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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 cellphone calls, and each single-ended and Balanced outputs (2.5mm), and you’ve got one of the versatile cell DACs in the marketplace.
Qudelix-5K: Worth and availability
The Quedelix-5K is offered direct from Quedelix for $109, or from Amazon for $110. You probably received’t discover it on sale however for the whole lot you get with the Quedelix-5K, and when in comparison with its competitors, $110 is a good worth level.
Some of us might have a problem with the plastic physique at this worth, but it surely would not really feel low cost, and there’s a motive for that construct choice. We’ll get into that in a second.
Qudelix-5K: Construct and match
The Qudelix-5K feels very mild in hand, though it’s heavy in {hardware} and software program options. It has a plastic physique, which ensures you get a stable Bluetooth connection to your music supply. Metallic our bodies are likely to attenuate radio frequency alerts. Take a look at the construct of your property router, for instance. Metallic or plastic? Internally, you get rather a lot for $110. The 5k is full of 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 cellphone 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 useful 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 amount rocker, and on the opposite aspect of the unit, you could have the ability button, which additionally controls Bluetooth capabilities: pairing, playback, monitor skipping, and cellphone calls. As soon as powered on, the buttons glow pink and blue when pressed, making them simpler to make use of. The blue-lit button controls the Bluetooth capabilities.
Moreover the button labeling, my solely different situation is the selection of a 2.5mm port as an alternative of a 4.4mm port. I’m certain this choice was primarily based on unit measurement 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 folks have snapped these tiny 2.5mm pins. Your mileage might range.
Qudelix-5K: Options
The Qudelix-5K affords nice codec help for Bluetooth streaming, which iPhones received’t be capable to make the most of. Along with the usual SBC and AAC, you additionally get help for aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and aptX HD. This is a crucial be aware as a result of app help for the gadget extends to your computer systems by means of a Chrome browser plug-in. Even with iOS’ lack of Hello-Res Bluetooth codec help, it’s best to nonetheless obtain the app as a result of iOS and iPad OS don’t have EQ help 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 shall be persistent throughout each gadget you connect with it: automobile, cellphone, pill, pc, and so forth. That additionally means it’s persistent irrespective of which music apps you utilize in your cell units.
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The app’s most necessary characteristic 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 technique to hear how high-quality adjustments within the EQ curve have an effect on your audio in actual time. It is a welcomed characteristic for audiophiles and a superb instructing software 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 computerized EQ presets that you may entry within the DSP tab of the app.
Positive, different producers provide EQ help, however typically, it isn’t true PEQ. You typically get EQ presets or easy 3 or 5-band EQ help with no choice for issues like pre-gain, headroom, peak filters, excessive or low-shelf filters, and Q issue (frequency bandwidth) adjustment.
The app may also present you the state and stats on your present enter (BT or USB-C), present you necessary battery/energy consumption stats, offer you management over acquire, and each coarse and high-quality management over quantity with separate sliders for the cellphone’s quantity and the 5k’s. Observe that you may additionally management quantity immediately from the 5k itself.
Quedelix 5k: Sound high quality
By itself, the Qudelix-5K reproduces audio fantastically. 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 energy. I hooked Sennheiser’s $1500 IEMs, the IE900, as much as the Quedelix 5k, and the primary hear by means of the three.5mm cable was great. 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 exhibits what could be achieved when a producer is aware of the way to use these instruments successfully. The IE900s aren’t a bass head’s IEM in any respect. With the 5k’s PEQ, they develop into simply that, however the mid and high-end readability just isn’t diminished. The bass on that monitor turns into downright darkish and nasty and makes me wish to get within the ring and bang leather-based with one among my Muay Thai buddies.
The correct 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 suitable headphones or IEMs, after all.
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 the whole lot 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 will provide you with EQ customization by means of their app, however the degree and number of customizations are larger with the 5k.
The closest gadget is FiiO’s BTR15, which has MQA help and native DSD help 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 an alternative of two.5mm balanced output. Shanling has their UP4 2022, which is bigger, has a bigger battery, and consists of codec help for LHDC. All of them characteristic 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: Must you purchase it?
You can purchase the Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC/Amp if…
- You’re all for fine-tuning audio
- Value is a major 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 fee for the parametric EQ alone! When you think about the entire unit’s different options, I believe this gadget is a no brainer for many who wish to find out about crafting their supreme sound curve or those that already know the way to however desire a gadget they’ll take wherever and connect with nearly any audio supply. You’ll be able to even use the 5K as a preamp.
If true PEQ piques your curiosity, look no additional. That is the one.
