The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sound capabilities represent a crucial factor for modern smartphone users. Flagship devices must deliver a comprehensive multimedia experience. This goes beyond the impressive display and powerful camera system. The quality of audio, whether output through the integrated stereo speakers or delivered wirelessly to high-fidelity headphones, deeply impacts daily use. We dive into the specific hardware, software optimization, and real-world performance of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s sound system in this comprehensive review.
Detailed Analysis of Audio Performance
The Galaxy S24 Ultra builds on Samsung’s tradition of robust audio engineering. It uses a standard yet refined stereo setup and offers a full suite of software customizations. This section breaks down the speaker performance, connected audio fidelity, and the key features that define the S24 Ultra’s auditory experience.
Speaker Hardware and Stereo Setup
The Galaxy S24 Ultra employs a typical modern smartphone stereo speaker configuration. This setup features a primary, bottom-firing driver and a secondary driver integrated into the earpiece. The earpiece speaker manages the higher frequencies and upper midrange, while the bottom speaker handles the bulk of the volume and lower-mid frequencies.
This arrangement creates an effective stereo soundstage when you hold the phone horizontally. This orientation is ideal for watching movies and playing games. The sound separation gives content creators and mobile gamers a more immersive experience. The speakers are louder than previous Galaxy S models, but the fundamental architecture remains consistent with the S23 Ultra.
Loudness and Volume Consistency
The S24 Ultra delivers very good loudness. It reaches a maximum volume level that easily fills a small room for casual listening. The sound pressure level (SPL) is competitive with other top-tier flagship phones.
Crucially, volume consistency across different levels is generally strong. At moderate volumes, the sound is clear and well-balanced. However, like most smartphones, sound quality can become harsher at maximum volume. Users report a slight compression or distortion when pushing the phone to its absolute limits. Reducing the volume slightly below the maximum often restores clarity and dynamic range.
Timbre, Bass, and Clarity
Timbre refers to the character or quality of a sound distinct from its pitch and intensity. The S24 Ultra presents a warm and pleasant timbre overall.
The phone focuses on bass power, providing a relatively deep and effective low-end response for a phone speaker. This powerful bass makes movies and music sound rich and engaging. However, critics note that the midrange can sound slightly resonant or “muddy,” especially in the low-midrange frequencies. This muddiness can sometimes obscure vocals and subtle instrumental details. While bass is strong, the very lowest frequencies are not heavily reproduced, which is physically understandable given the small speaker size.
The treble rendition is generally clean but could benefit from more high-end extension, according to some specialized audio tests. This means the sound can sometimes lack the ‘sparkle’ or ‘air’ found in the very best competing speaker setups.
Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra supports Dolby Atmos, a crucial feature for modern immersive audio. Dolby Atmos creates a three-dimensional soundscape, adding height and depth to the audio experience.
Users can enable and adjust Dolby Atmos settings within the Sound Quality and Effects menu. It operates over both the built-in speakers and connected headphones (wired or wireless). When watching content mixed for Atmos, the effect is noticeable, improving the feeling of immersion, particularly for movies and gaming.
It is important to note that the effectiveness of Dolby Atmos varies depending on the content source and the setting chosen. Samsung offers presets like Movie, Music, and Voice. Some users find that the Auto setting or even the Movie setting can sometimes introduce too much reverb or adversely affect the tonal balance, making the sound “tinny” with earbuds, especially if they are used to a flatter profile. Switching to the Music preset or turning Atmos off entirely for critical listening is a common user adjustment.
Wired and Wireless Audio Quality
Since the Galaxy S24 Ultra does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, high-quality audio relies entirely on the USB-C port or Bluetooth connectivity.
USB-C Digital Audio Output
Users must rely on a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter or dedicated USB-C headphones for wired listening. The S24 Ultra uses an integrated 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) built into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset. This integrated DAC provides high-resolution audio processing.
Using a high-quality external DAC or dongle is often unnecessary for casual listening. However, serious audiophiles may opt for an external solution to bypass the phone’s internal processing and achieve truly pristine audio output for high-impedance headphones. The phone handles high-resolution files (up to 32-bit/384kHz) capably, but the final output quality depends heavily on the connected audio equipment.
Bluetooth Codec Support
Wireless audio is the primary method of listening for most users. The S24 Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring stable and energy-efficient connections. Crucially, it supports a wide range of advanced audio codecs. These codecs determine the data transfer rate and sound quality when listening with wireless headphones or earbuds.
Key supported codecs include:
- Samsung Scalable Codec: This proprietary codec works best with Samsung Galaxy Buds. It dynamically adjusts the bitrate based on surrounding Wi-Fi interference, aiming for stable and clear sound quality.
- aptX and aptX Adaptive: These codecs are standard for high-quality Android audio, offering low latency and improved audio fidelity for compatible devices.
- SBC and AAC: Standard, universal codecs ensuring compatibility with all Bluetooth audio devices.
The availability of codecs like aptX Adaptive is essential for demanding activities like competitive mobile gaming, where low latency is critical.
The UHQ Upscaler Feature
Samsung includes a software feature called UHQ Up-scaler (Ultra High Quality Up-scaler). This feature is typically only available when using compatible Samsung wireless headphones, such as the Galaxy Buds line. UHQ Up-scaler enhances the sound resolution of digital audio files, making them sound clearer and more detailed. It attempts to restore lost frequency information during the compression process, resulting in a richer listening experience.
Specialized Comparisons
Assessing the S24 Ultra’s audio requires context against its predecessor and key market rivals. The audio landscape in the flagship space is competitive, even if speaker technology evolves slowly.
S24 Ultra vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra
In terms of speaker hardware, the S24 Ultra is practically identical to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung focused its major improvements on the camera, display, and AI features this generation. Therefore, the core sound signature, volume levels, and stereo separation are extremely similar. Both offer powerful bass and loud output.
The differences are mainly negligible for the average user. Any minor perceived improvements come from slight tuning adjustments in the software and the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset’s digital signal processing (DSP). If you upgraded from an S23 Ultra, you will not notice a major leap in audio quality.
S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max
The competition with Apple’s flagship, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is where the nuances appear. The iPhone generally receives higher marks for overall audio fidelity and subtlety. Reviewers often find that the iPhone offers a better-balanced sound profile, especially in the midrange and treble frequencies. The iPhone speakers tend to produce cleaner, less resonant vocals and have better separation between the different sound elements.
While the S24 Ultra often delivers a warmer, more bass-heavy, and potentially louder output, the iPhone 15 Pro Max exhibits superior clarity and dynamic control, particularly at higher volumes, where the Samsung device can sometimes compress the sound. For users who prioritize subtle detail in classical music or complex movie soundtracks, the iPhone often wins. For sheer punch and loudness, the S24 Ultra holds its own.
S24 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro, Google’s top-tier phone, generally offers good, clear audio but often falls short of both the Samsung and Apple flagships in terms of volume and bass depth. The S24 Ultra easily surpasses the Pixel in raw loudness and low-end impact. While the Pixel focuses on a clean and neutral profile, the S24 Ultra provides the extra “oomph” that many mobile gamers and casual listeners prefer.
Pros and Cons for the Buyer
Evaluating the Galaxy S24 Ultra sound requires a balanced perspective. Buyers should understand where the device excels and where it has limitations compared to dedicated audio equipment.
Pros
- Powerful Stereo Sound: The stereo setup offers a strong, loud output that is sufficient for small group listening or background noise environments.
- Effective Bass Response: The speakers deliver powerful and deep bass for a mobile device, enhancing action movies and certain music genres.
- Dolby Atmos Support: The inclusion of Dolby Atmos ensures immersive, multi-dimensional audio for supported content across both speakers and headphones.
- Advanced Codec Compatibility: Support for Samsung Scalable Codec and aptX Adaptive provides high-quality, low-latency wireless streaming for compatible accessories.
- High-Resolution DAC: The built-in 32-bit DAC supports high-resolution wired audio playback, catering to users who own premium USB-C headphones.
Cons
- Lack of 3.5mm Jack: The absence of the universal 3.5mm port necessitates the use of adapters or Bluetooth accessories, which some traditional audiophiles dislike.
- Midrange Resonance: The speakers can exhibit a slight “muddy” or resonant quality in the lower midrange, which can occasionally impact vocal clarity.
- Compression at Max Volume: Like its predecessors, the sound can become harsh, compressed, and lose dynamic accuracy when listening at the absolute highest volume levels.
- Dolby Atmos Tuning: The default or “Auto” Dolby Atmos settings may negatively impact the audio for certain earbuds or content, requiring manual adjustment by the user.
- Incremental Speaker Upgrade: The speaker performance offers no significant generational leap over the S23 Ultra, suggesting stagnation in the hardware development here.
Important Considerations for Buyers
Prospective owners of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra need to factor in several key points regarding the audio experience. These factors relate to usage scenarios and personalization options.
The Headphone-Centric Experience
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is fundamentally designed for wireless headphone use. The sound experience is optimized around Samsung’s own Galaxy Buds, which utilize the proprietary Samsung Scalable Codec and 360 Audio features. If you already own or plan to buy Galaxy Buds, you will access the best sound quality the phone offers. Users relying on older, non-Bluetooth headphones must budget for a reliable USB-C adapter.
The Power of Personalization
Samsung provides extensive software tools for audio customization. The built-in Equalizer allows users to adjust frequency bands. Many audiophiles find the stock equalization curve too harsh or lacking clarity. They often rely on third-party apps like Wavelet to implement a custom, 10-band graphic equalizer setting. This allows users to tame the harsh 2-4kHz frequencies and smooth out the sound.
The Adapt Sound feature is also a critical tool. This personalizes the audio output based on a hearing test conducted via connected headphones. Since human hearing degrades differently across the frequency spectrum, Adapt Sound tailors the audio profile precisely to the user’s specific auditory needs, often yielding a far better listening experience than the stock sound profile.
Recording and Microphone Quality
The audio experience extends beyond playback. The S24 Ultra features high-quality microphones that provide strong performance in recording sound. Reviewers note very good efficiency, clear voice intelligibility, and excellent wind noise reduction, particularly in video recording modes. This makes the phone a reliable tool for creating content, recording interviews, or capturing immersive video soundscapes. The dynamics of recorded sound are accurate and lifelike. However, the memo recorder app can be slightly too sensitive to wind noise.
Gaming and Multimedia Immersion
The combination of the stereo speaker setup, the support for Dolby Atmos, and the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset makes the S24 Ultra an excellent device for mobile gaming. The wide, immersive display complements the powerful audio. The sound effects in games are well-localized across the stereo field, providing directional cues that enhance gameplay. The low-latency performance of aptX Adaptive or the Samsung Scalable Codec is indispensable for competitive gaming when using wireless headphones.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sound quality is unequivocally good, upholding the standard expected of a modern premium flagship. It excels in speaker volume and powerful, deep bass, making it a stellar device for casual media consumption and loud environments. The phone leverages high-end digital audio processing, supporting high-resolution wired output and advanced low-latency wireless codecs.
However, the S24 Ultra does not bring revolutionary change to the speaker hardware itself, remaining highly similar to its predecessor. Users seeking the absolute purest, most detailed, and neutrally balanced sound from integrated speakers might find competitors offer slightly superior clarity and subtlety in the midrange and treble.
Ultimately, the S24 Ultra offers a highly customizable and immensely powerful audio platform. Its feature set, including full Dolby Atmos integration and the Adapt Sound personalization tool, allows users to dial in a truly excellent, tailor-made listening experience, particularly when paired with high-quality wireless accessories. The phone is a clear recommendation for the vast majority of multimedia users and mobile gamers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra have a 3.5mm headphone jack?
No, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra does not include a 3.5mm audio jack. You must use Bluetooth accessories or a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for wired headphones.
What is the speaker configuration of the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The S24 Ultra features a stereo speaker setup, combining a main bottom-firing driver with a secondary driver integrated into the earpiece. This configuration creates a stereo sound field when the phone is held horizontally.
Does the S24 Ultra support high-resolution audio over Bluetooth?
Yes, the phone supports several high-resolution and low-latency Bluetooth codecs, including Samsung Scalable Codec, aptX, and aptX Adaptive, ensuring excellent wireless audio quality with compatible devices.
Should I keep Dolby Atmos turned on all the time?
Dolby Atmos is best used for immersive content like movies and games. For music, it can sometimes introduce unwanted reverb or change the original sound balance. It is recommended to try the “Music” preset or turn it off for critical music listening.
Is the sound quality significantly better than the S23 Ultra?
The sound quality of the S24 Ultra speakers is very similar to the S23 Ultra. The core hardware is practically identical, meaning any small improvements come from software tuning and a new chipset. The difference is not a primary reason to upgrade.
