[pekingduck]

A Chinese company called QLS are about to launch the QA360 in April, a Hi-Res and (native) DSD-capable DAP.
 
For those who don't know or remember QLS: it was the company who in 2010 created the infamous QA350, a WAV-only audiophile DAP with an extremely primitive UI. (according to legend the QA350 sounded great, especially after some mods)
 
Final specs of the QA360 aren't known but according to info from erji.net....
 
  Digital volume control using TI's PGA2311 chip
  PCM formats supported (up to 24/192): FLAC, WAV, MP3, AIFF, ALAC, APE
  DSD formats supported: DIFF, DSF, SACD ISO! (It's unknown whether DSD128 is supported)
  Battery life: Up to 10 hours for 16/44.1 WAV playback
  Memory: SD cards
  Outputs: Line out, coaxial
  Languages: Chinese, not sure if other languages are supported.
  DAC chip: seems to be AD1955
 
Price is not yet announced. 
 
Here's a picture of the design (not final). 
 

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

@pekingduck
 
is it possible to audition QLS DAP in Hong kong?

 

[pekingduck]

  @pekingduck
 
is it possible to audition QLS DAP in Hong kong?

Not possible as far as I know. May be you can try those small shops in Simcity..

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

  Not possible as far as I know. May be you can try those small shops in Simcity..

I will rely on your comments on the SQ then ... but I searched the erji thread that it was discussed since 2012...

 

[pekingduck]

Sure.. doesn't hurt to try if it's cheap

 

[pekingduck]

QLS is accepting pre-orders now (RMB 2680, for customers in China only). Will ship around mid-June.
 
Detail specs at http://www.qlshifi.com/wzcp/qa360.htm (for those who can read Chinese)
 
Some highlights:
  DAC chip: 1x Cirrus Logic CS4398 (same as AK240)
  260g (10g heavier than HM901)
  Digital out supports PCM / Dolby Digital / DTS / DSD(DoP v1.0)
  Formats supported: WAV, FLAC, APE, AIFF, ALAC, DIFF, DSF, MP3, SACD ISO 
  DSD64 only
  Power: 490mW@16ohm, 245mW@32ohm, 55mW@300ohm
  Remote control (optional) supported
 
No info or pics about the UI, which is the achilles' heel of Chinese DAPs 

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Finally.. something to look forward to!

 

[seeteeyou]

.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

  I've been thinking about their desktop SD card player QA660PLUS with I2S output, then reap the benefit of ordering QA360 for 2,480 RMB
 
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=15682453549
 
http://www.qlshifi.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardid=2&Id=2655
 
It's gotta be fun to compare QA360 -> Hugo with QA660PLUS -> Sheva
 
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/clones3/1.html

hey Frankie, did you go to Hercules shop to audition the Sheva? I was planning to compare it with the Hugo.... but did not have time to do so due to family stuff....

 

[pekingduck]

Their official store is here: http://pic16.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z0k.6846093.1130978137.d4912821.uic0vH&shop_id=33075071

 

[seeteeyou]

.

 

[Mimouille]

What is I2S?

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Its another mode of transfering digital data from transport to DAC, supposingly better than USB but the Hugo does not take that input...and i am not sending my Hugo anywhere NO! (in Gollum's voice)

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Mid-June seems like forever....

 

[holeout]

Just preordered. Seems like a good match up with theHugo, wish it can do playlist though.