Actually, Samsung abides by standard EU recommendations of volume limits to protect the ears of its users. On the other hand, Apple does not care if its buyers tear their eardrums off. Its a software limitation generally, since AFAIK some custom ROMs have higher volume output.

 

If the same happened with the Desire HD then it's most likely due to the impedance of the speaker being unsuited to the output from the handset. The accepted standard for earphone output is 16ohm iirc.

 

Ummm no.

 

Umm, yes. This has been an issue since 2007. This complaint first cropped up against Nokia who were number 1 then, when their phone music volumes started dropping. Many manufacturers started following suit until only Apple remained as the loudest in terms of volume output among all devices. Samsung does have a SoundAlive externalization setting to overcome this when connected to speakers though.

 

. Have you gone into your Settings > My Device > Sound > Volume > and made sure the sliders are all the way up for media etc?

 

Please provide proof of this. Because this seems a bit far fetched.

 

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21294537

Also if you have an iPhone or iPod, in the settings there is an EU volume limit switch which decreases volume a lot.

 

I forgot to reply to this. Virtual 7.1 only works well if your speaker supports 7.1 channels. Not sure for your settings, but my S3mini has an 'externalizaton' option in the soundalive settings.. Just try everything until you find which works best for your speakers.

 

When I compare the range of Volume between my iPhone 5 and my Galaxy S4 I find them nearly identical. The slight difference is in the S4 which is able to play louder than the iPhone.

Thus far my S4 has been a really fantastic phone. It's so much more advanced than my iPhone it's amazing. I'm so happy I switched to Android!

 

No you are wrong. First the iPhone has to abide by a similar law which also exist in the U.S.and second the Galaxy S 4 sold in the U.S. has to abide by the same rules as the iPhone. The iPhone does have better sound quality, especially during calls, than the S 4 but it sounds like his loudness issue is a defect of his particular handset.

 

My Galaxy S4 & iPhone 5 are on the same carrier, In my experience the noise cancellation system in my S4 is far superior to my iPhone 5. This is also confirmed by those I call.

In addition the clarity and range of volume adjustment is greater and more granular on the S4.

I'm not advocating for Samsung, but simply sharing my personal experience of each of these phones.

 

The Samsung GS4 has a known headphone jack "clipping" issue. For you Sprint customers (Thank YOU!), we are issuing an MR in the VERY near future that will fix the clipping issue and give better volume control from headphone jack output. Plus other enhancements.

I can't speak to other carriers' GS4s.

 

I had this problem. Solved it by going into settings and adjusting volune level for music, video, games and other media. It was set at half way and I bumped it up to max.

 

I could, but only with links to a Nokia forum and I can't really be bothered. This was post 2008, and it is perfectly true about the limits set by the EU and the vast majority of phone manufactures abiding by the limit. It wasn't mandatory, even for EU countries, just recommended, all but Apple complied.

There are custom ROMs and mods for rooted devices out there that remove the limit, and I have done so on a Galaxy S3 which was painfully loud through the stock ear buds once it was modified, and that without distortion.

 

Wasn't talking about the United States.
They were talking about the EU.