My options

[WideEyedToad]

I recently got a new phone (s25 ultra) and want to upgrade my music listening experience.

Was previously on a samsung s22 ultra, pandora, and skullcandy 360 anc earbuds.

I'm told the s25 has better sound output.
I downloaded Tidal, and getting to know how to use the app.

How can I improve the sound further? Better earbuds? I know wired headphones would sound better, but unable to wear those at work, wireless earbuds are fine.

I did a little reading, but I'm not great on this subject at all, that the new s25 has ldac options and I could get a wireless ldac earbud? I saw that Nothing earbuds are ldac compatible.
Would this be an upgrade to the skullcandy 360?

Another thing.
I have a Peachtree nova stereo. I believe it has a built in dac. I've been using a bluetooth dongle to stream music through pandora.
Would there be a way to just plug in my phone into the Peachtree and run Tidal for better sounding music? Or is bluetooth going to sound the same?

 

[amirm]

Since those phones don't have analog output, there is no notion of good or bad sound on them. You would need a dongle to convert the USB port to headphone out.

But yes, LDAC produces the best fidelity assuming the receiving device also supports it.

 

[WideEyedToad]

Since those phones don't have analog output, there is no notion of good or bad sound on them. You would need a dongle to convert the USB port to headphone out.

But yes, LDAC produces the best fidelity assuming the receiving device also supports it.

So my phone needs a dongle, that supports bluetooth earbuds? Sorry I'm confused.

 

[WideEyedToad]

Since those phones don't have analog output, there is no notion of good or bad sound on them. You would need a dongle to convert the USB port to headphone out.

But yes, LDAC produces the best fidelity assuming the receiving device also supports it.

So this ldac earbud, would sound much better than the current skullcandy earbuds? I'm wondering if it'll sound the same, or spend the money.

 

[DVDdoug]

So my phone needs a dongle, that supports bluetooth earbuds? Sorry I'm confused.

Only for a wired connection since your phone doesn't have an analog headphone jack. The dongle is a wired DAC and an analog headphone amp.

I can't say much about in-ears because I don't use them, except that they all sound different, and with both in-ears and headphones there is almost no correlation between sound quality and cost. But you'll probably have to pay more for wireless and you'll have fewer to choose from.

I have a Peachtree nova stereo. I believe it has a built in dac.

If it has a digital input (Bluetooth, wired, or optical) it has a digital-to-analog converter.

How can I improve the sound further? Better earbuds?

Yes, start with the earbuds.

I know wired headphones would sound better,

Maybe. You'll probably have to listen very carefully to hear a difference if you can hear a difference at all. Or, we often imagine differences that go-away in proper blind listening tests. ...That's assuming no interference, interruptions, or glitches in the wireless transmission.

The digital and analog are small contributors to sound quality as long as you have enough power from an analog headphone amp to drive the analog in-ears or headphones as loud as you want to go without distortion.

The transducers (in-ears, headphones, or speakers) make the big differences.

 

[caught gesture]

I wouldn’t rush to buy new earbuds without taking some time to try and EQ them first. Your new phone has the ability to EQ the audio output.

 

[WideEyedToad]

I wouldn’t rush to buy new earbuds without taking some time to try and EQ them first. Your new phone has the ability to EQ the audio output.

I have been messing with them, but not sure exactly what I prefer.