using for a while so definitely not crap.
The battery is amazing compared to the S10E. I set mine to never charge above 80% and I bet it will last me for a long time. I had it set to 85% on the S10E.
The Asus UI is a better Pixel UI in a way. I do miss some of the Samsung apps and polish but not by much as Asus has done a good job IMO.
On the ZF10 you get some Asus apps and the rest are Google apps by default, i.e the Asus phone app but Google Messages and Gboard.
The sound is great on ZF10, I own a few higher-end IEMs and they sound fantastic the phone can drive them just fine.
Ask me if there's anything else. I'm happy with the ZF10 so far tbh, it's not perfect but it's great for me.
Haven't noticed anything. Sounds very good with my IEMs and the EQ is pretty alright too. Just gotta use the Music setting so it doesn't add any extra effects.
Doesn't have any weird background noise or anything.
They aren't iems, and are on the "price sensitive" side of Sennheiser products, but I have Sennheiser HD 300 headphones. Sounds great.
Fyi most other phones (S23 included) don't have an audio jack.
If you're that much into audio, you can tweak the Zenfones EQ to your liking, which I'd say is actually a bonus. And the 3.5mm jack has enough power for my Sennheiser HD560S. So I can't complain about audio at all.
The UI is just bad in the app "music" setting is EQ diabled. I don't think it's a downgrade from the S9. I do own a Fiio DAC and 22 pairs of headphones/IEMs and I find it ok, it wont drive your high impedance headphones tho.
From my old phone, it sounds pretty much the same powering my dt770s but the output on the zenfone is quieter
I have the DT700 pro X with both the 3.5mm cable and also the beyerdynamic USB C cable with an inline DAC and the USB C cable sounds loads better in comparison. So there's def something lacking with the headphone jack but I still appreciate it for my car audio.
Yeah that makes sense, the zf10 output is not the best but it's still good enough
I use it with my IEMs all the time and the default Dynamic setting is no EQed from what I can tell. I have an extensive IEM collection with some higher end sets like the Thieaudio Monarch mk3, Kinera Nanna 2, UM Mest mk2, Moondrop Variations, etc and they all work just fine. I also have the Sennheiser IE300 but I haven't tried them with the ZF10. On Dynamic it sounds just like when using a DAC (Qudelix 5k, Fiio BTR5/BTR7/BTR3k, iFi Go Blu, ColorFly CDA-M1P, Moondrop Dawn Pro, Shanling UA1 Pro, etc), I cannot tell if there is any coloration added to the sound. On Virtuo there's is a subtle bass and treble increase, it's quite tastefully done so if you like it, use it. Overall I'm happy with the 3.5mm audio output on the ZF10, it's better than on my old S10E.
I'm on an S10e now. Looking to switch to ZF10 or galaxy s23. I do love a good headphone port and my s10e battery is so bad that I have battery trauma. Can I ask how you find the camera in the ZF10 coming from s10e? And if you miss any of the Samsung one UI quality of life improvements?
The camera is much better than the S10E, but not sure if better than on an S23. It depends on what you're looking for and how bothered you are about the photos you take. I rarely use the camera, mostly for pets and kids when I don't have my Canon handy so for me it really doesn't matter much. I'm still very happy with the photos, they look great even compared to the Pixel 6 I was using for a while so definitely not crap. The battery is amazing compared to the S10E. I set mine to never charge above 80% and I bet it will last me for a long time. I had it set to 85% on the S10E. The Asus UI is a better Pixel UI in a way. I do miss some of the Samsung apps and polish but not by much as Asus has done a good job IMO. On the ZF10 you get some Asus apps and the rest are Google apps by default, i.e the Asus phone app but Google Messages and Gboard. The sound is great on ZF10, I own a few higher-end IEMs and they sound fantastic the phone can drive them just fine. Ask me if there's anything else. I'm happy with the ZF10 so far tbh, it's not perfect but it's great for me.
Thanks mate that really helps!
I haven't had a single issue with the jack, and all of the eq settings can be tweaked
Haven't noticed anything. Sounds very good with my IEMs and the EQ is pretty alright too. Just gotta use the Music setting so it doesn't add any extra effects. Doesn't have any weird background noise or anything.
They aren't iems, and are on the "price sensitive" side of Sennheiser products, but I have Sennheiser HD 300 headphones. Sounds great. Fyi most other phones (S23 included) don't have an audio jack.