Fiio releases a variety of gear over the course of the yr, and when the model introduced that it was popping out with the Q15, I assumed it might be a higher-end mannequin of the Q7. However the Bluetooth DAC prices half as a lot because the Q7, whereas retaining an identical design — albeit in a smaller dimension — and a variety of related options.
If that sounds acquainted, it is as a result of Fiio has made a behavior out of doing this. The K9 DAC additionally goes the identical route, providing the identical design and a ton of the identical options because the flagship K9 Professional, however for lots much less. Clearly, Fiio is seeking to flesh out its DAC portfolio and record merchandise in all value segments, and in that context, the Q15 makes a variety of sense.
The Q15 is retailing at $399 on Amazon, and that’s lower than half of what the Q7 prices. Once I reviewed the Q7, I known as it an endgame DAC that had every thing you possibly can need in a transportable DAC. Fiio hasn’t modified too many issues with the Q15; the truth is, the most important omission is the shortage of a 6.35mm port — the DAC simply is not large enough to accommodate the jack. In any other case, the Q15 is ready to ship 1.6W of energy, makes use of AKM {hardware}, and has all of the AptX codecs you want.
Aside from that, it retains an identical design because the Q7, and also you get a daring aesthetic with jagged edges that appears putting. What’s nice is that you simply now get a titanium coloration choice, so for those who do not just like the look of the usual black mannequin, the titanium variant appears way more pleasing.
Coming in at 305g, the Q15 is lower than half the burden of the Q7, and that makes it a terrific alternative for those who want a transportable DAC. The largest design distinction is on the again, the place Fiio switched out the leather-based again of the Q7 with a frosted glass again that feels nice to carry.
The entrance has a shiny insert that takes up a substantial quantity of the true property, and the 1.3-inch TFT panel is housed inside the island. Fiio is reusing the identical panel because the Q7, and it has the identical dimension and determination of 240 x 240. The panel permits you to change modes — you get USB, coaxial, and Bluetooth — and you may entry the settings with an extended press of the amount knob, providing you with entry to achieve, max quantity, filters, and EQ. You get the identical Hello-Res labels because the Q7, however there is no THX branding.
The menu interface is primary, nevertheless it offers you quick access to all of the options of the DAC with out having to drag up Fiio’s Management cell app. It is a small tweak, however I like that the settings menu now has a again button that permits you to return to the supply web page.
Fiio features a carrying pouch with the Q15, however I might have appreciated to see a case just like that of the Q7. However given the positioning of the Q15, you do not get one within the field. Aside from the case, you get two USB-C to USB-C cables, a USB-A dongle, and two silicone bands that allow you to connect the Q15 to a telephone.
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 in anyway. I like the feel quantity knob too, because it makes altering the amount simpler.
The Q15 has a 3.5mm single-ended port and a balanced 4.4mm port which might be situated on both aspect of the massive quantity knob, and as is normally the case with most Fiio merchandise, there’s an LED ring that encircles the amount knob. The Q7 will get 2.5mm and 6.35mm connectors as properly, however contemplating the use case of the Q15, a single-ended and balanced connector are greater than sufficient.
Just like the Q7, you get management buttons on the Q15, however they’re now situated on the left; there is a energy button, and three buttons to regulate music playback. On the backside is the place you see the assorted ports; the Q15 has coaxial and USB connectors, and there is a second USB-C port that can be utilized to cost the DAC. In contrast, the Q7 has a single USB-C port to attach and cost the DAC, and it has an optical port along with coaxial.
However what’s nice is which you could swap between modes simply through toggles situated on the backside. You need to use the Q15 in desktop mode, and it would not use the built-in battery on this mode. There is a telephone mode as properly, and on this mode, the Q15 makes use of its built-in battery.
On that topic, the Q15 has a 5500mAh battery that delivers simply over 9 hours of music playback over the balanced 4.4mm 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 will wish to do in the course of 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.
On condition that the Q7 has among the best sound signatures of any transportable DAC, the Q15 has so much to supply on this space, and it’s off to a promising begin. The DAC makes use of a mix of AKM’s AK4191EQ and AK4499EX, and so they’re joined by the Qualcomm QCC5125, which oversees the Bluetooth aspect of issues.
The Q15 contains all of the AptX codecs — AptX, AptX HD, AptX LL, and AptX Adaptive — along with LDAC, and in USB mode, it is ready to go as much as 768kHz/32-bit over PCM and DSD512. If you happen to use the coaxial connector, it goes as much as 192kHz/24-bit and DSD64.
It is the ability on supply that makes the Q15 such a terrific alternative; the DAC is ready to ship 1600mW of energy, and that enables it to drive any IEM and headset out there in the present day. I used it with the Audeze LCD-GX, Fiio FT5 and FT3, FX15, and a couple of dozen IEMs over the course of the final three months, and did not run into any points.
Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity makes the Q15 about as straightforward to make use of as potential with a telephone, and with most Android gadgets providing LDAC natively — Google baked it into Android a number of years in the past — you’ll get 96kHz/32-bit playback over Bluetooth with none trouble.
Coming to the sound, the Q15 would not have any audible hiss, so even delicate IEMs are a great pairing with the DAC. Like different Fiio DACs, the Q15 has a impartial sound that does not add any coloration. That mentioned, going with AKM over the same old ESS Sabre fashions means you get a barely totally different sound profile, with elevated vibrancy within the low-end.
The bass is splendidly detailed and textured when utilizing the FT5, and there’s a slight exuberance within the sub-bass area that makes utilizing the Q15 that rather more pleasurable. The mids are pure and have loads of character, and the treble has good extension. The imaging and dynamics are wonderful, and the Q15 is the most recent in an extended record of Fiio DACs that completely nails the technical particulars.
Identical to the K9, the Q15 is a price chief. Sure, the Q7 has higher tonality and does a greater job driving endgame headsets, however for those who simply want a Bluetooth DAC to make use of with IEMs and most headsets underneath $1,000, it does an unimaginable job. The feature-set is sort of equivalent to what you are getting on the Q7, and the affordability makes the Q15 a no brainer.
If you would like a Bluetooth DAC with implausible sound and durable construct high quality and a large battery, the Q15 is a straightforward advice.