Qudelix - 5K USB/Bluetooth Amplifier/DAC with LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC (Dual ES9219-3.5mm unbalanced output; 2.5mm balanced output)

I used the QUDELIX 5K for a few months, sold it to switch to similar Bluetooth devices only to buy it again. The 5K is superior, and here is why: • Exceptional proprietary app, with instantaneous response time, undoubtedly the best on the market. Extensive EQ capabilities and customisation, making the devise a miniaturised professional amp. • Elegant and discrete design, with customisable light so you don’t feel festively decorated all year round. • Despite the minute design, the 5K has great control buttons, easy to locate and operate. • Truly integrated clip, which does not add bulk to the slick design. • Discrete battery life, 8hrs. • The crisp and balanced sound of the ES9219C DAC chipset. • Seamless automatic switching from Bluetooth amp to Dongle amp function (many other similar DAC amps require manual switching). • Finally, size and weight. This is the smallest and lightest Bluetooth DAC amp available. Mine is paired with IE200s and, clipped to the original Sennheiser cable, or 2.5 balanced cables by OpenHearth wrapped around the neck, is virtually impossible to feel. Obviously, a personal consideration but, based on my experience, the QUDELIX 5K is unrivalled in the space of ultraportable DAC AMPs.

While it is quite old compared to similar devices on the market, for my purposes this has to be one of the best designed personal hifi products available. Some quible about the construction but aside from the slightly loose buttons it is a very sturdy unit and the lightness is a feature not a bug (as much as I enjoy devices milled from solid blocks of aluminium and so on). I've come to appreciate the minimalistic milspec look and feel and the utility clip. I also like well thought out elements like the tiny nub on the Play/pause switch so it is easy to operate in your pocket by touch (the volume button is smooth by comparison). Other aspects I enjoy: - While not class leading the sound quality is very good indeed and the app allows you to tweak the EQ to your hearts desire to get the most from your IEMs and headphones. Sound is detailed and has pretty good separation and soundstage - all elements that can be tweaked via EQ. It's enjoyable enough that I don't find myself hankering after my other DAC amps when I'm listening to it. - Customisable - as with EQ most functional aspects of this device can be customised to your requirements. Both the phone and desktop apps are very comprehensive. You can upload EQ profiles via the Chrome app via the desktop app. - Rock solid and powerful Bluetooth connection - I can leave my phone on charge and move quite some distance from it without the connection breaking up. There's also something reassuring about how the Bluetooth light always blinks to confirm when you send any control instructions from your phone or other connected devices. - Powerful amplifier - you need to take care with volume settings as I've managed to blast my ears a couple of times - I recommend setting the volume up button to increments so you don't accidentally max out the volume while it's in your pocket. - Good battery life that seems to retain charge for many days while not in use. - Lightness and size - while wireless buds are more popular nowadays this tiny device is a great solution for turning your wired IEMs into lightweight and convenient Bluetooth earphones.

This tiny little DAC / Dongle is an absolute revelation in the world of DAC dongles! I have owned and used many of these headphone DAC amps in the past ranging from all the Audioquest Dragonflys, Apogee groove, FiiOs, Hidiz, Ibasso, Hiby, Shanling etc etc and this little guy is the best by quite some margin. This has superb bluetooth range in which this will connect from the other side of my house with little effort a distance of several metres through walls and up stairs etc although I do use it mainly via USB C connection into my PC. The DAC chip used in this is not the most modern or up to date ESS Sabre chip but its not always about having the latest chip inside but how it is implemented and the technology in this little guy is pretty awesome with good engineering and thought processes in manufacture. What sets this device apart from the vast majority of dongles is the amazing software which you can use with it, I downloaded both the control app to my phone AND the superb Chrome extension on my PC to give you an incredible range of options like DAC filters, power range like high or normal to drive an impressive range of headphones. The app also gives you battery life and management etc etc etc there is simply too many functions to mention although I do have to give a very special shout out to the parametric equaliser function which you can search for your headphone in the drop down list and dial it in and save it (the dongle saves all your stored information in its built in flash drive and even if you switch it off it restores all of the settings you dialed in) this EQ function will give you the best possible sound to the Harman curve to basically optimise your headphones of choice or you can simply play with no EQ and completely flat just using the standard settings for sound which is also superb in standard mode. This level of control and flexibility is unheard of even with the FiiO control app you don't get offered half as much. You can just use this dongle as a simple plug and play device without using the app or PC chrome PC extension and it would still be worth the money on sound quality alone. I suppose if I had to nit pick then a 4.4mm balanced socket rather than the slightly dated 2.5mm one would be prefered but I do not used any of my headphones in balanced mode just the unbalanced 3.5mm supplied also, so to me that is not important. 6 stars all the way!

Deze bluetooth DAC overtreft mijn verwachtingen: heel detailrijke klank, mooie textuur en timbre. Ik gebruik hem voornamelijk met een Queen Of Audio Vesper IEM en een Sennheiser/Drop HD58X hoofdtelefoon. Voor geen van beiden heb ik EQ nodig met de DAC. Zelfs een 30 jaar oude Sennheiser HD480 II klinkt, met slechts een beetje lift in de lage tonen, beter dan ooit tevoren. Het belangrijkste verkoopsargument van de DAC is de EQ, maar die is voor mij minder belangrijk, de instellingen in de app zijn zeker zo interessant. Er zijn enorm veel mogelijkheden. Een raad voor nieuwe gebruikers: doorloop aandachtig alle instellingen. Zoniet zal je enkele cruciale functies over het hoofd zien, zoals de 2 volumeregelingen in cascade. Uiteraard zijn er beperkingen: een hoog-ohmige hoofdtelefoon zoals de Sennheiser HD250II (300 ohm) is weliswaar nog net aanstuurbaar, maar daarvoor is de DAC niet gemaakt en dan moet hij echt "zwoegen". De bediening is een beetje wennen omdat de knoppen geen labels hebben, maar daar is een oplossing voor: de Qudelix 5K sticker by Sproketz.

so happy to be able to keep using my Shure earphones on the go when I was forced to upgrade away from my 3.5mm jack equipped phone. The sound is absolutely just as good as when wired!

The Qudelix - 5K is really a wonderful small HIFI component, which I have now been using for one year. Its extremely compact and light weight, so one can easily clip it to a pair of open back headphones, the range of codecs supported and the stability of the connection are excellent, the companion app offers many settings and customization option, the EQ tool is great and easy to use, one can also use it as a desk dac/amp while preventing the (over)charging of the battery, etc, etc... Everything that Qudelix and other reviewers say about that product and its qualities and functions is true. Honestly, I can't think of anything negative to say about it. The best audio equipment purchase I have made in years !

Questa recensione è dedicata al DAC Bluetooth Qudelix, un dispositivo straordinario che offre un'esperienza audio superba. Questo DAC ha superato le mie aspettative sotto molti aspetti e merita sicuramente una valutazione di 5 stelle. Una delle caratteristiche che apprezzo maggiormente di questo DAC è la clip integrata, che consente di agganciarlo facilmente al bordo della maglietta o del pantalone. Questa funzione è incredibilmente pratica, poiché mi permette di avere il DAC sempre a portata di mano senza doverlo tenere in mano o cercarlo tra gli oggetti. La presenza di un jack da 2.5 e uno da 3.5 millimetri è un grande vantaggio. Questa versatilità consente di utilizzare il DAC con una vasta gamma di cuffie e dispositivi audio senza dover ricorrere a adattatori o cavi aggiuntivi. Sia che tu stia utilizzando cuffie di alta qualità o dispositivi audio di vario genere, questo DAC si adatta perfettamente alle tue esigenze. I due tastini laterali, uno per l'accensione e il pairing e l'altro per il controllo del volume, sono ben posizionati e facili da usare. La semplicità di queste funzioni garantisce un'esperienza di utilizzo senza intoppi e un controllo rapido e preciso sulle impostazioni audio. Un grande punto di forza del DAC Qudelix è l'app dedicata. L'applicazione Qudelix permette di configurare il profilo delle frequenze in base alle cuffie di cui si dispone, consentendo una personalizzazione ottimale dell'audio. Questa funzione mi ha permesso di sfruttare al massimo le mie cuffie (delle CHU della Moondrop), regalandomi un suono impeccabile e bilanciato. Un'altra caratteristica interessante è la possibilità di bloccare la carica della batteria all'80%. Questa funzione è estremamente utile per preservare la longevità della batteria nel tempo, evitando sovraccarichi che potrebbero influire sulla sua durata complessiva. Infine, le dimensioni molto ridotte del DAC sono un grande vantaggio. È incredibilmente compatto e leggero, occupando uno spazio minimo e risultando facile da trasportare ovunque. Questo lo rende l'accessorio audio ideale per gli spostamenti o per l'utilizzo quotidiano. In conclusione, il DAC Qudelix offre un'esperienza audio eccezionale con un'ampia gamma di funzioni utili. La clip per l'aggancio, la presenza dei jack da 2.5 e 3.5 millimetri, i tastini intuitivi, l'app di configurazione personalizzata, la funzione di blocco della carica e le dimensioni compatte sono solo alcuni dei punti di forza di questo dispositivo. Se stai cercando un DAC di alta qualità per migliorare la tua esperienza audio, consiglio vivamente il Qudelix.

Muy buen dac de auriculares. Me ha sorprendido la potencia que da para lo pequeño que es. Tiene buen sonido pero lo que realmente lo hace diferente a todo el resto y por tampoco dinero es su software. Tienes la posibilidad de tocar un montón de cosas, su ecualizador PEQ de 20 bandas es lo más completo que he visto en amplificadores de auriculares y el hecho de poder cargar ecualizaciones a través de autoeq es ya genial. Por su salida balanceada saca una potencia enorme. La recomiendo encarecidamente por encima de la normal.