FiiO Q7 - portable flagship DAC/amp review

The new DAC and amplifier combo by FiiO offers outstanding sound quality with tons of driving power
Official site: fiio.com/q7
0:00 - Introduction
2:47 - Package and accessories
7:43 - Design and controls
14:44 - Companion app
16:24 - Sound
24:10 - Parings and conclusion
Tracks, mentioned in the review
Led Zeppelin - Bring It On Home
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
Pink Floyd - Echoes
Northern Kings - Brothers in Arms
Cassandra Wilson - Another Country
The Mars Volta - Imago
Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@boltvanderhuge8711]

Just got mine today; besides the audio quality the best thing about it IMO is how unapologetically ridiculous the design is, especially that middle glass pane that they have a cutout for on the case even though it's just that tiny screen behind it 😂. Going to be a classic for sure.

[@PortaFi]

well, I'm not neatpicking, so for me every design that is not awful in terms of UX is OK )))

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

I have the Q7 too. Not ideal to take it outside with me, but it's doable. I don't really listen to music on the go anyway. At home, it's a game changer. Now I have desktop grade power that I can use anywhere in my house.

[@boltvanderhuge8711]

​@@ROCKSTAR3291 after a month of use my favorite feature of the Q7 has got to be the mad gains; sure, I may be stuck forever t-posing from the sheer bulk of my muscles, but chicks dig them. I figure in another few months I might be able carry it more than 10ft at a time 💪

[@Andyhandle]

Good review, thanks for sharing. I've settled on an A&K DAP and loving it, so not watching many other videos about other DAPs! Though I'm going to try the SEM module dacs as the A&K has removable modules (most likely the SEM 4 module). Do you think you might try out the Focal Bathys? It seems to have very good wireless quality and I like the idea of a dac that's built in to allow phones to plug directly into the headsets for wired use.

[@PortaFi]

Hello, thank you! I didn't test A&K products with replaceable amps And, unfortunately, I'm not sure about this Focal models, some brands are almost disappeared from local market (while others are pretty OK, probably it depends on distributors). Lots of local companies are broke, as they've lost all their good due to shelling of warehouses, shops, etc

[@Andyhandle]

@@PortaFi I'm sorry to hear that. Its appalling what's being done to your country and the people of Ukraine.

[@Andyhandle]

@@PortaFi I found United24. That looked more direct than the Red Cross (who are good in a wider area). I'm doing $20 donation for each show you do.

[@PortaFi]

@@Andyhandle thank you so much! It's a great motivation for me to continue. As for United24, yes, it's better, it's a government fund that supports really useful things, starting with water drone fleet and ending with generators for critical infrastructure and ICRC is a totally useless organisation. They're spending more on their hotels, restaurants and other stuff than on real charity

[@gonzalonobile15]

Hi, I have a question. Is it possible to connect 4 headphones to it at the same time, to listen to music or watch movies? If this is not possible, do you know of a device that allows it? Thank you so much.

[@PortaFi]

I think you can use a simple splitter to achieve that, but I didn't test that in practice, so I'm not sure how that impact sound quality

[@martincosby9743]

Great review thanks. But it's huge! I have the BTR7... and I did not realise quite how big the Q7 is

[@PortaFi]

thank you! as for the size, it's just physics. to get good power and decent work time we need a lot of energy. and a lot of energy means big batteries first of all. accumulators are probably the most limiting part of modern technologies

[@martincosby9743]

@@PortaFi Yes true enough, thank you. If it was maybe 25% smaller it would be more manageable but I can't see myself carrying that around. Perhaps leave it in the office though

[@PortaFi]

FiiO has Q5, which is still a pretty good offer. It's smaller, but less powerful of course

[@SolarSuntime]

How does it work with tidal masters? I know it says it can do 8x unfold but with all IFI products I’ve tested (Diablo, Gryphon) the absolutely suck at it to the point it’s unlistenable. All Ifi products I’ve used from iPhone with tidal keep jumping or cutting out and then coming back in but many times per song.

[@PortaFi]

Sorry, I can't advice here, I don't use Tidal, and I don't like their MQA releases to be honest (and MQA in general). So I tried a pair of MQA test files I have, and it works, but not sure about Tidal. I suggest asking on Head-Fi, big community there will give a practical answer

[@SolarSuntime]

@@PortaFi thanks for your comment. I don’t like MQA either, but Qobuz has terrible recommendation system (like non existent) tidal seems to be much better at this but you have to put up with MQA

[@PortaFi]

@@SolarSuntime I'd be really happy if Tidal offered just a plain common FLAC files :) But unfortunately it doesn't

[@mihail5874]

Thank you so much for review. Small addition info about the differences: FiiO M17 has 2 DACs 9038PRO while Q7 only one.

[@PortaFi]

thank you for addition, I forgot explicitly mention that

[@brijidolerma9447]

I have a question!! Should i turn on Dolby atmos on my samsung s24 ultra while using this fiio q7? Or any dac amp?! Just curious. And why?! Thanks man.

[@PortaFi]

I'm sorry, I don't know what this option does for Samsung phones. Probably the best option is to try yourself and select option you like more

[@jimis3167]

I wish you make an Ifi idsd signature review as well or a Topping G5 review..

[@PortaFi]

I'd really like to review them too, but it's really unlikely I'll manage to get them

[@AF-rd2vf]

I await your review of A&K SP3000!

[@PortaFi]

I'm really waiting for it too, but as we now have official european prices for A&K, buying them became a really questionable for me

[@newtongsm]

Can I connect to my smart lg oled tv with optical and try connect to my 2 channel amp ?

[@PortaFi]

Yes, this should work, but you’ll need to get proper cable to connect this DAC to amp input

[@newtongsm]

@@PortaFi hi thanks already have the cable will order thabsk

[@barbaklak]

As soon as you warm up in winter

[@davidmichael3189]

I have Dan Clark Aeon Noire. I returned my ifi Gryphon because it was not very powerful and not very good quality. I'm hoping this is much better.

[@PortaFi]

It's kinda strange, because as far as I remember, Gryphon is pretty powerful. Maybe it wasn't the power issue?

[@davidmichael3189]

@@PortaFi The Headphones are mega sensitive and they perform perfectly with the Q7. The ifi Gryphon is made cheaply and isn't all that powerful.

[@PortaFi]

maybe it's because of low impedance, not all amplifiers works good with it. But it's great that Q7 solved the issue. I simply adore it :)

[@davidmichael3189]

Gryphon is quite poorly made and not very good quality. You can see that in the LCD Display. Looks cheap and nasty. The Q7 is just whole other level: an Ocean of Power and Massive Dynamics. It's a Monster.

[@playxr]

когда на Fiio K7 новый обзор будет?

[@PortaFi]

после того как он у меня появится. не раньше

[@playxr]

@@PortaFi очень интересный девайс, ждем

[@zlatinstoyanov8132]

Which one is better as DAC - FiiO K9 ESS or FiiO Q7?

[@PortaFi]

K9 is a bit better, Q7 is for those who need transportability

[@memerf36]

@@PortaFi which one is better? K7 or Q7?

[@PortaFi]

@@memerf36 haven't test K7 yet

[@memerf36]

@@PortaFi thanks!

[@user-pn7di5lp9v]

@@PortaFi In what way do you think the K9 is better? In terms of power or sound quality? My impression is that the K9 is much inferior in terms of sound quality to the M17.

[@omniamors7204]

- 1 kg of the good sound please! - here you are!)

[@PortaFi]

- but we don't have 1 kg, it's just 620g - ok, I'll take two!

[@Sebastian-gc2hc]

Hello! This Fiio is in similar price to CEntrance m8 v2. Can elaborate on sound comparison between the two? I bought the CEntrance because of your review where you called it realistic sounding. Some even called the best under 1000$. It took me long time to save for it and the sound of it is soulless. I can't listen to it, it's unnatural and not engaging. It doesn't even present sound how it is meant to be. I know because I created and recorded music. So I don't know if I can trust reviewers anymore and I don't know what they like and what is good sound for them. What is the great sound to you? Is this Fiio really good partner for listening to music or just another new gadget. I ask because I consider leaving this hobby.

[@PortaFi]

Hello, first of all, I'm really sorry for your experience with CEntrance. While I still consider it as one of the best options, it's totally monitoring representation of course isn't for everyone's liking. FiiO Q7 is more dynamic, so it's highlighting emotions more, and sound more "fun". But it's still on the neutral side of things, so it's really food idea to try it before buying, as it's not sure whether it be enough for you or not Or, actually, did you consider trying another headphones, they can make sound more fun too

[@yfryt69]

IMHO Sabre and THX are straight road to audiophile, soulless sound, regardles comments that chip type doesn't have straight impact on "sound colour" IMO it does! And that maybe good because many listeners like spacious, wide sound - but lack of weight and warmth is a strong "no go" for me.

[@Sebastian-gc2hc]

Centrance is using AKM chip and it's soulless. It's not music through this and many other technologically advanced equipment.

[@Sebastian-gc2hc]

My headphones are very dynamic and nuanced, natural sounding and joy to listen to. Yet what is your sound presentation preference? Most of us don't have a way to try the equipment you show us and tell wonderful things about. I wish you could talk more how overall music is presented and individual instruments and human voice because dynamics is only a part of natural sound but there is something more to it. It must be vibrant, alive, grabing heart and imagination So I don't which gear is really for music listening and not for lab measurements. By the way I love your work, dedication and sense of humour.

[@PortaFi]

@@Sebastian-gc2hc thank you for the suggestion and good words. I will think about how to add this info to review

[@user-or8tx3pf6q]

А по русски?

[@PortaFi]

по-русски пусть русские делают

[@vodoley1982]

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