Specs
- SNR: >117 dB
- THD+N: 0.002%
- Channel separation: ≥105dB
- Output Impedance: <1.2 Ω
- Output power: 210 mW @ 32-ohm (single-ended) / 560 mW @ 32-ohm (balanced)
- Line level : 1.8V
- Max. Output voltage : 10.5 Vp-p
Design
For the most part, the Q5s looks largely identical to its predecessor, the original Q5. Some of the differences are just cosmetic, whilst others are functional. The dimensions are the same, as is the design of the volume pot, the faux leather pad on the rear of the device, and the 3 playback control buttons have also remained the same. The modular amp design has also made a return and the Q5s is completely backwards compatible with all previous amp modules. What is new over here is that FiiO has shipped this new iteration with the new AM3E module which features both 2.5 and 4.4mm balanced connections, as well as a regular 3.5mm single-ended connection.
One thing you might notice is that the USB connection is still just a micro-USB variant rather than the more modern Type-C interface. When the details for the Q5s were first released, there were numerous people criticising FiiO for still using this seemingly archaic USB connection, but there is complete method in the madness.
You see, when FiiO designed the Q5s, Apple had still not provided MFi certification for the Type-C interface. So, in order for the Q5s to be compatible with iOS devices, FiiO had no choice but to stick to the micro-USB connection. I actually find it rather ironic to think of just how much innovation Apple has brought to the market, and yet when it comes to something as simple as a USB connection it turns out that Apple themselves are the ones holding things back in this instance.
Anyways, speaking of the USB port, the Q5s now only has a single USB connection. Where the original Q5 had separate ports for which you could assign which was to be used for charging the device and which for passing through USB audio, the Q5s is equipped with just one.
Over on the top panel things look pretty familiar as we are again treated to a gain switch as well as a bass boost switch. There’s also a 3.5mm combo port which allows you to connect either a COAX or optical cable, as well as a regular unbalanced analogue input. Alongside the combo port is a dedicated lineout should you want to connect the Q5s to an even more powerful amplifier.
However, underneath the exterior is where we will find most of the more applicable improvements. The dual AK4490EQ DAC chips of the Q5 have been replaced with a pair of AK4493EN DAC chips. The Bluetooth module has also been replaced which means that the Q5s not only features Bluetooth 5.0, but also supports a number of additional Bluetooth codecs.
The Q5 was limited to regular SBC, AAC, and AptX connectivity, but now you’ve got the choice of also utilising AptX HD, AptX Low Latency, LDAC, and even HWA.
So, stylistically the design of the Q5s does not differ all that much from its predecessor, and so the changes applied here are more function over form.
Functionality
In terms of the overall functionality and how to use the Q5s, some things have remained the same, whilst others have been improved and refined.
Gone is the separate power button as this has now been replaced with a power switch built into the volume dial. There’s also a new input selection switch and a couple of multi-functional indicator lights.Under normal circumstances, these lights will indicate which input is currently selected, but if you connect the Q5s to an external power source such as a charger or desktop computer, then these lights become a battery level indicator, so you’ll know when the device is fully charged. If you hold the input selection switch for roughly 2 seconds when it is not connected to an external power source, then the lights will also briefly show you the current battery level.
The playback control buttons of course allow you to play, pause, and skip tracks when connected to a Bluetooth source device, and the play/pause button once again is also used to put the Q5s into Bluetooth mode. Just keep in mind that this is something which needs to be done each time you turn the device on as the default input is always USB.
Turning on the power and then holding the play/pause button for about 1.5 seconds will prompt the device to try and connect with a previously paired device. If, on the other hand, you want to pair the Q5s with a new device, then that requires you to hold the play/pause button for about 5 seconds. You’ll know the device has entered pairing mode when the LED lights between the main chassis and the amp module alternates between red and blue.
These LEDs are also used to indicate which type of Bluetooth codec is being used when connected to a source device via Bluetooth, whereas for a physical digital connection they are used to indicate the sampling-rate of the current track being played.
When you’ve got the Q5s connected to a mobile phone or an Android-based player that runs the full version of FiiO’s own music app, then you’ll also have access to a couple of additional features and settings. From within the app you will be able to enable or disable the charging function, as well as disabling the LED lights that sit between the main body and the amp module.
You can also adjust the idle standby time, and select which Bluetooth codecs should be used.
The equaliser function is also finally working, so you can set up a custom EQ profile, and the digital filter can also be selected. For this we’ve got a choice of 6 different filters, and there is a helpful little illustration to explain how each of them will alter the impulse response.
All in all, from both a design and a usability perspective, I think FiiO has done a great job with the Q5s as it looks premium, has some great features, and really is very simple to operate.
Sound
If you caught my review on the original Q5, then you’ll know that I wasn’t a big fan of how it sounded. It turned me off for the same reason and in the same way that the X5 3rd Gen did. The character just seemed overly warm and smooth to the point where it kinda just felt more like a regular consumer audio device rather than a dedicated portable Hi-Fi device.
The Q5s, however, is completely different for me. I absolutely love this device.
Compared to the original Q5, the Q5s is more neutral and those micro details don’t come across as being smoothed over. You can hear and appreciate the more distinct separation and definition in the plucking of guitar strings, for example, and likewise drum hits have a more realistic snap as opposed to some blurry and boomy bang.
I did briefly have both the M11 and the Q5s at the same time, and so I did have a chance to compare them, which proved to be quite interesting.
Previously, and strictly speaking from an audio quality perspective, external DAC devices generally tend to sound better than standalone portable music players. But, in comparing the M11 to the Q5s, I really couldn’t tell you if I would be able to reliable tell them apart.
I think because they share a similar dual DAC chip setup and possibly a similar amplification section as well, they tend to also have an extremely similar (if not identical) sound character too.
Whilst it sounds neutral, it also doesn’t come across as sounding boring. There’s a certain refinement in the slight touch of warmth and smoothness on offer here.
I think by the time this review goes out my review on the M11 would also have been out for a little while, and so everything I said about the M11 I feel holds true for the Q5s as well. Compared to the current flagship, the X7 Mark II, the M11 doesn’t feel like a downgrade, and I feel the same way about the Q5s too. This seems to sound just as good as anything else FiiO has produced, and so when we consider the price-tag, we can start to see just how much bang for buck value the Q5s has.
Value
As I briefly mentioned, I wasn’t really a fan of the original Q5 simply because I did not find its specific sound signature very appealing. However, I still ended up giving it a pretty high rating of 8.5/10 simply because I could not ignore just how versatile of a device it was.
The Q5s, on the other hand, scores an easy 9.4/10 from me. I really like the design of this device, and I much prefer the more neutral and natural sound character on offer here. Couple that with the improved Bluetooth compatibility and the more powerful output options, and what we’ve got here is a very, very good device indeed.
So, you might be wondering then – what would it take for this device to score a perfect 10? Well, there is one particular feature I can think of, and it’s something that I think, if FiiO is able to implement it, would completely change the game for them forever.
The Chord Mojo is a rather popular device given its sound quality and size. But, a few years after the Mojo was released, Chord came out with the Poly, which greatly enhanced the functionality of the Mojo. Not only did the Poly give the Mojo Bluetooth connectivity, but also WiFi, Airplay, and a microSD card slot. The latter meant that you could use the Mojo and Poly combo as a fully-fledged standalone portable player, but just one without a display.
Now I’m sure there will be many people who would want to chime in about the particular execution of this approach as there are numerous reports of things such as unreliable connectivity of the Mojo and Poly, but we have to admit that it’s a very cool concept nonetheless.
The thing is, there doesn’t seem to be any other such solution on the market, and so the Mojo+Poly combo really has no direct competition. The total cost of a Mojo and a Poly is also upwards of $1200.
This is what got me thinking about what would make the Q5s a perfect 10. The biggest drawback of the Q5s and other devices like it is that their usability and functionality is entirely dependent on them being hooked up to a source device.
But what if FiiO could perhaps develop one of these amp modules with a microSD card slot? That would take the Q5s just to a whole new level of versatility. I genuinely have no idea if this would at all be technically possible with how the circuitry is designed, but I think if FiiO could at least implement something like that into perhaps the next iteration of the Q5s (maybe the Q7?), that would surely give the Mojo+Poly combo a run for its money, especially if they can throw in WiFi connectivity as well.
But for now, for what the Q5s is currently, I think it’s a phenomenal device, and with a price-tag of just $350 it really does bring a heck of a lot of value to the table. As mentioned, it essentially sounds, feels like an M11 minus a display.
If, however, you want a standalone player and to have more direct access to your favourite streaming services, then the M11 would make more sense. But if you have no need for that and the idea that the Q5s needs to be connected to your mobile device is not something that turns you off, then the Q5s seems like a no-brainer. It costs $100 less than the M11, sounds as near as makes no difference just as good, and is pretty much guaranteed to give you a really great portable audio experience.