Qudelix 5K Reference DAC AMP

Product Information

As a result, the controls are very comprehensive and warrant a 8/10 rating, the only real downside again being the plastic build, which include the buttons, as a result the controls are not as tactile as the ones on the BTR5. Bluetooth:​Generally pretty stable, though it is more stable over aptX than LDAC for me over longer distances. In the Aggressive Mode, the latency(lag) is less than half of the CSR8675 LDAC, enabling video watching and mobile gaming without experiencing distinguishable delay or lag.

I've been using it for almost two months on a daily basis, and yet - every time I want to press a button, I need to stop for a while, think, make sure it's the correct one, because it's so easy to mistake them.In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, there is a USB Type-C port for wired connectivity and to charge the internal battery. It is at this point that we see the gap between the actual body of the Qudelix-5K and integrated metal clip, which acts as the de-facto back of the device. It is charged through the USB-C port, and can be used while charging, which is a really nice feature to have. Qudelix is a new American company, set up by the former lead engineer of the now famous Earstudio ES100. I really hope this can be added in a future SW update - QUDELIX - PLEASE ADD ASSISTANT BUTTON MAPPING OPTION!

Each of them has an LED: blue for the right side (which also has a protruding mark on the top), red for the left. I ended up getting a Dragonfly Cobalt for PC use, which was closer (but a bit better) than the phone output.I'm very enthusiastic of the future of Qudelix 5K and how they're going to improve their USB AMP DAC.

In conclusion, at around USD110, this is a solid performer among the currently available BT dongle option. I often open the app just for the volume to avoid pressing the button multiple times, so having a volume widget would be really handy. When ON it will broadcast BLE packets with its public address, which is unique for each device and, therefore, traceable. The battery duration is pretty good, depending on the power schedule, the used output and the Bluetooth codec, it can range from a whole 15-17 hours to 5-6 hours. Finally, below are the measurements taken with the oscilloscope, without load, making a frequency scan, from 20Hz to 20kHz, using the maximum volume (0db and 6dB), for both outputs.

While the single output works with only one DAC chip, switching to the balanced output takes advantage of the dual Sabre DAC. The Qudelix fixes both of these problems but, more than that, feels like a true extension of your phone and interface for your headphones. You can configure the 5K either from the mobile application, which is available for Android and iOS, or the PC Chrome extension. Most products come with a 1Y manufacturer warranty (or 3 months for B-grade, open box, refurbished, ex-demo and second hand items).

times more (the Cobalt has slightly better top-end extension and separation, you have to REALLY listen to it to realise). The Parametric EQ is always much more complex and requires some knowledge and time to use but allows a more precise customization of the sound. On the left side, there is a button with a double function: if you press on its top, the volume increases.

When changing to the balanced option there is a jump in output power that is clearly audible in the louder volume of around 8dB which translates into ~15 steps in the 5K device volume scale.