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 in the marketplace.
Qudelix-5K: Worth and availability
The Quedelix-5K is out there direct from Quedelix for $109, or from Amazon for $110. You doubtless 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 could have a difficulty with the plastic physique at this worth, however it would not really feel low-cost, and there’s a purpose for that construct resolution. 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 strong Bluetooth connection to your music supply. Metallic our bodies are likely to attenuate radio frequency indicators. Have a look at the construct of your private home router, for instance. Metallic or plastic? Internally, you get quite a bit 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 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 perimeters. 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 facet of the unit, you may have the facility button, which additionally controls Bluetooth capabilities: pairing, playback, observe 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 capabilities.
Moreover the button labeling, my solely different difficulty is the selection of a 2.5mm port as an alternative of a 4.4mm port. I’m positive this resolution was based mostly 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 individuals have snapped these tiny 2.5mm pins. Your mileage could differ.
Qudelix-5K: Options
The Qudelix-5K provides nice codec assist for Bluetooth streaming, which iPhones received’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 observe as a result of app assist for the system extends to your computer systems by way of 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 inside storage. That is to say, after you have it configured to your liking, that sound profile will likely be persistent throughout each system you connect with it: automotive, telephone, pill, pc, and so forth. That additionally means it’s persistent regardless of which music apps you employ in your cell units.
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The app’s most vital 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 strategy to hear how advantageous adjustments within the EQ curve have an effect on your audio in actual time. It is a welcomed characteristic 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 may entry within the DSP tab of the app.
Positive, different producers provide EQ assist, however usually, it isn’t true PEQ. You typically get EQ presets or easy 3 or 5-band EQ assist with no possibility 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 advantageous management over quantity with separate sliders for the telephone’s quantity and the 5k’s. Observe that you may additionally management quantity straight from the 5k itself.
Quedelix 5k: Sound high quality
By itself, the Qudelix-5K reproduces audio fantastically. It doesn’t have as giant 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 hear by way of the three.5mm cable was great. The sound is well-balanced and nuanced, a delight.
Subsequent, I linked 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 after I performed “Begin a Riot” from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack! It’s a scrumptious Dolby Atmos combine that reveals what might be achieved when a producer is aware of tips on how to use these instruments successfully. The IE900s aren’t a bass head’s IEM in any respect. With the 5k’s PEQ, they turn into simply that, however the mid and high-end readability just isn’t diminished. The bass on that observe turns into downright darkish and nasty and makes me wish to get within the ring and bang leather-based with one in every of my Muay Thai buddies.
The best PEQ settings can take gratifying music and make it transcendent. They will take you from having a listening session to having a listening expertise. With the proper headphones or IEMs, after all.
It is a final observe 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 offers you EQ customization by way of their app, however the degree and number of customizations are higher with the 5k.
The closest system 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 an alternative 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 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: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase the Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC/Amp if…
- You’re excited by fine-tuning audio
- Price is a major consider your DAC buy
- You need 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 nicely value the price for the parametric EQ alone! When you think about all the unit’s different options, I believe this system is a no brainer for many who wish to find out about crafting their best sound curve or those that already know tips on how to however need a system they will take wherever and connect with virtually 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.
