The Quedelix-5K DAC/Amp is a marvel of engineering on a number of ranges. Essentially the most spectacular of which is the true 10 and 20-band PEQ present in its companion app. Throw in Hello-Res Bluetooth audio, MEMs microphones for telephone calls, and each single-ended and Balanced outputs (2.5mm), and you’ve got one of the vital versatile cell DACs available on the market.
Qudelix-5K: Worth and availability
The Quedelix-5K is offered direct from Quedelix for $109, or from Amazon for $110. You seemingly gained’t discover it on sale however for every part you get with the Quedelix-5K, and when in comparison with its competitors, $110 is a good value level.
Some of us might have a difficulty with the plastic physique at this value, nevertheless it does not really feel low cost, and there’s a purpose for that construct determination. We’ll get into that in a second.
Qudelix-5K: Construct and match
The Qudelix-5K feels very gentle in hand, though it’s heavy in {hardware} and software program options. It has a plastic physique, which ensures you get a strong Bluetooth connection to your music supply. Metallic our bodies are inclined to attenuate radio frequency indicators. Take a look at the construct of your own home router, for instance. Metallic or plastic? Internally, you get lots for $110. The 5k is filled with a Qualcomm BT 5.0 chipset and twin ES9219 SABRE HiFi DAC, which helps single-ended and balanced outputs and high-sensitivity MEMs mics for telephone calls.
Externally, you’ll discover the lone microphone port on the highest of the unit subsequent to the three.5mm and a couple of.5mm ports. There’s a helpful spring-loaded aluminum clip on the underside of the unit and two complicated buttons on the edges. Neither is labeled, and that’s the one ache level I’ve with the exterior setup. One button is the quantity rocker, and on the opposite aspect of the unit, you could have the facility button, which additionally controls Bluetooth features: pairing, playback, monitor skipping, and telephone calls. As soon as powered on, the buttons glow crimson and blue when pressed, making them simpler to make use of. The blue-lit button controls the Bluetooth features.
Apart from the button labeling, my solely different subject is the selection of a 2.5mm port as a substitute of a 4.4mm port. I’m positive this determination was primarily based on unit dimension however I’d take a bigger 5k for the 4.4mm port. Studying on-line boards, a typical criticism is that fairly a couple of individuals have snapped these tiny 2.5mm pins. Your mileage might differ.
Qudelix-5K: Options
The Qudelix-5K gives nice codec assist for Bluetooth streaming, which iPhones gained’t have the ability to benefit from. Along with the usual SBC and AAC, you additionally get assist for aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and aptX HD. This is a vital be aware as a result of app assist for the machine extends to your computer systems via a Chrome browser plug-in. Even with iOS’ lack of Hello-Res Bluetooth codec assist, you must nonetheless obtain the app as a result of iOS and iPad OS don’t have EQ assist that works throughout all of your apps. Quedelix app’s settings, although, are ubiquitous and saved on to the 5k’s inner storage. That is to say, after you have it configured to your liking, that sound profile might be persistent throughout each machine you connect with it: automotive, telephone, pill, laptop, and so forth. That additionally means it’s persistent regardless of which music apps you utilize in your cell gadgets.
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The app’s most vital function is the 20-band PEQ, which may also be set to a 10-band left/proper unbiased PEQ. That is the place the 5k shines. As you dive into the world of “coloring” your audio to your liking, this can be a nice approach to hear how effective modifications within the EQ curve have an effect on your audio in actual time. It is a welcomed function for audiophiles and an excellent instructing instrument for audiophile neophytes. Better of all, it can save you as much as 20 of your EQ settings, and there’s an exhaustive database of automated EQ presets that you could entry within the DSP tab of the app.
Positive, different producers provide EQ assist, however typically, it isn’t true PEQ. You usually get EQ presets or easy 3 or 5-band EQ assist with no choice for issues like pre-gain, headroom, peak filters, excessive or low-shelf filters, and Q issue (frequency bandwidth) adjustment.
The app will even present you the state and stats on your present enter (BT or USB-C), present you vital battery/energy consumption stats, offer you management over acquire, and each coarse and effective management over quantity with separate sliders for the telephone’s quantity and the 5k’s. Notice that you could additionally management quantity instantly from the 5k itself.
Quedelix 5k: Sound high quality
By itself, the Qudelix-5K reproduces audio superbly. It doesn’t have as massive a soundstage or that sparkle that my present fave iFi GO blu has, however that one doesn’t have the PEQ. However, once more, that’s the 5k’s power. I hooked Sennheiser’s $1500 IEMs, the IE900, as much as the Quedelix 5k, and the primary pay attention via the three.5mm cable was fantastic. The sound is well-balanced and nuanced, a delight.
Subsequent, I related the two.5mm cable to get the balanced output energy, turned on the PEQ, and added some backside to the sub-bass and bass within the 31 and 63Hz frequencies and Candy Christmas, I grinned ear-to-ear just like the Cheshire cat once I performed “Begin a Riot” from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack! It’s a scrumptious Dolby Atmos combine that reveals what may be achieved when a producer is aware of the best way to use these instruments successfully. The IE900s aren’t a bass head’s IEM in any respect. With the 5k’s PEQ, they change into simply that, however the mid and high-end readability isn’t diminished. The bass on that monitor turns into downright darkish and nasty and makes me need to get within the ring and bang leather-based with one in every of my Muay Thai buddies.
The fitting PEQ settings can take satisfying music and make it transcendent. They’ll take you from having a listening session to having a listening expertise. With the best headphones or IEMs, in fact.
It is a final be aware on the Qudelix-5K. I threw a couple of headphones and delicate, low, and high-impedance IEMs at it, and it drove every part with aplomb.
Quedelix 5k: Competiton
There are a couple of different choices at $100, however none of them provide true PEQ just like the Qudelix-5K. For instance, choices from FiiO offers you EQ customization via their app, however the stage and number of customizations are higher with the 5k.
The closest machine is FiiO’s BTR15, which has MQA assist and native DSD assist for a similar $110. It additionally consists of an OLED show, which the 5K doesn’t have and it makes use of 4.4mm as a substitute of two.5mm balanced output. Shanling has their UP4 2022, which is bigger, has a bigger battery, and consists of codec assist for LHDC. All of them function single-ended and balanced outputs, however the app makes all of the distinction, so I’d select the Quedelix 5k over its competitors.
Qudelix-5K: Do you have to purchase it?
You should purchase the Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC/Amp if…
- You’re thinking about fine-tuning audio
- Value is a main consider your DAC buy
- You desire a DAC for nearly any supply
You should not purchase the Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC/Amp if…
- You don’t want Bluetooth connectivity
- You like 4.4mm outputs
The Quedelix-5K is properly value the price for the parametric EQ alone! When you think about the entire unit’s different options, I believe this machine is a no brainer for individuals who need to find out about crafting their best sound curve or those that already know the best way to however desire a machine they’ll take anyplace and connect with virtually any audio supply. You possibly can even use the 5K as a preamp.
If true PEQ piques your curiosity, look no additional. That is the one.
