QLS QA 350 WAV: A new portable player with digital output - Page 7

Nope, mine feels perfect in every way.  There is a black locking screw you could try playing with?

I have been using this player for the past couple of weeks, and I must say I am impressed by the sound quality - both from the digital out, and even with the internal headphone amp. It is definitely on the bright side (more from the headphone amp part), but I have been hearing things I was not aware of on music I have known for some time. I listen to a fairly wide variety of music, but focus on classical, and folk/rock.

Of course one must look past the usability limitations (e.g. WAV format only, very small screen, and personally I have found it a little finicky with how the WAV files are encoded - EAC or foobar preferred by the vendor though I have found xld also seems to work well on a mac - and of course its a little bulky for a 'portable' player (I saw the debate earlier in this thread on whether its really designed primarily as a transport of a pmp). It also seems to require the WAV files to be only one level below the top on the SD card for them to be seen. However, even with all these limitations, I am finding myself choosing to go with this this as my preferred player for listening currently, over my cowon D2 for example.

I am about to compare it with the Ipod through the direct digital outs of the IPLAY dock, the cambridge digital dock and the istreamer...and the Ipod certainly has convenience features of a true portable player, however for now the 350 is my choice. SO much so I have also purchased the 550 and the new v2 mod 350...not so much a sensible choice, but an emotional one reflecting my feeling that this is the sound quality I need, and for a relatively low cost.

BTW - from my very early listening, apple lossless through the iStreamer sounds extremely good indeed as well...but the ipod with the iStreamer is alot more bulky than the 350, so in a way, the 350 is more portable than the Ipod given that quality of sound is required.

BTW2 - I tried the HIFIMan 602, and I preferred the sound from this QLS player, I err on the side of analytical anyway, and the 350 in mor in that region, the 602 is warmer, less clear and immediate to my ears, still an excellent player, just not my personal choice.

I have also ordered a Aune APE player that plays other formats (incl. FLAC, certainly my preferred choice), and can access much larger disks, including any accessible through a usb connection. That is truly designed as a desktop machine, no pretense to portability, and includes upsampling (to 192k if thats what the user wants). Intrigued by what that will provide in SQ dept. Again, it seems a reasonable cost.
Edited by iano - 7/4/11 at 4:23pm

the aune device looks pretty interesting. Can also be used as a DAC, but has no HP amp ... Usb is 48k max I think, but yea ... at least it plays FLAC|APE (WV?) and maybe reads 64gb SDXC cards like D2 does

Pacificvalve.us -- a U.S.-based OEM modder -- was selling a putatively "upgraded" version of the QA-350 ...all at a huge mark-up in $$ ($349.00!!).

IAC, their offer didn't last and they withdrew both the 350 and 550 -- everything QLS -- from their catalog. You can view the withdrawn page at Archive.org ...

http://web.archive.org/web/20101127051000/http://pacificvalve.us/QLSQA350.html

 

It's hard to determine exactly what PV exactly did to warrant the extra $150. Contacting them directly, they noted it was a "1PPM TXCO for low jitter", the orig. is 2PPM. Wow ... what an upgrade. With  a super-value deal like that, I don't know why they withdrew the product? ;-)

I don't think they carry CyberMini (their version of QA350) any more.

I asked my friend (an engineer who is also a DIYer) about the mod - low jitter TXCO and some better cap. He thought, it maybe a bit high (parts and one hour labor); but considering one year warranty in US, it was not bad.

If I am a first time "slightly high end player" buyer: I will spend the extra $150 on a tube amp -- especially one has not experienced a fun "extorted tube sound".

There is another new similar player coming to market in China, which can play Wav, APE, FLAC and mp3. It even looks like QA350 with a bigger screen. I don' really want to post anything yet, until I am sure the company is a trustworthy one. Let's wait two more months, we shall know.

As usual, it can be a lot of trouble buying from foreign countries, make sure you are willing to deal with them before you jump.

    I've been using the QA-350 for a couple of weeks now and it sounds great. Soundstage and Impact are decidedly superior to the Clip+.  It's so versatile - you can use it as a super low-jitter transport, or use the DAC, or as a full-blown headamp.  I'm using it as my office cubicle sound system, through a Graham Slee headamp (to K702 phones), so I just use the QA-350's DAC.  It looks like QLS's next move is going to be an upgraded headamp - so I think you can find some real deals on the QA-350 if you just want to use it for the Line Out - I got mine for just $120.

DIY-modded QA350s can sound better. There's info on this on the DIYaudio forum. A modder there let me try out his QA350 with extensive mods -- quite a bit beyond PV's $$ and relatively bare-bones offering -- and it was significantly better than my stock unit. In some reviews I've come across, the base/stock 350 was judged better tham HiFiman 60x, etc ... so I wonder how a souped-up QA350 might compare? Anyway ...

 

Reliability of DAPs from China is definitely an issue I'm familiar with. That said, Clark Chen's QLS is an outlier if ever there was one ... not very sexy, ergonomic or feature-ladden gear, but it sounds decent and it's built like a tank.

 

The warranty by PV is no big deal. MP4Nation and HoD have warranties that -- on paper (i.e., if/when their need arises, they are honored and followed thru, ending with a satisfied end-user/customer) -- are equally extensive. I'm U.S.-based and the "one year warranty in US" means nothing to me -- this is the 21st century, FCS!, and the proof's in the pudding. Ditto with antiquated bias regarding "buying from a foreign country" -- it's not that simple any more. 

 

P.S. Just purchased Colorful Colorfly CK4 ... a good-sounding Chinese DAP (PMP) ... watch that thread for updates.

Anyone has QA350 Mod v2 and QA350 v1? From the information on their website, it seems that the v2 has a bigger power output but i'm not really concerned about that. I'm interested in the sonic differences between v2 and v1. From their forum it seems that they have tweaked the bass quantity on v2 i quote:

''I read that QLS350 has a slightly less bass quantity. Has this been fixed with Mod V2?
Yes, it is been fixed with MOD V2.''

Im trying to decide if the $50 jump on the v2 is worth it.

V2 has huuuuuge bass. Love it. Don't know about V1. You wii not complain about bass quantity, I promise. 

 

 

In view of the big volume, do you think that the v2 will be suitable for highly sensitive top-tier IEMs?

Oh wait, I just saw victorcc's post on the QLS forum about the volume pot. Hmm.. I might try to change the 49.9 ohm resistors to a 100 ohm one. Does anybody know what an impendance line is?

Hi david1978jp,

 

I think I  saw this player in the store where I am going to audition the QLS QA-350 V2 ( I am located here in Shenzhen)

Also the reason why I left the store without the QLS because I want to search more info on this new DAP

I read good reviews on QLS specially on SQ but with big screen, can play other lossless file.

Now, I'm confused on which one to get...=)

 

Here's some info I gathered from the net:

 

System design is the AD1896, a focus on up-to source low sampling rate raised to 192K and then delivered to the DAC decoder, AD1896, after upsampling, 24.576MHZ active crystal to provide the local clock (MCLK) to the signal source clock jitter jitter completely isolated, so you can eliminate the source clock error, and we only need to focus on the design of DAC and amp .

 

DAC CS4398 24BIT/192KHZ decode circuit used for the crystal company's highest level of chip, is currently used Qianyuan Ji DAC decoder, transparent sound of pure doubt.  DAC signal interface while using IIS directly, eliminating the conventional CS8406 digital transmission and digital reception (digital transmitter and receiver will inevitably bring additional distortion, noise and jitter) indicators of great benefit to enhance the circuit.

LPF：OP275G

Amp: rail-to-top high-current op amp AD8397, the output current of up to 300MA, 69MHZ bandwidth, 25 ohm load switching speed 53V/US

Systems WAV, APE, FLAC, MP3 format music full support, while the perfect cue file support (most domestic players can only be handled cue file as a whole, can not be achieved selections feature)

2.4-inch color TFT LCD.
Built-in flash capacity 8GB external TF card maximum capacity to 32GB

 

 

 

 

Whats the name of that player? Nvm saw from the picture. It's ihifi-812. Interesting. However, price is around 1600 yuan=250 USD? I'll go research a bit

Found a link that compares QA350 V2 to the ihifi-812. http://www.jd-bbs.com/thread-3108632-1-1.html Looks good. I might consider this...

Note, picture above seems to be prototype version with silver buttons. Final version has golden buttons and better volume knob as shown below. IMO it looks somewhat like a hm602 :)

 

I found a comprehensive comparison on qlshifi forum. The original thread was censored/moderated? Don't mind if i post the translation here. (Note this is a Google translation with me editing some major errors. I'm too lazy to fully translate everything so i'll ask for your understanding in some minor grammatical errors etc..)

 

Review with pics omitted (Don't want to spam this thread up too much, but if requested, i'll upload the pics too.)

 

From the picture, you can probably see, QA350 V2 and IHIFI 812, more like appearance, but basically the same width and height (or slightly to 812 in a little thick), but in length, about 812 shorter 1CM.

First of all, do not say the sound, say QA350 those shortcomings, which do look IHIFI 812 real improvements.

 

1, QA350 only supports WAV format, and IHIFI 812 not only supports WAV, also supports APE, FLAC, MP3 and other common formats, in particular, APE, FLAC files of the entire track, track 812 also supports CUE points (actually the CUE FLAC track points , Rockchip support was not accurate), so, starting with the supported formats, the 812 has done well, this should be affirmed, in line with public expectations, even though many people still only play WAV, but there are other formats support the overall good.

 

2, Battery life- QA350 V2 has about 6 hours or so. Initially, IHIFI 812, the official claimed that battery life lasts more than 10 hours, so when everyone is looking forward to, but later, in order to thrust, and sound quality, 812 is also designed again and change, life is a contraction and then shrink, and now the product out, the actual life also 7 to 8 hours, it can be said than QA350 V2 slightly improved, but the basic is still an order of magnitude, from the time of 10 hours of basic standards are still some gaps.

 

3, Operation and Function- Operation, thought that IHIFI 812, added to such a large screen, the operation should be much better, but often backfire, features more often it means tedious. QA350 V2 because the function is simple, can be used to blind operation (anyway, pause / play, previous track, next track, on a folder, next folder), very concise, it is not essential to the operation when the shortcomings QA350 the. Example, if you want to switch to the next folder, QA350 click the down arrow on it, but 812 was first out of play, then enter the music player, and then enter the file selection, album or choose to file directory, then select a song, then press the play button, each operation needs to look at the screen, to achieve the blind are not likely to operate, it is more down, but that QA350's easier to use. However, function, QA350 Although a lot of firmware release, functional improvement and improved slightly (then playback, memory playback functions have been achieved), but compared to mainstream MP3 player, or some worse (such as fast forward and rewind, etc.).

 

4, Chinese support- QA350 As a result of the chip itself does not support Chinese display, so QA350 uses a very small screen Chinese display is garbled. 812 As a result of a mature master Rockchip solution, so there is no Chinese support problem, so entangled in this issue, 812 can be said that victory.

That said, IHIFI 812 and QA350 V2 shortcomings of comparison, we look at it relatively QA350 V2 is, what is the disadvantaged, or their own design, there is also a place which is not reasonable.

 

 

1, Digital output- QA350 the digital output is acclaimed not only has coaxial and optical output, but also in the quality of the digital output, the basic inherited QA550 (QLS launched a pure digital turntable) design, it has a very good The digital output level. IHIFI 812, the original design, but also a digital output, but the output interface is very rare IIS interface, IIS interface, because of relatively poor anti-interference (generally less than the distance 20CM good results), so it is rarely used as an external interface, but Later, Xue Lin test, found that IIS output, the sound of the 812 interference, and Rockchip digital output itself is very general, so in the factory, the internal digital output to the screen of IIS, so the final product, Although there are IIS interface, but actually does not work.

 

2, Remote control- this is, as a portable audio player, remote control this thing should be optional, but now located in the HIFI player, it still has a chance to use the LO port connected amp or amplifier to listen to songs , and this time, there is a remote control, more convenient, QA350, in this context was more thoughtful, and IHIFI 812, is not considered this demand.

 

3, Some may find some problems with the PO and LO of the IHIFI 812, it's two port design is too close, jacks and panels are not in the same plane, PO port to plug headphones in order to facilitate , specifically to expand the circle, and the LO port, due to space limitations, not expanded, so let the record number of lines can not be inserted, especially now better wire, are used in Anheuser-Busch, the head of this New York Trek , basically can not be inserted, so the 812 comes standard with an ordinary extension cord, but such a design, so a lot of Shao in the hands of wire are at a loss. Xue-Lin suggested, since the IIS interface are blocked, simply to remove the IIS interface from the panel, then pull the LO and PO interfaces that were reaming bit, it might be better of.

 

4, L-band, IHIFI 812 also "fashionable" one, with a one AD1896, the musical force up-to 24BIT/192K specifications, and then use CS4398 to decode seemingly good, but now most music is still is 16BIT/44.1K specification (812 itself does not support 24BIT/192K music playback), which would be through a non-integer multiple of the SRC process, rather than an integer multiple of SRC, in many cases, not only do not help to enhance the music, but would be detrimental to sound quality, except in the up-after, there is a special kind of jitter reduction circuit design, it makes sense, but also up-C4 Colorful design, but C4 was taken into account the impact of non-integer multiple of the SRC, so C4 upscaling, are at integer multiples of the basic, that is up-to 88.2K to 44.1K or 176.4K, so in theory, at least not detrimental to sound quality, and if after that there are designed to reduce jitter, then sound quality can be improved significantly, posted a SOOMAL site to non-integer SRC intuitive picture to explain.

At the same time or frequency, then the crystal will be used in interior design, 812 uses a 24.576MHZ crystal, corresponding to a is an integer multiple of 48K, the stone used on the original machine accuracy is 4PPM claim the crystal , but the actual estimation accuracy and phase noise are very general, like the mill friends can try a change of Fengyun crystal, in particular, can not just accuracy, but more importantly is to look at phase noise of the target, or you can replaced with the crystal frequency 22.5792MHZ, so you can correspond to 44.1K or an integer multiple of the (never tried, pure speculation).

So, just from the design that, in fact, there are no small difference, then look at the sound of both, as IHIFI 812 just got my time is not very long, so probably not the best, QA350 hand has more than a year, should be a relatively good state. Because they are portable, big wait on the free headset, or take two of the more common plug to Bibi bar, SONY's EX90 (low resistance, but the sensitivity is relatively low, is not a good push, and traditional SONY style is inconsistent, is listening style) and the Sennheiser IE7 (Sennheiser, the relatively little plug it be balanced), the main output is relatively lower PO, LO, then said again after a time, because with the amp, need to consider more more, and both thrust, simply, can be a lot of low-end portable amp, a high down.

 

So from the above comparative perspective, IHIFI 812 and QA350 V2, similar price, close to the framework, it seems really tip-to-head(very close), it seems both to be outdone in a big fight. However, careful analysis of what the two ideas, the difference is bigger. QA350 V2 can be regarded as a pure player, at the beginning of the design ideas, that is for fans who only care about sound quality, in order to have a good digital output, even with a single-chip, single-threaded design of this extreme way, did eventually return the good digital output and analog output, but also led to a simple function, and even Chinese do not support the regret that only care about the sound quality is only suitable for, or the hands of a decoder, focusing on digital output Shao; IHIFI 812 of the purpose seems to be of some compromise, and the target user group or Shao-based course, but it would also like to take into account the part of the ordinary user, the sound quality has some minor compromises, but for most people are concerned about the function, it may be an improvement over QA350, although the underlying digital output abandoned such an important function, but for a portable device, perhaps it's not the most important.

Simply put the two, it seems very close, in fact, the closest i've ever seen.

 

Note: Credit to wlq307 from qlsforum. This is not my work, Im only translating it and posting it here to inform more people.

Link to forum: http://www.qlshifi.com/bbs/index.asp?boardid=2

Edited by Cryok95 - 11/18/11 at 1:03am

Regarding ihifi-812, it has been out almost two months. ihifi-812 is cheaper and comparable to QA350. Their sound signatures are similar, by far, QA350 sounds better, noticeable but not by huge margin. We'll see after longer burn-in, whether ihifi-812 improves, or not.

 

I suggest not to buy ihifi-812 at this moment. A very small company tried to "go big", they got big responses and overwhelmed. Let them "breath a bit more", and see how the company holds up. If you are a DIYer , ihifi-812 and QA350 are both easy to "service", go having fun.

 

As to QA350 ver. 2, I don't have it. I do know QA350 sounds much more smoother after 1000 hours.  One person also reported, his new QA350 ver. 2 does not hold adavntage over well-burn-in ver.1 -- It makes sense; if QA350 ver. 1 does not sound a bit "edgy", I don't think QA350 ver.2 would be made. I'll find out, soon. (Edit, QA350 ver.2 signature is supposed to be warmer. So, maybe we have two choice, instead of "better' ?)

Edited by david1978jp - 11/18/11 at 9:02am