Apparently, at FiiO all the same the engineering department wins marketing, other explanation to occurrence of the second generation Q1 I, perhaps, do not see. In terms of capabilities and specifications, this portable DAC clearly does not fit into its niche, offering significantly more, but let's talk about everything in order.
If you still remember the first Q1, introduced in the second half of 2015, it was such a fun portable gadget, reminiscent of the shape of a flask. He was quite good for his price ($ 100), but did not differ with anything stunning. The second generation, presented during the summer presentation, is equipped at a level that other manufacturers usually consider to be flagship: a balanced output from 220 mW to 32Ω of load, support of all resolutions to 384 kHz / 32 bits and DSD256, work with iOS devices without an adapter , a stylish compact case ... This list can be listed further, but most importantly - the price remained at the same level (yeah, $ 100), so that the freshly-announced Q5 flagship should be something to really surprise.
Specifications
- DAC: AK4452
- OU: OPA1662 + OPA2332 + OPA926
- Recommended load impedance: 16Ω ~ 150Ω
- Battery: 1800 mAh
- Charging time: <4 h
- Operating time per charge (DAC mode): > 10 h
- Support for resolution: up to 384 kHz / 32 bit, DSD to DSD256
- Dimensions: 99 mm × 59 mm × 12.5 mm
- Weight: 101g
Linear output
- Frequency range: 6 Hz ~ 80 kHz (-3 dB)
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: ≤0.003% @ 1 kHz
- Channel separation: ≥90 @ 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥110 dB
3.5 mm output
- Frequency range: 5 Hz ~ 55 kHz (-3 dB)
- Total harmonic distortion + noise (DAC mode): <0.003% @ 1 kHz
- Channel separation (amplifier mode): ≥79 @ 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio (DAC mode): ≥109 dB
- Output Impedance: <1.2Ω
- Voltage: > 4.4 Vp-p
- Power: ≥75 mW @ 32Ω, ≥11 mW @ 300Ω
Balance output
- Frequency range: 6 Hz ~ 80 kHz (-3 dB)
- Total harmonic distortion + noise (DAC mode): <0.003% @ 1 kHz
- Channel separation (amplifier mode): ≥93 @ 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio (DAC mode): ≥109 dB
- Output Impedance: <2Ω
- Voltage: > 7.4 Vp-p
- Power: ≥220 mW @ 32Ω, ≥45 mW @ 300Ω
Packing and delivery kit
It seems that FiiO designers can not come to a single style in the design of the box, the new Q1 is packed into a box of thin enough white cardboard, but printing and all the accompanying is traditionally done decently. There is also a sticker with a scratch strip that hides the verification code for originality.
Inside, except for the DAC, are:
- cute pouch on puffs to store the gadget
- Two pairs of rubber rings of different sizes for connecting the DAC and the source to a "sandwich"
- silicone gasket so that in the "sandwich" Q1 does not scratch the source
- cable for connecting Q1 as an amplifier (with two 3.5 mm plugs at the ends)
- Short Lightning-cable for connection to iOS devices
- long microUSB cable for connecting to PC and charging
- instruction and warranty card
In general, the delivery package is normal, without much luxury, although the presence of Lightning-wire in the kit is a nice bonus for users of Apple technology. There are no other wires in the kit, but a suitable cable for Android-devices is easy to find, but for users of Sony players recently came the company's cable from FiiO, and it will have to be bought separately. Although I doubt that he will need many people, but, perhaps, Sony A35 in the role of transport would look good.
Design and management
On the design, too, as it should have worked, adding to it not only "premium", but also convenience in use. For starters, the Q1 Mark II is smaller than it seems in the photos, especially the reduced thickness, still the main application of this gadget in conjunction with the smartphone. The design is made without extra pretentiousness, but the golden rings around the connectors in the spirit of the old Grundig and the "proprietary" design of the volume control give a thoughtful approach to development. All is collected very qualitatively, but it for FiiO more likely norm.
On the management of everything is usually enough. At the front end there is a volume control, combined with a power switch. A hybrid regulator circuit is used, that is, you control an analog potentiometer whose resistance is read by the encoder and used for digital adjustment. This avoids noise during rotation and channel imbalance. Near the regulator there are two indicator LEDs: one indicates that the device is on, the second is on when the signal is in the DSD format. In my copy the LEDs are blue, but in the final installments FiiO was going to use green diodes with less brightness. Directly in the middle of the front panel is a universal socket, which can act both as a line input, and as an output. Immediately there are also outputs to the headphones, the usual 3.5 mm and balanced 2.5 mm.
On the rear panel there is a microUSB-input for charging and connecting to the source, as well as two switches - Gain and bass amplification (the latter, by the way, is implemented quite neatly and is perfectly usable). The new Q1 should figure out whether it is connected to a computer or a smartphone, and in the latter case, do not charge your battery, discharging the phone. With iOS-devices it works perfectly, but with Android-phones I read complaints that sometimes Q1 does include charging mode.
Despite its compact size, the Q1 is quite durable, in my standard test (MEEAudio P1 in the role of load, gaining low, volume at a comfortable level for me, playing FLAC 44.1 / 16 via USB), the device worked for 10 hours 15 minutes, the full charge required 3 hours 50 minutes.
In other reviews, I read complaints about the fact that Q1 Mark II is susceptible to interference when used with a smartphone. I specially tested it in a "sandwich" with the iPhone 6 Plus, listening to Wi-Fi and LTE music with Deezer, no noise, except for the quiet background of the amplifier Q1 itself. Perhaps it depends on the specific smartphones, router or some other circumstances, but I could not hear any noticeable loud pickups.
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: iBasso IT03, Meze 99 Classics, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser Encore, Campfire Audio Andromeda, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
The desire to re-use a successful solution led to the fact that in the amplifying part Q1 of the second revision, the same chips are working as in the fresh amplifier of the flagship X7-2 AM3A. In combination with the improvement of DAC and USB transport, this gives Q1-2 such a noticeable difference from the Q1 of the previous revision, which can justify the lack of anything in common with the models. Moreover, the new portable "combine" bypasses the junior FiiO X1-II in quality and almost reaches the X3-III, offering a slightly worse resolution sound with a more integrated feed.
I'm not sure that it makes much sense to use Q1 Mark II as an amplifier, because almost any modern player in terms of power will be at least comparable to it, so the main usage scenario seems to me to be the DAC's role with a mobile phone as a source . The recently released FiiO Music for iOS adds this option to the usability and familiarity of other usability products. In general, all the further description of the sound is done with the iPhone 6 Plus and MacBook Pro 2016 as sources, and with a balanced output, because it has much higher power and better sound.
LFs are slightly accented in the midbass region, which gives the sound a pleasant mass effect. The resolution of the bass is normal, although not prohibitive, a biting bass can not be called here, but to relaxed imposing it even further. LFs have enough mass to sound naturally, textures are also transmitted at a decent level. Deep LFs are present, but are not output in advance, so as not to muffle the rest of the range. In general, decent for their price, low-frequency, moderately underlined, but having a normal resolution, this bass transmission is typical enough for modern sources of budget and initial-middle segments. For fans of extra massiveness, there is a bass amplifier that gently "lifts" the lower half of the frequency range.
Middle frequencies, perhaps, are the strongest side of this device, they are detailed, very musical and pleasing with emotionality. Of course, before the resolution and development of the players of the middle segment Q1 of the new revision is far away, but the player of the initial level, he bypasses, both in terms of the technical component and the "involvement" of the listener in the music. DAC plays out the material with good detail, without slipping into sharpness, and manages not to stick out the flaws of the recording. The imaginary scene is slightly more than the average in width and slightly less in depth, but the separation in both directions is quite good.
As for HF, then, on the one hand, they are quite interestingly colored: the lower HF is slightly highlighted, and the rest of the range, on the contrary, is softened, this gives pleasant detail without fatigue. On the other hand, it is not possible to call such a pitch natural, however, to want natural HF from the device in the budget price range is clearly illogical. So this attempt to make the sound more interesting than it really is, can be counted more as an asset of the DAC than in the passive.
Comparisons, I will not conduct, since I do not have other comparable portable DACs, but I do not see the point in comparing with the players, since everything will be reduced to "better FiiO X1-2, somewhere at Cayin N3, slightly worse FiiO X3 -3, however, here it is necessary to make an amendment to tastes. "
Compatibility
Almost everything that concerned the choice of the source of the digital signal for Q1 of the second revision, I already wrote above. As for the choice of headphones, then with a balanced output this kid has a good power reserve for almost any headphones from among those that it makes sense to use in a portable. With sensitive IEM there is little noise, but its level is quite low and with models that do not have hypersensitivity, it is almost impossible to hear it.
Genre Q1 Mark II omnivorous (of course, taking into account the price category), pickiness to the quality of the material is somewhere 6 out of 10.
Several traditional sample tracks
André Manoukian - Danse du sable . Unusual jazz processing of the well-known melody performed by Q1 sounds very pleasant: careful piano work, bass solid notes, light, non-tensioning percussion - everything is in its place.
Miles Davis - Human Nature . Another facet of the talent of the greatest jazzman was revealed on the album "You're Under Arrest", which pleased connoisseurs with two excellent cover versions of pop hits. It would be too easy to take "Time After Time", so I chose the second cover, for the song of Michael Jackson. Observed harvester and then shows itself at a decent level, pleasing the musicality of the presentation.
Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love . Well, I wanted to finish something with a drive and energy, and, perhaps, nothing better than one of the main hits JA I would not have thought of. Q1 Mk II and then "holds the mark", clearly acting out both the instrumental part and vocals Grace Slick.
conclusions
Before our eyes FiiO repositioned the junior harvester of its line. The first Q1 was rather a portable amplifier, in which the function of the DAC was added. The new Q1 is a full-fledged portable DAC, which has a full range of modern capabilities - from balanced output to MFi certification. Fortunately, in the pursuit of chips, developers have not forgotten about the sound and friendly to the consumer price.
The article is based on materials .
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