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Fiio btr15

Interesting. ON BT same chip family from Qualcomm as Qudelix 5K uses. For USB however it is using the XMOS chip as DSP. Curious about their DSP implementation - would love to see measurements. If done well, it might be a Q5K alternative finally and maybe FiiO can implement the tech in their desktop DACs, starting a new and very much welcomed trend of SOTA DACs with built-in DSP.
 
Unfortunatly fiio seems to reserve peq functionality to portable devices, like btr15 and q15. No peq for the the new k11 desktop dac/amp
 
IAtaman said:
ON BT same chip family from Qualcomm as Qudelix 5K uses
Click to expand...
QCC5125 has much lower performance than the QCC5124 of the 5K.

IAtaman said:
If done well, it might be a Q5K alternative finally
Click to expand...
That's it, if done well. The quality of their software and product lifecycles make me doubt it.

IAtaman said:
maybe FiiO can implement the tech in their desktop DACs
Click to expand...
Fiio BR13 is such a product. We have yet to see its capabilities, though. And its DSP is limited by the QCC5125 to USB and BT inputs.


IAtaman said:
starting a new and very much welcomed trend of SOTA DACs with built-in DSP
Click to expand...
This would not be a new trend. We have the MiniDSP and the RME ADI-2 family, for instance.
 
unpluggged said:
QCC5125 has much lower performance than the QCC5124 of the 5K.
Click to expand...
Yeah, looks like 5124 DSP has 2x120MHz clock speed vs 1x120MHz of 5125. How much performance would that mean in terms of PEQ, I don't know though. Would be good to get some details and measurements.

unpluggged said:
That's it, if done well. The quality of their software and product lifecycles make me doubt it.
Click to expand...
Yes. I think the main concern is their software stack but I suspect Qualcomm will already be providing the necessary libraries wouldn't they?

unpluggged said:
Fiio BR13 is such a product. We have yet to see its capabilities, though. And its DSP is limited by the QCC5125 to USB and BT inputs.

This would not be a new trend. We have the MiniDSP and the RME ADI-2 family, for instance.
Click to expand...
ADI-2 DAC came out when, 2019? Given SMSL alone has launched 10+ DACs alone in 2023, with the total number for new DACs coming close to 100, and with maybe only a few of them, if any, with PEQ capabilities, I would not call that a trend.
 
Last edited:
IAtaman said:
ADI-2 DAC came out when, 2019? Given SMSL alone has launched 10+ DACs alone in 2023, with the total number for new DACs coming close to 100, and with maybe only a few of them, if any, with PEQ capabilities
Click to expand...
I see. But RME, MiniDSP and portable EQ-enabled devices like Qudelix 5K or these Fiio BT receivers are pretty much familiar to many of those who would be interested in EQing their setups. In fact, I recently got a pair of Kali LP-6 v2 for my living room smart TV and streaming setup that I'm forced to use with my Qudelix 5K in the meantime while I wait for a "proper" DAC to arrive. I dialed some EQ parameters from spinorama.org and noticed the difference. I imagine what kind of improvement could it bring with proper room EQ. Alas, I currently have no means to perform such measurements, although it makes me consider investing in some gear to enable them.

That's why I'm looking forward to check out the new Fiio BR13 which I ordered with a significant discount for only $40 a couple of days ago. If this little gadget can do EQ properly (and even better, if it works over its digital outputs), it could be a game changer indeed. And I found some measurements on a Chinese site where it appears to perform solidly as a DAC with SINAD of about 106 dB.
 
Tremolo said:
Unfortunatly fiio seems to reserve peq functionality to portable devices, like btr15 and q15. No peq for the the new k11 desktop dac/amp
Click to expand...
Pretty sure it's a hardware limitation and has to do with the usb decoder being xmos xu316 on these two units. I mean not even the K9 pro or the Q7 flagship units support global PEQ due to them using a different usb decoder.
 
unpluggged said:
I see. But RME, MiniDSP and portable EQ-enabled devices like Qudelix 5K or these Fiio BT receivers are pretty much familiar to many of those who would be interested in EQing their setups. In fact, I recently got a pair of Kali LP-6 v2 for my living room smart TV and streaming setup that I'm forced to use with my Qudelix 5K in the meantime while I wait for a "proper" DAC to arrive. I dialed some EQ parameters from spinorama.org and noticed the difference. I imagine what kind of improvement could it bring with proper room EQ. Alas, I currently have no means to perform such measurements, although it makes me consider investing in some gear to enable them.

That's why I'm looking forward to check out the new Fiio BR13 which I ordered with a significant discount for only $40 a couple of days ago. If this little gadget can do EQ properly (and even better, if it works over its digital outputs), it could be a game changer indeed. And I found some measurements on a Chinese site where it appears to perform solidly as a DAC with SINAD of about 106 dB.
Click to expand...
Can you share the measurements?
 
Is the Qudelix-5K based on the ES9219 or the ES9218? I ask because the following paper specifies ES9219, like the BTR15. Is this a HW 'refresh'? I think I saw that it used the ES9218 instead.

BTR15 distortion measurements (at the bottom).

By the way, I don't know how good is the QCC5124 over the QCC5125 (I don't have their datasheets), but here say: "5. Qualcomm® QCC5125 is 32MHz only".

Additionally, does anyone know what kind of EQ is supported by these others?
  • ifi go-blu ($199): Qualcomm QCC51xx + Cirrus Logic CS43131.
  • khadas tea ($150): Qualcomm QCC5125 + ESS ES9281AC Pro.


Edit: The "ifi go-blu" use a QCC5125, since it support Bluetooth 5.1. And apparently there is no EQ feature for it, a pity.
 
Last edited:
otseiTiesto said:
Is the Qudelix-5K based on the ES9219 or the ES9218?
Click to expand...
The 5K uses a QCC5124 BT chip and two ES9219C DAC chips:
vlcsnap-2023-11-23-20h43m00s559.png
Source

otseiTiesto said:
By the way, I don't know how good is the QCC5124 over the QCC5125
Click to expand...
The QCC5125 uses the newer Bluetooth 5.1, but its CPU is clocked lower (32MHz vs 80) and it has just one DSP core vs two in the QCC5124.

You can compare their specs here:
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/internet-of-things/consumer/audio/qcc5100-series/qcc5124
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/internet-of-things/consumer/audio/qcc5100-series/qcc5125
 
staticV3 said:
The 5K uses a QCC5124 BT chip and two ES9219C DAC chips:
Click to expand...
OK, thanks. I found where I read that it uses the ES9218, here, a typo I guess.

staticV3 said:
You can compare their specs here:
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/internet-of-things/consumer/audio/qcc5100-series/qcc5124
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/internet-of-things/consumer/audio/qcc5100-series/qcc5125
Click to expand...
No, I can't, I am not allowed to access, yet.

staticV3 said:
The QCC5125 uses the newer Bluetooth 5.1, but its CPU is clocked lower (32MHz vs 80) and it has just one DSP core vs two in the QCC5124.
Click to expand...
OK. Weird but the QCC5125 consumes -10mA vs. -6mA (QCC5124).

My interest in the "ifi go-blu" and the "khadas tea" is due to the DACs being used, if they allow a decent EQ (at least 10 band parametric) they are options to consider.
 
otseiTiesto said:
OK, thanks. I found where I read that it uses the ES9218, here, a typo I guess.
Click to expand...
Not a typo: https://forum.qudelix.com/post/qudelix5k-news-11995997

Additionally:
Captura de pantalla_2023-11-23_23-55-30.png


But power vs distortion seem a bit worse, based on (but I could be wrong):
www.audiosciencereview.com

Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC & Headphone Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Qudelix-5K USB DAC and balanced headphone amplifier with Bluetooth receiver. I purchased this myself but a member kindly donated one third of the cost. The Qudelix 5K costs US $110 on Amazon including shipping. The Qudelix comes in a nice...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com
www.audiosciencereview.com

Shanling M0 Pro DAP Review

This is a review, measurements and listening tests of the Shanling M0 Pro digital audio player and DAC. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $129.99 on Amazon. As you see, this is a very diminutive player, easily fitting in your pocket weighing almost nothing. Music is stored on...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com
 
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