FiiO Q5S Review - Amp-Up your smartphone!

[@Flavius7]

Well... no surprise here. As an actual owner of Q5 I know how good it can be. On the balanced output it can be brilliant. So the Q5s can only be a FUCKING masterpiece, unlike....MOJO! Just one more thing to add! FIIO...I REALLY LIKE YOU! REALLY! But...Android is 90 % of the God damned market! IPhone has 10%. It's disrespectful to only include a Shity iShit adapter. Is it an IOS only device? Please let us Androids know so we can buy something else. And that would be a shame, since this is a glorious device! Respect, Sandu, great review as always. Especially the comparison with the Q5 was the piece of resistance! I'm keeping my Q5 😃👍

[@Shozimus]

Think i will be not upping from my Q5 to the new version, up until i get my self a phone with LDAC. What i will get it's the AM3D amp module for sure. Still with the first occasion going to listen to Q5S and compare. It's not a matter of if, rather a matter of when :) Thanks for the review :)

[@ionescugeorge2003]

@@Shozimus You don't need Ldac to enjoy the upgrade. Ldac can work from 330kbps up to 990kbs, you have no guarantee that it will work@990kbps. AptxHD is 576kbps already, and Q5s>Q5 when using even low bitrate codecs, because it's a better device, with better dac and amp module.

[@Z3l0S]

@@Shozimus it works fine with android

[@iplaydrunk9979]

it doesn't work on my LG v30..-.- glad i bought the if nano bl instead soundstage,bass,moreee power on a single-ended.I'm very happy

[@twohorizons3436]

"So the Q5s can only be a FUCKING masterpiece" Not necessarily. I did hear one user say the Q5 had better sound, but of course, they didn't specify which amp module they used. There is one amp module that takes the Q5 and Q5s amps to the next level. The Q5s probably has better sound, but depending on the amp you may fare better or worse. The AM3D amp is supposedly good, but the AM5 is by far the most powerful amp and can be used to drive power hungry headphones to beyond painful sound levels.

[@FatTool12]

Great review! I think you do a great job, especially given English isn't your first language. I am not sure if Americans are your main audience, but one thing that threw me was when you prounced LED as lead. In the states we pronounce every letter individually. But again I have lived in a foreign country and learned a second language and was blow away by how well you are able to communicate. Keep it up!

[@Soundnews]

Thank you Logan. I am re-shooting few sentences up to 15 times because I don't like my pronunciation. For a 15 minute video I am actually shooting more than 2 hours of RAW video. I am doing all my best to have a decent English, in time I will probably have it better and better. I learned it only from my music and movies, no English at school or university for me. Well noted about LED, I will remember that. Thanks mate for your honest opinion! I appreciate that a lot

[@FatTool12]

@@Soundnews Thanks for the reply, always happy to see KZbinrs interacting with their fans. The process you go through inorder to do a review is quite impressive. Perhaps a future episode could be about how to properly test an item (a lot of new guys don't know how) and perhaps tell us about everything you go through so we can better appreciate the effort you expend to bring us great content! Thanks for all the hard work!

[@johnanderson3853]

Very informative. Especially about LDAC sound quality. I'm interested in using this with wired headphones but with LADC or AptxHD between my phone and this amp.

[@Soundnews]

Hey John, glad I could help ;)

[@zakkwylde5545]

I know this is an old video, but anyone know how to get this to work on Samsung S21 or similar?

[@christopherhauser1376]

I enjoyed your thorough review due to your audio analytics.

[@ionescugeorge2003]

You've tested hiss/noisefloor improperly. Connect it via BT/USB, but first play a song for a few seconds, then pause/stop it and you will hear the noisefloor. If you just start it and connect it to a source but don't play anything first the output is actually disconnected. This is present even on line-out, but much less, so it explains why Fiio launched AM3D THX amp. It has maybe 10-20% less hiss than the old Q5. I've tested it using 3,5mm output with Fiio FH7 headphones. The funny thing is my Fiio BTR3 had zero hiss, but Q5/Q5s have quite noticable hiss.

[@Raziel_SSJ]

Interesting. I've seen you have done this test on the "K5 Pro". Can you give us a feed back on noise, especially on medium or high gain with USB input connected to a PC please @Soundnews ?

[@Soundnews]

I don't know that unit did you test, I have the final production unit and I just redid my IEM tests exactly how you specified. I listened to Q5S via USB from my PC, even at high gain after playing a song and then pausing the music there isn't any faint noises or his. I listened via FiiO FA7 and via IKKO OH1, same happens on both IEMs. I can easily hear the noise floor of desktop amps but I consider Q5S dead silent in comparison to those.

[@ionescugeorge2003]

@@Soundnews I have the final production unit. I also had 2 x Q5 and they both had hiss. Maybe i'm more sensitive to it, but i can clearely hear it or you just recived a golden sample from Fiio for the review

[@Soundnews]

@@ionescugeorge2003 Haha, I don't think I had a golden sample. Did you tried another PC/Laptop? I returned the Q5 so can't say much about it right now but I like how Q5S works, even with IEMs.

[@ionescugeorge2003]

@@Soundnews It's not the input, all of them got the same amount of hiss, no matter the source.

[@MrBenEye]

So far you are the only one that has stated that the q5s holds its own against chord mojo ;-)

[@XIlizaX]

Thank you so much. very useful and complete review. I want you to give me an advise, seems you're an audio professional so please tell me, is it a suitable buy for me as a normal guy that listens to heavy metal everyday by cellphone and really cares about audio quality or not. I will appreciate if you suggest any other product suitable to me. Thank you.

[@Soundnews]

"Cough cough" Chord Mojo

[@cybergod77]

did u do a comparison? I believe Currawong said the mojo was better in SQ

[@Soundnews]

@@cybergod77 I don't like Mojo in general, had it for few weeks. I don't understand whats the fuss about it. Ok-ish sounding, average to really bad soundstage capability

[@cybergod77]

@@Soundnews I agree to some extent and was wondering what the hype was about too. Besides the Fiio Q5S, any other similar priced portable dac/amp that can outperform it? Best I've heard so far is the Creative SXFI AMP but I'm looking for something better sg.creative.com/sxfi/ Zeos spoke highly of the Xduoo XD-05 Plus in a recent review...any experience with that?

[@Soundnews]

@@cybergod77 XD-05 Plus review coming next week, stay tuned for that

[@tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming]

Can you do a comparison FiiO Q5S vs the XDUOO XD-05 PLUS

[@mohamedzubair3676]

No issues. Anyhow happy to see Ur responses.

[@dariobertagna9817]

When you said that it works with Arya with rock tracks. Do you mean that it will be lacking for other type of music? I am trying to find a good match for Arya and iphone

[@Raziel_SSJ]

Nice in depth review. Thanks for this. 7:31 🤘😄 I personally do like the touch that the edges brings to the unit. Having the two sizes of balanced output is a really good things _(unless having multiples outputs adds noise ?)_

[@johnparkerzabala]

No need to change module thx it reduces a lot: Salute sir 👏

[@jnjr45]

I have a Samsung galaxy s21 ultra 5g phone... Will this q5s Amp work with my phone? if so, what earbuds could be perfect for the combo?

[@deepusaketh819]

Will it be able to drive hifiman sundara...

[@rednose9055]

What about synergy with FH7 ? Could you please describe how it`s play in bass, mids, treble...are there some noticable peaks in h-mids specially in F volcal higs and are there not to bright and sibilat /harsh in treble with Q5s?

[@Soundnews]

Some people consider FH7 as bight sounding, to me those are not bright but just extended and revealing even past 15 kHz. Q5S in its default configuration (AM3B) is not bright at all, it is actually a bit smoother sounding so the combination with FH7 is really good, no complains, they both worked great together.

[@rednose9055]

@@Soundnews very thx for your respons :) is there very big differet betwean fiio q1 mark II and q5s sound signature /reproduction ? Some people said that in fact there is no so much diferent in this region ..and in fact if we do not need much more power and futures q1 mark ii will also very good and much cheaper solution as only dac/amp ..for portable i was using q1 mark ii but i was thinking about upgrade to q5s but right now as only potrable dac/amp with balanced out was all i need :/ so ...in your opinion is that true what other said?thank you in advance for your time and response

[@Soundnews]

@@rednose9055 Can't tell, don't have a Q1 Mk2. Specs wise though Q5S looks more advanced. If you are enjoying your Q1 Mk2 then listen to it and save some money for Christmas presents :)

[@SKY4510Production]

Any lag when using the USB DAC function on PC?

[@Soundnews]

Nope, no lag with PCM files.

[@pollyaloy]

Does the q5s have better bass than the fiio A3 ? Both have a bass switch but which has the stronger bass when the switch is turned on .

[@Soundnews]

A long time passed since I tested the FiiO A3 but I can tell you that Q5S has a pretty strong bass once the bass switch is engaged. It is too much for me, I like it turned off most of the time, sounds more linear this way

[@osmangunes1094]

Great review. Thanks..

[@Roman_Ishmuratov]

Супер ревью! Сенк ю комрэд!

[@Soundnews]

Glad you liked it, comrade.

[@mohamedzubair3676]

Can this amp suits my sennheiser momentum truly wireless earbuds? Is there any amp for truly wireless earbuds ?

[@Soundnews]

Use those with your smartphone, job done. I would use Q5S with something better.

[@mohamedzubair3676]

Is there any amp available for truly wireless earbuds ?

[@mohamedzubair3676]

Is it possible that we can use amplifier along with truly wireless earbuds like we using along with headphones ?

[@Soundnews]

@@mohamedzubair3676 Sadly there aren't as far as I know.

[@mellowed9655]

What's the max pcm rate? 👍

[@Soundnews]

768 kHz/32 bit via USB, 192 kHz/24 bit via coaxial, 96 kHz/24 bit via optical

[@mellowed9655]

@@Soundnews thank you it will be interesting to try it with some hi res music, I have the Q5S connected to my phone and the headphone out connected to the Sony Wh1000xm3, I have them switched on so the noise cancelling works nice and I use foobar with a EQ that I found on reddit headphones. It all came together nicely

[@mellowed9655]

It's a lovely bedside rig for bedsides with no plug sockets

[@objetrumeur]

They explained on their website why they are still using micro usb. It's because of apple certification

[@Soundnews]

Yep, you are right. I would appreciate another version with USB type-C for Android users. James Chung (FiiO CEO) is a big Apple fan and that can be seen in his products, nothing wrong with that, but Android heads should not be left in the dust IMO.

[@layzlifts9856]

I do not even know why it is a big deal. C to micro is cheap, people are just being extra. I just do not like that I cannot control music playback unless it is bluetooth.

[@ностромов]

Sure, but no (Android, OTG) USB-C cable included? It costs us to buy like $10 and what is it to them, $2?

[@willyvlyminck201]

It is probably great on your PC. No need for it on the road.

[@Soundnews]

Its main purpose is portability, but of course it can be used with a PC as well.

[@Oun104]

20:36 buhahahhahahahhahahaha mannnnn the ending was totally epic

[@Soundnews]

Glad you liked it ;)

[@Raziel_SSJ]

@@Soundnews I wonder how do you know this is sounding better given that I don't see review of the Mojo on your channel ?

[@Soundnews]

@@Raziel_SSJ I am writing reviews for more than 10 years already (soundnews.ro, soundnews.net), but I have this channel for 6 months only. Mojo is good sounding, but too up-front for my tastes.

[@Raziel_SSJ]

@@Soundnews Thanks for the answer. Seeing the quality of your review it seems obvious that you aren't a newcomers in this world and this kind of reviews, but it is preferable to have confirmation. _BTW, I'm not interested in but, I still don't see the Mojo reviewed on you websites 🙄😋_

[@Soundnews]

@@Raziel_SSJ I had it at my place for about one or two months, I first wanted to make a written review for it but it disappointed me as it sounded too crowded/up-front and "hysterical" so I had to return it back. I made reviews for Hugo and later on for Hugo2 instead.

[@gerardbadin9503]

Bien mais pas parfait !

[@Soundnews]

Parfait n'existe pas :)