Qudelix 5K Reference DAC AMP

Product Information

UNBALANCED 4VRMS: To the 3.5mm output, 5k works with single ES9219 DAC/AMP. The ES9219 SABRE HiFi SoC delivers audiophile-grade sound quality and 2VRMS output power, allowing the ES9219 to drive the most demanding headsets and provide a real line-level output to match professional audio equipment. With Bluetooth, there are no noise complaints, although, with Apple devices, the AAC codec isn’t as detailed as LDAC but is still more than enjoyable. Qudelix 5K won’t win any awards for sharp looks, so all you need to do is listen! So, once you configure the EQ using the app, you no longer need to launch the app to see if the EQ runs or not.

As usual, the battery life will depend on each individual use, the volume used, the mode, the gain, the codec used and the transfer rate.

What sets Qudelix apart is that the company is an official Sony LDAC technical partner. Reportedly Qudelix was responsible for developing the LDAC solution for the Qualcomm QCC5000 platform. The QCC5124 receiver, as seen in just about every higher-end Bluetooth DAC/amp, relies on the work done by Qudelix to operate using the LDAC codec.

You can control the activation of the 5K microphone, as well as its gain level or choose to use the headset microphone. When connected to my PC via USB C (I do recommend getting a magnetic plug for it, makes your life whole much easier) it immediately starts working as a main audio device. So far, I haven't experienced any glitches or anything like that. Latency is good. The general sound signature is decently detailed and somewhat warm. Not a hint of the olden ES9018’s icy tinge. On the other hands, the high-impedance headphones require a higher power amplifier. Those headphones usually have low sensitivity, and they are free from the white noise affected by the amplifier noise characteristics. Instead, they need higher power from the amplifier output to deliver enough loudness and headroom. 10-Band PEQ/GEQ (64-bit double precision) The Qualcomm QCC5124 Bluetooth chip is also nothing exotic at this price tier; however, Qudelix has put its little spin here. Instead of relying on squiggly PCB traces, the receiver uses a separate 3D antenna. It makes the 5K more immune to failing signal strength due to direction changes and increases connection reliability at a distance.

As I have already insisted, the use of the Qudelix-5K is extremely simple. And the maturity of the APP makes it very easy to have absolute control of the device, and also provides a lot of information: help, links to manuals, to the forum, technical support, warranty management... It also allows the firmware to be updated, through OTA. The Qudelix-5K has two audio outputs, one 3.5mm and one 2.5mm balanced. The 3.5mm output offers an output voltage of 1V or 2V, selectable through the APP. Using this output, the 5K works in Single DAC mode.

This is a limitation USB Audio Class 1.0. On the upside – it ensures that the 5K requires no drivers and will run on almost anything with a USB port. The 5K is compatible with QX-Over which is an active digital crossover with Qudelix's proprietary DSP technology. As a declaimer, I'am not very experienced in the world of external DACs, therefore my view might be a bit limited. Also, the following sound impressions have been made exclusively using LDAC and a USB connection only.The 5K has a neutral and balanced sound signature with a touch of the typical ES9219C treble sharpness but not to an annoyingly bright amount. The operating profile automatically switched to the performance mode upon the presence of any USB VBUS connection. Its construction is extremely compact, only two screws can be seen on the face where the USB connection is. Although, it is possible to see the slots and joints, these are either very small or are very well assembled and do not offer any sensation of weakness. Despite the simplicity of the form, the device has a very effective and functional design, more than striking or spectacular. Above all, its small size, weight (I repeat, 25g), as well as its efficient ergonomics and ease of use, stand out. The sound always felt blunt, with minimal tuning. It doesn't have the "refined" sound one would expect from a decent DAC, even tough it was rather neutral. Like other portable Bluetooth amp/dac devices, Qudelix also offer an application for Android and iOS devices. I don’t own any modern iOS, but with Android it is limited to be used with only 8.0 and higher versions. Well, it was released in 2020 and it is supposed to be used mainly with smartphones so they expect that everyone should own an updated one. Moreover, if you want the best wireless audio quality you’d want a phone that supports LDAC or at least AptX/HD.