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Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + Audio test: Deft in recording

This device has been retested in the latest version of our protocol. Overall, sub-scores and attributes are up to date. For detailed information, check the What’s New article
OTHER AVAILABLE TESTS FOR THIS DEVICE

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + is the top-of-the-line offering in the brand’s new K-line of devices released earlier this year. At about $550 it lands in our high-end category. It is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and has a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. For now, it is only being sold in China.

We put the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro +  through our rigorous DXOMARK Audio test suite to measure its performance both at recording sound using its built-in microphones, and at playing audio back through its built-in speakers. In this review, we will break down how it fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases.

Audio specifications include:

  • Two speakers
  • Dolby Atmos
  • No headphone jack

About DXOMARK Audio tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone audio reviews, DXOMARK engineers perform a variety of objective tests and undertake more than 20 hours of perceptual evaluation under controlled lab conditions. This article highlights the most important results of our testing. Note that we evaluate both Playback and Recording using only the device’s built-in hardware and default apps. (For more details about our Playback protocol, click here; for more details about our Recording protocol, click here.)

Test summary

Scoring

Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.


Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
116
audio
112
Playback
107

158

118

149

120

162

123

162

109

157

127
Recording
130

147

117

146

134

159

101

170

118

145

137

166

Please be aware that beyond this point, we have not modified the initial test results. While data and products remain fully comparable, you might encounter mentions and references to the previous scores.

Playback

Pros

Cons

Recording

Pros

  • Great timbre performance in most use cases
  • Great spatial performance when recording with rear video camera
  • Good volume performance

Cons

  • In high sound-pressure-level (SPL) scenarios, dynamics are impaired by compression.

With a global score of 66, the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + is in average territory considering all  the devices DXOMARK has tested for audio, and in decent company within its price range. It falls three points shy of the similarly priced Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, which notched a 69.

In playback testing, the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + received good marks for both maximum and minimum volume. Its stereo speakers produced an appreciable amount of wideness when held in landscape mode, and despite a lack of low end, it was on target with bass precision. Punch was correct.

Shortcomings included inconsistent tonal balance, a lack of low-end and high-end extension, and the upper midrange was too prominent.

The K40 Pro + did much better as a recording device. It delivered a top-notch timbre performance in most use cases, and was also excellent in capturing the spatial aspect of recording in life video, or the outward facing camera, used in landscape mode. The volume performance was also solid.

Among its shortcomings in this aspect, dynamics were hindered by compression in the high SPL scenario, an electronic music concert.

Let’s take a closer look at how it did in each of the attributes we test.

Sub-scores explained

The DXOMARK Audio overall score of 66 for the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + is derived from its Playback and Recording scores and their respective sub-scores. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at these audio quality sub-scores and explain what they mean for the user.

Playback

Timbre

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

58

89

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (89)

Timbre tests measure how well a phone reproduces sound across the audible tonal range and takes into account bass, midrange, treble, tonal balance, and volume dependency.

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + delivered a decent performance in timbre. The score of 58 put in in the range of the Google Pixel 5, for example, which earned a 56, or the Honor 20 Pro, with a 57. This Xiaomi device produced the correct amount of trebles but could benefit from more high-end extension. The midrange is quite consistent, although upper mids are slightly too prominent. The main drawback here is found in the lower register — or not found there because bass and low-end extension are lacking.

At soft volume, the tonal balance really lacks upper content and is muffled. At maximum volume, the lack of low midrange and bass/low-end extension makes the tonal balance really midrange oriented. In the chart below, you can see how little it offers at the lower frequencies.

Music playback frequency response

 

Dynamics

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

64

81

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (81)

DXOMark’s dynamics tests measure how well a device reproduces the energy level of a sound source, and how precisely it reproduces bass frequencies.

The K40 Pro + delivered a fairly strong performance in dynamics. The attack could benefit from more sharpness to ensure a better restitution of transients. The bass precision is correct despite the lack of low-end extension. Punch is also on target, except at maximum volume where the lack of low-end and compression impairs the punch.

Spatial

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

60

88

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (88)

Sub-attributes for perceptual spatial tests include localizability, balance, distance, and wideness.

The Redmi K40 Pro + was average in the spatial attribute. Held back by a muffled timbre, the K40 Pro + falls short on both localizability and distance. Indeed, lack of upper spectrum information impairs the ability of the ear to precisely locate sound sources laterally, while distance is perceived as greater than it actually should be because of a lack of presence.

Balance is shifted toward the upper speaker (to the left in landscape mode). On a positive note, wideness is correct and appreciable.

Volume

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

64

91

Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro
Best: Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro (91)

Volume tests measure both the overall loudness a device is able to reproduce and how smoothly volume increases and decreases based on user input.

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + did fairly well in the volume attribute. The maximum volume was good, and at minimum volume, high dynamic content, like classical music, can be heard properly.

Hip-Hop Classical
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ 74.2 dBA 72.4 dBA
Xiaomi Mi 11 74.7 dBA 71.3 dBA
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon) 73.9 dBA 71.2 dBA

Artifacts

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

86

113

Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming
Best: Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming (113)

Artifacts tests measure how much source audio is distorted when played back through a device’s speakers. Distortion can occur both because of sound processing in the device and because of the quality of the speakers.

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + did well in the artifacts attribute with few artifacts noted. There was slight compression observed at maximum volume as well as noticeable bass distortions at maximum volume.

Recording

Timbre

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

81

91

Honor Magic3 Pro+
Best: Honor Magic3 Pro+ (91)

The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + delivered a great performance as a recording device in this attribute, earning a score that puts it in elite company, even among the most expensive devices. The tonal balance was excellent overall. In life video, the tonal balance delivered a correct amount of trebles, although a little more brightness would be an improvement. The midrange is consistent and makes voices sound realistic.

In the memo app, tonal balance sounds slightly darker, but it’s still pleasant. In the high SPL scenario, the tonal balance was good but could benefit from slightly more high and low extensions.

Life video frequency response

Dynamics

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

63

81

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (81)

The K40 Pro + earned fairly good marks in recording dynamics. In the urban scenario, the background noise is quite loud and impairs the intelligibility of voices. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is slightly better in the home use-case scenario, and good in the meeting use case.

In the electronic music concert scenario (high sound pressure level), compression hinders the envelope, and as a result transients are not very precise.

Spatial

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

68

78

Black Shark 4S Pro
Best: Black Shark 4S Pro (78)

In the spatial attribute, the K40 Pro + was above average. In life video, wideness and localizability were both excellent. The consistent midrange made the perceived distance of voices realistic. For selfie video (with the device held in portrait mode), wideness becomes very narrow, although localizability and distance remain good.

Volume

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

64

99

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (99)

The Redmi device performed well in the recording volume attribute and also recorded loudness at a good level.

Here are our test results, measured in LUFS (Loudness Unit Full Scale). As a reference, we expect loudness levels to be above -24 LUFS for recorded content.

Meeting Life Video Selfie Video Memo
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ -28.1 LUFS -20.5 LUFS -18.7 LUFS -21.2 LUFS
Xiaomi Mi 11 -29.2 LUFS -21.5 LUFS -19.6 LUFS -20.4 LUFS
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon) -26.9 LUFS -19.5 LUFS -22.2 LUFS -22.4 LUFS

Artifacts

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

76

97

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (97)

The K40 Pro + also did well in the artifacts attribute, exhibiting no artifacts other than some slight clipping on shouted voices. In the high SPL scenario, compression and some slight clipping were noticeable.

Background

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

49

60

Black Shark 5 Pro
Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (60)

In the background attribute, the Redmi device turned in a good showing. The tonal balance of background sound was good, and no artifacts were noted.

Conclusion

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro + performed decently in playback and was notably able as a recording device, especially at this price point. In playback, it had a good volume performance at both ends of the spectrum, good wideness in landscape mode, and correct bass precision despite the lack of bass and low-end, which was one thing holding it back overall as a playback device. The lack of high-end extension was also an issue. The tonal balance was inconsistent.

As a recording device, the K40 Pro + really shined. Other than compression that impaired dynamics in the high SPL scenario, the K40 Pro+  turned in an excellent score in timbre and above-average scores in other attributes.

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