Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC & Headphone Amp

[Berwhale]

Hmmm, quite a bit bigger than 5K...

Bigger battery is welcome...

I will almost certainly buy one as i'm enjoying the BTR13 experience much, the software is just too clunky and I never had an issue with the button layout on my 5K.

Google translation of Korean text in the forum post...

Development of the Qudelix-5K Plus is currently underway with a target launch date of September to October 2026.

The current progress is as follows:

The mold fabrication for the product's exterior has been completed.

PCB design and verification are in progress to optimize mass production quality and performance.

Final-stage development and optimization are underway to establish a stable mass production system.

We are focusing on development to present a product of higher quality, and we will continue to share key progress updates.

The new Bluetooth/DSP chip seems to be a significant upgrade (according to Google AI)..

Key Differences

Feature [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]	Qualcomm QCC5124	Qualcomm QCC5181
Bluetooth Version	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.4
Bluetooth LE Audio	Not supported	Supported (including Auracast)
Audio Codecs	aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LDAC
Processing Power	Dual-core 80 MHz	Triple-core (Dual 240 MHz DSP + 80 MHz app)
Active Noise Cancellation	1st-Gen ANC	3rd-Gen Qualcomm Adaptive ANC
Power Efficiency	Standard premium	Highly optimized (all-day playback)

Google Search

 

[CedarX]

I wonder if they plan to make their “Active Ground” mode the standard for 3.5 SE output:

I use this mode on the 5K for low-impedance HP, it works well, but requires a special (and clunky) 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter.

 

[Arcticpollen]

I'll be looking forward to getting hold of one of these once it's released. Bit of a pisser that the 5K plus won't include the really useful built in clip but hopefully a case with a clip will be available at some point.

 

[Somafunk]

I'll be looking forward to getting hold of one of these once it's released. Bit of a pisser that the 5K plus won't include the really useful built in clip but hopefully a case with a clip will be available at some point.

It's not too late for them to incorporate a magnetic clip on the rear such as on the ifi go blue below, a wrap around plastic clip will make the 5K+, quite a bit larger - it shouldn't be too hard to epoxy a couple of .5mm N52 magnets to the rear and buy/use the ifi clip

iFi Go blu Air - Bluetooth DAC

The GO blu Air is a Bluetooth DAC made for everyday life. It slips into your routine like second nature – easy to carry, simple to use, and always ready for your latest playlist.

ifi-audio.com

 

[Power Pop 23]

now 5 instead of 4 buttons?
3.5 and 4.4 the same juice?

the integration of aptx losless is nice improvement

I wish they would add a magnetic function like fiio qx13...but no clip seems like a odd decision.

Qudelix offers a 'MagSafe'-compatible case for their T71

Perhaps they will offer similar for the updated 5K.

 

[Berwhale]

Qudelix offers a 'MagSafe'-compatible case for their T71

Perhaps they will offer similar for the updated 5K.

That probably makes less sense for a device that supports Bluetooth than for one that is already dependent on being attached to a phone. I guess they could also provide a Magsafe/Pixelsnap/Qi2 Magnetic Standard clip. I've just purchased to Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, so the idea that I could connect the Q5K-Plus to my phone or to my shirt front with a clip is interesting.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Yesterday Qudelix posted a roadmap for 2026 but my browser is not translating the words in Korean.

Forum

The Community Forum

www.qudelix.com

 

[Berwhale]

Yesterday Qudelix posted a roadmap for 2026 but my browser is not translating the words in Korean.

Forum

The Community Forum

www.qudelix.com

I pasted the Korean into Google translate and posted the output a few post above this one.

 

[Berwhale]

This looks strong enough to hold several Q5K-Pluses

It would be suitable for critical listening whilst using a chop saw

 

[CedarX]

Qudelix offers a 'MagSafe'-compatible case for their T71

Perhaps they will offer similar for the updated 5K.

The backplate appears to be removable—I think these are two cap screws on each side of the USB-C:

Besides access to the battery, it may open up the option of an alternate backplate with (metal) clip ???

 

[Berwhale]

The backplate appears to be removable—I think these are two cap screws on each side of the USB-C:
View attachment 538197
Besides access to the battery, it may open up the option of an alternate backplate with (metal) clip ???

The same screws are on the Q5K to hold the case together. I don't believe the presence of these screws indicate a swappable back plate.

 

[somebodyelse]

It would be suitable for critical listening whilst using a chop saw

Marketing material made by someone who knows nothing about the combination of long hair and power tools...

 

[pier25]

I generally find Oratory1990's own profiles to be much better, the AutoEQ ones often sound very bad to me. I strongly recommend taking a preset he has published there and manually entering it, over using the AutoEQ tab.

Yeah the AutoEQ on the Qudelix 5K is really bad.

These are the Oratory settings for the K371:

And these are the ones generated by the AutoEQ for the K371 from the Oratory measurements:

 

[staticV3]

Yeah the AutoEQ on the Qudelix 5K is really bad.

These are the Oratory settings for the K371:

View attachment 538822

And these are the ones generated by the AutoEQ for the K371 from the Oratory measurements:

View attachment 538823

They're essentially the same:


4K is the only noteworthy difference, which stems from the fact that oratory is more conservative when correcting nulls.

 

[john61ct]

Marketing material made by someone who knows nothing about the combination of long hair and power tools...

No, only targeted at prospective buyers who care not a wit about it

 

[pier25]

4K is the only noteworthy difference, which stems from the fact that oratory is more conservative when correcting nulls.

In practice, the autoeq version simply doesn't sound right IMO for the K371. If you match gain the two versions that 4-5db difference at 4khz makes a dramatic difference.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Qudelix is selling the 'original' 5K for $99 at Amazon USA.

https://www.amazon.com/Qudelix-5K-Bluetooth-Adaptive-Unbalanced-Balanced/dp/B088F7C976?

 

[john61ct]

Nice! how about replacement batteries?

 

[cgidesign]

Question to those who can remember being without an external solution and forced to use the internal audio of a cheap smartphone:

Was it worth to buy an external DAC/AMP with respect to better sound quality?

How I actually listen to music:

• I ripped all my CDs to 44.1kHz, 16bit Flac files
• Storing them on my Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 4g (entry level smartphone with a 3.5 mm jack)
• Player is UAPP-Pro set to use internal direct driver and Bit-Perfect Mode (direct driver works but it might be, that internally it is not really used because the phone does not have a dedicated hires DAC)
• Attached is a Bowers&Wilkins P7 cable headphone (the only higher level product in the chain )

It works and it is fun to listen to the music, but:

• Some albums are orchestral with high pitched instruments like tin whistles or intensly played trumpets. The issue is that those parts are not that pleasent to listen to because they get a bit distorted
• Then I have some albums with louder female voices and without excessive pop music compression (example: "Bowmboi" from Rokia Traore). Those albums are not hardrock or so, but the singers sometimes sing loud and high in an attack like style. There I also get some noticeable distortion
• On some Jazz albums (for example dynamic Bebop) when they play the piano hard and fast and adding a deep intense double bass to the mix the whole sound gets somehow uncontrolled - base gets muddy and highs again get distorted

It is not totally unusable, I can still listen to those pieces, but it is a bit exhausting to do so.

I tried to use UAPP's EQ to tame the highs down but for the EQ to work I had to disable Bit-Perfect Mode first. Unfortunately that makes the sound a bit worse altogether.

So, therefore my initial question. Is an external DAC/AMP a way to get a substantially better sound in the above described situation?

Why I asking here in the K5 thread. After reading a lot of reviews, forum threads and background information I think the K5 could be the right device. It seems it is one of the few devices that

• handles EQ well (I have read about several FIIO devices with various limitations or simply bugs regarding EQ)
• does USB wired and Bluetooth audio well
• has a solid APP
• is supported by UAPP-Pro
• has enough power on the 3.5 output (the B&W P7 is only 22 ohms and sensitivity is 111dB/V at 1kHz - as I understood it that means they are easy to drive)

And most important the current offer on Amazon.com is not more than 100 € when purchased from Europe. It seems to be the first time that a device in this class reaches this price point.

But because 100 € is still a relevant amount of money I am interested in your opinion.

 

[john61ct]

Depends on the quality of the internal DACs on the phone.

Most are crap so a good DAC is required for goodvSQ.

On our LG V60s and other models featuring their VERY high SQ internal Quad DACs, best to go direct from the Analog HP port. Depending on the headphones, maybe via a HPamp.

If I do use the K5 it's for added features not SQ.

However such high quality internal DACs are very very rare these days

nearly all modern phones REQUIRE an external DAC