REVIEW! Fiio Q3 vs. hip-dac
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- I'm still on the hunt for the perfect portable DAC/amp. Is the Fiio Q3 it? I compared it with the iFi hip-dac and the xDuoo XP-2 Pro.
00:00 Product info & Pricing
03:04 What's in the box
05:15 Build quality
07:20 Buttons
10:40 Inputs / Outputs
12:45 Functionality & Usability
15:55 Volume & Power
17:30 Q3 with Android
18:50 Sound quality
21:15 Battery life
21:45 Q3 with IEMs
24:15 Deal breaker?
26:00 Conclusion & Rating
See the Fiio Q3 on Amazon: amzn.to/3lp1Nw5
FYI: I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Music by Birocratic. Check him out on Soundcloud: / birocratic
UPDATE: Fiio reached out to me in January saying that they've updated the cable that comes with the Q3 to avoid the issue I experienced with two separate Q3s. They sent me a new Q3 with the updated cable, and I've been using it ever since without any problems 🤞
Which cable do you have a problem with? (Type C to C?)
@@fordniky5390 I've been using C to C, yes.
I also had an issue with the lightning cable, not being recognized by the phone, fresh out the box so it seems that are "some" issues overall with the included cables.
But when that one breaks they don't sell that cable separately I think.
The cable was clearly stated as not the issue here… as other cables had the same problem if I heard the review correctly.
I also note a fair number of reviews on Amazon mentioning the faulty USBC connector on the unit. Probably weak solder joints or not enough support for the USBC connector in the unit. With the pressure from plugging / unplugging the cable micro cracks are created. This sounds like a case of classic bad solder joints.
I hope they address the issue! I was about to purchase this box, then read those Amazon reviews and opted for something else. A garbage cable is easy for me to resolve (have quite a few spares lying around) but bad internals are a non-starter!
Volume knob issue: I’ll join you in the nut club, but I find myself frequently adjusting volume-even during a single song. It’s just how I listen. It’s easy to do on the Hip DAC. I was considering the FiiO because it’s smaller, but you saved me some money!
Knob feel is crucial. That's going on my grave.
Never had an issue with my Q3 USB port, the single port for charging is an advantage for me because I also use mine with my laptop a lot so I can just flip the charge switch and have it be powered straight from my laptop. As for your Ifi channel imbalance that's caused by the fact that it has analogue volume control (potentiometer) and its normal for those to have a bit of imbalance when turned down (I have imbalance at very low volumes with my XD-05 and Emotiva A-100 BasX). The Q3 has digital volume control so the knob is a rotary encoder which has the advantage of no channel imbalance as for the noise floor that is constantly at its highest because the digital volume control doesn't affect that, analogue volume control controls the power right at the output so if you turn that down it also turns down the noise floor.
That's my question.
If I'm connected to my Lenovo laptop computer via the USB, and my headphones are connected in front thru one of the jacks, then aren't we able to listen and charge at the same time??
Also, is it bad to leave the USB plugged in when it's already fully charged?
@@bradhuskers yes you can listen and charge at the same time. Leaving it plugged in when it's fully charged wont hurt it.
Even though the output is not very powerful but it is well very clean!! The background is pitch dark!!
Thanks for your well-detailed review
It is that 👍
I'm looking for adac/amp for my desktop setup and this seems like a pretty good option considering I'm
A. On a budget
B. Have limited space on my desk
C. Want something fairly neutral
And D. The black with red accents aesthetic fits the rest of my detup really well
I have the Q3 MQA, which is the successor to this. Obviously they fixed everything because nothing you speak of is present in mine. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and it’s flawless. I have the Fiio BTR7 and Fiio KA5, and between the three, I prefer the Q3 MQA. The only thing I miss is app capabilities but I’m okay with that.
Nice to hear that, will arrive tomorrow the MQA model, i hear that bass boost is middle not low bass, is that true, mate?
This is a pretty good DAC from what I read. I've got an Topping NX4 DSD which has similar output power (at 32 ohm) but does not need a a balanced cable to support that amount of power. Might be an alternative to the Q3, because one saves the price for balanced cable.
The NX4 DSD also comes with a separate charging port which I agree
is the better solution
I just use a few buck balanced 3.5 female to 4.4 adapter honestly and get the same power even without a balanced cable
You've literally become my favourite UA-cam audio reviewer. Not only are your videos very well put together, you seem to have the same ear as me because I've noticed your reviews on the products i own match 💯 which means i wouldn't mind taking product advice from you in the future.
Also, this channel deserves way more subs/views... Keep up the brilliant work 👌
Right on, glad to be of help Alan ✌️
Also he does this stuff live? His delivery is insanely good!
I have a Fiio Kilimanjaro amp that I brought in 2012 and its been fantastic over the years, have taken it all over the world and used it pared with Sony MDR-7506 headphones, I cant recommend their products enough
you talking about that little thing fiio e11 kilimanjaro amp? man, I still have that. That little thing can power a hd650 to unpleasant levels even on low gain. and compared to ifi hip dac that's almost double as loud. Althought, e11 isn't that good sounding, I still haven't yet found a portable solution that's louder than e11
@ASHISH62 I power set of Sony MDR7506 professional headphones and agree with you, its a real power house but do replace the battery when you can as it degrades it seems to affect output power delivery
@@Mike-ry4ti yeah, agreed. I too have bought another battery. I have a cheap work around for its charging though. I charge the second battery using a generic (cheap and ugly but works ) charger.. That way I'm always listening to it while the other battery charges. XD
Me too, I have it for 10 years and still going strong, good sound quality and loud volume.
That's what thx is about. Delivery of what the artist intended
Thanks for the review. A bit odd though to drop a deal breaker like that after 26 minutes of generally positive review..
FWIW, Fiio sent me an updated unit + cable that seems to be holding up.
Thanks for this in-depth! Lots learned especially the delicate USB-C port...unfortunate deal breaker
Check my note in the pinned comment -- seems Fiio have been able to address the issue with a new cable. I've been testing it since January, it's holding up.
@@SuperReview Thanks again! I really wanted to like this unit. Any chance you have directly compared it to the Hip-Dac? And if so, can you say one other is truly best or is it down to the preference of sound (neutral vs. warm) thanks
I made some comparisons to hip-dac in this video. Basically, hip-dac has slightly warmer tone, more power, and a nicer volume knob. Q3 is smaller, more neutral sound, and I think performs better with IEMs (less audible noise floor).
@@SuperReview Great, I have ordered both and will see which work best with my open-ear Sennheisers. Seems like hip-dac may be best for my setup especially given the open-ear are natrually lacking in bass & prefer more power but I also love how small the Q3 is as you said in review.
@@SuperReview if i want to use iem only. Should i just go for Q3? My iem fiio fh3 which is easy to drive
Use tag paper from, micro cloth, pillow case etc. to secure lightning/usb-c to phone and amplifier-for a secure fit. This works great to prevent Fiio amp/dac from going out, just cut a slit in tag feed through. and cut excess tag paper away with scissors.
I am auditioning Q3 and Hip Dac at the moment. Have not had the cable problem with Q3. Sound wise they are very close to my ears. The Bass Boost on the Hip DAC brings out sub bass more. But Q3 is more subtle in that regard. To my ears the Q3 has more sparkle and air up top. I am not noticing the thing about Hip Dac having warmer mid-range. It is just overall a bit softer than the Q3 which is both good and bad... By the way I am using both with the Phillips Fidelio X2hr, known to be a wee bit spiky in the treble...
Question.
You said when using the dac amp for the phone. You must unplug it and then charge it.
But what about using it with my Lenovo laptop computer?
Because if I connect the amp via the USB port, and connect my headphones into the 3.5 mm hole, aren't I charging and listening at the same time?
I'm not sure if it'll charge off of a computer USB port. I would guess that it will charge -- but you'll have to flip the Charge switch, which basically prevents you from listening + charging at the same time.
Ended up buying the hip dac, saw that very short double right angle cable that you used where did you purchase that?
It's this xDuoo cable. Warning: I had to shave it down with a Dremel to fit in the hip-dac. www.xduoo.net/product/type-c-to-usb-a-audio-cable/
I've been using a Topping NX1s with Volume wheel as a great Amp under $40 with my Sony NW-a55 so far ,is it ok to go to your discord site,I prefer hanging back unless I have a question plus I bought Bose 901 speakers when they had just come out so I may be dated, my Walkman 105 is my favorite but its battery doesn't last me long enough my Soundmagic A30 adapter sounds as good as the FiiO to me
If i understand you correctly, then you say that the Q3 with 300mw at 32 ohm is enough to drive the Sundaras ? I'm asking because some people say that one would need 1000mW is needed for the Sundaras( I disagree ). FYI the Sundaras are at at 37 Ohm but their efficiency is much less than the Sennheisers you mentioned. Which is why they need more power than one might expect by just looking at the ohm number.
I had no issues getting Sundara plenty loud on the 3.5mm connection, which according to Fiio is just 160mW.
Hi, great comparison! Do you suggest the Q3 or Hip dac 2 to play my k712 pro? At the moment I'm playing them with a Marantz PM6006, thank you!
Either will work.
thanks for the vid, have you ever tried q5s? What are your thoughts or comparisons on sound quality if you have..
I haven't tried the Q5s, no. I was pretty interested but turned off by Micro USB. But now they've updated it...
@@SuperReview I subbed so if you ever get our hands on one lol for some reason out of the box I noticed an improvement with q3 but everyone was saying go with q5
Great review! Would you recommend this or the ifi for the HD660s? Thank you in advance!
I'd take the hip-dac. For IEMs, the Fiio is better.
@@SuperReview Thank you! I appreciate the quick response!
I have the HD660S with the Hip DAC and I think it sounds amazing. Really nice pairing
A question, if I am using a portable DAC between my headphones and my 3.5mm jack MP3 output, is it better to use the balanced output jack instead or it does not matter since I am using DAC?
Typically I find balanced provides more power output, but has more hiss and less volume range. Use whatever fits the headphone you're using.
How does it compare to q1 mk2? I own that and was wondering if this is a big upgrade.
Have you also heard of xduoo xd05 Balanced?
I haven't used the Q1, sorry.
Do you enjoy the q1? I'm disappointed in it and looking to get something else... Thinking of the ifi or topping nx4
I bought a hip-dac2 iFi, a nice product, it sounds very good with my Galaxy A71, the only problem is that it is a little behind with the high frequencies and sometimes I have to touch the equalizer to raise them a bit. It goes well with headphones that are bright in the high frequencies. I am undecided whether to return it with a Fiio Q3-MQA. Anyone can advise me? Thank you
hello my frind and how or with which cable I coonect the Q3 on balanced mode? do i need to buy a extra cable and when yes which please my frind
Great video! I have a question though, I just got some IEMs but I'm not sure if they are sensitive enough to hear that hiss you talk about. I got the Westone B50, their impedance is 25 Ohms, do you think I'd hear the hiss with this or the Hip Dac? I don't want to.
Could be. I haven't used that earphone, but it looks like it has the same sensitivity as my Magaosi K5. Hiss on this Q3 is pretty minor, of the DAC/amps I've used I think this is the best for IEMs in that sense. Or just get an Apple dongle TBH.
@@SuperReview thanks for the super fast response! I decided to cancel my hip dac order and instead make an extra effort to get the ifi idsd Nano BL. Its 50 bucks more, but I read from multiple pages that they are perfect for IEMs. I hope they are right 😅
Nice 👍
@@SuperReview btw I do recommend checking out the B50s if you have the chance, they are a thing of beauty 👍🏻
I use my hip-dac with iBasso IT01 and iMore 3 and love the way the hip-dac works with the IEMs.
So I'm connecting this amp with my Lenovo laptop computer via the USB port. And I'll plug my sundara headphones into the headphone jack in the front of the dac. So will it charge and let me listen at the same time?
And is it safe to leave the USB connected fully charged?
I second this question
I third this question
With the Q3 plugged to my phone, and a headset connected to the DAC, can I make phone calls? I do not mind if the mic used is the one on my phone, but I want to listen to the caller in my headset. What phones have you tried?
Hi ! I need a dongle dac for Meze 99 Classics and I'm stuck between the Earmen Eagle, A&K PEE51 and Moondrop Dawn 3.5 mm. Which one of these should I buy or I need something else? I listen mainly to classical orchestral pieces. Thanks!!
Literally anything.
Is the ifi hip dac louder on the 3.5 mm output on the HD600 than the Q3? You should try the NX4 DSD as some had suggested before.
I did not compare that directly, but yes, hip-dac should be louder. hip-dac is 280mW @ 32 ohms, Q3 is 160mW.
@@SuperReview thanks for the reply, did you found a portable DAC/AMP that suits you better?
hip-dac is my favorite I've tried so far, but also like the Zishan U1... though it doesn't work well on Android :\
which should i get now the ifi hip dac 2 ?
I just ordered massdrop HD6xx.
I am still deciding which one I should buy, Q3 or Hip-dac2.
Is Q3 suitable for 300-impedance headphones?
Yeah, should power them well.
So I have the Q3 for about 2 months now. I never had any issues with the USB-C connection. Did you contact FiiO about that? I guess you just got a faulty unit. To rate a unit on the stiffness of a button is just ridicoulus in my opinion... but that's just me. The most important thing about the button is in fact that it is a digital one and you never get any channel imbalances. Perfect for listening at lower volumes. The Q3 performs best if you use balanced cables and then it can drive big cans pretty well. My daily drivers are HD660S and using the 4.4mm Pentaconn I usually listen at 40-50% of max volume. With my FH3 using the 2.5mm balanced output 15-25% of max volume. To this day I never used the gain boost...You can charge and listen at the same time and the unit does not get hot! The sound of the Q3 is pretty neutral and has great detail. If you want that warm easy listening sound go with the iFi. If you want something neutral that resolves very well get the Q3.
For the record on the USB-C cable thing, I replaced my first Q3 when that problem started and then it happened AGAIN on a second unit. Otherwise I would've assumed a one-off issue, which happen. Fiio has sent me a third Q3 with a supposedly updated cable I'm testing currently. So far so good, but I haven't had it for long yet.
@@SuperReview Thats indeed pretty unfortunate. But kudos to FiiO for sending you a 3rd unit. Let us know what you think about the Q3 after finally testing a working unit ;) As mention before the balanced output is far superior on the Q3 from my experience and would love to hear your thoughts on it. Meanwhile I am using the Q3 with enabled Gain only with all my non in-ear headphones... drives my HD660S muc better for example. Thanks for your feedback mate, appreciated.
My q3 get hot when I charge and listen a the same time
The stiff dial thing makes sense, we are humans and avoid bothering with suboptimal things...
How does it compare to the K3? I want a cheap dac amp for my desktop for my hd6xx, i dont have much experience with high quality audio.
I think the K3 doesn't have a battery. It may still run off of a phone, but will drain the phone's battery.
@@SuperReview its not for a phone its for my MacBook Pro
what would you recommend to me, I have beyerdynamic dt 990 pro headphones and would want an amp/dac that can drive them while also having an internal battery so it doesn't have to draw power from my phone
My favorite DAC/amp so far is iFi hip-dac.
@@SuperReview ok thanks, looks like a good amp/dac but what was that thing about the hiss? Is it noticable or disrupting??
If using with sensitive IEMs, it's noticeable. For IEMs, I'd just use an Apple dongle.
What this against the FiiO Q11? I about to get one but still not sure witch one. Thanks!
Is there a portable amp/dac for smartphone that push vocals forward from the mix existe?
I have a hifiman sundara ,I m currently using it plugged in my phone ( I know ,shame on me)
You could get something like Qudelix and use the EQ to push upper midrange (2-4kHz) up.
@@SuperReview thanks😁
Hi, I just used q3 mqa version, amp. The sound is very tinny and shouty. I earlier was using the hip DAC 1, and it sounded very warm and clean. Just want to know, how the q3 sounded to you as against the hip DAC 1. Thanks
They don't sound significantly different to me.
@@SuperReview Thanks, is the sound from q3 warm and clean. Which iem or headphones did you use and at what volume on the q3. To which source was the q3 hooked up. Thanks
If I say Fiio Q3 vs LG V60 build in quad dac?
I already have V60, and if i buy FiiO Q3 is it gonna be better? Because LG V60 already have a great amp/dac.
Any help will be appreciated
I've never heard an LG phone, but the difference between most sources is just power and noise floor (his). This has very little noise floor, and decent power.
@@SuperReview wow, cool thnx for replying, so I'm gonna buy Q3 and pair it with LG. Thnx for info
With my hifiman he4xx with the q3 I get some distortion in the low end maybe not enough power
balance output?
@@rapsusklei98 I bought a more powerful amp and now it's fine
The Fiio q3 can move the AKG K702s well (62ohms / 105db)?
I haven't tried specifically, but I expect it will be easy for the Q3.
@@SuperReview I also hope the same
Q3 charges in use if you flick the switch while using. You want powerful output, use balanced.
How does it compare to that walkman you had there? Soundwise.
The Fiio gets louder.
What's the single best portable amp/dac overall ? I want it for mest mk2.
For IEMs, dongles.
Which one will sound better with fiio FH3? the Q3 or the ifi hip dac?
Q3 might be a bit better since it doesn't hiss.
@@SuperReview thank you
Amazing content . I am new to all this. I am a Koss head phone user and looking for a good DAC amp . I don’t need any blue tooth and just want to use it with my iPad and iPhone via wired connection.
The apple dongle is good but wanted something better. I did not like bt audio on btr5 . Will Fiio q3 or ka3 dongle fit the bill. Do you have any other suggestions for a pristine listening experience . I am also concerned that you cannot use non Fiio cables for lightening to usbc. Appreciate any input
Consider iFi Hip-Dac.
@@SuperReview thx for the input . Much appreciated.
Where did you buy usb female to usb c on your hipdac??
I want to ask that too!
It's an xDuoo cable, I had to shave it a bit with a Dremel. www.xduoo.net/product/type-c-to-usb-a-audio-cable/
Did you use Xperia 10 ii device? How does sound quality is it good?
I have an Xperia 10 (original). I don't use the headphone jack on it, it doesn't sound great TBH. But when connected to something like this Fiio, the sound is all determined by the Fiio. So it sounds good with a device like this.
@@SuperReview thank you for replying, so for good audio quality just use portable DAC rather than depend on phone DAC which not strong and good enough right? Thank for clearing my doubt on this
Yes, although I will add that a $9 Apple USB-C-to-headphone adapter will sound perfectly good too, just won't power some headphones as well as something like this Fiio.
Can i use the Ifi with my AirPods Max with the proper dongles?
Uh, I think if you use Apple's 3.5mm > Lightning headphone cable, yeah.
Does anyone know if this will allow the output of apple lossleds and hi res audio if connected to iphone or ipad.. i saw a review saying he was not getting it?
According to the specs sheet, it supports up to 32-bit and 768kHz sample rate. Most ✌️hi-res✌️ audio caps out at 24-bit / 96kHz. www.fiio.com/q3_parameters
@@SuperReview Thanks, I have read that however, I found a reviewer of the Q3 that when he connected ipad to the q3 that the q3 was not showing it was playing hi res as the light indicator was blue...I am just trying to figure out if this what I want for my mobile unit for apple lossless I have a a good preamp for my stereo that I can use as my dad for my home audio. Thanks!
Can I use any usb c to usb c cable to connect my amp dac to my laptop? The ones that comes with It are too short.
USB-C is a bit complicated, there are some that work only for power and not data. But it should work with any standard USB data cable.
@@SuperReview I see. Thanks for answering! 😁
Have you ever looked at its bigger brother the S5, I haven't got a desk stack yet was thinking of the schiit entry level amp and dac units but the S5 has interchangeable amps and could be used carried with a phone or dap, around 80 bucks more and not as powerful but could be a very flexible Unit?
I haven't tried it, but it looks pretty good. I dunno about the amp swapping, though, that seems a bit gimmicky.
@@SuperReview looking more at it, it's not so much amp swapping as a price thing, the units go from relatively cheap to several times the cost of the unit itself, so I think you pick the power you want and go with it. Upgrading the amp after an initial selections ems super wasteful
How did you get the xduoo cable to fit in the hip dac?
I shaved it down, I forget how but probably (carefully) using a razor blade. Or maybe a Dremel.
How about the impression of sundara when attached to this dac ? Good or bad pair?
Is the q3 deliver enough juice for sundara (via 3.5mm)?
I think I talked about it in the video, but yeah, this'll power Sundara well via 3.5mm.
Tldr: Just get the BTR5 or BTR3K
So who is the best?
Ifi hip/ fiioq3/ xduo xp 2 pro/ xduo xd 05 basic?
Haven't tried the XD05. Between the others, I like hip-dac for headphones, Q3 for IEMs.
Does it affect the sound when watching youtube? Because my dongle ibasso dc03 doesn't
Yes, UA-cam audio will route through this as long as another app hasn't "stolen" control. (Some music apps will request to use the device -- if you allow that, no other audio will play through it until after you power cycle it.)
@@SuperReview i am so sorry. Tested it again. Actually it affected youtube sounds too. Just not as good as music player app (got EQ tuning). So my ears can't tell the difference except louder sound
@@SuperReview I just bought FiiO Q3 secondhand this afternoon. Sounds better than iBasso DC03 dongle. Haven't test iFi hip dac, but most reviews says it is warmer, which is not my preference.
FiiO Q3 is more expensive 2.7X than iBasso DC03 in my country. But I expect more performance. To me iBasso is pretty powerful considering its price. If you use EQ tuning like me, both are quite comparable in sound quality. But non-tuneable apps such as UA-cam, the sound difference is huge. Q3 > DC03. Dongle has best portability, other than bluetooth. Anyway, I decide to keep Q3 until I get bored. Will upgrade to iFi nano black label or better IEM in future. Thanks for your suggestion
I need one to boost my car aux sound with one will you recommend fot a iPhone
This: www.apple.com/shop/product/MMX62AM/A/lightning-to-35-mm-headphone-jack-adapter
Hello. Which is better? Soundquality. Thank you
18:50
So if I have Fiio FH5 with stereo cable I'm unable to use Q3?
You can use Q3 as long as you're using USB-C input.
@@SuperReview Oh, so I can connect Q3 to phone with USB-C and then i have free 3.5 output. Thx
Yep 👍
I have accidentally disconnected also with my ifi hip dac...the cable is sensitive
Noooooooo
If I use ciem UE11pro What should i buy?
Apple dongle.
Fiio q3 or hip-dac for electronic music edm, techno, trance?
The genre of music you listen to just doesn't matter for this choice.
@@SuperReview so from sound perspective which one is better sound quality?
They're nearly indistinguishable. Fiio is a bit better with IEMs, hip-dac maybe a bit better with headphones.
Which one is better with iPhone 7 Plus. Thanks!
What's different about iPhone 7 that would change things?
25:15 i had the same problem with my Fiio Q2 , but i used it mainly on my desktop. Dead after 3 years of use. I'm still disappointed by Fiio hardware reliability / quality...
I don't get it, its not good because the volume dial is stiff? Isn't that a good thing cause then it doesn't change accidentally in your pocket?
One-handed use and pocketability are probably a challenge to balance. In the case of Q3, I don't think it's just a matter of stiffness, but specifically the knob gets stiffer / offers more resistance when you apply lateral pressure from one side (e.g. trying to rotate with one thumb).
But my bigger issue with the Q3 is that the USB port was unable to keep connection when the cable was nudged. FWIW, Fiio sent me a third Q3 with an updated cable, and so far it's holding up.
@@SuperReview ok thx man, I couldn't decide between the q3 and hip dac initially but I'm now set on the q3 because it has more neutral sound compared to the hip dac... as I'm starting this hobby thing I'm thinking going for neutral stuff and learning how songs are like meant to sound is the way to go, then get stuff with more flavor or whatever... but thanks for pointing out that cable issue, hopefully I don't get a bad unit
FWIW, I haven't seen anyone else have the same issue with the cable that I had.
Cables eh ! The Fiio Q11 was marked down for a flimsy bespoke lightning cable which when it broke could not be replaced. The Hip Dac 2 has several reports of the USB input plug becoming loose after a few months. So I though the Q3 might be the answer. Maybe, maybe not. All this hi-tech wizardry that becomes undone for the sake of a cable or a plug.
Are buttons for playback controls necessary on a device that will be wired to source anyway? Bluetooth dac/amp you obviously need them but on something like this it seems pointless.
If the source doesn't have playback buttons, yeah -- I like having physical playback buttons.
Is this now obsolete since THX released their own USB DAC?
If your only concern is having the word "THX" printed on it, sure.
Q3 uses batery conected direct on PC, or no ?
Sorry, I did not test that.
Probably a stupid question. How much better it is to use dac than listen music from the phone? I don't have any experiences with this.
btw I have Fiio fh3.
Thank
Depends on your phone, some have decent DAC/amps built in, a lot don't. FH3 is sensitive enough to pick up bad qualities of cheaper DAC/amps. Believe it or not, the Apple USB-C-3.5mm dongle actually sounds really good, and will have plenty of power for your FH3. I recommend that to clear up any doubts.
@@SuperReview Thank you for answer!
I cant deicde wich buyy, fiio q3 or the hip dac? someone may help me
I like the hip-dac better, but for sensitive IEMs better off with the Q3.
@@SuperReview I'm so sorry but what IEMs means?
In-ear monitors -- aka, earphones.
Q3 or ifi hip dac?to pair with FH3 and T2 Plus
I like Q3 better for IEMs, less hiss.
@@SuperReview ty for replying!!
Two things worth mentioning: 1. The Q3 doesn’t do MQA. The Hip dac does. So if you’re streaming Tidal, that might be a dealbreaker. 2. The Hip dac can be used while constantly powered from a charger in a wall socket. It will bypass the battery (this is something I’ve read, so a little disclaimer there). This can’t be done with the Q3 obviously, since it only has the usb-c port for charging and connecting another device.
Interesting notes, thanks. I'll be honest, I've never once used an MQA or DSD file.
@@SuperReview I guess purely from a technical point of view, it is better quality music. Whether our human ears can hear the difference.. I don’t think so. So I’m playing mqa for all the other creatures (and aliens) that might like it. 😂
The thing I like about the hip dac is the easy to see LED on the music source I’m listening to, quick way to see if the streaming service you’re using is actually outputting what they claim. I have a hip dac connected to an iPhone 12 Pro and a pair of Grado sr80’s and it’s been pretty flawless. I’ve gone through all the free trials of Apple Music, Spotify premium, Tidal HiFi and Qobuz and only 2 are very transparent of what frequency audio you are listening to: 44khz, 48khz, 192khz etc, which were Apple Music and Qobuz. Listening on mobile Tidal and Spotify hide the source under broad labels like “HiFi” or “Master” but if I didn’t have the hip dac showing me an LED read out it would really be just guessing (and your ears).
Also in the hip dac manual it says to use bass and gain on for headphones, I haven’t had any weird distortion, feedback or overblown frequencies like too much treble or bass, but I am using the Grado sr80’s which I read pairs well with this amp, and from listening to it a lot for a week its been a great experience. I swapped back and forth between the dac and the lightning to 3.5mm adapter to see if I hear any difference and it’s worlds apart. Artists I put through the hip dac - Tennis, Tycho, Radiohead, Nirvana, Tame Impala, Daft Punk and Moderat.
Long post so I apologize about that, figured I had a few thoughts so might as well drop them somewhere - what’s weird about Apple Music/Tidal is Tidal has special MQA mastering of albums and Apple Music has their own mastering format. The Tidal master will light up magenta on the LED but the Apple master doesn’t activate anything probably because the encoding is so new it’ll be awhile until audio kits catch up? Whether one sounds better than the other, I guess it’s personal preference, I did hear a lot of fine elements in the Tidal master recordings but then Reddit had a bunch of posts stating how MQA isn’t even legit it’s just an over processed filter so now I don’t know what to believe.
@@christopher1800 that's just plain wrong, mqa is objectively inferior to competing standards and is mainly a supply chain royalty power grab. Can do better than that.
@@SuperReview DSD is lossless, while MQA is essentially a snobbier alternative to mp3, with royalty tacked on.
Would you do a review on Qudelix 5k?
Not planning to, I’m not much of a Bluetooth user for music.
@@SuperReview I'm just a beginner. I'm planning to buy a Hifiman 400i 2020 and confused about whether to buy a dac/amp. I considered that one as it was cheaper and Bluetooth was just an added benefit. Do you have any budget recommendations?
I have one, plus an EarStudio ES100. The 5k is a great device with frequently improved firmware, including great EQ options. The sound is more pristine than on the EarStudio, though somehow less appealing to me personally. I prefer the warmer signature of the EarStudio. The biggest advantage of the ES over the 5k is, however, its more intuitive arrangement of controls/buttons. I often get confused on the 5k, and because buttons are directly on opposite sides of the slender unit, I find it hard to press what I want without also pressing the opposite side. Also, both sides of the 5k look virtually the same, so I always get mixed up which way around it is, especially when operating it blind on the fly (often tossed into a jacket pocket). Also don’t much like the way its clip works when slid into the upper edge of my pants pocket or jacket pocked or T-shirt. It is more prone to twist and fall off than the ES. It’s still an excellent device, and its audio is great. I just can’t get myself to love it’s form factor.
@@scottbecker3485 Did you use it with desktop computers and headphones?
@@retroandaudio8695 Sorry I forgot to name my usage: Solely as a Bluetooth streaming device (hi-res Qobuz streams) for my various IEMs, with files being streamed via my iPhone XR (so unfortunately not with a great Bluetooth codec, but the tonal differences between the ES and the 5K are very likely to be similar even with a better codec). I‘m a mobile audio guy, even when running around my apartment. Don‘t like being chained to one spot for the best listening experience. ;-)
Hi, I have DT880 250ohm; which portable amp/DAC do you recommend to drive this headphone perfectly?
Of the ones I've used, hip-dac is my favorite.
The stiffness of my nob doesn't bug me but sucky cable issues will. In no way is that a minor issue. Hey Fiio...that's A Right In The Returns Bin, right there ...just to be clear that's a big phat NO! I rather liked the Q3 over the IFI but so much as one fart around session and we're done! So, nine months on, are we cool?
Maybe check out the pinned comment.
You should make a video about the math of this stuff, maybe why are there headphones different ohms, what do you need to power them, stuff like that.
Great video btw!
This is the first time someone's asked me for math in a while. I'll have to see if my earphone measurement rig will let me measure dB. I'd have to do some experimenting but could probably figure out something helpful.
whats the output on these? can it power higher impedance headphones?
I talked about it in the video.
lol
Where is the "vs. hip-dac" part??
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@@SuperReview ok thanks. So basically the Ifi is a better choice
@@fofocho71 I prefer the hip-DAC, yes. It’s not as good for sensitive IEMs, but my main need for an amp DAC is power for headphones.
What is the point of DAC, when most online music source is compressed MP3 files and your original player such as your phone or MP3 player or your laptop already have a DAC built in!?
Depends on your situation. A lot of built-in DAC/amps on devices straight up don't sound great, have significant bass roll off, hiss, noise, etc. Might not be audible with all headphones, but sensitive IEMs will pick it up. Or you might not have enough power for a hard-to-drive headphone, and something like this can help.
@@SuperReview then I like to have one for mobile devices since is portable, is it big different between Q3 then Q1, since is 50$ more!
Dunno, I haven't used Q1.
@@Medalavi gonna be a BIG difference, especially with the charging button integrated... the Q1 sucked so much power from a phone when using the usb, and it wasnt usb-c either. THX amp will help a lot and build quality is better. for 50 bucks, its worth it
What about sound quality? More bass, treble, no change? So why bother?
Power.
@@SuperReview for what? 10ohm Hedphones? Are you trying to jam the ramjet or something? I assume its useless for the IEMs?
Where's the comparison 🤔
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Your point about the stiffness of the dial was ridiculous to me.
I mean it's too subjective for a serious review (and most people won't agree with you)
PS: In another review (of the ifi Hip Dac), they complained about the lack of stiffness in the dial
It's almost like there are trade offs.
@@SuperReview no, no really .. you overall reviews are very technical oriented but then you brought some useless points that shatter that technical vibe, like how the knob rotates or the fact that you "NEED" to remember to switch a button for charging. Really? That is an issue?
Main issue with Q3 is the sensitivity too high even on low noise IEM, don't know what fiio got there, I don't recommend it to anybody
Which IEM?
Right Feio as we know it
Never show connecting to different usability options.
?
@@SuperReview Sorry my comment was very unclear. I was looking for how to connect it to your computer or your smart phone and use headphones with it.
I think on MacOS you just plug it in and it shows up as an option under sound settings. Not sure about Windows.
iFi USB-A male port seems kinda weird at first
But now seeing this, those USB-A male port makes it more stable and reliable than others that use female USB port
Btw I want that OTG USB cable on your hip-dac 😂
The chonker USB-A male port may be more stable than USB-C, but still kinda inconvenient. The cable I use I bought from xDuoo -- I had to shave it a bit with a Dremel in order to fit: www.xduoo.net/product/type-c-to-usb-a-audio-cable/
Ah, I see
That's really inconvenient
@@uujicoba Worth it 😎
Just get the btr5 lol
But I want a knob.
25:00 That's never gonna happen with hip dac..
Hasn't, no.
Experia and Walkman .... you sacrificed everything for sound quality...
I don't know what that means.
@@SuperReview Sorry for my poor English. Experia and Walkman: rubbish phone and bulky hardware.. good for sound quality but too bad for screen quality, old fashioned and inconvenient I think. I do love better quality sound and miss the CD and even LP era. So I am in the same dillemma.
OK, I follow. I like Sony's phones, attractive hardware and almost stock Android. I'm not too picky about OLED, resolution, refresh rate, just color.
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IHip or q3?
Bait and switch video ,very disappointed, I clicked on this video because I have the ifi hip dac , your title says Fiio Q3 versus hip dac, there was no challenge in this video,,, if it wasn't meant then change the title.
I compared it vs. the hip-dac on a number of points. Is that not what you were looking for?
@@SuperReview I guess I miss that, I watched the whole video til about 2 min left then checked out because I thought it was going to be a ,A-B test not a whole video on just the one...so saying a little about the hip dac didn't do it for me even though I miss that part
Wack review
Why
You never give a subjective opinion on sound quality in any of your videos. Just rambling about features etc.