Qudelix 5K Reference DAC AMP

Product Information

The Qudelix mobile app displays the real-time active LDAC bitrate. Qudelix-5K is the only receiver that provides accurate bitrate information. The 5K, on the other hand, has a high volume protection, which protects the connected headphones, when switching between different audio sources. If the volume differences between them are too great, the system adjusts the volume as a protective measure.

has built-in mic and a great one at that. This enable voice call and even transparency mode (so-so in my experience, depend on where you clip it). I also wish it has some kind of IP water resistant rating since this is intended for on-the-go usage.I haven't been this excited about an audio device in a long time. This lightweight device has stolen my audiophile heart, from the very first note. I would say more, since the first Bluetooth wave. I must confess that I am a sceptic of Bluetooth: I think there could be better data transmission alternatives, with higher bandwidth, better bit rate and speed. Bluetooth has been extended and stretched, to meet some needs, based on a specification that, initially, was not intended for such use, at least with great quality. But then, comes that codec, called LDAC and the implementation of Qudelix, based on the Qualcomm QCC512X platform. And here, is where things change. With the 5K, I was able to combine USB and Bluetooth sources immediately. In this way, it's very easy to look for the 7 differences... or rather, not find any. This has been the myth that has demolished the 5K: the shortcomings of Bluetooth are not in the specification, but in the codec and the subsequent amplification. And that is where Qudelix has embroidered it: it does not matter where the music comes from because its quality is practically the same. And I'm not talking about average quality, but in absolute terms, even higher than its selling price.

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of documentation yet, but admittedly, I got mine super-fast, so I'm sure there are some features that I'm missing here. USB powering to the device overrides the current profile and switches it to PERFORMANCE mode temporarily.

Conclusion​

But I would like to mention some virtues and/or curiosities, related to the PPP and the configuration of the device: As far as the QUDELIX 5k - I can say without a doubt that it sound MUCH better than the BTR5 - not a BIT but MUCH. Also, compared to my Xperia 1 II output, it also sounds wider with more headroom, and it's VERY VERY close to the Dragonfly Cobalt, which costs 2.5 times more (the Cobalt has slightly better top-end extension and separation, you have to REALLY listen to it to realise). Suffice to say, I've already sold the COBALT since I have no use for it anymore. 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.