Quick Look: FiiO Q11 Portable DAC/Amplifier

[VSG]

FiiO, via its budget-focused sister brand Jade Audio, updates the popular Q1 portable DAC/amplifier with the new Q11 that uses a large integrated battery to drive more demanding headphones than competitors do in this price range. It offers 3.5 / 4.4 mm connectors in addition to using RGB indicator LEDs for both function and form alike.

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[GreiverBlade]

oh, the successor of my Q1 Mark II i used previously and with a Cirrus Logic DAC? (next time ... a BB DAC, Fiio, pretty please, i know they use them too ... the E10K used a PCM chip from Burr Brown )

nice

i like the window and overall design of that one.

 

[VSG]

oh, the successor of my Q1 Mark II i used previously and with a Cirrus Logic DAC? (next time ... a BB DAC, Fiio, pretty please, i know they use them too ... the E10K used a PCM chip from Burr Brown )

nice

i like the window and overall design of that one.

I think FiiO's going with Cirrus Logic for its Jade Audio co-branded (aka more budget-friendly) portable DAC/amps this generation. The new KA5 is on its way and it uses dual CS43198 DACs, for example.

 

[GreiverBlade]

I think FiiO's going with Cirrus Logic for its Jade Audio co-branded (aka more budget-friendly) portable DAC/amps this generation. The new KA5 is on its way and it uses dual CS43198 DACs, for example.

well the KA1 is Jade Audio too but use a ESS Sabre chip, so, it was in the transition generation i guess.

wouldn't be against a Cirrus Logic KA1 refresh so they can get rid of the MQA logo

the Q1 Mark II was 119chf , the KA1 79chf so i think the Q11 will be 120chf (yay for Switzterland pricing ahah)

although interesting if they go CS DAC chip ... the new KA5 will essentially be like a Moonriver 2

 

[sLowEnd]

Sucks that the battery isn't user replaceable.

 

[GreiverBlade]

Sucks that the battery isn't user replaceable.

it usually never is in any of these product, although ... it should not be too hard to replace anyway, the Q1 Mark II was easy to open, i changed the battery before reselling it, and even for someone with not much soldering experience like me (i only ever did a few PSU and Mobo ReCap) it was a breeze.

also i saw someone posting a teardown and repair guide for the Hidizs AP80 screen and battery and the manufacturer sent them the replacement material without much question asked ... i wonder if Fiio would also be "user made repair" friendly

 

[sLowEnd]

it usually never is in any of these product, although ... it should not be too hard to replace anyway, the Q1 Mark II was easy to open, i changed the battery before reselling it, and even for someone with not much soldering experience like me (i only ever did a few PSU and Mobo ReCap) it was a breeze.

also i saw someone posting a teardown and repair guide for the Hidizs AP80 screen and battery and the manufacturer sent them the replacement material without much question asked ... i wonder if Fiio would also be "user made repair" friendly

How do you suppose one would open this thing without destroying the shell? I don't see any screws.

 

[GreiverBlade]

How do you suppose one would open this thing without destroying the shell? I don't see any screws.

well, i also repaired screen and changed battery in phones (including iPhones) and the AP80 would need the same work as a phone (heatgun and guitar pick ) so my take would be : it's harder than the Q1 Mark II but still doable, i do these repair as a hobby and to help friends, but if the Q11 is anything like the Q1 Mark II i doubt you would need to service the battery during it's lifetime,i changed the battery on mine only to up the resale value close to "BNIB" status

for the Q11 i suppose it would be nothing that a iFixit kit wouldn't handle ...

if you have the mean and the will, even a KA1 is teardown'able

Spoiler: spoiler alert ... yeah the shell did not like it.

but if i ever did that i bet i could make it almost pristine by using epoxy or cyanoacrylate and some finely powdered aluminum and a black enamel pot (and a bit of gold enamel too )

but the KA1 is quite smaller, by a huge marging, compared to the Q11


oh lol .... i was off about the price it's even worse

1.59 time higher than the "sub 100$" mark (woud still buy it ... if i needed one tho )

the price of the KA1 on the right side is also ... well it's the lightning version ... i paid way less for the USB-C android version i swear

 

[VSG]

Uff why so expensive for you?

 

[sLowEnd]

, but if the Q11 is anything like the Q1 Mark II i doubt you would need to service the battery during it's lifetime

I'd rather not have to replace this kind of device every 4-5 years if it can be avoided. These lithium batteries invariably become a hassle after a few years. Some even become spicy pillows. The Q1 Mark II looks very easy to open up and desolder the old battery, but the Q11 does not.

 

[GreiverBlade]

Uff why so expensive for you?

Switzerland ... lowest EU zone VAT, while not being in the EU per se ... 7%, but everything is at least 25 to 50% higher in term of pricing
well one can argue that Swiss peoples are all banker and have earning in the 5 digit per month ... nay i say! nay! my earning would place me in the middle high in EU but in Switzerland i am borderline on the poverty threshold like many but we make do with what we can and not what we could (or take a multiple billing, i.e.: if i would buy something 150ish chf i would pay it in 3 time )

I'd rather not have to replace this kind of device every 4-5 years if it can be avoided. These lithium batteries invariably become a hassle after a few years. Some even become spicy pillows. The Q1 Mark II looks very easy to open up and desolder the old battery, but the Q11 does not.

yeah, i see what you mean ... but for me it would be doable as i have experience with devices that are just as hard to crack open and service (while it's limited experience it's still experience ) the Q1 Mark II was by far the easiest one (but not the most fun one ahah, too easy is no fun, imho)

in the end your point is why i took the KA1 even tho it does take its toll on the phone battery ... it's negligible ... (the Hidizs AP80 is another pair of boots ... as i can also use it as a BT/wired DAC for the phone or computer, but has a 800mAh Li-ion battery )

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

I'd rather not have to replace this kind of device every 4-5 years if it can be avoided. These lithium batteries invariably become a hassle after a few years. Some even become spicy pillows. The Q1 Mark II looks very easy to open up and desolder the old battery, but the Q11 does not.

The batteries suck goat ass. It's always a pain. There's also a fine line between "It's portable, I can move it from point A to B and use it both places" and "it's portable, I can use it jogging or on the train" and these are NOT the same.