MQA, Master Quality Authenticated is the latest technology where we get high-res performance in small file sizes. The updated FiiO Q3 version now supports full MQA unfolding allowing the users to listen to the true master quality performance as the artist intended while recording. The sides of the device do have a curved shape that makes it comfortable to hold in your hand. On the top of the device are the FiiO and the Hi-Res Audio logos in white color. One of the most important factors you may want to consider when buying a dedicated DAC is what they support. The FiiO Q3 and iFi Hip DAC 2 support DSD and PCM. As for the DSD, both support DSD64/128/256, but the Q3 also supports DSD 512. The Q3 also supports a very high PCM 768kHz/32 bit for PC in which the Hip DAC 2 is 384kHz. We are unsure whether Q3 supports DXD, but this DAC’s amp does not support MQA, which the Hip DAC 2 supports up to 384kHz. FiiO Q3 and iFi Hip DAC 2 Output

Truth to be told one must pay extra attention to notice and let's not forget that the Q3 isn't targeted for critical listening. The stars of the show are obviously those THX AAA-28 modules which should offer undistorted clean power to your headphones without adding or subtracting anything from your tunes. We’ve tested a ton of THX equipped headphone amplifiers and our reference Benchmark HPA4 unit is using flagship THX-AAA-888 modules, so we know what to expect from them. THX Frontier modules are part of their audiophile mobile division and if you would like to know more about them, here is a graph that will tell you more. The Q3 is equipped with the latest generation of XMOS USB signal receiver chip and high-performance AKM DAC chip, the AK4462. It is capable of decoding PCM up to 32-Bit/768kHz, and DSD up to DSD512 natively. The output with Q3 connected to a normal smartphone or PC is buttery smooth, has powerful bass, crisp detailing, and lush vocals suiting different genres of music very well. The gain modes were interesting, as even in high gain, the volume level was about right for even the quite sensitive Campfire Audio Andromedas, with only minimal hiss, a bit more than the BTR-5. The volume has to be turned up quite a bit before sound comes out, even in high gain, and maxes out easily with full-sized headphones before the sound gets very loud. This makes me feel it is best for IEM use, and unless you don’t listen loud, the output may be too low for full-sized headphones, especially if you listen to typical jazz and classical music that has a high dynamic range. As the name suggests, the FiiO K5 Pro is an updated version of the first K5, which replaced the FiiO E09K. An affordable desktop DAC/Amp, designed to drive power-hungry headphones or act as a bridge for your hi-fi system.Next to the charging switch are the USB-C port, and the GAIN button is next to the charging switch, followed by the BASS Boost button. The BASS Boost does just that; it bumps the low frequencies up, suitable for those who like bass-heavy music. I did not use this function because it crushed the mids and highs. If you own a Q1 Mark II, this time I can confidently advise you to up your game and get the new Q3. Sound-wise, the difference isn’t massive, but if you take into account all the various ergonomics improvements, the scale really weighs towards the new Q3. Q3 is a simple wired DAC and headphone amplifier, but if you want to go wireless with your smart devices, I recommend their BTR5 that will offer you wireless freedom and almost the same sound quality. The FiiO Q3 was partner to the iOs brothers—iPhone and iPad—and output through the following IEMs and headphones—iBasso IT00, FiiO FH5, Meze 99 Classics, and the VISION EARS EVE2020. Reduction of harmonic, intermodulation, and crossover distortion by up to 40dB, resulting in a realistic and fatigue-free listening experience.

Mids gave me no issues and everything came through super clear and detailed. Vocals were a pleasure to listen to as well. I never ran into sibilance with female vocals on brighter mid focused headphones. If the FiiO Q3 is not being charged or working, it will enter standby mode automatically after 5 minutes to help to save more power with all indicator lights off. To wake up the Q3, you need to turn it off, turn it on, or connect it to a USB device. The lower treble region is slightly more emphasized and detailed compared to the upper treble area, which sound otherwise pretty good in this regarding. The general treble presentation is controlled and well adjusted, so that it doesn’t tire your ears even after longer listening periods. Instruments like hi-hats pronounced and do shows a good level of extension, while crash and ride cymbals are fast and detailed. Treble range has a very good speed in metal and jazz music and shows a good amount of intensity and brightness in genres such as EDM or Pop without to disturb your ears. A convenient modular solution which includes power supply, and can operate from a single 3.6V batteryThe FiiO Q3 is a DAC/Amplifier with a close to neutral and detailed presentation that offers a good level of treble detail, sharpness and extension, with nice amount of airiness. The Q3 shows in general a pretty natural and linear tuning in any frequency region. The overall toning on the other hand is neither too sterile/dry nor to warm. Mids: The Midrange presents very clear and detailed , vocals had a good presentation with no sibilance even on boarder line IEMs. The hardware based bass boost is well implemented offering about +6dB of amplification without clouding very much the mid bass or overlapping the other frequencies. The Q3 sound incredibly smooth and natural. The soundstage places sound tastefully around your head without overdoing it. The 3D image is enhanced only slightly to give a solid yet natural feeling presence that wasn't there before. The bass feels more impactful, especially with the Bass switch in the On position. The mids are slightly smoothed out but in a way, that enhances the overall clarity of the sound and helps it accommodate a variety of mixing styles. The highs are especially crisp and clear, thanks in no small part to the extended frequency range on the Q3. The noise floor is incredibly low and that helped give the dynamics a cinematic feel. Rather than distort or alter what's there, the Q3 subtly enhances it to improve your listening experience exponentially. We didn’t have the chance to get this one for review, but I can give you an excerpt of the previous K5 review, by Lieven:

The FiiO Q5S is the brand’s portable DAC/AMP flagship. It enjoys a dual AKM DAC, a full balanced circuit, the same swappable amp system, and a better Bluetooth connection. Like Apple, the S at the end of the name suggests that FiiO only added a few upgrades, instead of making a completely new device. 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: Audio is complicated, and whatever you put the audio information in the equipment will affect it one way or another. Most of us are satisfied with the earphone or headphones’ sound from direct connectivity, but some may need more. Computers, smartphones, and tablets are built with DAC to let you listen to the audio file. It is a digital-to-analog converter, and while the general population is not familiar with it, they use it almost daily. You will find the charging switch at the bottom of the FiiO Q3. If the charging switch is set to ON, the Q3 will be charged once connected to a USB device (except in a low battery state). If the charging switch is set to OFF, the Q3 will not be charged. If Q3 runs out of battery, it will be charged regardless of the charging switch state until it is fully charged. When the Q3 is connected to a mobile device, it is suggested to set its charging switch to OFF to save the battery power of the mobile device. Can the FiiO, on the other hand, scale with an IEM nearly nine times its price?! The short answer to that is yes, absolutely. The combination, though not "real world" from the perspective of cost, was open, transparent, musical and together they cast a broad, deep soundstage. And bass? Thumping-tight, foundationally deep(!) and well differentiated, while the midrange, via the fortuitous placement of the dynamic driver at the EVE2020's midrange (not BAs), was rich, beautifully engaging, and also very transparent. The highs were sweet, quite extended, and completely free of sibilance. Again, not a real world marriage, but an incredibly successful marriage, nonetheless.The Q3 is full bodied reaching low enough with good impact and layering while offering adequate levels of resolution and detail without compromising a lot. I used the Sennheiser HD 58X headphones to test the Q3. I also used the AirPods Max and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, but both of those are less than 40ohm headphones. While the sound quality was better with the Q3 on those headphones, it was significantly more noticeable on the 150ohm HD 58X. My smartphone is equipped with a Hi-Fi DAC according to its The same gain button works to change the low pass filters, but there's no way at all to tell which filter is currently being used (not even by looking at the button, there's no filter indication) Near the potentiometer is an LED that lights up in different colors (blue, red, green, etc.) and gives information’s of the actual operation/codec status.