Great review. I’ve had the Q15 for over 3mo. now. I came from the ifi gryphon. It was a definite upgrade imho. The dynamic range you can get in the desktop mode is astounding. The flagship AKM chips really live up to the hype. I have had 0 issues since I updated to the latest firmware 0.36. The PEQ works great. This is on all of my iOS devices.
Edit: Just found the comparison on your website, I didn't realize you did written reviews as well. Amazing content, thank you so much! You're one of the few people I've seen that have listened to both the Shanling H5 and the Q15. I've seen people wondering on Head-Fi how they sound but no one has actually made the comparison so I was wondering what your thoughts on them were. I'm leaning towards the H5 since it feels like a finished product but I'm worried about battery longevity since there's no way to bypass the battery which wouldn't be an issue with the Q15 but it has had major software issues since it launched. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
@@trevdawg94 Since the last firmware update .36 n, I have had zero issues. The Q15 has been rock solid in iOS. The EQ works fantastic and is a welcome addition under iOS.
Which has the best sound quality between this Fiio Q15 (in desktop mode) and a desktop dac like SMSL RAW MDA1? I'm also considering the Fosi Audio zd3 dac with sparkos opamps.
What would you be powering with them? Q15 is a Headphone DAc/AMP, it has quite a bit of noise if used as a DAC for an external AMP, so my vote would go for ZD3 or MDA1 , or FiiO K9 PRO if you need desktop DAC, and use the XLR balanced outputs for the best sound
If i already have a dap hiby r6 III do you recommend me this device for headphones like senn hd660 s2 and hd800s? Or my hiby can deliver enough power for those headphones? Thanks
Hiby R6 III should have enough power for both actually, especially if you get balanced cables, I wouldn't upgrade to a Q15 for them at the moment, altough Q15 has a much higher power if you want lower distoriton and better control. Loudness wise, they would be loud from R6 III too.
WOW amazing review! Love that you bring up the hifiman he1000 and ef600 as I was looking at them too! Great camera shots as well! Love that you said it in your description that you are using a canon rf 50 f1.2! A lot of UA-camrs out there don't even bother to mention that... I am subscribing! In before this channel blow up to 1 million subs! Love your videos and your energy too!! Suggestion would be, I love that you talk about the BTR15 and IFI but more comparisons and/or earphone/headphone matchings would be nice too! Also, for the b-rolls, I think it would be better to have a slower and smoother panning, as it is a bit dizzy now. I am not sure did you do the focus-out-of-focus shot intentionally or just the camera is auto focusing, but in case you are doing it intentionally, I think slow down the focusing would be good too! Keep it up and I am looking forward to your next videos! ♥♥👍👍
Thank you so much for all your kind words and advice! We are currently trying to get slower and slower B-Rolls, to make it less dizzy , I just hope it won't start to look too static when we start publishing videos with the newer process
I'm looking to buy the m23 also. The last music player I had was the Zune player. I understand these fiio dap have better dac chip now. My question is how those Dap compared to a smartphone in terms of music quality? I mainly want to use it in my vehicle which already have a decent sounds system. Honestly I'm not sure if this would be a worthy investment.
For a car, if you're using the AUX cord, the sound of the a DAP would be much better than a smartphone. If you're using Bluetooth, it would depend on whether you're using LDAC or not, and most smartphones typically have a stronger BT antenna than a DAP
@@AudioPartisan a desktop setup can have more power and a better sound But q15 should still be great. There's also dethonray sg1 Pegasus with an even better sound but more limited functionality
hi bro, after adjusting the EQ inside Custom 1, my Q15 became much better with my headphones, it is no longer the same Q15 as before. It's great. Do you have any article to guide how to adjust "EQ and advanced settings" for Q15 to use better? Thanks bro
Hiii, EQ is very personal and depends on the headphones, so there is no basic rule that will work for all, depends a lot on the headphones / IEMs you're using
@@AudiophileHeaven yes i agree, because i'm new so i'm learning about it, before i used it for koss 75, it was open, so i adjusted it for more bass and found it good, now i use iem simgot ea1000 and i'm looking for a way to adjust the EQ, i will test more
@@dangerzone007 Striaght forward, iBasso D16 + PB5, but the whole stack costs around 3000 USD. For that money, if you don't need portability, you can also get Serenade + Prelude, which is deskltop, or get iBasso DX320 MAX Ti, which is a single unit and more practical. Lots of options really :)
I just received my Q15 and charged it for over 4 hours and it continues to stay at 88% charged! Is there a way to charge it to 100%? I do not care for a battery saving feature if that is what it is...
Hm... I have not heard about this before, check the swithces at the bottom, both phone and desktop switches should be turned off for it to work and charge properly
@@AudiophileHeaven Thanks. After I started using it the charge went up by itself to 100% even thought i was not charging it. It works. Thanks for you input.
About similar to other Bluetooth devices. It depends on the Bluetooth codec, not much on the receiver quality, there is aptX LL if you need low latency, which is about 1 frame or ~50-70ms, you're likely to not notice it. Wired connection has zero latency for gaming and music video watching
@AudiophileHeaven so the btr lineup vs q15.. In terms of purpose.. They are about the same? And does fiio follow numeric value in their modeling? Like btr5 is lower than 7? And is 17 just a new Gen and successor of the btr7? Man I have to do some research. I'm liking the q15 due to the desktop mode
yes, they follow the numbers, btr 7 is below btr 5 and 17 ius the successor of the btr7. Q15 is a hybrid desktop DAC AMP, has more power, better sound, but it is a bluetooth reeiver, it is much larger.
After my experience with the BTR-15, I’m turned off from FiiO. Their hardware is really nice but the software is atrocious. My unit was so buggy even after firmware updates. If FiiO and Qudelix could just work together…
Hm... I had no issues with BTR15 so far, but I updated it right out of the package. Q15 came with a beta firmware installed, and took 2-3 upates to be up and running with no bugs. I know for sure Oppo and OnePlus smartphones have issues with Bluetooth and USB DACs, there may be other brand incompatibilities too...
@@AudiophileHeaven It wasn't just my iPhone 15 Pro, it was the unit itself. It would restart or shut off, you can't use EQ on one of the modes, changing the EQ would shut off my unit. Maybe it was defective but after going to the Qudelix, I wouldn't go back anyway.
I tried to review the Qudelix back in 2020 in the quarantine, it was a fine unit, but I was in a pretty poor mood so my entire coverage of it was poor. but as long as you found something fun to use, and are having fun, thats all that matters!
great review - using my Q15 for a few months now and enjoy it a lot.
Thank you and really happy to help!!
Great review. I’ve had the Q15 for over 3mo. now. I came from the ifi gryphon. It was a definite upgrade imho. The dynamic range you can get in the desktop mode is astounding. The flagship AKM chips really live up to the hype. I have had 0 issues since I updated to the latest firmware 0.36. The PEQ works great. This is on all of my iOS devices.
Woah, that is super awesome to hear!!
Please describe the supposed "phone mode" issue. 😢
@@SpiritualPsychotherapyServices I really don’t have any issues with my q15.
@@fiddlix, thanks, David! Ordering it soon. 🙏
I have a mojo 2 and BTR7 but I want those flagship AKM dacs 🫠 I'll eventually get it when the BTR7 battery loses capacity
Nice review. I have the q15 almost a 1,5 months. Great dac, have a lot of power, good bluetooth, and warm sound. It's also in English tekst.
Woah, lovely to hear you're enjoying it!
great review of the Q15, hoping to get it by the end of the year or during the 11/11 sale or black Friday
I hope you will manage to and that you'll have lots of fun!!
Edit: Just found the comparison on your website, I didn't realize you did written reviews as well. Amazing content, thank you so much!
You're one of the few people I've seen that have listened to both the Shanling H5 and the Q15. I've seen people wondering on Head-Fi how they sound but no one has actually made the comparison so I was wondering what your thoughts on them were. I'm leaning towards the H5 since it feels like a finished product but I'm worried about battery longevity since there's no way to bypass the battery which wouldn't be an issue with the Q15 but it has had major software issues since it launched. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your kind words and I am always happy to help! I cannot post my articles to Head-Fi, but I will try dropping there from time to time
@@trevdawg94 Since the last firmware update .36 n, I have had zero issues. The Q15 has been rock solid in iOS. The EQ works fantastic and is a welcome addition under iOS.
Which has the best sound quality between this Fiio Q15 (in desktop mode) and a desktop dac like SMSL RAW MDA1? I'm also considering the Fosi Audio zd3 dac with sparkos opamps.
What would you be powering with them? Q15 is a Headphone DAc/AMP, it has quite a bit of noise if used as a DAC for an external AMP, so my vote would go for ZD3 or MDA1 , or FiiO K9 PRO if you need desktop DAC, and use the XLR balanced outputs for the best sound
Hello,
Does the PEQ in the FiiO Control App working with streaming services like Qobus or Tidal?
Thanks 🙏
Hii, It should work. I usually do not use it, but it should apply to the device, not just one app in particular.
If i already have a dap hiby r6 III do you recommend me this device for headphones like senn hd660 s2 and hd800s? Or my hiby can deliver enough power for those headphones? Thanks
Hiby R6 III should have enough power for both actually, especially if you get balanced cables, I wouldn't upgrade to a Q15 for them at the moment, altough Q15 has a much higher power if you want lower distoriton and better control. Loudness wise, they would be loud from R6 III too.
When will you review the BTR 17. It seems like the next level down?.
I am working on reviewing the BTR17. Q15 still sounds quite a bit better, since I got them side by side
6:30 My HE1000se should be arriving any day now, so I ought to order this ASAP. 😮
Yooo, I hope it will be a lot of fun!
@@AudiophileHeaven, I bought the FiiO M17 instead.
WOW amazing review! Love that you bring up the hifiman he1000 and ef600 as I was looking at them too! Great camera shots as well! Love that you said it in your description that you are using a canon rf 50 f1.2! A lot of UA-camrs out there don't even bother to mention that... I am subscribing! In before this channel blow up to 1 million subs! Love your videos and your energy too!! Suggestion would be, I love that you talk about the BTR15 and IFI but more comparisons and/or earphone/headphone matchings would be nice too! Also, for the b-rolls, I think it would be better to have a slower and smoother panning, as it is a bit dizzy now. I am not sure did you do the focus-out-of-focus shot intentionally or just the camera is auto focusing, but in case you are doing it intentionally, I think slow down the focusing would be good too! Keep it up and I am looking forward to your next videos! ♥♥👍👍
Thank you so much for all your kind words and advice! We are currently trying to get slower and slower B-Rolls, to make it less dizzy , I just hope it won't start to look too static when we start publishing videos with the newer process
Amazing infos, you have reviewed both Q15 and xCAN , which of them sounding you prefer?
Q15 ios more versatile, newer and I generally would recommend it more right now, tech has advanced a lot in 5 years
@@AudiophileHeaven thanks
Dud i love this channel and your Dialekt gj
Than k you so much!! Happy to provide a fun content!
I'm looking to buy the m23 also. The last music player I had was the Zune player. I understand these fiio dap have better dac chip now. My question is how those Dap compared to a smartphone in terms of music quality? I mainly want to use it in my vehicle which already have a decent sounds system. Honestly I'm not sure if this would be a worthy investment.
For a car, if you're using the AUX cord, the sound of the a DAP would be much better than a smartphone. If you're using Bluetooth, it would depend on whether you're using LDAC or not, and most smartphones typically have a stronger BT antenna than a DAP
@@AudiophileHeaven I don't have AUX only USB digital input. And thanks for the info.
For digital, it is possible you won't hear a difference with any source, they might all sound the same
Hello, Great Review!
I’m planning to get the q15 for my Liric 2 do you think it will be good combination? Or should I go for a desktop setup?
@@AudioPartisan a desktop setup can have more power and a better sound
But q15 should still be great. There's also dethonray sg1 Pegasus with an even better sound but more limited functionality
Great review as always. 😊
Thank you so much!
Thanks bro! Just subscribed 🤙🏾
Thank you so much, hope your experience here will be fun!
Thanks! can you compare Q15 with the xDuoo xd05 bal2 please?
I have not heard the XD05 Bal2 yet (?)
hi bro, after adjusting the EQ inside Custom 1, my Q15 became much better with my headphones, it is no longer the same Q15 as before. It's great. Do you have any article to guide how to adjust "EQ and advanced settings" for Q15 to use better? Thanks bro
Hiii, EQ is very personal and depends on the headphones, so there is no basic rule that will work for all, depends a lot on the headphones / IEMs you're using
@@AudiophileHeaven yes i agree, because i'm new so i'm learning about it, before i used it for koss 75, it was open, so i adjusted it for more bass and found it good, now i use iem simgot ea1000 and i'm looking for a way to adjust the EQ, i will test more
@@AudiophileHeaven I am happy with it, luckily I saw the reviews so I bought it
Which DAC/amp is better for bright sounding headphones, the Fiio Q15 or Shanling H5? Thanks
Shanling H5, Q15 is neutral, while h5 warm
@
Thanks for the answer. Great channel !
Hi .. do you think this unit can give the maximum performance of beyerdynamic dt1990 pro 250 ?
Hii, yes, absolutely!
Is the Q15 still the one to get for the HE1000 SE.
At this price, yes. There is also Kaei TAP1 DAC, cheaper but enough power, and iBasso D16 + PB5 or D16 alone, piricer butbetter sounding
I have some HE1000SE headphones. Which of these would win in a shootout to drive the headphones. @@AudiophileHeaven
@@dangerzone007 Striaght forward, iBasso D16 + PB5, but the whole stack costs around 3000 USD. For that money, if you don't need portability, you can also get Serenade + Prelude, which is deskltop, or get iBasso DX320 MAX Ti, which is a single unit and more practical. Lots of options really :)
@@AudiophileHeaven I was hoping to spend no more than 500 US dollars
@@dangerzone007 I see, within 500 USD , for a portable dac amp, Q15 is the best sounding one at this moment 😀
I just received my Q15 and charged it for over 4 hours and it continues to stay at 88% charged! Is there a way to charge it to 100%? I do not care for a battery saving feature if that is what it is...
Hm... I have not heard about this before, check the swithces at the bottom, both phone and desktop switches should be turned off for it to work and charge properly
@@AudiophileHeaven Thanks. After I started using it the charge went up by itself to 100% even thought i was not charging it. It works. Thanks for you input.
Likely it is just the battery getting its proper burn in for the first few cycles, the charge meter balancing out
@@AudiophileHeaven Your probably right. Once I started to use it the charge came up to 100% even thought I was not charging it! Thanks for you input.
How is Bluetooth latency?
About similar to other Bluetooth devices. It depends on the Bluetooth codec, not much on the receiver quality, there is aptX LL if you need low latency, which is about 1 frame or ~50-70ms, you're likely to not notice it. Wired connection has zero latency for gaming and music video watching
@@AudiophileHeaven thanks for detailed explanation!!
Im new, and a bit confused. This seems very similar to btr7..
It is pretty similar, but Q15 has more driving power and a better resolution / sonic perfromance, and a larger size. I will cover BTR17 very soon!
@AudiophileHeaven so the btr lineup vs q15.. In terms of purpose.. They are about the same?
And does fiio follow numeric value in their modeling? Like btr5 is lower than 7? And is 17 just a new Gen and successor of the btr7?
Man I have to do some research. I'm liking the q15 due to the desktop mode
yes, they follow the numbers, btr 7 is below btr 5 and 17 ius the successor of the btr7. Q15 is a hybrid desktop DAC AMP, has more power, better sound, but it is a bluetooth reeiver, it is much larger.
After my experience with the BTR-15, I’m turned off from FiiO. Their hardware is really nice but the software is atrocious. My unit was so buggy even after firmware updates. If FiiO and Qudelix could just work together…
Hm... I had no issues with BTR15 so far, but I updated it right out of the package. Q15 came with a beta firmware installed, and took 2-3 upates to be up and running with no bugs. I know for sure Oppo and OnePlus smartphones have issues with Bluetooth and USB DACs, there may be other brand incompatibilities too...
@@AudiophileHeaven It wasn't just my iPhone 15 Pro, it was the unit itself. It would restart or shut off, you can't use EQ on one of the modes, changing the EQ would shut off my unit. Maybe it was defective but after going to the Qudelix, I wouldn't go back anyway.
I tried to review the Qudelix back in 2020 in the quarantine, it was a fine unit, but I was in a pretty poor mood so my entire coverage of it was poor. but as long as you found something fun to use, and are having fun, thats all that matters!