FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier
FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. describes the new FiiO Q15 as a portable desktop-grade DAC and headphone amplifier.
- Once again, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. presents the new FiiO Q15, a solution that is basically designed as a portable system, but is nevertheless categorised as a desktop audio system: the FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier.
After four years, it was now time to give the FiiO Q5S a successor in the FiiO Q Series, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is convinced on the occasion of the presentation of the new FiiO Q15, which is given exactly this task. Interestingly, the manufacturer refers to the FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier, meaning that it is a solution that can be categorised as both personal audio and desktop audio.
The new FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Head has separate operating modes for each, so that it always shines with optimum performance both as a personal audio device on the move and as a desktop audio solution.
FiiO Q15 – State-of-the-art technologies in a handy form
The FiiO Q15 combines two essential tasks, namely that of a D/A converter with a headphone amplifier, which is now a typical combination in the field of personal audio devices. There are numerous such solutions on the market, from FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. itself, but also from many competitors.
In order for the new FiiO Q15 to stand out from this flood of devices, the developers have to come up with something special, and indeed they promise state-of-the-art technology in a handy form. They are convinced that the new FiiO Q15 will prove to be a solution that offers greater functionality and therefore flexibility, as well as better quality than other products in its class.
And to emphasise this once again, the new FiiO Q15 is designed to prove its worth as a personal audio device on the move as well as a desktop audio system.
Particularly robust, yet elegant design
The new FiiO Q15 uses so-called AG Glass on the back, which is particularly scratch-resistant, but also prevents unsightly fingerprints, while at the same time being pleasant to the touch, so that the FiiO Q15, with its dimensions that can still be described as compact, sits comfortably in the hand.
Convenient control is guaranteed by a few buttons, a rotary encoder and a full-colour IPS display with 1.3 inches and 240 x 240 pixels.
Best performance
At the heart of the new FiiO Q15 is a TI Cortex M4 processor from Texas Instruments, as well as a 16-core XMOS XU316 from XMOS Technology and a QCC5125 from Qualcomm Inc.
Signal processing is based on the latest DAC combination from the specialist Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, namely the AK4191EQ and AK4499EX, which, in conjunction with the latest DWA routing technology, should guarantee impeccable quality. The user can choose between seven filter characteristics.
Source devices can be connected either via USB-C or a coaxial S/PDIF interface, and Bluetooth 5.1 is of course also available, with aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX Adaptive and LDAC being supported in addition to the SBC and AAC codecs.
The new FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier supports signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bit and 768 kHz and DSD up to and including DSD512, whereby this naturally applies to USB-C, while signals with up to 24 bit and 192 kHz or DSD64 are processed via S/PDIF.
The output stage offers a variable gain and voltage design with separate low-voltage low-gain and high-voltage high-gain modes to provide compatibility with in-ear headphones as well as full-size over-ear headphones.
In addition to a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack as an unbalanced connection, a 4.4 mm Pentaconn is available as a balanced connection for headphones.
Desktop-portable dual power supply modes
If you opt for the desktop mode with power supply via a separate USB-C interface, an impressive 1,600 mW of power is available at the balanced output, as the manufacturer explains. A 5,500 mAh lithium-polymer battery is available for operation away from the socket when travelling
It should not go unmentioned that the FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier has an integrated equaliser, more precisely a 10-band parametric equaliser, whereby three individual configurations can be saved in addition to the existing seven presets.
It should also be mentioned that the digital and analogue circuits are arranged separately and are shielded separately to reduce crosstalk to an absolute minimum.
The new FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier measures 143.5 x 71.7 x 21.7 mm and weighs 305 g with its robust metal housing in black or titanium.
Prices and availability
The new FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier should be available from specialist retailers within the next few days. The recommended retail price is listed at US$ 399,-.
Getting to the point
Once again, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has come up with a solution that can be categorised as a particularly versatile personal audio device as well as a desktop audio device, meaning that the product is designed for use both on the move and at home, for example in the workplace. This is why the latest D/A converter with integrated headphone amplifier is called the FiiO Q15 Portable Desktop-grade DAC and Headphone Amplifier.
| PRODUCT | FIIO Q15 PORTABLE DESKTOP-GRADE DAC AND HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER |
|---|---|
| Price | US$ 399,- |
| Brand | FiiO |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
