Recommended control points

[Lego]

What timespan Spannko?

[lejonklou]

Just like you I’ve been skeptical of burn in phenomena, Lego.

In this case, though, we have many other control points to compare with. For instance my trusty old iPhone 11, on which the battery is getting weak. The brand new 15 Pro Max was noticeably worse, in the “digital and hard” direction. No new phone for me this year, I concluded.

Weeks later we compare the same two phones (always checking that iOS and Spotify are the same versions and that the Spotify settings are the same, as they sometimes change by themselves with new versions). This time there was nothing that made us think “digital and hard” when hearing 15 Pro Max. iPhone 11 sounded great as usual, but didn’t sort out the rhythms quite as well as 15 Pro Max.

iPad mini 6 remains a little better than both of them.

We also concluded that we could play on either of them for the rest of the evening without feeling that we’re missing anything. And the other day I was playing for hours from an old iPad Pro 10.5” - which is near the bottom of the ranking list on the first page of this topic - and I wasn’t missing anything then either.

[Lego]

Just like you I’ve been skeptical of burn in phenomena, Lego.

In this case, though, we have many other control points to compare with. For instance my trusty old iPhone 11, on which the battery is getting weak. The brand new 15 Pro Max was noticeably worse, in the “digital and hard” direction. No new phone for me this year, I concluded.

Weeks later we compare the same two phones (always checking that iOS and Spotify are the same versions and that the Spotify settings are the same, as they sometimes change by themselves with new versions). This time there was nothing that made us think “digital and hard” when hearing 15 Pro Max. iPhone 11 sounded great as usual, but didn’t sort out the rhythms quite as well as 15 Pro Max.

iPad mini 6 remains a little better than both of them.

We also concluded that we could play on either of them for the rest of the evening without feeling that we’re missing anything. And the other day I was playing for hours from an old iPad Pro 10.5” - which is near the bottom of the ranking list on the first page of this topic - and I wasn’t missing anything then either.

I hear you Fredrik,and believe what you heard.It would just be good to have clips to backup this phenomenon, we've got clips in everything else including anti-skate differences,plug placement in distribution block etc.

[lejonklou]

Will remember that, Lego!

[ThomasOK]

I just finally got around to looking at the Costco Members Only special sale that ends tomorrow. After going through many pages of stuff I don't need I found that they are selling the iPad Mini6 with 64GB for $399, $90 off their usual price. It looks like Walmart and Amazon have lowered their price to match this, although it is more for Space Gray on Amazon. So now seems to be a good time to pick one up if you don't have one or want another. The 256GB version is also $90 off and the Cellular ones are on sale too.

Edit: After a further look Costco appears to have most Apple stuff on sale with 27 items listed. This includes numerous MacBooks and iMacs along with Mac Minis, Mac Studios, various iPads, a Studio display and a watch.

[Fred11]

I have had an iPhone 11 with my Källa for a while. It is so much better than for instance apple tv. Like a huge upgrade But my iPhones battery is giving in so I need to buy a new one. Does enaybady know if a iPhone 11 PRO is any different from just 11?
Fredrik

Control point musicality, from best to worst (list will be continually updated):

iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB (tied with iPad mini 6 below)
iPad mini 6 64GB (tied with iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB above)
iPhone 15 Pro 256GB and iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB (these two sound identical)
iPhone 11 128GB
iPad Pro 12.9" M2 cellular (using WiFi)
MacBook Pro 16” M1 Max 32GB unified (connected with cable)
MacBook Pro 16” M1 Max 32GB unified (using WiFi)
iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB
MacBook Pro 16" i9 (connected with cable)
iPad Pro gen3 11" M1 (connected with cable)
iPad Pro gen3 11" M1
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 6+
iPhone 8+
MacBook Pro 16" i9 (using WiFi)
Mac Mini 2015 (using WiFi)
iPad Pro 11"
iPad Pro 10.5"
iPad mini 1
iPad mini 5
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 6S

Updated 2023-10-09

[Lego]

Is it me or do iPhones as control points sound better on low power mode ?

[lejonklou]

Is it me or do iPhones as control points sound better on low power mode ?

Sorry for the late response, Lego!

We tested this tonight on iPhone 15 Pro and iPad mini 6 when we had a test session.

I found the difference to be minimal. Low power mode has a tiny bit less energy. I thought it was a tiny bit worse. But I’m sure I wouldn’t notice without comparing directly.

[lejonklou]

First and second post of this thread updated.

iPhone 16 Pro Max has been added to the list of control points.

iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 have also been evaluated and it’s another step up. It just keeps getting better!

I’d also like to point out that if your control point is updated to 18.1, with the latest app version of Spotify (currently 8.9.84.543) and its settings optimised according to the sticky (link below), the control points don’t really differ that much in musicality.

https://www.lejonklou.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6130

[tokenbrit]

iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 have also been evaluated and it’s another step up. It just keeps getting better!

Thanks for this. Quick q: do you find any difference between selecting Lejonklou from Airplay or Bluetooth devices within the Spotify app, rather than from the iPad(os) menu from the top right corner of the screen?

[lejonklou]

Hi tokenbrit!

No, those two should do the exact same thing. Doing it in the Spotify app will tell the iOS/iPadOS to redirect all the sound to Källa.

[tokenbrit]

Hi tokenbrit!

No, those two should do the exact same thing. Doing it in the Spotify app will tell the iOS/iPadOS to redirect all the sound to Källa.

Thanks (again) Fredrik. I figured that would likely be the case, but thought it best not to assume...

I find the Spotify app method simpler, but questioned my preferred method following Flatcoat's playback problem, and whether I should be using the iPadOS control directly instead.

[springwood64]

I will get a Mac Mini M4 16GB 512GB in early Dec so can post clips Vs iPad Mini 6.

I don't think that comparison has been done yet?

[tokenbrit]

I will get a Mac Mini M4 16GB 512GB in early Dec so can post clips Vs iPad Mini 6.

Regular Gigabit Ethernet port? Will be interested to hear the comparison...

[springwood64]

I will get a Mac Mini M4 16GB 512GB in early Dec so can post clips Vs iPad Mini 6.

I don't think that comparison has been done yet?

https://www.lejonklou.com/forum/viewtop ... 756#p74756

[jpneat]

Now that the current iPad Mini model is 7, has anyone tried that one?

[ThomasOK]

Now that the current iPad Mini model is 7, has anyone tried that one?

I was wondering that myself but I expect it will be very similar. Apple made such a small upgrade that most people are quite unhappy with them on this. It now has an A17 Pro processor (most of the new devices have gone to the A18 series) instead of the A15 Bionic of the Mini 6. Also the RAM has been upped to 8Gb from 4Gb and the storage starts at 128Gb instead of 64Gb (also available with 256 and 512Gb, for lots of extra money-as usual). Those are the only apparent differences. Same dimensions, same display, same GPU, same cameras, same networking abilities. The faster processor and more base RAM are needed to run Apple Intelligence. This ability appears to be the only reason for the upgrade which supplies the minimum needed to run it. Otherwise it is exactly the same unit. I don't believe the amount of RAM or storage in the devices has been found to materially effect the sound so the question is does the A17 Pro give it improved musical performance?

[jpneat]

Now that the current iPad Mini model is 7, has anyone tried that one?

I was wondering that myself but I expect it will be very similar. Apple made such a small upgrade that most people are quite unhappy with them on this. It now has an A17 Pro processor (most of the new devices have gone to the A18 series) instead of the A15 Bionic of the Mini 6. Also the RAM has been upped to 8Gb from 4Gb and the storage starts at 128Gb instead of 64Gb (also available with 256 and 512Gb, for lots of extra money-as usual). Those are the only apparent differences. Same dimensions, same display, same GPU, same cameras, same networking abilities. The faster processor and more base RAM are needed to run Apple Intelligence. This ability appears to be the only reason for the upgrade which supplies the minimum needed to run it. Otherwise it is exactly the same unit. I don't believe the amount of RAM or storage in the devices has been found to materially effect the sound so the question is does the A17 Pro give it improved musical performance?

It does really seem like a non upgrade. I don't have a Kalla yet, but hope to some day and was just thinking it would be best to have a dedicated control point. I didn't see a lot of great deals on the mini 6, so it seemed for around $100 more to just get the item that was manufactured more recently. Sounds like it definitely won't sound worse! Although I guess, you never know.

That said, I have an iphone 13 mini and while it's not on the list, judging from Fredrik's post a few down on the first page of this thread, the differences between devices have become very subtle. So I'm sure I'll be happy.

[lejonklou]

The iPad mini 6 (likely 7 as well, I haven’t tried it yet) is such a great unit to have by the system. Size is just perfect and I much prefer it over my phone when playing music and searching for info about that artist I just heard.

[jpneat]

The iPad mini 6 (likely 7 as well, I haven’t tried it yet) is such a great unit to have by the system. Size is just perfect and I much prefer it over my phone when playing music and searching for info about that artist I just heard.

Thanks! I’ll probably either pick up an Apple refurbished 6 or just buy a 7. I’ve enjoyed the small size of my 13 mini but I’m tired of the battery life and I think I’ll probably pick up a 16 pro max too since I have an upgrade available

[Whatsmynaim]

A little over a month has passed since the last post. So has anyone tried the iPad mini 7 as a control point yet?
If it ends up being very close in musical performance to the mini 6 I'll just get the one with best battery life.

[lejonklou]

Sorry, I haven’t tried the iPad mini 7 yet, but I can report that two recently purchased iPhone 16 Pro sound suprisingly great.

Hope to be able to compare one of them with my iPad mini 6 next week. Perhaps we get a new number one on the ranking list.

I find it interesting that the trend is that new Apple units keep getting better and better in terms of sound quality when used as a control point for Källa. And the same is true for new versions of their operating systems.