...I’m agile, resourceful and refined. The FiiO Q5 Review.
Introduction:
I’ve become interested in headphones and related gear more intensively for about 4 years and during this time I have tried to find my preferred sounding headphones for various occasions and uses. Three months ago I bought my 1st “better” source - the FiiO X5 3rd gen - and being interested in how it compares to other products I applied for the FiiO Q5 Review Tour.
Disclosure:
The FiiO Q5 sample was loaned to me by FiiO, free of charge, for a 10-day evaluation and posting of my opinion of the product. After the 10-day period I’ve sent the unit to the next reviewer.
About me:
This will be my first product review and I’m not a native english speaker. So please bear with me. Or don’t. I like constructive criticism. I didn’t read any review about the FiiO Q5 prior to this, to avoid bias.
Tech highlights:
Full specs here
Packaging and accessories:
The Q5 comes in a sturdy hard box with a foam padding frame inside and accessories in a compartment below the main unit. The packaging is well made and similar in size and layout to the one that FiiO X5 comes in.
It is well accessorized and includes the following:
In addition the review bundle included the following accessories which ARE NOT included in the retail package:
Build and design:
FiiO has really come a long way from my old E06 that I had velcroed back to back with my Sansa Clip a few years ago. The design of the Q5 follows the new trend that started with the X5 3rd gen / X7 Mk II DAPs and won some well deserved iF and Red Dot design awards.
The build quality of the Q5 is nothing short of outstanding. Elegant aluminium alloy sandblasted body, bold (or is it Bond...?) angles combined with rounded corners, lasered shiny chamfered edges, different metal surface textures and the PU leather cover at the back. All these make for a sharp looking gadget. If James Bond would be an audiophile this is what he’d use. This gadget should be called Agent Fii007/‾.
The RGB LED between the amp module and body is a very nice design element, and also provides information about the selected input, glowing in different colors. Because it is recessed relative to the metal body there is no annoying bright light when charging at night. It pulsates and “breathes power” very gently.
Operation:
All the buttons and switches are tactile and responsive, providing a reassuring feedback when operated. Especially the volume potentiometer is well done, having enough resistance to avoid accidental turning in your pocket. That resistance also helps with setting a fine controlled volume level with ease, especially from 11 o’clock position and on, where the volume rises more steeply. The jacks and USB inputs are also of good quality which is to be expected at this price point.
Usage and pairings:
Smartphone to Q5 USB in:
Although the Q5 has no official support for using with Android devices, I used it with my HTC 10 with no problems. Using the provided USB-C to micro USB cable my phone instantly recognised and connected with the DAC. I used Tidal Hi-Fi and USB Audio Player Pro app which operated in Bit-Perfect mode with various resolution files including native DSD with no problems.
You can find more about the Q5 and Android in the article written by Product Manager Demond here.
PC to Q5 USB in:
The FiiO USB drivers need to be installed, and if you want to play native DSD also, some drivers and components for ASIO and DSD support in Foobar2000.
This guide can help, but use the latest drivers in the Download section here.
All installs went smooth and the music playback with my PC to Q5 was flawless.
Smartphone to Q5 Bluetooth:
No problems here either, I got aptX connection with both my HTC 10 and X5 to Q5.
The sound quality was surprisingly good over Bluetooth with just a slight loss of depth and resolution, but the sound character of the DAC/AMP was kept intact.
The Bluetooth ability of the Q5 is really of great convenience if you want to avoid stacking on-the-go. The Q5 stays in one pocket with the headphone cable attached, and the smartphone in another pocket, free to operate independently. My only gripe with this usage scenario is the lack of a “phone bluetooth” profile support. You cannot take phone calls on the Q5, cannot use your headphone cable inline remote or microphone. But the ringtone and notifications sounds are sent to the Q5 so at least you know if someone calls you.
For the next iteration of this DAC I propose that FiiO ads Bluetooth phone call support and links the - fwd / pause / play / back - buttons to the headphone cable inline remote also.
FiiO X5 line-out to Q5 line-in
Using the Q5 as an amp for the X5 went with no problems and was very beneficial for the X5. More of that in the “Sound” section.
FiiO X5 coaxial to Q5
All good.
Bass Boost
Generally I’m not a fan of bass boost, and I didn’t test it very much because everything sounded properly without it. What I found is that with some thin sounding recordings it brings live and punch by elevating a good chunk of bass and taming the mids without adding distortion. So it can be beneficial in some situations
Headphones
Tested the Q5 with my Sennheiser HD 598 SE, HD 518, Momentum 2 over-ear, Koss Porta Pro.
In all cases the sound was improved and the matches were good. My critical listening I have done with the Sennheiser HD 598 SE.
Sound:
Sound evaluation will be made in relation to the FiiO X5 3rd gen DAP which is the best source that I own, but the sound description also stands on its own.
HTC 10 > USB Audio Player Pro / bit perfect > USB type C to micro USB > FiiO Q5 > Sennheiser HD 598 SE
vs.
Fiio X5 > Sennheiser HD 598 SE
Listening notes:
1st impression - fresh out of the box:
Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing
Q5 vs X5 - More effortless, more focused, cleaner upper mids with less grain but more detail, more even in the midrange, deeper bass, more extended highs.
2 days later in-depth listening:
Lars Erstrand and Four Brothers - Body And Soul - DSD Showcase 5 - 1bit DSD
Eric Bibb - Where The Green Grass Grows - DSD Showcase 1 - 1bit DSD
Diana Krall - Peel Me A Grape, Narrow Daylight - 16bit FLAC
Jethro Tull - The String Quartets (flac album)
Q5 - Liquid, organic, with great micro-detail and resolution, but not abrasive, no harshness in the vocals, upper mids or highs, yet cristal clear and natural. Smooth, yet focused.
Seems like every sound element is polished and has its own space and breathe room in relation to the others. Very good dynamics and transient response. Bass goes deep and it has texture. Soundstage has more depth, layering and is more three dimensional. X5 feels more compressed in comparison.
4th day:
Pink Floyd - Money
Steven Wilson - Luminol
Dead can Dance - Song of The Stars
Q5 has more authority, goes to the same loudness more easier, maintaining great separation and relation between frequencies. Vocals remain natural sounding when loud. When I turn up the volume the sound gets BIGGER and richer, while on X5 it gets LOUDER, struggling more to maintain sound integrity, and the vocals becoming a bit more shouty and somehow rough. The Q5 feels like it can reach the same volume while not hurting your ears. Also the Q5 feels less compressed, you can feel more air between every sound element. Everything is arranged against a contrasting dark background, so “the edges” and contours of every sound element are clearly distinguishable. I guess this is what they call a “black background”. It is the first time I experienced it.
Sound conclusion:
Q5 vs X5 sound differences:
Bass - Q5 a bit deeper and punchier, with better dynamics, harmonics, and more detail.
Mids - here is the biggest difference with the X5 having a bit grainier more abrasive high-mids, and a bit more forward. Q5 mids / vocals are cleaner with better resolution and less digital, more organic, natural, even sounding. Making an analogy with photo processing the Q5 feels like an image that comes untouched from a high quality prime lens with great focus, contrast and color, while X5 feels slightly sharpened / enhanced in post-processing.
Treble - Q5 feels cleaner, more natural, and more extended.
Sound stage, stereo image - the X5 sounds a bit compressed in comparison to Q5.
IMO a great deal of the sound difference comes from the better external amp module used in the Q5, because when testing line-out of X5 to line-in Q5 (with the AM3A module being used for amping the X5), the sound quality is somewhere in between the two on their own.
Please observe the intensive use of “a bit”, and “feels” in the description above. The FiiO X5 is a great sounding device on its own.
But, in the end, IMO the Q5 is a step up over the X5. Although they share the same dual DAC, the combination of different DAC tuning + the external AM3A amp module + no Android to deal with (speculating a little here) - makes for an improved audio experience.
Final words:
Day 10, listening to “The Wall”. Pink says to himself:
“There must be some mistake, I didn’t mean to let them take away my soul, am I too old? is it too late?
Where has the feeling gone? Will I remember the song? The show must go on...”
I’ve come from noticing the Q5 main thread a few months ago, to really being interested in it, then losing patience and buying the X5 on Black Friday, to returning and applying for the review tour. After a long(ish) wait and some annoying customs paperwork, I finally received this beauty. There were 10 days of intense usage, photo sessions, touching, petting and most of all delightfully music listening. I’m in love with this device and sooner or later it will replace my X5 3rd gen.
Note: After reading it a few times, I realize that part of my review including this final words may sound a little overenthusiastic, but this is because I genuinely liked the Q5 very much. Please don’t take this as it will necessarily work the same for you. Generally my advice is: go and try to listen to audio gear before you buy and form your own opinion. This hobby is highly subjective and nothing can replace the act of testing for yourself. For me the Q5 is a great device and I will make it my own. For now, it is time to pass it to the next reviewer. Bye-bye Q5! But see you soon!
Introduction:
I’ve become interested in headphones and related gear more intensively for about 4 years and during this time I have tried to find my preferred sounding headphones for various occasions and uses. Three months ago I bought my 1st “better” source - the FiiO X5 3rd gen - and being interested in how it compares to other products I applied for the FiiO Q5 Review Tour.
Disclosure:
The FiiO Q5 sample was loaned to me by FiiO, free of charge, for a 10-day evaluation and posting of my opinion of the product. After the 10-day period I’ve sent the unit to the next reviewer.
About me:
I’m 49 years old, male.
Music preferences: classic rock, prog rock, metal, grunge, jazz, roots reggae, world / ethnic, classical, some 80's new wave, some electronic / pop
Some of my prefered bands: Marillion (with Fish), Rush, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Genesis (P. Gabriel), Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden, Porcupine Tree / Steven Wilson.
Only 1 album to take on an island: The Beatles - Abbey Road. OK... take one more: ABBA: The Album.
Sound preferences: I like a warmer than neutral sound signature with 2 to 3 dB elevated bass, full-bodied vocals and detailed but natural, not harsh or grainy upper-mids to highs. I’m particularly sensitive to elevated or harsh 3K to 8K region, and I don’t like thin, dry, sterile, abrasive, clinical sound. I don’t believe in “detail retrieval”. I think details don’t need to be “retrieved”, brought forward, they need to remain in the original form, tonality, loudness and position relative to the other sound elements as a whole. To be there in natural amount. I believe in realism of the MUSIC reproduction. I also don’t listen at crazy volume. I generally listen at a volume comparable to someone singing loudly, 3 meters away from me, with no amplification. If that makes sense. I don’t know how to translate that into decibels.
Music preferences: classic rock, prog rock, metal, grunge, jazz, roots reggae, world / ethnic, classical, some 80's new wave, some electronic / pop
Some of my prefered bands: Marillion (with Fish), Rush, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Genesis (P. Gabriel), Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden, Porcupine Tree / Steven Wilson.
Only 1 album to take on an island: The Beatles - Abbey Road. OK... take one more: ABBA: The Album.
Sound preferences: I like a warmer than neutral sound signature with 2 to 3 dB elevated bass, full-bodied vocals and detailed but natural, not harsh or grainy upper-mids to highs. I’m particularly sensitive to elevated or harsh 3K to 8K region, and I don’t like thin, dry, sterile, abrasive, clinical sound. I don’t believe in “detail retrieval”. I think details don’t need to be “retrieved”, brought forward, they need to remain in the original form, tonality, loudness and position relative to the other sound elements as a whole. To be there in natural amount. I believe in realism of the MUSIC reproduction. I also don’t listen at crazy volume. I generally listen at a volume comparable to someone singing loudly, 3 meters away from me, with no amplification. If that makes sense. I don’t know how to translate that into decibels.
This will be my first product review and I’m not a native english speaker. So please bear with me. Or don’t. I like constructive criticism. I didn’t read any review about the FiiO Q5 prior to this, to avoid bias.
Tech highlights:
- DAC: dual AKM AK4490EN
- Supports up to 384kHz/32 bit sampling rates and native DSD up to DSD256
- Interchangeable amp modules, fully compatible with FiiO’s lineup
- Bundled with the AM3A amp module with both single-ended and balanced outputs
- aptX Bluetooth audio
- Digital Inputs: USB / Coaxial / Optical / Bluetooth
- Analog Inputs: Line IN
- Analog Outputs: Headphone Standard 3.5mm / Headphone Balanced 2.5mm / Line OUT
- Recommended Headphone Impedance: 16~150Ω(PO); 16~300Ω(BAL)
- Battery Capacity: 3800 mAh
- MSRP for US market: is about $349.99 and subject to change for other markets.
Full specs here
Packaging and accessories:
The Q5 comes in a sturdy hard box with a foam padding frame inside and accessories in a compartment below the main unit. The packaging is well made and similar in size and layout to the one that FiiO X5 comes in.
It is well accessorized and includes the following:
- micro USB to Lightning short cable for connecting to Apple devices
- 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male short cable for line IN or line OUT use
- USB to micro USB long cable
- 3.5mm to RCA coaxial adaptor cable
- optical adaptor
- screwdriver and 4 extra screws for amp module replacement
- silicone pad for placing between devices when stacking (if necessary)
- 2x long straps and 2x short straps for stacking
- carrying pouch
In addition the review bundle included the following accessories which ARE NOT included in the retail package:
- LC-Q5: Leather case of Q5
- LC-Q5i: Dedicated case for bundling the Q5 with iPhone
- L27: WM port to Micro USB digital audio cable
- L28: Coaxial digital audio cable
- Micro USB to Type C USB short cable
- Micro USB to Micro USB short cable
Build and design:
FiiO has really come a long way from my old E06 that I had velcroed back to back with my Sansa Clip a few years ago. The design of the Q5 follows the new trend that started with the X5 3rd gen / X7 Mk II DAPs and won some well deserved iF and Red Dot design awards.
The build quality of the Q5 is nothing short of outstanding. Elegant aluminium alloy sandblasted body, bold (or is it Bond...?) angles combined with rounded corners, lasered shiny chamfered edges, different metal surface textures and the PU leather cover at the back. All these make for a sharp looking gadget. If James Bond would be an audiophile this is what he’d use. This gadget should be called Agent Fii007/‾.
The RGB LED between the amp module and body is a very nice design element, and also provides information about the selected input, glowing in different colors. Because it is recessed relative to the metal body there is no annoying bright light when charging at night. It pulsates and “breathes power” very gently.
Operation:
All the buttons and switches are tactile and responsive, providing a reassuring feedback when operated. Especially the volume potentiometer is well done, having enough resistance to avoid accidental turning in your pocket. That resistance also helps with setting a fine controlled volume level with ease, especially from 11 o’clock position and on, where the volume rises more steeply. The jacks and USB inputs are also of good quality which is to be expected at this price point.
Usage and pairings:
Smartphone to Q5 USB in:
Although the Q5 has no official support for using with Android devices, I used it with my HTC 10 with no problems. Using the provided USB-C to micro USB cable my phone instantly recognised and connected with the DAC. I used Tidal Hi-Fi and USB Audio Player Pro app which operated in Bit-Perfect mode with various resolution files including native DSD with no problems.
You can find more about the Q5 and Android in the article written by Product Manager Demond here.
PC to Q5 USB in:
The FiiO USB drivers need to be installed, and if you want to play native DSD also, some drivers and components for ASIO and DSD support in Foobar2000.
This guide can help, but use the latest drivers in the Download section here.
All installs went smooth and the music playback with my PC to Q5 was flawless.
Smartphone to Q5 Bluetooth:
No problems here either, I got aptX connection with both my HTC 10 and X5 to Q5.
The sound quality was surprisingly good over Bluetooth with just a slight loss of depth and resolution, but the sound character of the DAC/AMP was kept intact.
The Bluetooth ability of the Q5 is really of great convenience if you want to avoid stacking on-the-go. The Q5 stays in one pocket with the headphone cable attached, and the smartphone in another pocket, free to operate independently. My only gripe with this usage scenario is the lack of a “phone bluetooth” profile support. You cannot take phone calls on the Q5, cannot use your headphone cable inline remote or microphone. But the ringtone and notifications sounds are sent to the Q5 so at least you know if someone calls you.
For the next iteration of this DAC I propose that FiiO ads Bluetooth phone call support and links the - fwd / pause / play / back - buttons to the headphone cable inline remote also.
FiiO X5 line-out to Q5 line-in
Using the Q5 as an amp for the X5 went with no problems and was very beneficial for the X5. More of that in the “Sound” section.
FiiO X5 coaxial to Q5
All good.
Bass Boost
Generally I’m not a fan of bass boost, and I didn’t test it very much because everything sounded properly without it. What I found is that with some thin sounding recordings it brings live and punch by elevating a good chunk of bass and taming the mids without adding distortion. So it can be beneficial in some situations
Headphones
Tested the Q5 with my Sennheiser HD 598 SE, HD 518, Momentum 2 over-ear, Koss Porta Pro.
In all cases the sound was improved and the matches were good. My critical listening I have done with the Sennheiser HD 598 SE.
Sound:
Sound evaluation will be made in relation to the FiiO X5 3rd gen DAP which is the best source that I own, but the sound description also stands on its own.
HTC 10 > USB Audio Player Pro / bit perfect > USB type C to micro USB > FiiO Q5 > Sennheiser HD 598 SE
vs.
Fiio X5 > Sennheiser HD 598 SE
Listening notes:
1st impression - fresh out of the box:
Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing
Q5 vs X5 - More effortless, more focused, cleaner upper mids with less grain but more detail, more even in the midrange, deeper bass, more extended highs.
2 days later in-depth listening:
Lars Erstrand and Four Brothers - Body And Soul - DSD Showcase 5 - 1bit DSD
Eric Bibb - Where The Green Grass Grows - DSD Showcase 1 - 1bit DSD
Diana Krall - Peel Me A Grape, Narrow Daylight - 16bit FLAC
Jethro Tull - The String Quartets (flac album)
Q5 - Liquid, organic, with great micro-detail and resolution, but not abrasive, no harshness in the vocals, upper mids or highs, yet cristal clear and natural. Smooth, yet focused.
Seems like every sound element is polished and has its own space and breathe room in relation to the others. Very good dynamics and transient response. Bass goes deep and it has texture. Soundstage has more depth, layering and is more three dimensional. X5 feels more compressed in comparison.
4th day:
Pink Floyd - Money
Steven Wilson - Luminol
Dead can Dance - Song of The Stars
Q5 has more authority, goes to the same loudness more easier, maintaining great separation and relation between frequencies. Vocals remain natural sounding when loud. When I turn up the volume the sound gets BIGGER and richer, while on X5 it gets LOUDER, struggling more to maintain sound integrity, and the vocals becoming a bit more shouty and somehow rough. The Q5 feels like it can reach the same volume while not hurting your ears. Also the Q5 feels less compressed, you can feel more air between every sound element. Everything is arranged against a contrasting dark background, so “the edges” and contours of every sound element are clearly distinguishable. I guess this is what they call a “black background”. It is the first time I experienced it.
Opus3 DSD Showcase no. 1 to 5
Tracklist and description > http://shop.dsdfile.com/category/samplers/
Alan Taylor - Kerouac's Dream
Cyrill Lutzelschwab & Martin Hess - Boxenkiller
Henry Mancini - Pink Panther
Carl Orff - Introduction Fortune
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto No21 Andante
Giuseppe Verdi - La Donna E Mobile
Giuseppe Verdi - Requiem Dies Irae
Dire Straits - Water Of Love
Dreadzone - Yeah Man
Genesis - Battle Of Epping Forest
Genesis - Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
Gigamesh - All My Life (Original Mix)
GusGus - Deep Inside
Iron Maiden - Afraid To Shoot Strangers
Iron Maiden - Revelations
Kem - Heaven
Metallica - Don't Tread On Me
Metallica - Sad But True
Michael Jackson - Jam
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Rammstein - Mein Herz Brennt
Rammstein - Sonne
Rebecca Pidgeon - Spanish Harlem
Robert Plant - 29 Palms
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Seal - Crazy
Rachelle Ferrell - Sista
Rachelle Ferrell - Will You Remember Me
Zucchero - Il Volo
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry, Be Happy
Macy Gray - Redemption Song
Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven
Paquito D'Rivera - Como Arrullo De Palmas
Amber Rubarth - Don't You
Tracklist and description > http://shop.dsdfile.com/category/samplers/
Alan Taylor - Kerouac's Dream
Cyrill Lutzelschwab & Martin Hess - Boxenkiller
Henry Mancini - Pink Panther
Carl Orff - Introduction Fortune
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto No21 Andante
Giuseppe Verdi - La Donna E Mobile
Giuseppe Verdi - Requiem Dies Irae
Dire Straits - Water Of Love
Dreadzone - Yeah Man
Genesis - Battle Of Epping Forest
Genesis - Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
Gigamesh - All My Life (Original Mix)
GusGus - Deep Inside
Iron Maiden - Afraid To Shoot Strangers
Iron Maiden - Revelations
Kem - Heaven
Metallica - Don't Tread On Me
Metallica - Sad But True
Michael Jackson - Jam
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Rammstein - Mein Herz Brennt
Rammstein - Sonne
Rebecca Pidgeon - Spanish Harlem
Robert Plant - 29 Palms
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Seal - Crazy
Rachelle Ferrell - Sista
Rachelle Ferrell - Will You Remember Me
Zucchero - Il Volo
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry, Be Happy
Macy Gray - Redemption Song
Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven
Paquito D'Rivera - Como Arrullo De Palmas
Amber Rubarth - Don't You
Sound conclusion:
Q5 vs X5 sound differences:
Bass - Q5 a bit deeper and punchier, with better dynamics, harmonics, and more detail.
Mids - here is the biggest difference with the X5 having a bit grainier more abrasive high-mids, and a bit more forward. Q5 mids / vocals are cleaner with better resolution and less digital, more organic, natural, even sounding. Making an analogy with photo processing the Q5 feels like an image that comes untouched from a high quality prime lens with great focus, contrast and color, while X5 feels slightly sharpened / enhanced in post-processing.
Treble - Q5 feels cleaner, more natural, and more extended.
Sound stage, stereo image - the X5 sounds a bit compressed in comparison to Q5.
IMO a great deal of the sound difference comes from the better external amp module used in the Q5, because when testing line-out of X5 to line-in Q5 (with the AM3A module being used for amping the X5), the sound quality is somewhere in between the two on their own.
Please observe the intensive use of “a bit”, and “feels” in the description above. The FiiO X5 is a great sounding device on its own.
But, in the end, IMO the Q5 is a step up over the X5. Although they share the same dual DAC, the combination of different DAC tuning + the external AM3A amp module + no Android to deal with (speculating a little here) - makes for an improved audio experience.
Final words:
Day 10, listening to “The Wall”. Pink says to himself:
“There must be some mistake, I didn’t mean to let them take away my soul, am I too old? is it too late?
Where has the feeling gone? Will I remember the song? The show must go on...”
I’ve come from noticing the Q5 main thread a few months ago, to really being interested in it, then losing patience and buying the X5 on Black Friday, to returning and applying for the review tour. After a long(ish) wait and some annoying customs paperwork, I finally received this beauty. There were 10 days of intense usage, photo sessions, touching, petting and most of all delightfully music listening. I’m in love with this device and sooner or later it will replace my X5 3rd gen.
Note: After reading it a few times, I realize that part of my review including this final words may sound a little overenthusiastic, but this is because I genuinely liked the Q5 very much. Please don’t take this as it will necessarily work the same for you. Generally my advice is: go and try to listen to audio gear before you buy and form your own opinion. This hobby is highly subjective and nothing can replace the act of testing for yourself. For me the Q5 is a great device and I will make it my own. For now, it is time to pass it to the next reviewer. Bye-bye Q5! But see you soon!
"Wrong! Do it again! Wrong! Do it again!
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding!
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?
You! Yes! You behind the bike sheds! Stand still laddie!"
-- Roger Waters
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding!
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?
You! Yes! You behind the bike sheds! Stand still laddie!"
-- Roger Waters
In fact the Q5 was very well secured between the stiff leaves. I wouldn't have put it into danger 
