Bluetooth chip: Qualcomm QCC5125
Bluetooth codecs: Aptx-Adaptive, LDAC, Aptx, Aptx-Hd, AptxLL, AAC, SBC
Weight: About 305g
Dimension: About 143.5×71.75×21.75mm
Display: 1.30-inch TFT (240*240) bezel-less display
Battery Capacity: 5500 mah lithium Polymer
Battery Life: 3.5 single ended: +/- 9 hrs 4.4 balanced: +/- 8hrs
-Output power-
3.5 single ended:
Super High Gain- @32ohms- 400mw @300ohms- 54mw
Ultra-High Gain- @32ohms- 625mw @300ohms- 85mw
4.4 balanced:
Super High Gain- @32ohms- 1060mw @300ohms- 215mw
Ultra-High Gain @32ohms- 1610mw @300ohms- 340mw
Total Score
Introduction
I’m here with a review of the FiiO Q15, the new model of the Q series that clearly reflects FiiO’s new design language. The Q15 combines the classic FiiO sound with great power and offers it in a portable form. Let’s see what this device can do.
Another fellow reviewer, to whom Fiio had sent this product, kindly offered to send it to me to write a review. I would like to thank him here. After spending around 100 hours with the Fiio Q15, I started writing this review.
Design & Build
Fiio is a company whose presentation style I like. I like the way they box their products and the Q15, not surprisingly, comes with a very satisfying box. This is exactly what comes out of the box:
- USB Type-C to USB Type-C charging and data cable
- USB Type-C to USB Type-C short data cable
- USB Type-C to USB A converter
- Storage Bag
- Storage Pad
- Silicone Pad
- PE Screen Protector (Pre-applied)
- 2 silicone rings
- User Manual and Warranty
FiiO Q15’s Design
The Fiio Q15 has a tiny color screen that allows you to switch between menus. It has a volume pot as well as forward-stop-back buttons. In addition, there is a phone mode and a separate desktop mode switch on the bottom. Between these two switches, the Q15 also has separately placed data and power inputs. In addition to these two usb c inputs, a coax winks at us.
Let’s talk about the Fiio Q15 itself. Like previous generations of the Q series, the Q15 is built like a tank. If it falls from the 20th floor, it gives a vibe like it will jump with only a few scratches. Apart from that, it would not be wrong to say that it is designed more cleverly and modern than its predecessors.
The only thing I’m thinking and saying here is: could you really have made it a little bit smaller? Yes, portable power is a good idea and it is needed. But carrying it outside in the summer is harder than carrying Hipdac3. For me, this is a debatable and decisive factor.
Technology
Fiio Q15 uses a combination of the latest AK4499EX and AK4191 chips. It also has the XMOS XU316 16-core 3rd-gen USB chipset. So it’s a device that’s very up-to-date and put together with good components. In addition, for those who want to go wireless (I’m always in favor of cable) the FiiO Q15 adopts Qualcomm’s flagship QCC5125 chipset. Ldac and Aptx HD support are also available.
With the FiiO Control app you have filter options and a 10 band equalizer. Being a bit old school, I usually prefer the slow filters. The Fiio Q15 also offers a playback life of around 8-10 hours. And we can track this as a percentage on that little screen.
Let’s come to the most important issue for Q15, power. This is important because power is often the first factor in scenarios where a device like this would be preferred. The Fiio Q15 gives you about 1600mW at 32ohm in desktop mode. That easily outperforms a lot of DAPs.
Synergy
FiiO Q15 With Oriveti bleqk Lowmaster
Surprisingly, they turned out very well. The Oriveti Lowmaster is a pretty smooth and tonally so peaceful earphone. They paired well with the FiiO Q15’s slightly warm, slightly thick and analytically vibrant highs. I honestly thought I’d get a good match with an over-ear, but this pairing was just right. The result is a well-balanced sound that plays a little bit of everything for Lowmatser’s budget.
FiiO Q15 With Yanyin Moonlight Ultra
After the Q15 did well with the Lowmaster, I eagerly started listening to the Moonlight Ultra. Within the first 15 seconds, I couldn’t help but get that “oh boy, you’re not ready yet” look on my face. Yanyin Moonlight Ultra is not a forgiving iem like Oriveti Lowmaster. It’s an iem that takes the reins and needs a relatively calm source to sound great. Also, with a price tag of $1300, I think it’s a bit more than the Q15 is capable of. The result? It’s not bad, it’s enjoyable, but in terms of midrange it’s not up to Moonlight Ultra standards. If we go into more detail, this pairing sounds a bit superficial and lacking in control at some points, as I said, not bad but incomplete is the right word. I don’t blame Fiio for this, it was my fantasy to do a synergy test with an iem from the 1300 band 🙂 in a way I can say that the Fiio Q15 didn’t put up a bad fight at all.
Sound
Yes, I know you like reading this part the most, the Fiio Q15 has a tonality that fits the “Fiio Sound” school we’ve been used to hearing for years. So what’s the upside of this device? We have a distinctly more grounded “Fiio Sound” this time around. It’s not too warm like previous Q series models, it has an adjusted crispness and is more balanced overall. It still has some bass gain and a little coloration for the fun factor, but it’s definitely more mature than before.
Tonality
The Fiio Q15 produces a slightly warm sound, reasonably close to the neutral line without being too dark, without being too bright. It has a slight midbass touch in the lower frequencies and a tiny indentation towards the mids. The bass has a decent sense of constriction. The midrange is surprisingly transparent and the vocal-instrument balance is delicious. At this point the AKM seems to be winking at us. There’s a little sparkle in the treble and an elongation factor that pushes the cymbals into the expansive region. The Fiio Q15 can be described as a device with a slightly V-shape analytical (total is musical) character.
Technique
It plays like a good dongle, powered in a pretty honest way. I’d say it’s slightly more harsh, a little bit behind the M15s. It has a slightly wider than average stage, the separation is average while the layering is more prominent. If it had better positioning it would have a very solid imaging capability, but it’s just slightly above average. While the resolution is satisfactory and the detail is adequate, I think a little more work needs to be done on the microdetails, but given the price tag, I don’t see a problem with that.
Last Words
Fiio Q15 is a device that reminds the industry of FiiO’s success in portable dac/amp production. It delivers a huge amount of power safely and with above-average sound. It may seem like a lot to ask, but it would be really nice if it were smaller. I think the best scenario to use the Q15 is to listen to over-ear headphones while walking around the house.
