FiiO Q3 Review - Turning Low-Fi smartphones into Hi-Fi sources

My written review can be found here: soundnews.net/sources/dacs/fi...
Get your FiiO Q3 from here: bit.ly/3mtuwR4
Video Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:52 - Looks & Build Quality
01:44 - Inputs & Outputs
02:26 - Tech inside it
03:32 - Preliminary Sound Impressions
05:49 - Noise Floor
07:45 - Power Output
09:10 - Transparency & Details
10:19 - Transient Response
11:54 - Bass
12:33 - Midrange
13:14 - Treble
13:55 - Conclusions
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
📱 www. Soundnews.net/
📷 / soundnews.net_
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Desktop headphones I’m using:
🎧 Hifiman Susvara: bit.ly/3a39pm2
🎧 Audeze LCD-4: bit.ly/35LFYAK
🎧 Kennerton Wodan: bit.ly/2LkHLGN
🎧 Hifiman Arya: bit.ly/2W4RDGM
🎧 Erzetich Phobos: amzn.to/2SbbMcQ
🎧 Quad ERA-1: bit.ly/3fE50pV
Portable headphones I’m using:
🎧 Meze 99 Classics: bit.ly/3bjTqwX
🎧 Sennheiser Momentum 3: amzn.to/2SrzzWf
🎧 Sony WH1000XM3: amzn.to/35b9pfa
IEMs I’m using:
👂 Meze Rai Penta: bit.ly/3j2EhVa
👂 FiiO FA9: bit.ly/3nh9pDf
👂 FiiO FH7: bit.ly/3iwZeqm
Loudspeakers I’m using:
🔊 KEF LS50W: amzn.to/2y3IPIP
🔊 Buchardt S400: bit.ly/2xTOCkt
Integrated/Power Amps I’m using:
💪 Kinki Studio EX-M7: bit.ly/3gEoVVJ
💪 Hegel H190: bit.ly/2yQboK8
💪 KECES S125: bit.ly/2W5mMJZ
Best DACs I have tried:
🥇 Audiobyte HydraVox: bit.ly/2VXJjZM
🥇 Matrix Audio Element X: bit.ly/2xU6hbC
🥇 Gustard A22: bit.ly/2WExwPK
🥇 Topping D90 MQA: bit.ly/2zHWSo2
🥇 Audio-GD R7 (2020 Version): bit.ly/3fpNUfl
🥇 Denafrips Venus: amzn.to/35kgHh7
🥇 Musician Pegasus: bit.ly/30eTGeg
Best Mid-Fi DACs:
🥈 Topping DX7 PRO: bit.ly/2Lh5S67
🥈 SMSL M500: bit.ly/2WlPbwC
🥈 Mytek Brooklyn DAC+: amzn.to/3aHGuAw
🥈 Benchmark DAC3B: amzn.to/2KC5saf
🥈 Chord Hugo2: amzn.to/2Y88T05
Best Entry-Level DACs:
🥉 Soncoz LA-QXD1: bit.ly/3gf8ONt
🥉 Topping E30: bit.ly/35OWW1p
🥉 SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII: amzn.to/3cSe1tC
🥉 SMSL M200: bit.ly/3cCtFsw
Best DAC + Headphone Amp combos:
🎶 Flux Lab Acoustics FCN-10: bit.ly/2Y74daK
🎶 Burson Audio Conductor 3: amzn.to/2xcfSKx
🎶 Audio-GD D.28 Full: bit.ly/359E6S5
Best Headphone amps:
💣Benchmark HPA4: bit.ly/2xb6hn5
💣Sparkos Labs Aries: bit.ly/2xcOps1
💣Topping A90: bit.ly/2YBwCnZ
Best DAPs:
🎵 FiiO M15: bit.ly/3lcFA4N
🎵 FiiO M11 PRO: bit.ly/36vuwvF
🎵 Shanling M6: amzn.to/3eXG8Jq
My Video/Photo Gear:
📷 / 🎥 amzn.to/2VHeNnf
🔍 amzn.to/3eTCsZp
🔍 amzn.to/2yPR6A5
🔭 amzn.to/2zAuGn1
💡 amzn.to/2VEDC3l
☂️ amzn.to/2VETyT6
🎤 amzn.to/3aLjYXv
These are my honest opinions in different categories. Some of them are affiliated links that help me manage this KZbin channel at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#FiiO #Q3 #THX-AAA

[@annelouisemendoza394]

Very nice thx. Thank you for this. Helped me to decide on which portable dac/amp to buy

[@marcwijtenburg1906]

Thx. for the in-depth review. your videos are really underappreciated.

[@connorp6135]

Your video quality is top-tier!

[@aceofspades6667]

good stuff.. happy new year Sandu hope all is going well! Wishing the channel well in 2021...

[@altabriziyehya4735]

Thank you . You’re a Good Man.

[@Flavius7]

So this is the Q1 Mark II...Mark II. Well, it's a useful gadget for budget IEM'S owners. What I liked the most in the review is the fact that you managed to be very precise and direct in you comparison conclusions. This way the viewer will know exactly where this device is positioned VS Q5S or Daps. Not many youtubers do it honest these days. And just the price bracket is not always relevant, take Btr5 for example. That being said I still think the Btr5 kills anything else Fiio does from M6, Q1, Q3, M7 and even M9. Oh yes, and *uck Mojo! Great work, Sandu!👍

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

It works great with hifiman headphones from balanced or 3.5... because there is so much talk being underpowered from the non balanced so Arya surprises me Currawong even said it won't drive Sundara from unbalanced...😊✌️

[@douglasbonner6543]

Hi Sandu. I am a long time follower of your reviews and enjoy them very much. I hope you take requests because I have one =) I was hoping you could do a review of the Yulong DaArt Canary II DAC/Amp. Love to see how it compares with similar units you have tried.

[@goodnightmoon]

this will definitely a perfect pair to my m3 pro

[@chrisbianchi8876]

The btr5 is not wireless only, in fact I use it exclusively as a USB DAC amp with my hd6xx. It Powers them just fine with a balanced cable though I have to admit I'm curious to try them through something like a K5.

[@emilianpredescu3477]

I still own a Fiio Q5 first generation, very good device if you want to upgrade your smartphone. Does the Q3 stands a chance against the Q5? Thank you and great review!👍

[@ogunrotimifemi6388]

Can it be used in a car stereo? I have a 3.5mm jack & USB in my truck. Thanks.

[@deepusaketh819]

Great review.. Could you please suggest the best portable dac amp for hifiman sundara

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

dx5

[@conandrum74]

With the Q3 plugged to my phone, and a headset connected to the Q3, can I make phone calls? I do not mind if the mic used is the one on my phone, but I want to listen to the caller in my headset. What phones have you tried?

[@GeorgeAgasandian]

is it possible to start using it in fully discharged state?

[@pramoddas9821]

Is this connect to my Sony iv 300 Home theater?

[@mcnaugha]

In terms of wired DAC/AMP capability, would it be the case that the BTR5 (2021) is actually better than the Q3 when listening with mid-range IEM’s?

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

yes with iems and buds it might sound better than desktops

[@jeremyabramson4343]

Do you think these will power zmf headphones? They're highly impedant at 300 ohms.

[@jayasuriyas2604]

Yeah

[@lol-vq8dh]

Hi. I ve got a question. First u need to know that i own AirPods pro and listened to the sennheiser pxc 550 quite a lot but dont own them. I was never into hifi Hardware i just love to listen to musik. I want to upgrade from my AirPods to something better sounding. Those sennheisers sounded great but i want more / i dont need Bluetooth, anc,... on overears. I just want to listen to musik. How much do i have to spend for a good (better than the pxc550) pair of headphones? Do i need an amplifier? What would u recommend? Thanks!

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

a westone and fiio dac

[@nippahut]

sir can i use this on a pair of grado original rs1 headphones with a samsung m51 mobil phone? thanks

[@Soundnews]

Of course you can, RS1 doesn't need that much power to be moved.

[@nippahut]

@@Soundnews thank you ill be ordering now!!

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

Do U enjoy more this or Btr5...

[@afistfulofpimples1745]

No reply

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

really those not my business whatsoever

[@Silent-1983]

I did buy the new model Fiio Q3 MQA. Only on battery you can use it on PC. Disappointed, that doesn't say ONLY on battery, you can use it on laptop or pc! WHY????? I lost 160 euro, to use a damn battery, it's my fault i didn't find where says that?

[@stevetatten9422]

Very confusing product