[mochill]

ohh this is interesting

 

[Koolpep]

Geeez,

Very nice amp indeed. Go ofr it @JamesFiiO

BB (like iDSD micro) or ESS DAC (like 901s) is great, both can deliver astounding sound quality, I have the iDSD micro and boy does the dual BurrBrown wonders in it. However it's the implementation that counts. At one stage we pitted 4 different AKM Inside DACs against each other and they couldn't have sounded more different.

Or you could consider the AK4490 from AKM as in the new Astell & Kern AK380?

I like the Hifiman-esque amp boards a lot....

Cheers,
K

 

[AnakChan]

[Mod hat on]
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@JamesFiiO, why are you concerned about power for the ESS9018K2M? I thought that was designed for low power use?

 

[x RELIC x]

I would think he means dual 2ch k2m's or single 8ch ess9018. Which is better for power? There was a lot of discussion in the X7 thread about it quite a while ago. Then again I'd also like to know JamesFiiO's reply to this.

 

[Shawn71]

Like the combo of both world- analog and digital vol controller for precise control.....Hope there will be display if there's wifi.
 
@JamesFiiO: how about adding AKM / BB DACs?

 

[dacari]

I'd like to see a good gain control with 3 gain positions or at least the LOW gain with 0db, otherwise another amp/DAC barely usable with iems.

 

[x RELIC x]

I'd like to see a good gain control with 3 gain positions or at least the LOW gain with 0db, otherwise another amp/DAC barely usable with iems.

Sharing plug and play amp modules with the X7 will have three choices........ an IEM amp module, a high powered amp module (500mW), and a more powerful balanced (RSA) amp module.


This is the amp module (circled).




And on the X7.

 

[JamesFiiO]

Will it be able to decode iOS encrypted audio coming off lightning cables (like the E5 does)?

 
we will release a lightning-Micro USB cable in the coming soon which supports all the USB DAC. so it is not a problem now.  

 

[JamesFiiO]

  What is the target price for it?
 
Also, if it is a DAC/AMP, it means that I will be able to use it with my Fiio x5, using X5 as a transport, so from coaux out of x5 to Q5?

 
of course, the target price has not decided yet. 

 

[JamesFiiO]

  I'd like to see a good gain control with 3 gain positions or at least the LOW gain with 0db, otherwise another amp/DAC barely usable with iems.

 
in our new design, the low gain will set to -2dB. we will see if we can design a 3 gain control in it. 

 

[JamesFiiO]

  Like the combo of both world- analog and digital vol controller for precise control.....Hope there will be display if there's wifi.
 
@JamesFiiO: how about adding AKM / BB DACs?

 
AKM is also an option too. maybe the same in AK380, lol

 

[x RELIC x]

in our new design, the low gain will set to -2dB. we will see if we can design a 3 gain control in it. 

Ooooooh. Gain control with amp modules?

 

[x RELIC x]

AKM is also an option too. maybe the same in AK380, lol

Could be a great idea.

 

[JamesFiiO]

  In my opinion Q5 should have double 9018K2M or single 9018. As you said before "ESS9018 already includes 8 channels DAC so it does not need 2 DAC chips".  

In my opinion more important is proper dac implementation and software than the dac itself. I'm not an expert but for me investing in better and better (or maybe in 2x) dacs is like listening to music in DSD. 
For me differences between flac and DSD are unhearable (and i can't find in web any blind test confirming differences) and everything is about how well the music is recorded/mastered.
The same with DACs - little difference between next generation or double dac, big difference between various implementations/softs.

James, you are doing really good job releasing products with great price/quality ratio. Don't slow down, but it's no need to go for marketing spec/features like those as I metioned before.

No offence, It's just my point of view and my listening experiences.

 
 
of course, the implementation is as important as what DAC chips is used. but the fact is the expensive model always used the expensive DACs, even in HIFIMAN, AK, and SONY.  to be honest, part because marketing . 

 

[JamesFiiO]

BTW, it does not need any display in Q5 because all the control is done in your iphone/android phone/ipad/Laptop. did the wifi router need a screen ? lol