Introduction
FiiO is back, yet again, but this time they are expanding their Jade Audio line of high performance products with a low asking price. This time we will be covering their latest entry portable DAC/amplifier that will be the successor of the Q series, the all new FiiO & Jade Audio Q11. They are indeed a sleek form of battery powered DAC/amplifier that has a solid build along with a sound to match. What is surprising is their great spec sheet that has a dual DAC chip setup with a decent amount of driving power all in a price that is just 89 USD (RM389). How will they perform in this price range with this product? We shall find out here.
But first let me give a shout out to Red Ape Headphones Store for providing this unit for this review. They are the official reseller for FiiO here in Malaysia, so do check them out.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the FiiO & Jade Audio Q11;
- Model: FiiO Q11 USB digital DAC
- Chipset: Cirrus-Logic CS43198 with independent dual op amps
- Frequency range: 20 – 40 000 Hz
- Compatibility: PCM up to 32bit/384kHz – DSD up to DSD256
- SNR: 122B (single-ended) / 125dB (balanced)
- Output power : 165mW @ 32 ohms (single-ended) / 650mW @ 32 ohms (balanced)
- THD: < 0.0006%
- Output impedance: < 1.2 ohm (single-ended) / < 2.0 ohm (balanced)
- Size: 60.5 * 105.7 * 16mm
- Weight: 150g
- Socket: USB-C
Retail Price & Where to Get
Thank you, RED APE and Fiio for providing us the unit for review and testing. The Fiio Q11 is officially priced at RM389.00 and can be found at RED APE (official distributor).
Shopee : https://invl.io/cli3anf
Lazada : https://invol.co/cli3ao8
Packaging & Accessories
FiiO has been known for their great packaging while Jade Audio has been known to water down the unboxing experience to lower the cost thus providing a friendlier price and the Q11 packaging is quite simple from the outside design wise but it is surely packed with all the necessities and then some. Included is a USB C to C cable, Lightning to USB C cable, USB A to C cable, a rubber pad, a rubber strap, paperworks like manuals and the unit itself. I do find the rubber strap quite useful for strapping my smartphone for a more secure stacking
Design
The design of the Q11 is sleek, anodized aluminium body that is thin and very light in weight with futuristic design lines to the body. It has a small plastic window that gives you a glance at their dual mono amplifier internals and DAC chip while having a LED inside illuminating the small window that will show users the type of files being played where blue is for files below 48khz and below, yellow for files above 48khz and above while green is for DSD. The indicator can be turned off via the FiiO application. No Mqa support is available but not a big deal for me.
On the output side we will have 2 types of output which includes a single ended 3.5mm that and a 4.4mm balanced output. Pretty basic straightforward outputs.
The Q11 has a rotary volume knob that doubles as the on off button and they are accurate with a good, smooth resistance. The gain level switch is situated beside the volume knob.
Inside the Q11 is powered by a CS43198 DAC chip from Cirrus Logic that has a reputable low noise and a high dynamic range. They have native DSD support and a maximum of 32/384khz in PCM mode. They are driven by 2 independent op amps in mono mode instead of the usual THX amplification that FiiO is known for. On the bottom of the unit we will find a standard USB type C that is used for charging and the digital input as well. There is also a LED light to indicate the charging status where red is charging and when it’s full, it will turn blue. Users might want to take note that certain USB C cables will drain power from your source as it will activate the charging, so best is to use the supplied USB C to C cable included.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO M17
Hidizs S9 Pro
FiiO KA3
Questyle M15
Rudistor RP8
Sennheiser HD800s
Ikko OH1
Moondrop A8
Dunu EST112
Blur daBass custom earbud
Moondrop Chocanne
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Q11 is a well balanced laid-back, neutral sound signature that is slightly warm and has a smooth high range that is rather fatigue free. They have a high range that is inoffensive but still able to retain a good degree of clarity and details, suitable for those treble sensitive users. Bass and mids are on the warmer side and have great resolution overall. It also has a dead silent background that is noise free which makes micro details more present in their presentation.
Soundstage
The soundstage of the Q11 is a medium sized soundstage that certainly wouldn’t impress some users out there but acceptable for their low price range. They have a rather mediocre width and height that might make some IEM sound rather closed but in return, we do get an intimate sound that may work for certain acoustics genres. For earbuds and full-sized headphones, they are fine but do not increase their soundstage size to their presentation. Airiness is also average at best but for their price range, they are negligible.
Separation and Timbre
Separation that the Q11 possesses is superb and they are very well presented with layers that are quite clear. Separation from left to right is also great with positioning displayed is accurate and clean, suitable for gaming and movies as well for their separation accuracy. Timbre is a little on the relaxed side of the spectrum but they are natural and vivid with great transparency.
Drivability
The driving power of the Q11 is amazing as they are powerful to say the least with a maximum of 650mv per channel on 4.4mm balanced and with low gain they are sufficient for all my IEM and earbuds in my collection. On high gain they are able to drive my HD800s with adequate volume and they are driven quite well with low distortion but doesn’t seem to run then to its fullest potential. They are certainly more powerful than the FiiO M11 series players and on par with FiiO M15 in terms of driving power which is great. No complaints here and given their low asking price, they are superb. The 3.5mm SE output has a significantly lower sound output which can only be used on high sensitivity gears only which can be good for some other users but on some power hungry gears, the 3.5mm output might not be sufficient.
The Bass (Low)
Bass that the Q11 produces is a neutral, balanced bass with minimal mid bass lift that sounds natural and impactful. Details and clarity here is good with bass notes sounded clean without any bleed present to the other frequencies. They have a thick bass notes reproduction with a tight slam to them making music sounds more soulful overall. Sub-bass extension is average but they do sound clean and deep. Bass layering and texture is above average as they are able to give the bass more weight and body making music sounds quite fun and energetic. They are in no way an aggressive, big bass presentation but rather a pleasantly clean bass that sounds clear and organic without any coldness present.
The Mids
The midrange of the Q11 is a warm neutral mids that has a slight forwardness to them making music more intimate. They have adequate clarity and details here but their resolution is amazing with music that sounds vividly clear. They have a good transparency in their midrange and they excel in their macro details while in micro details, they are average but still enjoyable as they are clear sounding. Vocals sounded lush and they are great with female or male vocals alike with great intimacy. Instruments sound great as well and they are more suited for strings instruments like bass, guitars and even violins. There is some slight coloration to their presentation but in a good way as they do not alter their naturalness in music played, instead providing a rather fun, soulful character.
The Highs
The highs region here is a laid-back presentation that is velvety smooth without any peak or shout present. They do have a good degree of clarity and details while sounding buttery smooth providing fatigue free listening experience. What they do lack is brilliance in their upper high range and they lack crispness but they are capable of providing a good sparkle, just that they kind of roll off at the top end. Treble sensitive users might find the Q11 high range to be pleasing but treble freaks might find them a little subdued. Treble here has a low intensity approach but still able to sound great with their rather airy extension along with a smooth sound that has all the details intact. Overall, it all comes down to your gears pairing and preference as bright gears will sound great with this while those colder types might have a subdued effect.
Comparisons
VS FiiO M17
The flagship of FiiO that houses a pair of ES9038Pro with THX 788+ along with all the high end specifications that looks more like desktop level gears. They are truly a beast in performance and in my opinion have the best performance for a portable setup though they are a brick in size, they still act as a portable device. This comparison in sound might not seem fair but it will be good to know where they stand especially in their driving power
The High region on the M17 has the edge in amount and quality as they are more refined. The highs on the Q11 are smoother and more forgiving on bright devices.
Midrange on the M17 is also more refined with better clarity and resolution. What the Q11 produces here is a lush vocal that is almost on par with the M17 and they are slightly warmer sounding.
Bass on the M17 has a more authoritative presentation with a deeper sub-bass response while the Q11 has a more balanced bass response with a lower intensity amount of bass. Details and clarity on the M17 is better but not too far apart from the Q11.
Soundstage on both is where the M17 trumps the Q11 with a wider and higher soundstage along with a much bigger headroom than the rather intimate Q11
In terms of driving power, the low gain sits in the medium gain off the M17 while high gain on the Q11 sits around the high gain on the M17 which is quite powerful given their price range. Overall, in terms of sound performance, the M17 has the edge without a doubt, but given the price of the Q11, it’s certainly not worlds apart as the Q11 still has the smooth sound typical of FiiO’s product and they are definitely more portable and have a better battery life.
VS Questyle M15
The M15 is still my to-go dongle at this time as they are sublime in their sound and simplicity. They are powered by Sabre DAC chipset without the coldness and all the goodness in clarity. They are priced more than double the Q11 and they have no need for a battery
.
Bass on the Q11 has the better in quantity and extension in the sub-bass region but the M15 has a cleaner, clearer bass response. Bass on the M15 is airer while the Q11 has better impact.
The M15 midrange has a more resolving nature with better details intact especially in their micro details. The Q11 is warmer here with a more lively feel to them and they also sounded a little more forward than the M15.
High range on the Sabre has a more pronounced feel to it and they sounded clearer and cleaner. The Q11 has a more laid-back style in their presentation. The M15 has a crisper highs but their sparkle is identical.
Soundstage on the M15 is wider and taller by a small margin.
In driving power, the Q11 has a slight edge by being more powerful and has a better authority in driving big cans.
Side by side both of these devices have their pros and cons but for users who don’t mind a bulkier set with a warmer, balanced sound, the Q11 might be a better choice but in portability and sound refinement, the M15 might be the one better.
Synergy
Sennheiser HD800S
The now classic legend flagship open back headphones from the German producers, Sennheiser. They are well balanced headphones with an enormous soundstage that is just sublime. They are notoriously hard to drive and a good pairing is needed to be performing at their best.
Bass is good but not great, in fact not much has been changed here which can be good or bad. Impact remains mostly the same with a slight improvement in clarity and details. Sub-bass extension is mediocre but still good in quality.
Midrange has a slightly more intimate feel to them and they sound a little closer to my ears, especially vocals. Details and clarity have some improvements here but they do lack airiness. The Q11 has also added some thickness in notes in the midrange.
Highs here are smooth and sounded less peaky. Details and clarity remains mostly the same with a slight extension in their high range. Treble sounded less intense with a more fatigue free in long term listening but in return they lack some energy.
Soundstage is good but it does not extend their width and airiness and everything sounded accurate. In terms of driving power, in terms of volume, they are adequate, but they do lack dynamic authority like those full fledged desktop setup or even the FiiO M17 but given their price, the Q11 is actually quite a great budget pairing.
Moondrop A8
The A8 from Moondrop is totally my favourite IEM that houses 8 balanced armatures and they are very well tuned with a resolution that is super vivid.
Bass has great impact with a more dynamic-esque bass quality. Details and clarity here is good with great texture given to the A8. Sub-bass extension remains mostly the same but they have a clearer rumble.
Midrange here has a slightly more forward sound with better details and clarity. Vocals sounded more intimate and possessed more body. Vocals might sound a little coloured than usual but in a minor way.
Highs are smooth and extend pretty well with a good sparkle but do lack crispness. Details and clarity here remains mostly the same as well as the airiness.
Soundstage is not the A8 forte here and the Q11 doesn’t really add much width and height in the overall sound of the A8.
Who Is It For?
For those wanting a strong portable DAC/amplifier that is sufficient to drive headphones on-the-go with decent performance and a high quality build without breaking the bank? Q11 might be the answer. It is suited for those who want smooth, inoffensive sound that has great resolution without slouching in their detail retrieval. Those who want a more aggressive, bold sound as well as a detailed freak performance won’t find this suiting but for an easy going listen, this Q11 will go a long way.
Final words
Well I must say that FiiO & Jade Audio has certainly done it this time with the Q11 as they certainly produce one the most high value versus performance DAC/amplifiers to date in my opinion. They are priced attractively and most definitely an upgrade over the previous Q1 also coming close to the Q3 in performance. With a sound that is inoffensive, a great battery life, powerful output along with a built and design that showcases FiiO & Jade Audio passion for value and performance, they are a steal for those audio enthusiasts. Though a tad lacking in their sound refinement and soundstage, they are still a product that without a doubt brings a big improvement in sound quality and brings forth more driving power to your gears. A job very well executed indeed. What an amazing value!
I would rate this product a solid 4 and half stars over 5 stars
Pros
- Amazing value and price
- Build and design
- Small sized and lightweight for a battery driven product
- FiiO application support
- Decent driving power
- Good, accurate separation
- Well balanced sound
- Amazing bass quality
- Thick, immersive mids
- Smooth high range
- 4.4mm pure balanced output
- Great battery life
- Very low background noise
- Well executed volume knob
- Great accessories inclusion
Cons
- Mediocre soundstage
- Lacking in sound refinement in high range
- Not for critical listening
- Treble extension a little lacking
- Lack crispness
- Single ended output has significantly lower power output
- Some aftermarket USB C cable can’t stop the charging
- No MQA support
