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Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC & Headphone Amp

Sheygetz said:
What I'm trying to say I guess is if I can get a music app which gives me the EQ capabilities, then I can buy just any dongle for instance the Ibasso dc04 or even an Apple thingy. No?
Click to expand...

As already mentioned, USB Audio Player Pro has excellent PEQ capabilities, however I switched to PowerAmp (which I'd acquired many years ago during the early days of Android) when I found out it also now supports PEQ.

The killer feature for me is that PowerAmp can switch PEQ profile based on the connected device. I have it set flat in PowerAmp when using my Q5K/PEQ and the appropriate settings when using wireless earbuds for convenience...


Screenshot_2023-06-25-14-59-01-538_com.maxmpz.audioplayer.jpg


I also prefer PowerAmp interface over UAPP and the widgets look nicer and work better.
 
Would UAPP and Wavelet (what is the difference between the two, please) do auto-eq? (I've always assumed this to mean my hearing is tested and the eq dialed in accordingly.)
 
Berwhale said:
As already mentioned, USB Audio Player Pro has excellent PEQ capabilities, however I switched to PowerAmp (which I'd acquired many years ago during the early days of Android) when I found out it also now supports PEQ.

The killer feature for me is that PowerAmp can switch PEQ profile based on the connected device. I have it set flat in PowerAmp when using my Q5K/PEQ and the appropriate settings when using wireless earbuds for convenience...


View attachment 294825

I also prefer PowerAmp interface over UAPP and the widgets look nicer and work better.
Click to expand...
Have they added any support from streaming services? Dont think there was last time I looked.

PS- PSB - nice!
 
Sheygetz said:
When I use a corded headphone I do not particularly mind another piece of cord between the phone and the dongle. I really do wonder if I'm missing anything here, it seems so superfluous to have a Bluetooth dongle.
Click to expand...
The main physical benefit (disregarding the other stuff like PEQ etc) is that it separates the phone from the IEMs. So you can clip the Qudelix to your shirt and tuck the wire in and then can use your phone for whatever. I was using similar before the Qudelix came along and it really makes a big difference just to be able to handle my phone without the wire coming out the bottom, just holding it to read, also much easier to take out/put into pocket. I have ripped (non-removable) IEM cables out before from catching the wire on something while plugged in. I found it particularly invaluable, if I want to take a photo, so much easier to take out and snap than with the wire plugged into it. It's a lot of hassle and wire tangling when they are physically connected and not having something dangling off the phone was really key to the usability.
 
Blorg said:
The main physical benefit (disregarding the other stuff like PEQ etc) is that it separates the phone from the IEMs. So you can clip the Qudelix to your shirt and tuck the wire in and then can use your phone for whatever. I was using similar before the Qudelix came along and it really makes a big difference just to be able to handle my phone without the wire coming out the bottom, just holding it to read, also much easier to take out/put into pocket. I have ripped (non-removable) IEM cables out before from catching the wire on something while plugged in. I found it particularly invaluable, if I want to take a photo, so much easier to take out and snap than with the wire plugged into it. It's a lot of hassle and wire tangling when they are physically connected and not having something dangling off the phone was really key to the usability.
Click to expand...
Yes i totally get that. But me if i want quality listening I'm not taking pictures nor am I reading. If I'm out and about I use ANC earbuds.
 
Sheygetz said:
Yes i totally get that. But me if i want quality listening I'm not taking pictures nor am I reading. If I'm out and about I use ANC earbuds.
Click to expand...
It may not be applicable if you don't mind a wire coming out, I find it annoying even using my phone at home, just handing the phone, it's hard to hold with the wire coming out the bottom. I do sometimes use a phone as a wired source but if I'm doing that I generally want to just leave it alone just doing that, if I am handling it at all I don't want the wire there. Or even at home, if I want to get up and get something, it can be nice that I can just do that and not have to worry about either taking my IEMs out or juggling the phone into my pocket.

Anyway, just explaining the logic and use case for me. It may not be applicable to you. LDAC is IMO indistinguishable from wired so I don't feel I'm losing anything.
 
Sheygetz said:
Yes i totally get that. But me if i want quality listening I'm not taking pictures nor am I reading. If I'm out and about I use ANC earbuds.
Click to expand...
Im assuming you are on Android? Try wavelet first (as its free) and see how you get on with its AutoEQ function (essentially picking a pre made EQ for your model of headphones/ buds whatever and see if it integrates with your player app.

After that, UAPP or poweramp (think both have a small fee for the PEQ add ons)
 
If only they could attach their nice PEQ firmware to a competitive 3.5+4.4mm dual 43131 DAC...
 
Matias said:
Yes, so add the Bluetooth SoC to a 3.5+4.4mm dual 43131 DAC with independent 100 step volume buttons. Charge up to 150 usd it would be worth it.
Click to expand...
Could be wrong but I think the ESS DAC in the 5k is on the SoC they used with the DSP on it too.

Edit. I was wrong. Dac chips separate, see below.
 
Last edited:
Matias said:
Yes, so add the Bluetooth SoC to a 3.5+4.4mm dual 43131 DAC with independent 100 step volume buttons. Charge up to 150 usd it would be worth it.
Click to expand...
I get the 4.4mm instead of 2.5mm, but why do you think a dual CS43131 DAC/HPA would be much better than the Q5K dual ES9219C? Sure, the Q5K did not measure very well in Amir’s test, but can it definitely be attributed to the DAC? Or has it more to do with Qudelix implementation, some ground noise issue with USB, or a noise-inducing Bluetooth SOC?
 
I don't know if the ES9219C DAC chips are to blame, but CS43131 chips must be easier to implement as we have seen many examples measuring great: Hidizs (S8), TempoTec (Sonata HD Pro, Sonata E44, BHD Pro), Tanchjim (Space, Space Lite), Moondrop (Moonriver 2, Dawn, Dawn Pro), Meizu (Hi-Fi DAC, Pro), etc.
 
Yes, so just stick this QCC5124 Bluetooth Soc + Kalimba code in front of an OEM dual 43131 and call it a day. Consumers rejoice.
 
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