We put the Google Pixel 6a through our rigorous SBMARK audio test suite to measure its performance both when recording sound using its built-in microphones, and when playing audio through its speakers.
In this review, we’ll analyze how it performed in a variety of tests and several common use cases.
Overview
Key audio specs include:
- Two speakers (top center – bottom right)
- No audio jack output
Reproduction
Pros
- Good dynamic performance on all volume levels
- Good distance rendering and localizability
- No speaker occlusion with natural hand position
- Audio artifacts well under control
Versus
- Slightly thin tonal balance, focused on the midrange, lack of low-end extension
- Narrow sound stage
Registration
Pros
- Good tonal balance; the emphasis on the lower spectrum results in better concert recording than the Pixel 6
- Good dynamic performance
- Extensive sound stage recorded on video
Versus
- Narrow soundstage with selfie video
- The extra bass (compared to the Pixel 6) causes some bass distortion
In our SBMARK audio tests, the Google Pixel 6a delivered excellent performance for a device in its class. Overall, audio results were very similar to the standard Pixel 6, with only a few minor differences between the two models. As a playback device, the Pixel 6a was best suited for watching movies and listening to music, thanks to good dynamic performance, distance perception, and localizability of individual sound sources. Also, holding the phone normally, it was virtually impossible to accidentally cover the speakers. However, our testers found the tonal balance to lack bass, and the sound stage to be narrower than expected for a device the Pixel’s size.
Recording performance was just as good as playback. The Google device was best suited for main camera recording, closely followed by front camera video recording. Audio recordings had good tonal balance, with more low-end extension than the standard Pixel 6, good dynamics and, when recording with the main camera, good width. The latter was more limited with the selfie camera, however, and the increased focus on bass also resulted in more distortion.
Trial summary
Learn about SBMARK audio tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone audio reviews, SBMARK engineers perform a series of objective tests and undertake more than 20 hours of perceptual evaluation under controlled laboratory conditions.
(For more details on our playback protocol, click here; for more details on our recording protocol, click here.)
The following section compiles the key elements of our extensive testing and analysis performed in the SBMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations in the form of reports are available upon request. Do not hesitate to contact us.
How the audio playback score is composed
SBMARK engineers test playback through smartphone speakers, the performance of which is evaluated in our labs and under real-life conditions, using apps and preset settings.
In playback, the Pixel 6a sounded a bit thin and midrange focused, lacking both low-end and high-end extension, but it was still an improvement over the Pixel 6. Dynamic performance was average for this class of device. , with a constant impact. The attack could have been crisper, but remained relatively consistent across all volume levels. Bass accuracy was an improvement over the standard Pixel 6 and remained consistent at both ends of the volume scale.
The sound stage created by the speakers was slightly smaller than we would have expected from a device the size of the Pixel 6a, but individual instruments and vocals were very easy to spot within the stage. Distance rendering was very good, but our testers noticed that the stereo’s left/right channels didn’t follow the rotation of the device while gaming.
The device delivered good volume at maximum volume, and at the lowest audio setting it was well tuned and intelligible. In terms of audio artifacts, there was a slight pumping at maximum volume, and our testers also noted a slight static noise on occasion.
Hear about the playback performance of the smartphone tested in this comparison with some of its competitors:
Recordings of smartphones playing some of our songs at 60 LAeq in an anechoic environment via 2 microphones in AB configuration, at 30 cm
Here’s how the Google Pixel 6a fares in playback use cases compared to its competitors:
Playback of use case scores
The Timbre score represents how well a phone reproduces sound across the audible tonal range and takes into account bass, mids, treble, tonal balance, and volume dependence. It is the most important attribute for reproduction.
Frequency response of music reproduction
A 1/12-octave frequency response graph, which measures the loudness of each frequency emitted by your smartphone as it reproduces a pure sine wave in an anechoic environment.
The Dynamics Score measures the accuracy of changes in the energy level of sound sources, such as how accurately a bass note or impact sound of drums is played.
Secondary attributes for spatial testing include pinpointing the location of a specific sound, its positional balance, distance, and amplitude.
The volume score represents the overall volume of a smartphone and how smoothly the volume increases and decreases based on user input.
Here are some sound pressure levels (SPL) measured while playing our sample recordings of hip-hop and classical music at maximum volume:
| hip-hop | Classic | |
| Google Pixel 6a | 74.1 dBA | 69.1 dBA |
| Google Pixel 6 | 74.9 dBA | 69.6 dBA |
| Xiaomi 12T | 74.8 dBA | 69.4 dBA |
The following graph shows the gradual changes in volume from minimum to maximum. We expect these changes to be consistent across the range, so that all volume steps match user expectations:
Music volume consistency
This line graph shows the relative loudness of the playback versus the user selected volume step, measured at several volume steps with correlated pink noise in an anechoic box recorded 0.20 meter on axis.
The artifact score measures the extent to which the sound is affected by various types of distortion. The higher the score, the less noticeable sound disturbances are. Distortion can occur due to the sound processing in the device and the quality of the speakers.
Playback Total Harmonic Distortion (maximum volume)
This graph shows total harmonic distortion and noise over the audible frequency range.
It represents the distortion and noise of the device playing our test signal (0 dB Fs, Sweep Sine in an anechoic box at 40cm) at the device’s maximum volume.
How the score of the audio recording is composed
SBMARK engineers test recording by evaluating recorded files on reference audio equipment. These recordings are made in our laboratories and under real-life conditions, using apps and default settings.
During the audio recording phase, the Pixel 6 offered a good timbre rendering, with a good tonal balance in all conditions, even at high sound pressure levels, for example when recording concerts. Thanks to a smooth and even midrange, vocals sounded clear. However, the bottom end was slightly affected by the distortion. In terms of dynamics, the Google device offered a good signal-to-noise ratio, a sharp and precise attack and an accurate rendering of the envelope, even at high volume.
When recording video with the main camera, the recorded sound stage was large, but with slightly inaccurate localizability of individual sound sources. Distance performance was good. Audio scene width was more limited when shooting selfie video in portrait orientation. Voices remained well-centered, though, and locateability was better than the main camera’s video.
Recording volume was very good. In fact, the Pixel 6a was the best Pixel device in this respect that we’ve seen to date. Artifacts were also under control, with only a slight clipping on louder content and some distortion with strong bass. Background rendition on main camera recordings was clean but with a slightly nasal tonal balance and, despite the extra bass overall, sounded rather thin. Tonal balance was more natural in front-facing camera recordings.
Here’s how the Google Pixel 6a fares in recording use cases compared to its competitors:
Use case scoring
The Timbre Score represents how well a phone captures sounds across the audible tonal range and takes into account bass, mids, treble, and tonal balance. It is the most important attribute for registration.
Video frequency response of life
A 1/12-octave frequency response graph, which measures the loudness of each frequency captured by your smartphone while recording a pure sine wave in an anechoic environment.
The Dynamics Score measures the accuracy of changes in the energy level of sound sources, such as how accurately plosives in a voice (p, t, k, for example) are reproduced. The score also considers the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), such as how loud the lead voice is compared to the background noise.
Secondary attributes for spatial testing include locating a specific sound’s location, positional balance, distance, and amplitude on recorded audio files.
Directness of registration
Smartphone directivity graph while recording test signals using the camera app, with the main camera. It represents the acoustic energy (in dB) on the angle of incidence of the sound source. (Normalized to 0° angle, in front of the device.)
The loudness score represents how loud audio is normalized on recorded files and how well the device handles noisy environments, such as electronic concerts, while recording.
Here are the sound levels recorded in the audio and video files, measured in LUFS (Loudness Unit Full Scale); for reference, we expect volume levels to be above -24 LUFS for recorded content:
| Match | Videos life | Selfie videos | Memorandum | |
| Google Pixel 6a | -27.6 LUFS | -19.3 LUFS | -17.8 LUFS | -20.9 LUFS |
| Google Pixel 6 | -27.8 LUFS | -17.9 LUFS | -16.3 LUFS | -19.8 LUFS |
| Xiaomi 12T | -27.9 LUFS | -21.3 LUFS | -19.5 LUFS | -21.4 LUFS |
The Artifacts score measures the extent to which recorded sounds are affected by various types of distortions. The higher the score, the less noticeable sound disturbances are. Distortions can occur due to in-device sound processing and microphone quality, as well as user handling, such as how the phone is held.
In this audio comparison, you can hear how this smartphone handles wind noise compared to its competitors:
Recordings of a voice sample with slight background noise, facing a 5 m/s turbulent wind
Background evaluates how smoothly various sounds around a voice blend into the video recording file. For example, when recording a speech at an event, the background shouldn’t interfere with the main vocal, but should provide context of your surroundings.
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