Fiio releases a whole lot of gear all year long, and when the model introduced it could be launching the Q15, I believed it could be a higher-end mannequin of the Q7. However the Bluetooth DAC prices half as a lot because the Q7, though it retains the same design, albeit in a smaller measurement, and lots of comparable options.
If this sounds acquainted, it is as a result of Fiio has gotten used to doing this. The K9 DAC additionally follows the identical path, providing the identical design and lots of the similar options because the flagship K9 Professional, however for a lot much less. Clearly, Fiio is seeking to construct out its DAC portfolio and checklist merchandise throughout all worth segments and in that context, the Q15 makes a whole lot of sense.
The Q15 is retails for $399 at Amazon, and that is lower than half what the Q7 prices. Once I reviewed the Q7I referred to as it the last word DAC which had all the pieces you may need in a transportable DAC. Fiio hasn’t modified many issues with the Q15; in truth, the largest omission is the shortage of a 6.35mm port – the DAC merely is not massive sufficient to accommodate the connector. In any other case, the Q15 can ship 1.6W of energy, makes use of AKM {hardware}, and has all of the AptX codecs you want.
Aside from that, it retains the same design to the Q7 and will get a daring aesthetic with jagged edges that appears eye-catching. The nice factor is that you just now have a titanium shade choice, so when you do not just like the look of the usual black mannequin, the titanium variant appears to be like a lot nicer.
Weighing 305g, the Q15 weighs lower than half the Q7, making it an excellent selection when you want a transportable DAC. The most important design distinction is on the again, the place Fiio swapped the Q7’s leather-based again for a frosted glass again that feels nice to carry.
The entrance has a shiny insert that takes up a substantial quantity of house, and the 1.3-inch TFT panel is housed throughout the island. Fiio is reusing the identical panel because the Q7, and it has the identical measurement and 240 x 240 decision. The panel lets you change modes (you get USB, coaxial and Bluetooth) and you may entry the settings with a protracted press of the knob quantity, supplying you with entry to realize, most quantity, filters and equalizer. You get the identical high-resolution labels because the Q7, however there is no THX branding.
The menu interface is primary, nevertheless it offers you quick access to all the DAC’s capabilities with out having to open the Fiio Management cell app. This can be a small tweak, however I like that the settings menu now has a again button that lets you return to the supply web page.
Fiio features a carrying bag with the Q15, however I might have favored to see a case just like the Q7. However given the situation of the Q15, there is not one within the field. Along with the case, you get two USB-C to USB-C cables, a USB-A dongle, and two silicone bands that allow you to join the Q15 to a cellphone.
The construct high quality of the Q15 is phenomenal; The DAC has an all-metal chassis that makes use of aluminum, and within the three months I had the unit, I did not see any points. I additionally just like the textured quantity knob because it makes it simple to vary the amount.
The Q15 has a single-ended 3.5mm port and a 4.4mm balanced port that are situated on both facet of the big quantity knob and, as is often the case with most Fiio merchandise, There may be an LED ring surrounding the amount knob. The Q7 additionally has 2.5mm and 6.35mm connectors, however contemplating the Q15’s use case, a balanced, single-ended connector is greater than sufficient.
Just like the Q7, the Q15 has management buttons, however they’re now situated on the left; There’s a energy button and three buttons to manage music playback. On the backside is the place you see the totally different ports; The Q15 has coaxial and USB connectors, and there’s a second USB-C port that can be utilized to cost the DAC. In distinction, the Q7 has a single USB-C port for connecting and charging the DAC, and has an optical port along with the coaxial one.
However the good factor is you can swap between modes simply utilizing the buttons situated on the backside. You should use the Q15 in desktop mode and it doesn’t use the built-in battery on this mode. There may be additionally a cellphone mode and on this mode the Q15 makes use of its built-in battery.
On that notice, the Q15 has a 5,500mAh battery that gives simply over 9 hours of music playback by the 4.4mm balanced port and eight hours on the three.5mm jack. It takes over three and a half hours to cost the DAC, so it is not one thing you wish to do through the day. It goes as much as 15W when utilizing a USB PD charger and I left the unit charging in a single day more often than not.
Provided that the Q7 has among the best sound signatures of any moveable DAC, the Q15 has quite a bit to supply on this space and is off to a promising begin. The DAC makes use of a mixture of AKM’s AK4191EQ and AK4499EX, and they’re joined by the Qualcomm QCC5125, which oversees the Bluetooth facet.
The Q15 consists of all AptX codecs (AptX, AptX HD, AptX LL and AptX Adaptive) plus LDAC, and in USB mode, it may attain as much as 768 kHz/32-bit through PCM and DSD512. In case you use the coaxial connector, it goes as much as 192kHz/24-bit and DSD64.
It is the facility on provide that makes the Q15 an excellent selection; The DAC is able to delivering 1600mW of energy, permitting it to drive any IEM and headphones available on the market at the moment. I used it with the Audeze LCD-GX, Fiio FT5 and FT3, FX15and a couple of dozen IEMs over the course of the final three months, and had no issues.
Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity makes the Q15 as simple to make use of as doable with a cellphone, and since most Android gadgets provide LDAC natively (Google constructed it into Android a number of years in the past), you will get 96kHz/32k playback. bits over Bluetooth with none downside.
Sound-wise, the Q15 doesn’t have any audible hiss, so even delicate IEMs are a superb match with the DAC. Like different Fiio DACs, the Q15 has a impartial sound that does not add any coloration. That mentioned, selecting AKM over the same old ESS Saber fashions means you get a barely totally different sound profile, with extra vibrancy within the bass.
The bass is splendidly detailed and textured when utilizing the FT5, and there’s a slight lushness within the sub-bass area that makes utilizing the Q15 way more fulfilling. The mids are pure and have a whole lot of character, and the highs have good extension. Imaging and dynamics are glorious, and the Q15 is the newest in a protracted line of DACs from Fiio that completely shine within the technical particulars.
Just like the K9, the Q15 is a price chief. Sure, the Q7 has higher tonality and does a greater job driving top-end headphones, however when you solely want a Bluetooth DAC to make use of with IEMs and most sub-$1,000 headphones, it does an unbelievable job. The function set is nearly similar to what you get within the Q7, and the affordability makes the Q15 a no brainer.
If you would like a Bluetooth DAC with unbelievable sound, strong construct high quality, and an enormous battery, the Q15 is a simple advice.