- FiiO needs you to know that hi-res audio’s about to go ‘actually mainstream’
- …and the QX13 is priced to mirror that
- Produced from 21 layers of carbon fiber for a light-weight but sturdy construct
You realize what my favourite type of audio gadget is? One which makes individuals go ‘What is that?’ ideally with the follow-up query, ‘And in addition, what do the numbers imply?’
That is one such piece of equipment. It is nearly like the hand-held super-computer Ziggy in Quantum Leap – as a result of whereas no person actually understands all the things about it, everybody agrees it is a Good Factor. And with Spotify HiFi launch rumors gathering momentum (latest reviews counsel it’d land in late 2025, and be known as ‘Spotify Music Professional’), when hi-res goes mainstream, you do not wish to be left unable to take benefit…
What you are is the FiiO QX13, a pocket DAC and headphone amp to your cellphone, laptop computer, or video games console – a gateway to the world of hi-res audio on the go. And though it’s a flagship product and one which marks 18 years of FiiO’s audio experience, it is not notably expensive both.
New to the world of headphone DACs? That is wonderful: each product you personal that accepts and performs a digital music sign (your cellphone, wi-fi earbuds, laptop computer, Bluetooth audio system, and so forth) has its personal built-in DAC.
The factor is, lots of them are cheap, and including a standalone devoted (learn: higher) choice to the audio path can stage up what you hear quite a bit. Moreover, the added amplification may help give oomph and quantity to hard-to-drive headphones wired as much as your cellphone or a conveyable participant.
How does this explicit DAC work? Add any audio supply with USB-C, and you have it. You simply breathed new life into your wired headphones.
The QX13 can absolutely decode MQA music and is suitable with file codecs comparable to DSD512 and 768Hz / 32-bit tracks. A 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone socket ensures vast compatibility with all headphones, too.
DAC’s proper
And it is fairly a looker, no? The QX13 is made with 21 layers of carbon fiber for a light-weight but sturdy construct to indicate off its “further giant” 1.99-inch hardened IPS coloration show.
The QX13 additionally introduces the flagship Ess Sabre Professional ES9027PRO chip, really helpful to be used in full-size hi-fi techniques. Nevertheless, FiiO has achieved a “micro DAC/AMP design” created to profit from your headphones and IEMs. The chip options 8 channels arrange in parallel, and is paired with two ultra-low-noise ES9312 regulators for exact output matching on every audio channel.
After all, FiiO would level you in direction of its personal IEMs to pair them with – probably the FiiO FH19 (that are superb certainly) and FiiO notes that the QX13 arrives with an (elective) magnetic leather-based case, suitable with the customized FiiO energy ‘estick’ pack for light-weight portability with powerhouse efficiency in Desktop Mode. Select the magnetic leather-based case to mix each gadgets in a single unit.
The QX13 is now obtainable, priced $219 / £219 (round AU$450), and if that sounds a bit of wealthy to your blood, be aware that rival iFi’s flagship DAC, the iFi iDSD Valkyrie, is available in at a cool $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,999 (approx). So, there’s that choice additionally…
