As others mentioned - but with a bit more clarity - yes, the headphones turn off the integrated DAC/AMP when you connect the 3.5mm jack. This behavior is by design and it allows the headphones to be driven passively by whatever source you're plugging the other end of the cable into.

Really glad you've sorted it out. How do you find the setup's performance?

Isn't there anywhere you'd be able to test one of the newer Walkmans that have an USB-c port? Like a showroom or a major electronics store?

I agree, I would also drive these headphones with anything else than the included dac/amp. I find it a bit lacking for my tastes.

In theory they should adhere to the standard USB specifications while using generic USB ports, so my guess would be yes. I've just tested with a type-c adapter and my phone connects to the headphones just fine and plays music. I just remembered why I don't connect them this way - in my opinion...

Hello @bsd107 Afaik all the iDevices limit to 48khz by default. Regarding your USB type-c question, I have a type-c to micro USB cable and can test that with a type-c device if you would like. The cable I use is from Sony themselves, I connect a fiio dac to my android phone with it and it...

@Necron99 I'm guessing that as long as the connection is via USB, it should in theory send the audio digitally to the headphone's DAC to be processed and output.

@mutnai, thank you so much for your time, the pictures and the explanation. I was under the impression that I needed to change the female jack, I didn't know it was balanced - so good news in this department! The mod is simple enough and I might end up trying it.

Would you like to share the details on your balanced jack mod? I'd like to try driving them on the balanced output of my Q1MKII. Thanks!

Just got the NX1A second hand on the classifieds for $20. After giving it a thorough cleaning (inside and out) I gave it a quick listen and it sounded flat and kind of tinny to my ears. First setup was Flac on the Onkyo android player on the galaxy s10+ connected via USB to THE FiiO Q1MKII...

Nice setup @Necron99 ! How do you find the sound? And the loudness?

I've been driving mine externally almost exclusively (I find the internal DAC a bit narrow-sounding and quiet) When I first got them the battery took about a couple of hours to actually start charging (the led was not lighting up) , you could tell that they've been siting for long years on the...

I wonder if the Q1MKII drivers / firmware will ever be updated.. I experience issues on both my Desktop PC (w10) and my Laptop (w7), when I turn on the computer, the sound does not play and you have to connect / reconnect the device a few times in order to work. I tried connecting it while on...

I just listened to a binaural DSD256 file on the MkII and I have to say I'm blown away. Even with my closed headphones. Highly recommend it to everyone who owns the device.

I managed to create a windows Icon for the Q1MkII to display in the audio devices window. Whoever wants it can PM me. I currently have it on my work laptop and it looks great. Thanks.