One further note is that although the Q5s TC and FiiO M11Pro share the same amp module with the same specs for some strange reason the Q5s TC appears to be more powerful. I did a review a few months ago and long story short, really liked the device which felt like a swiss army knife, for audio purposes. Here is an excerpt: The battery, a robust 3800mAh Li-on, is robust enough to last you 12 hours even under continuous use. Stunningly the Q5S shuts down automatically (after a set time) if there’s no music input and thus cuts down on wastage of charge. The build quality is also respectable, and having removable OP-AMPs makes XD-05 Plus a true champ. Holes to cool, being able to work as an AMP too, available add-ons to make it bluetooth, everything just falls right into place with XD-05 Plus to consider it perfect.

FiiO Q5s Type-C Bluetooth Headphone DAC/Amp – Apos Audio FiiO Q5s Type-C Bluetooth Headphone DAC/Amp – Apos Audio

Couple of words about the difference between XD05 / Basic / Plus versions: Plus, as already mentioned, is the most expensive and most advanced option. Main (but not all) differences of Plus with other two are: There are many ways to improve the experience of enjoying digital music, but one of the best (and easiest) is to listen through a dedicated DAC (Digital Analog Converter). This component is required to turn any digital audio file into sounds you can hear. Your computer, phone, tablet, CD player, Bluetooth headphones, powered speakers, and TV all have a DAC built into them, but there are a couple of reasons it’s worth getting standalone hardware for serious music listening. Chord Mojo offers a slower , smoother darker more relaxed warm presentation it is more organic and less layered ( less soundstage ) , takes a little bit more to be measured by ears ; it sounds more analoguish then the Fiio Q5s-TC , it also exposes a good amount of micro detail but more hidden then the Fiio which presents them more evidently, and at times quite exceeds the Chord in this regard.

About FiiO

Let’s cut to the chase: for 150€, the FiiO M6 is a no-brainer. It blends good performances – neat design – great battery life – extensive capability and it can even be connected to another DAC through USB. “ FiiO FH7 Depending on which input you’re using, the Q5s’ battery can last between nine and twenty-five hours--9 for USB and bluetooth, 25 for AUX. So at the very least, the Q5s can survive a flight from Boston to Seattle with time for layovers. Six inputs and outputs Ultimately, there’s something aesthetic about the Q5S. Its aluminum alloy casing and well-rounded corners are appealing to the eyes. Pros

FiiO Technology and Support - FiiO

Also, the S-Balanced circuitry proves a worthy upgrade as it balances sound output better to eliminate cross talk and distortions, for a clean and clear presentation. Other included features are IEM match mode, top-notch Bit rate and sample rate support, DSD and MQA decoding, 3D sound, XBass, and multiple output power and filter settings. The treble, as mentioned before, is the most delicate part. It’s very soft, but detail reproduction is outstanding, even if the highs are not set in the first place. There’s no chance of any sibilances, harshness, or slicing your ears — just a pleasant and calm presentation, similar to most of the tube amps. If you do know DACAMP L1, try to remind that with the treble set at -1, that sounds very similar to XD-05, which is more classy and has better details and texture. The sound is neutral but warm, with an above-average soundstage. The notes are within the sweet spots, not lean nor fat, but presented with a fuller body. The superb EQ/ATE pre-settings fit any situation, but you can use the two gain settings to have a change. Q5s has a Bass Enhancer button toggle magic touch, while xDSD comes with a 3D Soundstage toggle, as well as an X-Bass setting, which enhances the top and the low end on xDSD. Without any enhancements active, xDSD has a bit more dynamic, and a slightly more punch, but Q5s is wider, has more detail, more clarity, and sounds more smooth in the treble, making it more refined. If you want the best BT compatibility, Q5s has that, and on the sound, it really depends on what you price the most. We have used various headphones at our disposal such as the Sennheiser HD660S , the Hifiman Ananda and HE400i 2020 or even the Meze Empyrean.In practice, I would like to notice that it does get warm during usage, but it works pretty well. The USB port being microUSB is outdated at this point, but happily, FiiO includes Type-C connectors with all their other recent products, like BTR5, FiiO M11, FiiO K3, FiiO K5 PRO, and FiiO EH3NC. Pretty much everything else from FiiO comes with Type-C, but to offer proper compatibility with older FiiO Modules that worked for Q5 and X7mkii, they extended the support to include microUSBs port instead. It is time to look into the most versatile of the midrange portable DAC/AMPs, namely the xDuoo XD-05 Plus. This one sports almost an entire WATT of power, and it will be compared to iFi xDSD, FiiO Q5s, Earmen TR-AMP, and paired with HIFIMAN Deva, FiiO FA9, and iBasso SR-2. Let’s go with the insanity of this one amazing DAC/AMP! Mids are of course perfectly flat and crystal clear but they are not dry at all as they sound fully engaging with a weighty presentation.