A Qualcomm Snapdragon powered smartphone with integrated Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec is engineered to deliver those sounds—no additional equipment (or dollars) needed. And there has been no shortage of smartphones featuring Qualcomm Aqstic, including the HTC 10 and Xiaomi Mi5, powered by the Snapdragon 820 processor (check out these awesome reviews).

The Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec has an integrated DAC (Digital-to-Analog) converter that supports up to 192-kHz/24-bit playback. This is a high-resolution standard that recording studios use to master tracks—it’s how you produce that pure listening experience that satisfies even the most sophisticated ears.

Many aspects contribute to the ideal audio experience. Once the analog signal is converted by the DAC, it still needs to be amplified for the headphone experience. The Aqstc audio codec is designed to deliver the amplification performance that is usually captured by impressive SNR and THD+N numbers. For audio geeks, SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) and THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + N) are specs that determine the dynamic range and signal purity.

With the SNR at 115db on the Aqstic codec, you’re getting the best dynamic range—one where you can feel the dramatic change of volume and emotion of something as beautiful as Beethoven’s Third. Ultra-low THD+N at -105db means that the tone of the instruments and vocals you’re hearing is a faithful reproduction of the recording, and no additional noise or signal is needed to give it the most authentic sound reproduction.

The Aqstic audio codec also supports dual oscillators; the dual-clock design supports sampling frequencies 44.1kHz and 48kHz independently so your music files can be processed at native sampling rates without any conversion.

The Aqstic smart PA (Power Amplifier) is another piece engineered to deliver even more oomph to your external speakers. Your music can be loud and crystal-clear thanks to the wide dynamic range and low noise floor on the smart PA. It also features Speaker Protection that protects your speakers from damage when pushing volumes levels beyond normal range.

Maybe the most impressive part of the Aqstic solution is that it combines the best of both worlds in performance and power consumption. Every aspect of the Aqstic audio solution is highly integrated in the Snapdragon 820, engineered to provide Hi-Fi audio quality while maintaining great battery life.