QUDELIX
Customer
Excelente DAC, muy buen la app para Android y la Google Chrome. La portabilidad de equipo en una maravilla, todavía no probé todo lo que aplicación puede hacer, hay que dedicarle tiempo. Los probé con iem KZ KS12 pro 2 y con Audio Technica ATH M40x espetacular, los mueve con solvencia en la conexión de 3,5mm, todavía no he probado la conexión balanceada.
Doc Joseph Coquilla
Excellent device for listening to music on the go, with an awesome companion app as well! Using it with both the CrinEar Daybreaks and the MOONDROP May over 3.5mm and it is an excellent USB DAC for my iPhone and my Windows pc. App has EQ, volume control, status controls, and additional functionality such as codec control and sample rate control. Pairing it with my Pixel 7a I can also use LDAC seamlessly over Bluetooth and it just works!
Domingo Gonzalez
Tarde un poco en escribir está reseña porque el equipo tardo un poco en llegar a Vzla. Ya tengo un mes utilizando el 5k y después de ver y escuchar muchas revisiones y ahora de tenerlo y escúcharlo puedo decirles que es fantástico y su relación calidad precio insuperable, al llegar a tus manos es pequeño y liviano con un clip que te permite engancharlo cómodamente a tu ropa, la empresa no gasto en el empaque es una caja muy sencilla pero ese ahorro está muy bien invertido en el equipo que es lo que interesa, tiene dos salidas 1 no balanceada de 3.5 y otra balanceada de 2.5 al comprarlo ten en cuenta esto para que compres el cable con el que vas a utilizarlo por lo general los audífonos tienen el conector de 3.5 si es uno exigente de 200 ohm o más es necesario el cable balanceado de 2.5, por otra parte el software del equipo es completísimo controlas todos los aspectos como el volumen del 5k y de la fuente allí controlas ganancia para que no satures la señal puedes indicar ohms y sensibilidad y este te señala los dbspl de salida para que cuides de tu salud auditiva, la potencia del amplificador es 1 o 2 vatios seleccionable en no balanceado hasta 4 vatios en balanceado, el equalizador de 20 bandas grafico o paramétrico te dejará oír a gusto cualquier frecuencia la calidad de sonido la apreciarás de inmediato no he utilizado aun la salida balanceada porque espero el cable y unos audífonos senheiser demandantes cuando me llegue les cuento, la gestión de la batería muy bien hecha gran autonomía y si te conectas con el USB te alimentas de la fuente ahorrando y cargando el equipo, por otro lado si lo usas Bluetooth con el codec que dispongas mi Tlf y tableta manejan aptx y LDAC y puedo decirles que el sonido es casi igual que con cable y por último lo puedes usar como DAC conectado con el USB C que lo trae a una tableta , Tlf, o computadora o recibir Bluetooth y conectarlo a un amplificador con unos RCA y obtendrás un sonido inmejorable con un equalizador que será un plus si no lo tienes y si eres audiofilo a ultraza de no equalizar simplemente inhabilitas el DSP claro está es importante tu cadena de sonido. mejoras que pediria es quitarle tantas funciones al botón de encendido y colocar otro para avance, retroceso, pausa y play del resto excelente adquisición estoy muy complacido, adjunto una foto del 5k conectado al ampli desde la tablet.
Customer
I really enjoy the Qudelix 5K both on the go and at home when plugged in. I use it with my Punch Audio Martilo IEMs on a Tripowin 2.5mm balanced cable, and my Hifiman Ananda Stealth V3 using a Meze Audio 2.5mm to 3.5 mono silver-plated copper cable. Both pairings work beautifully in wireless mode at 2 VRMS.
I don’t really take the Anandas outside, but around the house the Qudelix makes them surprisingly versatile and easy to use without being tied to a desk setup. The Martilos are my travel set — great for store runs and general out-and-about use.
Wired mode is where things really step up. Listening to lossless audio through USB with both headphones sounds wonderful. Some people say you can’t really hear the difference between lossless and Bluetooth, but in my experience you can — especially in clarity and separation. Bluetooth still sounds very good, but wired lossless has that extra clean edge.
When it comes to PEQ, this is where the Qudelix 5K really shines. The parametric EQ system is one of the best features. You can build your own custom PEQ profiles or load presets from well-known audiophile sources. It makes it easy to fine-tune both the Martilos and the Anandas exactly how you want them.
Battery life has been excellent in my use. With the IEMs I get over 10 hours consistently. With the Anandas it’s shorter — usually around 5–8 hours — but I solve that by using a low-charge battery pack (important — low charge mode). With that setup I can stretch runtime to around 14 hours with the Anandas and close to 24 hours with the Martilos.
For anyone who needs something portable but still powerful and flexible, the Qudelix 5K delivers. The fact that all of this comes in such a small device makes it absolutely worth it.
Nicole
I love this tiny DAC, tiny but mighty. I connect to my phone either wired or with bluetooth - both connections sound great. Wired obviously sounds better, but the bluetooth is fantastic. Super glad it has a clip on it. It's easy to clip onto your shirt or pants and that way it won't get lost or banged around if you are moving about. The app might be a bit too technical for some people, but they do a great job of explaining main points at the bottom and you can click on "learn more" and it will take you to their website where they go into more detail. I use it with my Moondrop Variations IEMS and my Focal Clear MG over-ear and the sound is clear and wonderful with both. My Focal doesn't need tons of power, but that might not be the case with other over-ear headphones. Very happy with my purchase.
sreviews
This is my first DAC/amp. I bought it mostly based on the hype and positive reviews, and because I wanted something portable with a lot of flexibility.
Overall this is an excellent DAC/amp for the price with a really strong feature set. Bluetooth supports most of the important codecs, and the balanced 2.5mm output is a big plus for something this small. In 2025 I do kind of wish it used 4.4mm instead, but it’s not a deal breaker. Sound quality is clean and has more than enough power for the headphones and IEMs I’ve tried.
It also has battery passthrough and lets you set safe charging limits, which is a nice touch if you care about battery longevity.
The app is one of the best parts. There are a ton of options, it’s actively updated, and it feels like the developers actually care about supporting the product. Build quality seems fine for daily use, but it’s basically a chunk of plastic with a clip, nothing fancy. The buttons take some getting used to, and there’s a lot I still haven’t messed with yet.
This probably isn’t the device for someone who just wants super simple plug-and-play. But if you want flexibility and control in a small portable DAC/amp, it’s hard to beat for the price.
Equanim1ty
Fidilio X2HR Open backs , Sony Walkman paired with Quadelix 5K over LDAC is my perfect home setup for listening to High Res music. Exactly why I bought this little device. The App is the star of the show with constant updates and ability to control every aspect of the device including Par EQ while having a parallel connection to your phone . Set and forget including button locks. Very difficult to find an open back with Bluetooth. Now all other NC BT headsets and IEMS are used only used for travels. Even the mic works for phone calls. Best of both worlds with open back sound stage without losing much over Bluetooth .. This device clocks at 900Kbps constantly with Sony Walkman upto 96 hz ( Thought I locked it to 44Hz to save battery) and can drive Fidilio with 1 VRM. Pair made in heaven ! Ignore Velcros .. Ha Ha
A
Overall impression:
The sound quality is excellent, pairing is quick, and the unit’s size makes it very portable. These strengths are what make the product worth keeping in the lineup. However, there are several design and usability issues that could be improved in future iterations.
1. Physical Controls & Accidental Activation
Issue: The device can turn on in a bag or with an accidental bump. Buttons are too easy to press.
Recommendation: Add a hardware lockout switch (similar to the iPhone/OnePlus mute switch). As a cheaper alternative, allow a long-press lock/unlock sequence (like many headlamps use). Either would prevent unintentional power-on or button presses.
2. Button Layout & Ergonomics
Issues:
Buttons are too soft and prone to accidental presses.
Play/pause is distinguishable by touch, but other buttons are confusingly placed.
Having buttons on opposite sides forces the user to squeeze the device, which often triggers the opposite button by mistake.
Recommendations:
Make the buttons slightly stiffer, with more tactile feedback.
Consolidate controls to a single side: play/pause + track controls at the top, volume buttons directly below (like Pixel phone button layout). This would make it easier to memorize and use by feel, regardless of which pocket or side of the body the amp is clipped to.
3. Hardware Design
Issue: There’s really no reason to include a 2.5mm balanced jack. Almost all users will rely on the standard 3.5mm jack, and the extra port adds cost and complexity without adding much practical value.
Recommendation: Drop the 2.5mm jack and put that cost/board space toward the lockout switch or other more widely beneficial features.
4. Software / App Experience
Issue: The app is powerful but overwhelming. EQ selection is unintuitive—once you choose a preset, it’s not obvious how to turn it off.
Recommendation: Offer two modes:
Beginner mode: Simple on/off, volume, basic EQ toggle.
Advanced mode: Full configurability for power users.
This way the product remains approachable without sacrificing depth for enthusiasts.
5. Battery Life
Issue: Battery life in default LDAC mode is poor compared to expectations for portable use.
Recommendation: Offer clearer communication about battery trade-offs by codec, or consider power optimizations for LDAC mode.
6. Strengths Worth Keeping
Very good sound quality.
Fast pairing.
Extremely small and portable form factor.
No obnoxious sounds for pairing, powering on/off, or connection changes (a rarity in Bluetooth gear).
The physical click when powering on is very satisfying and makes the device feel intentional and responsive.
Small DAC volume increments are excellent — they allow for precise adjustments and improve the listening experience across different headphones and IEMs.
7. Additional Refinement
Observation: The existing system sounds are pleasant, but they don’t feel fully cohesive as a “set.”
Recommendation: A unified sound design (same tonality and length across power, pairing, and connection states) would make the device feel even more polished.
8. Wishlist Features
Comprehensive Presets:
The app should allow full presets that include all settings — not just EQ. A proper preset should cover:
EQ
Codec choice
DAC profile (e.g. Standard vs Performance)
Volume limits
Any other advanced options
This way, users could save different profiles for different headphones or listening contexts (e.g. commuting vs. critical listening). It would make the device dramatically more flexible and user-friendly without adding hardware complexity.
Closing thought:
This is already a strong product in terms of audio performance and convenience. The main opportunity is in refining ergonomics, physical controls, and app usability — plus adding smarter preset functionality and rethinking hardware priorities — so the user experience can fully match the excellent sound quality.
ErikSax
This is the ULTIMATE mobile practice tool for Saxophonists!
I wrote my initial review below, which I will leave as a part of my “lived experience” journal. But now, after continuing to live with the Quedelix-5K, and working with the incredibly useful, flexible, and well organized mobile app, the Bat-belt like 5K has exposed an extended use set for me that I did not realize was possible.
First, I was able to store separate headphone profiles for each of my IEMs and headphones, no matter how weird or unpopular they are.
Second, it works wonderfully as a USB headphone amp for my Mac Mini, while still being able to accept and respond to Bluetooth iOS app commands!
Finally (drum roll please)…it has eliminated the requirement for additional gear when jamming on saxophone to audio tracks, videos, rehearsals, or any other stored in my phone, due to the OUTSTANDING 5K microphone and Quedelix app that can perfectly mix my live saxophone audio with the iPhone streaming audio signal.
This last feature is the KILLER functionality that I did not expect at all. My iPhone system gives me warnings regarding 140 db audio all the time during woodshedding sessions at home. In spite of this, the control of the 5K microphone provided by the app and the hardware quality of the microphone prevents ANY digital distortion. Musicians rejoice!!
MY ORIGINAL REVIEW IS BELOW:
An Eye Opening, Utterly Jolting and Terrifying Experience!
After decades of listening to music and playing music, I thought I knew what to expect from headphones, especially ones that I already used for over four years. I did not. Because my OneOdio Studio 80 headphones required a bit of amplification to awaken their inner war cry, I never got to appreciate the wonderful sounds they could make when driven by the Quedelix. I wound up listening to some truly bass heavy tracks on my Boom app and drifted off to sleep, very happy and satisfied. This lasted until the track changed to one that made be believe that space aliens had attacked my kitchen (I was JOLTED awake to an actual audio incident, I thought) LOL. I woke up to bass audio chaos! I had difficulty processing what I was hearing, because it was “in the house” with me. Whoa! Best audio purchase EVER!!!
sbrom
This little device has been absolutely revelatory. The parametric equalizer (PEQ) functionality is where the magic happens. Unlike standard 3-band or even 10-band equalizers, the PEQ allows me to target specific frequency ranges with incredible precision. I can boost exactly the frequencies where my hearing has declined, with the ability to adjust not just the gain, but the bandwidth and center frequency of each adjustment.
The Results Are Stunning
For the first time in years, I’m hearing details in my favorite songs that I thought were lost forever. The sparkle of cymbals, the breath in a vocalist’s performance, the subtle harmonics of acoustic guitars - it’s all there again. The app interface makes it easy to fine-tune settings, and I love that I can save different profiles for different types of music or listening situations.
Beyond Just Hearing Loss
Even if you don’t have hearing challenges, the build quality and features are impressive. Bluetooth connectivity is rock-solid, battery life is excellent, and it drives my headphones with plenty of clean power. The balanced output option is a nice touch for higher-end headphones.
Highly Recommended
If you’re dealing with age-related hearing changes or just want the ultimate in EQ flexibility, the Qudelix-5K is worth every penny. It’s given me back the joy of listening to music in a way I never thought possible again. This isn’t just an audio device - it’s a hearing solution disguised as a premium DAC/amp.
Bottom Line: Sometimes the right tool makes all the difference. For anyone struggling with similar hearing challenges, this device is nothing short of life-changing.
Coffee Infusion
Where has this been all my life? Absolutely brilliant piece of kit, and a mandatory buy for anyone running iOS. Finally, a global EQ for iPhone and iPod. Yes, the buttons suck and are confusing, and no, I’ll probably never read the manual or figure out all its functionality. Every time I pick it up I accidentally push one of the buttons, they start blinking, and then I need to figure out what just happened. If you own one, you know.
The 5k is tiny and well built, although my 3.5mm TRS isn't sitting at precisely 90°. I like the aesthetics, and its super lightweight.
My Simgot EW300s sound amazing driven by it. Lots of clarity and… power... finally. Originally I thought I’d only use the USB tether, but I’m mostly using bluetooth--Apple Music still sounds good enough for my ears.
The maker put a lot of thought into this little guy. I particularly appreciate the safety features so you don't accidentally blow out your eardrums. Whenever I reconnect, it dims the volume, and you can cap the gain lest you become deaf from a Spotify ad.
I spent hours fiddling with the parametric EQ table. Fun to totally geek out on it, but if that sounds scary, the 20-band graphic EQ is as simple and straight forward as it gets. The presets are also pretty good. If they redo the buttons I’d buy another one. Otherwise, I’m done. This is the missing link I’ve always been waiting for. Hell yeah.
Charles Copeland
For a little context, I am a sort of audiophile who really just enjoys listening to music on quality equipment. I have had a a Dragonfly portable DAC in the past that worked well enough but, more recently, started using the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm instead for my Blessing 3's.
I decided to upgrade my IEM's to the Monarch MK3 and the Apple dongle still works it just doesn't have the power to run them well. Going off community recommendations I bought the Qudelix 5K and have been using it for the past week or so.
Firstly, the app is amazing! The level of options and information are a bit overwhelming but it is laid out nicely and the app works flawlessly. Being able to custom EQ or quickly set an AutoEQ profile is awesome. Now I can move the Qudelix to other devices without the need to EQ at the source.
Surprisingly the most impressive feature about it is the Bluetooth capability. I didn't expect to use this feature much but have found myself using it more often than not. Wired IEM's or over ears can be cumbersome at times, especially at work, but with LDAC I get all of the convenience of BT without losing too much fidelity.
Continuing on Bluetooth, the range is unbelievable. That integrated antenna in the Qudelix is by far the most understated features. My house isn't huge, around 2k square feet, and I can walk to any room in my house and maintain the full 990kbps rate with no interruptions or skips. They really knocked it out of the park here.
The device isn't perfect though and I do have one gripe. I find the buttons to be poorly positioned confusing to use. Because they protrude from the device they are very easy to hit and that happens all of the time. Also, because the device is so small, it is very easy to depress the wrong button while trying to change the volume or vice versa. Really hope to see a redesigned of the buttons on a future model.
I will still give it a 5 star because that is mostly a small gripe Other than that it is fantastic and worth every penny.
The Reiko
I came from the Fiio BTR7 which was usually crowned as the absolute best portable bluetooth dac amp that money can buy. It packed quite a punch of power for how small it was. unfortunately thats its biggest selling point. As the battery degraded to the point that it needs to be permanent plugged in to actually work and function. The firmware and software are genuinely awful, Unable to even just play music without the start of the song fadinh in and their seemingly being no actual way to fix it. And dont even get me started on the user repairability being absolutely nonexistent with the fact that the 2 backs are glued glass, So you at the bare minimum need a heat gun just to even get the glass off. which why not buy a new one at that point? You might be asking yourself "Ok, Why does this matter?" and thats a great question!
The Btr7 is 200$, Meanwhile this Qudelix-5k is 100$, Has AMAZING software, Packs a good enough punch to use pratically any reasonable headphone with it. AND, is even more repairable than the Btr7. Sure, It doesnt have an Oled screen like the btr7, But does it need one? I mean a screen takes power yknow. and every watt of power possible should go straight to making sure the device can be what it was intended to be, a bluetooth dac amp that works as just that. Simplicity is better.
Iv been using this with my brand new sennheiser Hd560S and it works like a charm and gets even very loud if I want it to be loud. Did I also mention the software? you can have individual EQ profile's for whatever device you are using. Built directly into the the device itself through its app. Lemme tell you, It works alot better and was far easier loading a profile than the janky setup I had for my android. which also caused lots of popping and distortion. But not here!
That means the clarity of what im listening to is very very very clear to the source media and I dont have to worry about if the device itself is gonna do weird things to the audio and mess with it in ways I may not intend for it to mess with. Unlike the Brt7 which does the exact oppisate and even allows me to have fine control over what I might wanna hear from the EQ. instead of some vague preset options that I have no idea what they are doing to the audio itself.
Its time to talk about the actual design and it is very thoughtfully designed. It actually feels like it was made with the intended purpose of being used by actual real people and not for the sole purpose of looking cool. to think that a 100$ device can somehow someway beat a device in straight up function without needing to buy extra accessories this hard is quite laughable.
With all that being said I do wish that instead of a 2.5mm balanced output we instead got a 4.4mm balanced output port. Something the Btr7 does have over the Qudelix-k5.
I know in this review I talked about the btr7 alot, Probably more than the k5 itself but I seriously need to get across to you the reader that this device far outperforms the in my own personal experience frustrating to use, far more expensive and in my own opinion wasteful device. You spend about double the price for just a bit more power and a funny little screen which is nice but it is not needed and it CERTAINLY is not 100$ more worth it in my personal opinion. In all honesty as far as I can tell you just simply can't beat this tiny little monster for its price to performance. The amazing software, amazing audio quality, amazing bluetooth connectivity. The sheer thoughtfulness of the designers of this product made a product for you with the intention that you are going to use this daily and you will not be disappointed in what you paid for.
Danis A Fickewirth
This is the one! I can't remember the last time such a small thing brought me this much joy. I got a new laptop and, of course, it couldn't drive my headphones correctly. Carrying around my tube amp everywhere and looking for places to plug in would have been kind of stupid. I looked on Reddit and saw a random seemingly intelligent sir recommending two possible dongles. I first bought the cheaper one. It was OK, but the sound cracked (maybe I got a defective unit). After returning it, this was my second try. OMG, whaaaaaat???!!!! A preset EQ that made my headphones sound BETTER than I ever remember. No farting (technical term), no cracking, no hissing...at all. An actual app that I will probably mess with for the next few months. These people really understand sound. After properly configuring the preset EQ settings for my headphones, this sounds better than my amp or any source I have around my house...and it only took 15 minutes to get it going initially. There are even more settings that look like rocket science, but I am definitely going to nerd out and learn about them. This little beast inspired me to learn more about sound. And, to my surprise, it has enough power to drive the 300 ohm 6xx unbalanced. I ordered the 2.5 balanced cable, which is coming tomorrow, but it already sounds amazing unbalanced. Now I know what I am giving people for Christmas. Literally BUMPING Tiësto as I am writing this. Feels like I cleaned my ears and got new headphones. Clear, no distortion, plus it looks simple, little and black. My best audio purchase in a long time. Thanks, random Reddit dude.
Erik Schmidt
I was an early buyer of the Qudelix in January 2021, after its original hype. After ~3.5 years and 957 hrs (tracked by the app) of abuse on my original unit, I think that my original unit is finally at its end of life. I did not baby my unit at all, using it for everything from at home listening, walking around campus, working out, running, sports and riding motorcycles. During that time, I was never really conscious about excessive wear, or worried that I would break it either. Since there are tons of reviews of what is so good about this as a DAC/Amp and its software features as a general audio product. I want to focus my review on some of the parts of it that have failed over the years, and some of its less talked about features.
The main things that have broken over the years are as follows.
1. The MEMS Mic
In it's early days, the Qudelix received multiple and frequent firmware updates quite regularly. This was good, but during one of the earlier firmware updates It completely broke the MEMS mic, and it was never fixed in future updates for me. This didn't really bother me since I barely used it, but still kind of a shame.
2. The pocket clip.
The integrated pocket clip was one of the most used features for me for the Qudelix. I used it practically every single time I used the device. After about a year and a half of use, I could feel that one side of the pocket clip was loose, and that the plastic was cracked on the hinge where the clip connects to the main body of the device. I continued to use it like normal, but after another ~2 months, the plastic fully broke and the pocket clip fell off. I "fixed" this by using a piece of kydex and epoxy to make a new pocketclip, that has held up for over a year now. Not nearly as good as the original, but still better than nothing at all.
3. Automatic Output Switching.
I honestly don't know what happened, but one day, I remember plugging in the device single ended, and I heard weird one channel/poorly grounded audio from the device. After checking, I saw that the app said it was outputting to balanced. This was weird, because normally, it could sense when I was plugged in balanced or single ended without issue. After trying to fix it in software, I just gave up and ended up setting it manually in the app which fixed the problem.
4. The battery.
After all these years, the battery life on my unit is noticeably worse than the new one I just bought. I would say that It gets about 60~70% as much as the new one, which is pretty expected after +3 years. I did not use the 80% charge limiter built into the app, but I still think the battery has held up pretty well.
If this becomes an issue for anyone. There is a teardown video, and 3rd party replacement batteries available, for under $10 USD. It requires a security T6 screwdriver, a pry tool, and a soldering iron.
5. The 3.5mm Jack
The final and probably most important thing that broke, that made me want to replace this was the 3.5mm jack. Around the 3.4 year mark, I noticed that the connection would seem loose in the 3.5mm jack and I had to twist the cable a certain way in order to get both channels to output. One day I ended up pushing a cable too far into the jack, and it ended up breaking the jack entirely (see photo). I was able to disassemble it and pull the jack back out, but it did not fix the connection issue. I have a photo of me replicating the issue on my old unit. I should note that this issue is also probably fixable if you are willing to do SMT soldering, but with all the other issues that have piled up over the years, I figured it was just time to buy a new DAC/Amp.
Again, I still believe that this is a really good device. With amazing features that make its competitors look laughable. But there are a couple of things I would really like to see in a potential version 2.
1. I would really like to see either some reinforcement on the plastic hinge where the pocket clip connects. The metal of the pocket clip is really nice, but it would be nicer if either the hinge was more durable, easily fixable/replaceable or just made of metal.
2. Replace the 2.5mm balanced jack with 4.4mm. I personally hate 2.5mm and judging by the way the industry is going (at least in 2024) people agree with me.
3. Allow me to set a volume of the output when the device is turned on.
Let me explain, when you turn on the device, it makes a beeping sound, that is entirely dependent on what you had the amp volume set to when the device is turned off. So, for example. If I was using full sized headphones at home with this with the volume set to 90dB, which with an EQ gain of -5 drops it down to 85dB. I finish using it, and turn off the Qudelix. The next day, I forgot I had it that high and turn it on with IEMs plugged in, The on sound will play at over 100dB. This is really annoying and could honestly just be fixed with a simple firmware update.
NOTE: As of Dec. 2025. This has been addressed via firmware. In app: Volume->Option->Tone Volume (Slider)
Anyway, here is what I, as a habitual user of this device want in a potential version 2. I would like the above features to be implemented, even if the cost of the product is slightly higher. I would definitely buy it. The main reason I even considered getting a BTR 15 instead of another one of these was because it has 4.4mm. Also, if a potential version 2 was a slightly bigger, and had more battery life, That would be nice as well. I would really like this to have battery competitive with other wireless options like APP2.
All in all, even with "only" 3.5 years of use on my unit, I think I got more than my money's worth. I believe that this is the most feature rich, and usable portable DAC/Amp on the market, with only a few minor flaws that could be addressed.
YK
I bought my first one about a year and a half ago, and I bought another for a friend, and now a third from drop.com for a bit cheaper.
This device practically completely relieved my want for an audio jack on phones. I mostly use it wireless, and use it wired when i'm charging the q5k, or want no audio latency.
I mostly run my Moondrop Dusk with it and the PEQ let's me apply the same EQ as the included DSP cable.
It's also capable of running my HD6xx and Arya Organic with plenty respectable performance especially for the size and it being battery powered.
I think for 99% of people these are the only dac amps you need. It's the most versatile dac amp that exists. It's plenty powerful for most headphones. It has a PEQ. It's a wireless and a wired amp. Perfect for your phone, for your desktop, even as a gaming headset amp with the inline mic support. Hell even use it as your bluetooth receiver in your car, as it has a mode for it.
My first unit started having an issue where the sound gets unbalanced and muffled after running it for 6+ hours straight. If I leave it off and come back to it like an hour later it works perfectly fine again, so it hasn't been a significant issue as it's not often I'm using it for that long straight.
I may consider sending the first unit to repair, but it does seems like you have to pay for the shipping yourself. If I do, I'll add detail on how that goes.
B. Hitay
I am a professional classical musician with a taste for variety of genres when it comes to listening to music. I own a few headphones and iems, but until I bought Qudelix 5K I would only be able to listen to my music at home. But my time outside is usually when I need to listen to music, especially while commuting on public transportation. I also own Apple's lighting - headphone adapter Dac cable, but since getting the Apple AirPods Pro, I found myself never reaching for the adapter when I leave the house, even though I enjoy my other headphones more.
Now I have found the best of both worlds with Qudelix 5K! Everyday, I can connect whichever headphone I like to take to this tiny device and instantly convert my favorite iems into bluetooth earphones.
But it is not the bluetooth that had me. There is an incredibly detailed app that pairs with this dac/amp, and it packs so many features that scratch my geek itch. The best one is the EQ which is Parametric. This give you such a variety of tinkering with the frequency, and if you find yourself overwhelmed with the technicalities of playing around with the EQ, there is a section called "AutoEQ", where you can always give yourself into the hands (or ears) of big headphone names with their preferred EQ presets, all in a huge list, including almost every make and model of earphones. While the device is really tiny, the features it has are great.
The contents are literally bigger than the box itself!
I also really like the integrated clip, which is big and sturdy. No chance of it slipping away in my experience.
Some people criticise the physical buttons on the sides. I also found them a bit weird in the beginning, but it took me less than two days to adjust and acquire the muscle memory for manipulating it. It really becomes easy after a short while. Yes, there is no volume knob, only two rocker buttons. But when you see and hold the device in your hand, you realize that such a knob would really be unnecessary in such a small device.
The sound quality is awesome! It works really well with all my headphones (I bought a balanced cable for my HD6xx for the extra power Qudelix provides from the 2.5mm output). It drives all my other headphones with ease through the 3.5mm output.
It's the best purchase I made for my music listening, connecting my phone and all my wired phones, making my commutes a real Joy!
Of course the Usb connection with my computer is absolutely wonderful too with lossless sources.
Even if your main purpose is to have bluetooth capability with your regular headphones, this is the perfect choice!
Andy Skiles
Edit: software updates have fixed most issues. This went from a one star to to a four star review. I downloaded the qudilex app and from the beginning this has absolutely been a nightmare trying to get the app to recognize the device. I did everything that the app suggested. I removed all Bluetooth devices from my settings, reinstalled the app, restarted the phone and it still will not recognize the. Device. It recognizes it intermittently and then the The app shuts off while I'm in the middle of watching a movie. I still get the sound, but I cannot access the app. It stops recognizing the device in the middle of me watching something. The reason I purchased this device is because of the feature rich aspects of the app and it's not working. I have to uninstall it several times. I have to reinstall it several times I have to continue to remove all recognized Bluetooth devices from my phone settings. I have to continuously restart my phone. I should not have to jump through so many hoops just to have the app do what it is supposed to do. It's absolutely ridiculous to have to do all of this. I'm running the latest iOS on my iPhone 13 Pro Max. There's no reason for this to happen. For my budget, This is an expensive piece of equipment, $110 to purchase this and then a brand new update (3.0.0) and it still will not recognize the 5k device. This is absolutely infuriating.”
Northshorecajun
This review is geared towards people like me. I am a music lover. A novice audiophile (maybe?) with a headphone fetish (absolutely!). My wired headphone collection includes a few over ear open back sets, a few Chi-Fi IEMs, and every on-ear with a 60-ohm driver that Koss sells :)
I've been toying with the idea of purchasing a DAC/AMP for a while, but only recently discovered the Qudelix-5K. Based on the price point and the shear amount of recommendations that this unit receives on the forums, I knew I had to look into it. Now, if you are reading this review, you are most likely in the same spot that I was in at this point in my research. You have read about the powerful EQ capabilities and the companion app with more options than you can shake a stick at. And, if you are anything like me, you are at least a little hesitant, concerned that the "true power" of this device will be over your head. DON'T BE! Let me break it down for you:
1. The app truly is wonderful. Sure, it doesn't have the fanciest UI, but it is easy to navigate. Yes, there are a lot of options that may seem overwhelming at first glance, but everything is thoughtfully documented within the app. Speaking of thoughtful documentation...
2. The user manual is great. It is accessible right in the app under the DEVICE tab. I suggest spending a few minutes with the user manual right away, before you start listening. The first section provides some valuable information on key setting for the Quedelix-5K which can impact your first impressions of the device. As an Android user, the section up front on how to change the bluetooth codec on your phone to Sony LDAC was invaluable and greatly increased the sound quality.
3. Before purchasing this unit, I was concerned that the EQ functionality would be overwhelming but is absolutely fantastic! Now look: I have a basic understanding of frequencies and equalization and can follow along (to some extent) with the technical jargon, but if I try to EQ a pair of headphones myself from scratch, I will probably do more harm than good. That is where the Auto EQ Presets come in!
A) I don't care what they are, there is probably and Auto EQ Preset for your headphones. At least, there is an Auto EQ Preset for every pair of headphones that I own. Cheap Koss on-ear headphones, yup. All of 'em. No kidding.
B) Every Auto EQ Present that I've tried made that particular set of headphones sound better. Now I understand that this is subjective. Maybe you don't like the reference curve that was used. Maybe you just want to do it yourself. Can you EQ yourself to make it sound better TO YOU? Absolutely, and Qudelix has certainly given you the tools to do it. But that's not me. I very much appreciate the Auto EQ Presets.
I have made some minor tweaks here and there to suit my preferences. For instance, the Auto EQ Preset for my QKZ x HBB IEMs has a low shelf applied to reduce the bass. I understand that this is probably technically correct, but I wanted my bass back! The extra bass fun factor is the main reason I bought these IEMs, and why I listen to them over more expensive IEMs for some music. No problem, save the Auto EQ Preset to a Custom user preset and remove the low shelf! Which brings me to:
C) You can use the Custom presents to save the Auto EQ Preset for easy access (whether you tweak it or not). First, look up your headphones on the AUTO EQ PRESET tab. Now go to the EQUALIZER tab and click on the graph to bring up the list of Custon #X presets. Long pressing one of these brings up the "Save Custom Preset" screen, which allows you to name the preset and record the Impedance and Sensitivity. Do this for all of your headphones, and you can easily recall the EQ curve with any modifications that you choose to make. In the future, plug in your headphones of choice, turn on the Qudelix-5K, click on your saved EQ curve for those headphones, and you are off. Easy!
4. Most important, it makes everything sound better. I don't subscribe to Tidal. I listen to YouTube music. I would like to try out high-res or lossless at some point, but for now I am happy with what the Qudelix-5K does to my mainstream sources.
So, there you have it. The Qudelix-5K sounds phenomenal and is an absolute no-brainer for its price point. It has all the options that the techy audiophile could wish for, and an "easy mode" for the rest of us that just want a great sound with minimal fuss. If you want your music to sound better, buy it. It's that simple.
Rafael De La Ghetto
Packet of Texas Pete for size reference.
I had a plan to try out additional LDAC dongles. Prior to this purchase my first was the FiiO BTR3K - don't think i've written anything on that, but for an entry level dongle with a balanced output for 60-70 bucks? Can't complain.
MOREOVER
For 110, I think I found something even better in this piece. Mind you, I bought these to use with IEM's, but for the fun of it I plugged in my AKG 712's and the monoprice HR-5C. Guess what? It was able to run both. Is it practical? no, but sometimes you gotta feed a little speed into your ride
It checks off the boxes for Sabre DAC/amp combos. The volume control might be the single best feature of this dongle. SUPER SUPER granular, I like getting the volume just right. Any of the hifi peeps, budget or not, know there's a bit of neurosis that goes into the hobby
Spotify, Soundcloud, FLAC playback, it's all nice. If you are so inclined to use an EQ software with this on mobile (i'm on android) I use Wavelet.
So, in summary, I don't feel the need to try any of the other fancier feature laden dongles on the market. Diminishing returns based on the reviews I've read on the ifi stuff. If I were to pick knits with this piece? I think the volume buttons can be easy to accidentally press in the wrong pocket. a hold switch perhaps? I don't run this thing efficiently - I use the 2.5mm output, high gain in the qudelix app. I would wager it's 7-8 hours of use between charges. When I use 3.5mm with the Shure SE215 I get 13-15.
**UPDATE 1/2/25 - Device is still lovely. They released a TPU case for it finally - GET IT - recesses the buttons just enough. There's a host of 3D print files available too. May give those a try as well.
In the Qudelix app I have about 290 hours of listening. I had a year of use before utilizing the app so I would at least double my overall hours listening with this to 600 hours. If you like IEM's and want an ideal on the go experience this is it, homie
M. Rodriguez
I like qudelix the sound that produce without distortion it’s amazing
Ethan C
Was initially looking for an amp/dac to power my headphones and fix issue of static leaking into my ports and hearing static sound. Exploring forums helped me shortlist to either Qudelix 5K or Fiio BTR5. What drew me to choose Qudelix 5k was the software support. The EQ setting really helped enhanced my listening experience and on-board memory allows me to switch between settings whether I'm gaming or jamming.
Nikhil Chandra
What I really like about the Qudelix 5K -
1. Has really amazing Bluetooth range. 2 walls and 1 door could not break the connectivity. Impressed.
2. Battery life is also good. For low sensitivity headphones and iems its average at high gain. There is an option to switch from normal to performance mode to help save battery.
3. App has extensions in chrome
4. Extremely light weight but packs a solid punch.
5. Connects Instantly with my Pixel 6 Pro phone.
6. Plastic Body means better at durability. I don't have to worry about it getting knocked in my bag or scratched unlike the Fiio BTR5 which has a glass and metal construction.
7. It has a metal clip that really helps while I'm jogging and using my iems.
8. Sound quality is very clear and revealing and can power any iem and demanding headphones really well. (I use Hifiman HE400se and iBasso IT00).
9. Got USB C and charges quickly
10. Balanced Output is worth it over Unbalanced 3.5mm output. 2.5mm provides immense power.
11. Can control volume of both, source device and the Qudelix DAC through app. (So convenient).
12. Small size, hence fits in pocket really well. (Portable).
13. Parametric Equalizer in the app. App is very rich in features.
14. Very high sound quality via Bluetooth.
15. Setup is easy.
16. Highly recommended for beginner Audiophiles or someone looking for a portable option on the go.
17. Charging limit can be set at 80 to maintain long life of battery. (Very thoughtful).
What I don't like about the Qudelix 5K -
1. Button are finicky, they wobble and the placement is just odd, needs some time to get used to it. Feels cheap when they make noise.
2. Can access the App setting or make changes only when connected via bluetooth.
3. App extension only limited to Chrome Browser.
4. Latency issues with Laptop. Not great for gaming.
5. Set up is easy but need a little muscle training to remember the functions of the buttons.
6. Looks very bland. Instead of sharp edges it could have smooth edges so it seemlessly blends in the pocket.
7. The indicator lights could be small so it looks subtle and high quality.
8. Not sure if it has an option to stop charging via connected through USB. If there is an option then that would be great.
Thank you.
Hamza S.
It is a killer Bluetooth DAC/amp, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Build Quality and design: The build itself is decent, but the buttons feel cheap. Also, the button placement took me a while to memorize. On one side is the volume up/down button, and on the other side is the power, play/pause, and track skip/rewind button. The latter button has a bump so you can feel it by hand, but it took me a long while to feel the buttons and use the 5k without looking.
Power and sound quality: The 5k is rated at 80mw single ended, and 240mw balanced (at 32 ohms.) Yeah, it doesn’t seem like a ton of power, but the 5k can easily power all my headphones and IEMs, ranging from Focal Elear, Moondrop Blessing 2, Moondrop S8, and even the Hifiman Sundara (though out of the 2.5mm balanced output.)
As for sound quality, I can’t tell the difference between the Qudelix 5k and my JDS Labs Atom+ stack.
App: This is the main reason to buy the Qudelix 5k. It has an app for Android and iOS, as well as a Chrome extension for PC and Mac users. The app has tons of functionality. The eq section of the app is its main selling point. You get a 10-band parametric eq along with all of the AutoEq presets by Jaakkopasanen. It includes all presets from Oratory1990, Crinacle, and others. This is perfect for iOS users who want the AutoEq function. For example, I bought the OG Moondrop Blessing 2, and I wanted to try the Dusk eq profile. I can easily do this via the Qudelix app on my iPhone.
Another feature of the app I really like, and one I don’t see people mentioning, is the battery section. It shows you at what rate the battery life is decreasing/increasing, and it also lets you set the battery limit to 80% to prolong battery health. Also, when the Qudelix 5k is plugged in to PC/Mac, it bypasses the battery when in use.
Conclusion: I highly recommend buying the Qudelix 5k for portable use. My main gripe is the odd button placement, and that’s it. The app functionality is amazing, the battery life is very good, and it has enough power for all my IEMs.
Ray B
For me, this was what I was looking for. I was skeptical about the app but found it to be excellent. The responsiveness of the app and EQ options are what makes this really shine. The Bluetooth works very well with my iOS devices. I barely need to wait for the device to connect to my iPhone/iPad as soon as I power it on. The buttons on the device are indeed small and it's a bit of fumble to remember which button does what. I ended up making a little sticker with the function icons that helps with this. Fortunately, I mostly just use the power button and don't press the wrong buttons anymore. Also the build quality is very good.
Now on to how I came across this device. I was looking to upgrade from my Fiio E17K since I got the Sennheiser HD660s headphones. The Fiio got loud enough with the unbalanced output but I was looking for more fine-grained EQ control. I originally got the Schiit IEMagni and thought I could EQ the sound with my miniDSP but found the IEMagni sounded too warm and could not be EQ'ed to sound like the Fiio. Then I started looking into other portable DACs again but since the HD660s need more power to drive them, I got the Monolith 124460 next. It had more than enough power but added some sort of flatness to the headphone sound. I still preferred how the Fiio E17K sounded overall. I also liked how the headphones sounded with the Apple Lightning->3.5mm adapter but obviously it was underpowered and lacked adjustments. I was just looking to retain the same sound qualities but with more adjustment and power. I looked at other Fiio options but didn't find something I liked, especially with the Fiio app having bad reviews.
With the balanced 2.5mm output on the Qudelix, I'm able to drive the HD660s to adequate sound levels, retain the sound qualities that I like, and more importantly have responsive EQ adjustment when I want to hone in the sound that I would like for a particular listening session.
As others have mentioned, the bass on the low end can be a toss up. For for an open back like HD660s, there's not ludicrous amounts of bass to be had anyway so it works well there. I mostly got these headphones to listen to jazz, classical, rock, etc. However, even with the lower impedance Audio Technica ATH-M30 headphone on the unbalanced output, the bass sounded muffled and definitely not as punchy as it is with the Fiio E17K. It was able to drive my MEEaudio M6 Pro IEMs with no problems however. I think this is mostly just because the DACs in this unit aren't power delivery monsters and for this being the size of a 9v battery, I'm still impressed. The balanced output definitely has more power available but I don't have a balanced closed-back headphone to test if the bass situation is better there. EDIT: I got Beyerdynamic DT150 headphones and after EQ’ing I found the bass to get tighter with the Qudelix than the Fiio. And that’s with the unbalanced output driving a 250 Ohm headphone- sufficient volume but might consider making a balanced cable since the headphones have the wiring for it. In the end I think it just comes down to the headphone you have and how well it works with this amp.
With all of the settings and tweaks available in the app, this is the best device for me. I think if they made a more powerful version of this and made the buttons easier to distinguish/locate, it would be perfect.
Melwill
I love the abundance in settings found in the Qudelix Android app, the fact that it comes in a small cardboard folded box with sealable bag for the two USB type C to C and type C to A cables. The DAC AMP comes in a small bouble wrap pouch and that is it, feeling good for environmentally friendly packaging.
The 5K comes with the battery at 40% charge and may need a firmware update when opening the app and connecting to the 5K via Bluetooth (mine did anyway), but it was quick took about 5 minutes if not less, but they do state that it takes about 5 to 20 minutes.
Running the 5K with Bluetooth has great sound quality, no static or crackling so far, then tried connecting to the 5K with my phone (Samsung Note9) using USB and noticed that the volume is slightly lower on USB vs. Bluetooth, might just be a setting that I need to change. After playing on USB for a few minutes I noticed the print on the back of the 5K and was very proud to own it, knowing it was not made in China, but in Korea(not sure if it is North or South, just glad it isn't China).
The sound quality is quite good on a pair of Sennheiser HD4.30G headphones and Kingston HyperX Cloud 2 headphones, not quite audiophile grade, but they are good for what I use them for, the cloud 2 (also tried it on cloud 1 and Alpha S) for comfort and audio and video and the HD4.30G for that good bass and clarity of sound. The K5 is still on half volume and it is plenty loud enough on both headphones, just remember to turn your volume on your phone to max volume and control the volume on the 5K instead else the audio will sound soft and weak.
If there was something that I am questioning about the 5K then it would be why it requires Bluetooth even when I plug it into my phone using USB, if I turn off Bluetooth then the 5K just flashes red and blue like the police, but there might just be a setting that I am missing for this.
I also plugged in the USB to my PC and it picked right up without requiring to install a 3rd party app and just sent the PC audio to the 5K on Windows 10, really effortless.
Regarding battery life, it says it will last about 13 hours on unbalanced and using LDAC using Bluetooth, but I just plug the 5K into my 5 volt 1 amp battery bank and it still plays while it is charging, new I would have use for that old power bank again.
All in, the Qudelix 5K is an item that just seems to keep giving, the app is amazingly detailed, though it does crash sometimes but it is not problematic crashes, it will just crash to the apps menu and you can just open the app again, much better than youtube I can tell you. A great item this, now I would like to try some balanced headphones on this, could be fun.
oldcan
This is an impressive little dac/amp/bluetooth receiver that is certainly worthy of its price point. I previously owned an ES100 and am pleased to inform that the Qudelix 5K is an improvement over the ES100 in almost every way.
The most marked improvement Quedelix 5K has to be the quality of build of the item itself. The Quedelix 5K feels solid and well-built when compared to ES100: the back clip feels much more reliable and the side buttons are less wobbly. The battery life of this device is also noticeably better than the ES100: using AAC bluetooth streaming over 3.5 unbalanced (normal profile), I get almost 2-3 hours more out of the Quedelix 5K than the ES100.
As for audio quality, the Quedelix 5K doesn't disappoint although it does sound a little too cold and analytical out-of-the-box for my liking. That being said, after fiddling with its advanced and feature-filled app, I was able to tune the unit to a sound to my liking. The PEQ function of the app is very powerful and is one of the signature features of this unit. I highly recommend owners of this device to check out the PEQ function to fine-tune the sound profile. Over all, this device is able to produce a very clear, transparent and detailed sound. Spatial positioning is also commendable.
While this is an awesome little device, it is not without shortcomings, the most noticeable of which is the ergonomic positioning of the side buttons as well as the positioning of the audio-out jacks. The location of the side buttons are far from user-friendly - I have pressed the buttons unintentionally on too many occasions to count. Without distinguishing markings to the buttons, it is very easy for one to press the wrong button and therefore triggering an unintended function. As for the location of the audio-out jacks, personally, I would prefer them to be placed on the sides as opposed to the top of the device so that the wire of the earphone/headphone doesn't poke into my neck when I clip the device to my collar.
(This is an honest, independent review of the Quedelix 5K. Quedelix offers extended warranty period for review of the product.)
Cam
Simply put, this allows you to get some of the highest quality bluetooth signal using the best available codec supported by your phone be it baseline or via developer options.
You have high and low power operating modes for you to find the right balance of performance to battery life for you. I have been able to squeeze full work days using this thing, and can just quick charge it at my desk while in use. It's construction is mostly plastic with a metal clip where it matters and needs to be robust to stand up to the wear and tear. I have been able to drive LCD-XC fairly easily, and some LCD-2's were about 85% of what I want when I'm listening to them as far as loudness is concerned, the thing is I use this almost exclusively while in the office or anywhere away from my desktop amp setup. Considering I'm able to even compare this to my desktop stack is a huge compliment as to the performance of this little giant. My standard use case for this is some highly sensitive IEM's and when I'm feeling frisky I throw some Thieaudio Monarchs on here and crank the low end EQ for some head-rattle bass.
My most loved feature is the fact that it has a microphone built into the case of the unit that's quite good by bluetooth mic standards for voice calls. This feature makes it so I can listen to any headphones, using any one of my custom cables anywhere, and still be able to take a call just by clipping it to my shirt for a few minutes. Lastly I'm currently determining where I'll be putting this in my vehicle so that I can get high quality streaming bluetooth in there every day as well.
Only real con I was able to discover after about a week of use is the volume/track rocker buttons are a little bit too easy to push. I stopped or skipped tracks about 50% of the time I've gone to take the unit out of my pocket to make a phone call. Even still the buttons can be locked totally negating this "issue"
Overall this is an easy 5 star if you're tired of accommodating something like a Hip-Dac portable battery amp. The convenience and performance of this device is something that shouldn't be passed up.
timeflies
Hi.. I'd like give my view on Qudelix 5K after using it for almost 3 months. Hopefully what I share below could help others to understand better about this device.
Qudelix 5K is a very sophisticated audio device. I notice it captures firstly/mostly the 'serious' audio lovers/enthusiasts. I myself like it so much and really amazed by its sound quality that I feel it necessary to introduce it to greater audience than just the audio enthusiasts. For this reason, I'm going to try explain it in a more simple than technical approach.
In simplest term, device like Qudelix 5K can do two things:
1. As Bluetooth receiver (receive BT audio and send out analog audio)
2. As USB to analog audio dongle (USB-C to analog audio out)
The USB-C port on 5K is dual function port. We could use it to charge the battery on 5K, or use it as interface for USB-to-analog audio dongle, or both.
Qudelix 5K send out analog audio via the 3.5mm or 2.5mm jack on top of the unit. On either of this port we could connect earphones/headphones or send the output across to the external audio amplifier (i.e. home audio or car audio).
(Note: the 2.5mm port is intended to operate in 'balanced' audio mode. If you have no idea what it is all about, please avoid to use it. Don't try to put in just any 2.5mm plug/cable, without proper 'balanced' wiring. 5K could be damaged by the wrong 2.5mm connector/cable.)
Depend on how we like to use 5K, how deep we want to dig 5K capabilities and tinker with their accompanying mobile app, we could turn this device from sounding great to amazing.
We could use Qudelix 5K just as simple BT receiver/audio dongle. The device have been pre-set up by manufacturer with optimum default settings. IMHO, the default settings on 5K is more than enough to make average/most listener to be happy with it. Enough to open them up to the world of improved audio reproduction and that while having the freedom of detached (i.e. wireless) earphone/headphone from their mobile phones.
Please don't feel degraded/depreciate when I mention 'average'. By 'average' is I mean for people enjoying music more than concerning with how their audio equipment perform (that's why there's the term 'audiophile for this kind of love :) ). I myself is more of a music lover (80% of time) than audiophile, though I really love to hear my music sounding their best.
Qudelix provide 5K with an accompanying mobile app (available for iOS on AppStore and Android on PlayStore). The app is intended to do many things such as:
- to regularly upgrade the 'software' inside Qudelix 5K; to improve its performance and stability
- to formally start the warranty of the 5K with the manufacturer
- to adjust behavior when it is connected as USB dongle
- to enable/disable certain Bluetooth audio codecs (note: by default all codecs are enabled)
- to adjust the buttons behavior/actions
- to adjust the power/battery management
- to adjust it to get the maximum sound quality (remember: this one is not mandatory to get good sound out of 5K, as I mentioned above)
- to set the built-in equalizer in 5K to adjust it to sound more to our flavor (note: human hearing and ear profiles are never the same person to person), or to 'correct' the imperfect characters of earphone/headphone, or compensate the room response of home/car audio system.
- and few more
The interesting part with the app is, the Qudelix app is actually just a user interface to set these settings on 5K. All the settings we do on the app are not saved on the app but directly on 5K and the app is no longer needed for 5K to perform. Settings on 5K will follow it everywhere regardless of the mobile phone or computer using 5K as BT receiver or USB audio dongle. So if in one occasion I used 5K with my friend's mobile phone or I used to test a mobile phone in the store, all the settings (including the sound profile) will just follow with 5K.
With such capabilities of Qudelix 5K, the app then is a little bit complex to use. You'll need time to really understand and to use all the features. I myself confused on my first time using it. But don't feel too overwhelmed but the app, if you found it is too complex to understand it, just leave it. Qudelix 5K sounded already good with its all default settings.
I don't want to cover all the settings and Qudelix capabilities here. Those could be found on their user guide. I'm going to list the things that I found amazing on Qudelix 5K.
1. Amazing Sound.
I've repeated this many times above. It simply sound amazing. Be it used with just basic AAC/Apt-X codec, or very advanced codec like LDAC, or using as USB-audio dongle. It sounded many, many times better then my other BT receiver Maceton WM4U. It sounded two or three levels above my LG V20 phone; a phone that is highly respected for the sound quality: better resolution, better music layers, better power, more finesse.
2. Long battery life.
This depend whether we want to maximize it for longer battery life or set it for best audio performance, we can get between 10 hours to 20 hours of play.
3. Powerful Driving Power
Device like Qudelix 5K is technically referred to as DAC (Digital Analog Converter). DAC will receive audio in digital format and convert it into analog audio. Analog audio is then converted by the interaction of amplifier and transducer (i.e. speaker, headphones, earphones, etc.) to become audio wave so that we human can listen to it. Normally analog audio output from DAC alone is quite low and need external amplifier to sound louder. In Qudelix 5K case, it has built-in little amplifier that is powerful enough to drive various headphones/earphones load. The 3.5mm port is powerful enough to drive many headphones. But the 2.5mm balanced port would deliver double of power. In balanced, it's quite powerful to drive my very demanding Hifiman HE5LE planar magnetic headphone to sound quite loud.
4. Amazing Bluetooth range.
Qudelix hype about the 5K unique BT antenna design, and they are not just hyping it up. I could get 5K play 8 meters away from my LG V20 phones, across 3 layers of brickwall (of about 6 inch each) at my home and that while I use LDAC as codec, and that streaming from my LG V20 that can only do BT4.2.
5. Amazing Equalizer
Qudelix 5K come with two flavors of 10 bands equalizer; Graphic Equalizer (GEQ) and Parametric Equalizer (PEQ). Equalizer is done on digital domain with 64 bits precision calculation, which mean the EQ could adjust the level of frequency and amplitude of the sound without degrading the quality of the modified sound. GEQ is something that most people familiar with. But PEQ is a beast of equalization tool. It provides a much more flexibility for us to shape the frequency of the sound to affect the response of our earphone/headphone or room response of external audio system. Note that PEQ is usually considered as professional tool. But not necessarily professional audio equipment would have PEQ in it. Some lower/mid end even only have 3 to 5 bands PEQ. Amazingly 5K come with 10 bands very high precision PEQ in such a small package.
By now, you should be able to see why I mentioned that Qudelix 5K is such a sophisticated audio device. Inside its understated appearance, Qudelix 5K is really an amazing, highly customizable and state of the art audio device.
Below is the list of audio device I used with 5K this far.
Earphone: Sony MH755, Blon BL-03, Fiio FH1
Headphone: Drop E-MU Purpleheart, Audeze Sine (in balanced), Hifiman HE-5LE (in balanced)
Source (BT transmitter): LG V20
Music/songs: I don't limit myself with certain genre of music. I listen everything: classical/romantic/baroque/renaissance, rock (progressive, rock'n'roll, hard rock etc.), jazz (all derivatives), metal, pop, folk/country, vocal, etc.
PS. Qudelix 5K has built-in microphone, which is very sensitive, but don't have noise cancellation. The voice coming out from the microphone is actually very good, but if we clipped Q5K to clothes it could easily pickup the noise of 5K rubbing the clothes and send across the sound to the other end. If we don't like this, and our earphone has built-in microphone, we can turn the 5K microphone off and instead using the external microphone on our earphone/headphone. In the other way around of usage, if our headphone/earphone don't have microphone (or we send audio output to amplifier for example) we could use the built-in microphone on Q5K for making a call.
PPS. Comparing Graphic Equalizer (GEQ) and Parametric (PEQ).
In GEQ, frequency range of human hearing (20Hz to 20KHz) are divided into about factor of two frequency scale (31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500, 1K, 2K, 4K, 8K, 16K) with fixed width of frequency range 'impact' for boost or cut as peak/valley. PEQ is a much more sophisticated equalizer in that this frequency scale can be adjusted freely by us, for how wide the impact would be, and whether the impact is affecting as peak/valley or as shelfing filter. Don't be confused and overwhelmed by this PEQ. It seems complicated at first but is really not that difficult to use. What makes it complicated is to effectively use PEQ to shape a headphone for example, we would need to have the frequency response measurement of the headphone. With that we will know on which part of response the phones are the lacking or having too much of volume. Then we rectify these with the PEQ.
The PEQ sample I attach as one of picture, show my way to correct the response of my Fiio FH1 IEM. I don't follow any 'Harman' Curve but use other excellent sounding IEM for reference. Without the EQ, it sounded smooth but flat and unexciting. PEQ turn it into a lively sounding IEM I could never imagine before.
Gary M.
This tiny device is a beast! I'm a newbie to Hi-Res Audio and I happen to stumble upon this gem. In comparison to the Fiio BTR and Qudelix 5K along with all the reviews watched Qudelix 5K far surpassed my expectation in sound quality, battery life, durability, and portable. I got impressed how awesome it sounds in my car..i hooked this tiny device onto my JL Audio Clean sweep DSP aux input via 3.5m output (rca to 3.5mm cable). The crispy and clarity they came out out of my stereo was amazing..
I'm think of buying other just for my car and use this one for my daily use with my KZ ZS10 Pro and Fiio M7 DAP..I'm one happy customer. Thank you Qudelix