iTunes music sounds like crap on S4

[gloriousnumber1]

Please forgive me and feel free to move this if it isn't the right place for this. I bought a song on iTunes just now and have no iCrap device. I copied to my computer and phone. On the computer it sounds about as good as on iTunes but on my phone it sounds terrible, almost like it's in mono and barely stereo. MBPS is 260-290-ish on both including the original. I don't know much of anything about file types, converting files, etc. I tried the "just copy" and "convert and copy" options and the song sounds the same. When reading this, assume I'm a complete dummy when it comes to file types and such.

I only used the iMonstrosity because it wasn't available any other way. This is so stupid! I had some iDevices before and never had this issue when getting it on my phone. The quality difference is so obvious. Ideas?

 

[vosg]

It isn't very clear what the issue is here. You say that it sounds like mono. Is there only one channel? Is there a distortion? Is the volume too low? Have you tried with another player app?

 

[mikedt]

Songs from the iTunes Store are AAC rather than MP3, although that shouldn't be a problem, however try a different music player app. The phone plays MP3 OK does it?

 

[gloriousnumber1]

It is in both ears but the sound is like comparing a professional studio recording played on a new iPod with beats earbuds to a song recorded on a $40 voice recorder played on an old off brand stereo cassette player and 99 cent stereo headphones. The song sounds tinny and as if its in the center of my head not in each ear respectively. It's not pleasant to listen to at all on my phone.

 

[mikedt]

It is in both ears but the sound is like comparing a professional studio recording played on a new iPod with beats earbuds to a song recorded on a $40 voice recorder played on an old off brand stereo cassette player and 99 cent stereo headphones. The song sounds tinny and as if its in the center of my head not in each ear respectively. It's not pleasant to listen to at all on my phone.

That sounds just like the effect you can get when the headphones are not making proper contact, i.e. you lose the stereo effect and it sounds very tinny and unpleasent. Does the S4 play your existing MP3 library OK, or are you only getting this effect with the AAC iTunes Store music? Which music player are you using, the default Samsung one or something you've installed? I've got some AAC songs that were originally purchased from iTunes, and they sound good on any Android I've used.

Another possibility what earbuds are you using? The Samsung ones or another pair, e.g. Beats. Because I had something like this happening when I used a pair of Lenovo earbuds on a Samsung phone, it sounded just like you described. What was happening the Lenovo jack wasn't going all the way home in the Samsung socket to establish proper contact, manufacturing tolerances I think, they should have worked and are wired the standard way. Make sure the headphone jack is pushed all the way in. Sometimes cases can prevent it going all the way in.