FiiO Q5S High Resolution DAC and Headphone Amplifier

10/22/19: The following is a slightly updated/modified version of my original review.The Fiio Q5s is the successor to the original Q5, and the more brolic sibling of the Q1 Mark II. The Q5s features new DAC AKM4493 DAC Chips, more inputs, more BT codecs, and a different stock amp module than it's predecessor. Is it any good, and is it worth the cost over cheaper options?TL;DR - Heck yes. This DAC/Amp is about a fully-featured as they come. It's also solid as a rock, has playback controls, balanced outputs, (almost) every BT codec imaginable, and it sounds darn good. Better form factor than competitors, though not the last word in output power. Can be hissy with sensitive IEMs. Fantastic. Still highly recommended.Packaging, Acessories, & Features - A white outer sleeve covering a black box. Inside, the Q5s sits wrapped in a translucent plastic bag surrounded by a form-fitting foam insert. Beneath it, is a folded top piece, and inside that are manuals and assorted cables. You get a Coax to TRRS jumper wire, a mini Toslink adapter, a 3.5 to 3.5 jumper, a MicroUSB charging + data cable, and a Lightning to MicroUSB adapter for iDevices. It also includes rubber bands for strapping your phone, or DAP to this beast, and a screw driver with torx bit, plus some extra screws for the amp modules.As you might guess, the Q5s is still MFi certified. The Q5s itself, features integrated playback buttons, a volume potentiometer with digital encoding, so no channel imbalance, Line Out, Coax/Optical Combo port, Bass Boost, Gain Switch, the ability to swap amp modules in the future, a leather back, as well as LDAC, AptX, AptX LL, AptX HD, AAC, SBC, and LHDC Bluetooth Codecs. Strapped to the bottom of the unit is Fiio's new AM3E amp module, which features unbalanced 3.5mm, as well as BOTH 2.5mm Balanced and 4.4mm Pentaconn Balanced outputs. It's built like a brick house. Honestly.However, missing from the previous revision, is the second USB port, as well as the switch for choosing which one would be the power input, and which was on data duty. You're not limited to one USB port. However, you've gained an input select button, and 4 LEDs on the Volume Pot side that tell you input, as well as battery level when you turn the device on.Sound - I thought I liked the Q1 Mark II's sound signature, which I'd classify as neutral, and which measurements seem to agree with. However, that had a single AKM4452 in it, the same way the SDAC-B did balanced. This has two (2) AKM4493 chips running in Dual Mono, with a fully discrete circuit path to the amp(s). I have to say, I like the Q5s even more than the Q1 Mark II.Of course there's more power on tap, but it's clearer somehow. It might be placebo effect, but it's easier to pick up on things with this thing. It also sounds neutral, which is what I like for my sources. It drives the HD 660 S perfectly well balanced, in Lo-Gain for most music. I even tested it with Argon, and while nothing can compete with the power output of an Emotiva BasX A100 in direct drive mode, the Q5s does an admirable job for a portable. It's not as clean as my AAA 789, but I want to try the AM3D THX amp module for this real bad. Soon. *Update: Tested the THX Amp module. It sounds good. I don't really notice a massive difference, but it takes long enough to change the modules that I probably can't make an accurate comparison between the two with just my squishy human ear.Reviewing DACs isn't easy, because a DAC should deliver your sound to you exactly as you expect, and this does to my ear.Bluetooth works great. My Google Pixel is able to send LDAC to it at highest quality, and the Q5s will tell me what codec I'm using, OR what sampling rate I'm feeding it via an LED on the front similar to the BTR3. I was also able to connect it to my Shanling M0 easy enough. Only downside is that it doesn't seek out BT by default when you turn it on. It simply goes for USB, and you need to press the pairing button, but after doing so, it'll connect up pretty quick if your source device is already on with BT active. No more than 10 seconds to connect to my phone once I initiated pairing. *Update: Testing wired with my Shanling M0 was a no go. Not sure why, but tried different cables even, and I couldn't make it work. However, there was recently a firmware update from FiiO. Supposedly it fixed some issues like it, but not that specific issue. My M0 is currently MIA so I can't test it however. Sorry. I did however test it with a Sony NW-ZX300, and that worked with zero problems using FiiO's WM-Port cable.Conslusions - To be honest, I've only had this device for about a day, and I've been testing as much as I can with as many different songs, and headphones, as I can manage. I also owned a Fiio CL-06 cable, so I can use it with my Android USB-C smartphones without draining the battery, as the Q5s has moved to a single USB design, like the Q1 Mark II.Now, in my opinion, while this is a larger, more cumbersome device, I think it has the edge in sound quality, power output, and general usability over the Radsone ES100. However, the ES100 costs much less, is made entirely of plastic, features a clip on the back, and a Mic for taking/making phone calls, as well as a very fully featured App for control of the device. Likewise, the Q5s is larger than the Q1 Mark II, but the swappable amp modules, BT, input options, and built in playback controls make this a straight upgrade over the Q1m2. Against the Original Q5? Well, the new BT Codecs and BT 5.0 are welcome additions for Android users, to be certain, and the new DAC chips are measurably better than those in the OG Q5, but the OG Q5 is still a fine device and if you don't care for the new inclusions, the Amp Modules are compatible, and you save $50 as of right now. Looking at a solution like the Xduoo XD-05+, you lose out on BT built in, but get the same DAC chips (implementation may differ), and the bluetooth module loses out on LDAC/AptX HD/LHDC support. Plus, it's a larger device and lacks balanced options. But the XD-05+ does overpower the Q5s in pure current, which if you're using a T50 mod, or similarly hard to drive headphone you may appreciate.Personally, I feel that this device is a fantastic piece of kit for the price. Sure, it's not the most powerful portable, or the smallest, or the lighest... But it makes up for it with fantastic sound quality, support for all BT codecs, a bevy of digital inputs, the ability to use it as a pure amplifier, Line Outputs for using a different amp, and the ability to tailor the sound to your preference with the swappable amp modules. Plus the ability to change settings via the FiiO Music App (on BT). There really is a LOT of value packed in here, and if you already have a low-tier, or low-power DAP, you can connect it up to this and have a fantastic DAC and Amp Stage for a long time to come!**Disclaimer - Sound is subjective, and any statements regarding it should be taken as opinion, and not as objective fact. There is no substitute for listening to a product with your own ears, because mine are different. I am human and I make mistakes. I have not heard everything ever. No one has attempted to influence the content of this review.**Any questions, corrections, etc. Feel free to leave them in the comments!

I have become a little carried away with DAC's, looking for the ideal. While that does not exist, this one comes mighty close. I was happy with my iFi xDSD, but I developed a problem. Hoving received the Beyerdynamic T1 v2, I was pining for a reasonable way to use this in balanced mode, yet portably so. There are many balanced amps out there, but they are almost all stationary by design. The FiiO Q5s fits my requirements nicely. It easily drives the 300-ohm Beyerdynamics and has enough power reserve to fill out the headphone's spectacular bass signature. And it is portable. And it has long battery life. No question: the balanced mode adds an amazing clarity and openness to the sound stage. Subtle musical details become evident when their signals are not being smeared into each other. I compared this to my Mojo (which just died soon after receiving the Q5s, typical!) and in wired mode, I see them as equals. Better, because in the few days I have been using this I have not experienced any of the electronic noise the Mojo was notorious for receiving. And the Mojo cannot do Bluetooth and is saddled with its ridiculous interface. I will do a more in-depth assessment as an update, but I am very pleased with the Q5s and its ergonomics. Considering its price point, this device is in a category of its own. And with the ability to swap amp modules, there are some interesting upgrades possible in the future!

I bought the FiiO Q5s because of the great reviews from reputable sources. I wasn't disappointed.The performance difference between desktop DAC/Amps and portable combos like the Q5s has really become a lot smaller these last few years thanks to the higher power of balanced outputs. Here are my thoughts:DAC: 4.5/5I plugged the line out on the Q5s into my AMB M^3 amp first and then into my fully upgraded Bottlehead Crack. The sound of the dual mono AK4493EN implementation is just really good. I would describe it as somewhere in between the crystal clear but somewhat clinical Sabre based DACs and the more musical but darker sounding Burr Brown based ones. I felt the tube based Crack was the better match between both of my desktop amps.The DAC's bass is precise and tight, instruments are clearly separated and the sound is linear i.e. no especially forward mids, piercing highs or anything like that. Really good.Wireless works great and I even prefer it for casual listening around the house as the included micro USB to lightning cable is a bit too short and flimsy feeling to be practical especially when doing other stuff on the phone like reading the news while listening.I didn't give it 5/5 because the FiiO App could use some improvement and some attention to detail like the device advertising itself on Bluetooth as FiiO Q5 instead of Q5s.Amp: 3.5/5Next I switched cables, then plugged the headphones into the 4.4mm Pentaconn connector to listen how close the AM3E (high gain setting) can come to aforementioned desktop amps. The answer is that It's a very audible step down, but better than other portable amps I've been using. A balanced output isn't the panacea for portable amps, but it's pretty darn good. With bass boost on, it added some punch without the bass becoming muddled. In this mode, it's a good match for my HD700 Senns, no need to EQ out sibilance issues.Connecting another DAC I'm more familiar with (AMB y2) to the line input of the Amp confirmed that this amp is no slouch. Very nice.Overall: 4/5The FiiO Q5s is a keeper for me. Its DAC section is so good that the AM3E amp it's paired with doesn't quite do it justice, maybe the AM3D upgrade would be worth it? I might try it out.But I think that connecting a warmer leaning desktop amp (e.g. tube based) like the Bottlehead Crack to its line out, for the more engaging sessions, is definitely worth it.

This amp is very powerful and solidly built. Plenty of juice for nearly any headphone and the 3.5mm, 2.5mm and 4.4mm connections allow for a wide variety of headphone connections, including balanced. Very solid bluetooth functionality. Use this to watch movies on my Amazon Fire TV. It's too bad these are made using micro USB connectors. It's 2021 folks...time to move on from the micro USB.

Top Klang am Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7b. Der Fiio wird von einem Xioami Redmi Note8Pro, über Bluetooth 5 mit Bits versorgt. Da kann man Kabel zwischen Smartphone und Fiio vergessen.Ich habe keinen Unterschied gehört.Kristallklare Höhen, trockener Bass und sonoren Stimmwiedergabe. Auch noch so kleine Akustische Signale werden wahrgenommen.Einziger Schwachpunkt, man hört sehr schnell in hoher Lautstärke, da keine Verzehrungen auftreten!Benutze den Fiio auch Zuhause, da kann mein NAD 368 nicht mithalten.

Voilà un appareil de belles factures qui je l’espère fonctionnera bien longtemps très belle qualité et pour l’instant le son est top j’ai plusieurs casques et il convient à chacun bien sûr ce sont des casques très haut-de-gamme.

Quite simply an essential travel companion for the discerning audiophile and anyone who wants bluetooth convenience and direct (micro USB to USB) connection flexibility. The sound is stunning for this price point and even twice its price point, incredibly robust, linear, full, detailed and balanced with a definitive layered soundstage. The technology is complete from bluetooth AptX HD (with play, pause and skip track unlike competitors) through to the multifaceted capability of running headphones in single ended mode (standard 3.5mm) through to balanced (both 4.4mm and 2.5mm). Battery life is decent providing several hours of playback. The DAC is exceptional with virtually every digital resolution through to DSD making my high res collection sound revitalised and fresh. Whilst I initially viewed this amp as slightly expensive, given what it does in such a portable form factor and how it can also slot into your main hifi system with ease (with input selector button to easily change source), I'd say this is a genuine bargain and a no-brainer for anyone who understands that wired headphones are still the way to go for superior sound. With the ability to change amp modules this becomes a serious long-term investment befitting of any headphone at any price that is wired. Build quality is premium and is top notch. Every part of this product has been carefully considered to give you the best sound from discrete components through to an analogue volume pot. Well done FiiO, this product represents a milestone in what is possible. I was reluctant to go for this but I am genuinely and totally pleased I did.The only improvements to this offering I would recommend would be to include a micro USB to USB C cable and a micro USB to micro USB for android users (had to buy this separately) and provide a leather case with cut-out holes for buttons rather than the pouch (have to source this separately).

Eccellente per prestazioni costruzione e collegamenti possibili!