It seems like these days there is a frustrating dichotomy in the digital audio player (DAP) market:  you can either get a cheap mass-market player or a hyper-expensive boutique player with nothing in between.  Questyle’s QP1R digital audio player attempts to split the difference, offering top-tier build and sound quality at a price that sits in between the two extremes.  How successful you consider their endeavor will depend on your priorities in a DAP.
 

 

[size=20.007px]The Sound[/size]

 
Questyle (pronounced like “quest style” without the second “st”) is known primarily for their patented Current Mode Amplification (CMA) technology.  I’m no engineer so I won’t attempt to explain what that is; there’s a great write-up on the Questyle website if you’d like more information on it.  I have heard several of their desktop amplifiers using this technology and the upshot is a very powerful yet smooth amplification.  At flagship levels, their systems are so smooth as to seem delicate, like sashimi that melts in your mouth as you eat it.
 
I’ll just get this out of the way up front: CMA has made its way into the QP1R and it sounds very good.  This little device is eye-opening in its ability to drive full-size headphones with power and grace.  I can think of no better example of this than the finicky Sennheiser HD800.  
 
It’s no secret that the HD800 is notoriously picky about its source chain.  When driven poorly, its harsh treble and weak bass make people wonder why anyone would like it.  Properly driven, however, the treble smooths out and the bass fills in, making it one of the best sounding headphones on the market.  The QP1R has no problems with the HD800.  In fact, the current mode amp’s smoothness complements the HD800 well, leaving us with a well-controlled sound completely lacking harsh peaks.  And at maximum gain, it has enough headroom to get much louder than I’d ever listen to comfortably.
 
This same story continues with all the other transducers I’ve thrown at it, from IEM’s to full-size over-ears.  Power to spare with smoothness is the name of the game.  One minor thing to point out about this combination is that on already-smooth headphones, I sometimes found myself wishing for just a bit more energy.  But I’m going to chalk that up to my sonic preferences.
 
You might wonder how something powerful enough to drive things like the HD800 does with IEM’s or portables.  Well fortunately the QP1R has a three-way adjustable gain setting.  This is a great addition that lets you get a comfortable volume level no matter what you’re using.  
 
This leads me to my first real negative with the device, however.  With very sensitive IEM’s, even at low gain, you can clearly hear the background hiss of the noise floor.  I only tried one IEM that was distractingly sensitive (the Empire Ears Spartan-IV), but once you hear it, you can’t unhear it.  I started noticing it on my less sensitive IEM’s as well, even though I hadn’t noticed it at first.  While this is nowhere close to a deal-breaker for me, if your primary use will be driving IEM’s, it’s something to keep in mind.
 
Behind the stellar amplifier is the Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC chip.  It gives you 24bit/192kHz maximum resolution as well as native DSD64 support.  This is the same well-regarded chip you’ll find in DAP’s of all price ranges, including one costing $2500.  Implementation is key as the performance varies in different units.  In this unit, the DAC is clean and detailed, complementing the amp wonderfully.  
 
If I had to nitpick, I’d say that it can sound too digital for my tastes in the highs.  This is a symptom of all Delta-Sigma DAC’s and some are worse than others.  If you’re not a user of R2R/multibit DAC’s, you probably won’t even notice.  As I’m a pretty big proponent of R2R, I find that it can be a bit distracting at times.  The similarly-priced Astell & Kern AK100ii DAP uses the same DAC chip and it sounds much less digital up top.  But that comes at the expense of ultimate detail as the AK feels softer than the Questyle.  It’s a tradeoff and I think most people who aren’t R2R fans will prefer the crisper Questyle.
 
Overall, the sound of this DAP is top notch.  Not only does it have a high grade DAC chip, but it has an amplifier to put most other DAP’s to shame.  This has it punching well above its weight when it comes to sound quality for the price.  And while some may find its lack of balanced output to be a negative, I think it’s just the opposite; you can get the full benefit of the great amp without investing in expensive cable upgrades.  Compared head-to-head with the AK100ii (in SE mode), the QP1R is more authoritative and much cleaner sounding on all but the most sensitive IEM’s.
 

 

The Build

Anyone who’s seen any of Questyle’s products in person can tell you that they’re about more than just the sound:  they exude quality and style.  The QP1R is no different.  
 
The body is machined out of a single piece of aluminum and sandwiched in between Gorilla Glass on the front and back. All the edges are beveled and there are no sharp edges on the device at all.  The ridged volume knob on the top is big enough to use easily, yet protected from accidental use by protrusions meant to be reminiscent of a watch crown.  All of the ports are recessed and the controls use both physical and capacitive buttons.  It has two microSD ports and 32GB of internal storage, allowing up to 288GB of music.  It has both digital and line out options.  To top it off, the whole thing is made at the same Foxconn plant that assembles iPhones.  
 
Yes, at first glance, this is the poster child for what a quality DAP could be.  But spend a little time with it and some cracks show in the facade.  There are two outstanding issues with the build that must be addressed.
 
First, the USB port is recessed in such a way that half of the USB cables I own won’t fit in the slot.  Questyle provides a cable that works great, but what happens if you don’t have it handy?  I don’t know about you, but I have USB cables all over the place and I just grab one when I need it.  If I have to keep track of one specific cable for one specific device, it kind of defeats the purpose of a universal standard like USB.  Fortunately, I have a few cables that work with it and I know what to look for now so I can spot which ones will work right away.
 
Second, and this is kind of a big one, the scroll wheel control is not nicely ridged like the volume knob.  It’s so smooth, in fact, that your finger will slide along the surface without turning it and you’ll have no idea what’s happening… or not happening.  I couldn’t tell at first whether the scroll wheel was broken or the software was laggy or what.  No matter the cause, the effect was frustration.
 
Eventually I learned to work around it.  The capacitive buttons help a lot and the scroll wheel does eventually break in and become easier to turn, lessening the frequency of slide incidents.  In addition, I know Questyle has a clear applique you can add that helps this.  And I’m told licking your thumb gives it more traction, though I’ve never gone this route with my review unit.
 
It’s not a deal-breaker by any means.  But it’s something to be aware of because it can cause some frustration if you’re not expecting it.
 
Aside from these two nuisances, the build quality and style of this unit is superb.  It feels good in the hand without being too big.  I think it looks stunning in “space grey” while others prefer the gold.  Either way, it’s hard not to like the looks.
 

 
[size=20.007px]The UI/UX[/size]
 
I’m going to say a few words about the User Interface and User Experience here because I think it’s an important factor for a device like this.  Your expectations and needs will play a large role in how much you like the UX with this device.
 
First, it boots up relatively quickly, which I like.  The AK100ii takes two to three times as long to boot up and I find myself leaving it on longer because I don’t want to deal with boot-up time.  Unfortunately that affects usable battery life (play time) so it’s something that is more than just an annoyance for me.
 
The screen itself is pretty small compared to the size of the unit, and the resolution is certainly good enough but not amazing.  The menu system is very simple and straightforward, letting me get to my music quickly and with minimal fuss.  I’m a big fan of these menus as I don’t tend to mess around with playlists or favorites or anything like that -- I pick a folder and play my music.  Those who prefer more elaborate options may want to look elsewhere.
 
The impression I get from the interface, both the software and the hardware to control it is “minimal”.  To me that’s not a bad thing.  It serves two purposes, the first of which is controlling costs.  This device is relatively cheap for as good as it sounds.  To get the price that low, concessions have to be made elsewhere.  The second reason “minimal” is good is that it really keeps the focus on what the device does best:  play music.  No frills, no fancy distractions, just a music player that does its job really well.
 

 
[size=20.007px]The Good, The Bad and The Pretty[/size]
 
The Questyle QP1R is a device that’s laser-focused on doing one thing well: sounding good.  If that thing is your priority in a DAP, you won’t find a better value on the market.  If you have other priorities, you may find it tantalizingly close to your ideal player, but not quite there.  Either way, there’s a lot to like about this gorgeous device.
 
For a first attempt at a DAP, Questyle has succeeded beyond any reasonable expectations.  While there is room for improvement, the QP1R is a stellar option at its price point.

INTRODUCTION

To begin, I would like to thank Questyle Audio, specifically Bruce, for his help with purchasing the QP1R. I "pre-ordered" the DAP for my birthday and got it a few months later when it was finally released. Since then, I have always carried my QP1R wherever I go. As a student programmer, I find listening to music increases my workflow speed and has made this QP1R a valuable edition to my EDC (everyday carry).
I have used 3 IEMs with the QP1R: Westone UM Pro 50, W60, and Campfire Audio Jupiter. Therefore, my review will revolve around these IEMs and the DAP and their associated experiences. While I have owned these IEMs, which are counted as the TOTL of their respective companies' lineup, I have never owned a "high-end DAP". However, I have demoed several DAPs as I have a Best Buy about 30 minutes away which has audiophile "stuffs". As such, judge my review with your experiences with products you are familiar with in my review as they may vary from mine.
 
 

BUILD QUALITY

When I first obtained the QP1R, I was amazed at the build quality and heft of the device. I have never felt something as nice as this DAP. Well, not exactly never but the build is nothing to scoff at. Sure, I own a Dell XPS 13 9343 and several high-end phones but very few of my devices can hold a candle to the QP1R. The only two devices I own with the same quality feel is my Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 5S with an Element Case Titanium/G10 Ronin case. The volume knob at the top of the device has an extremely satisfying click for each step up in volume. The 3.5mm jack and LO outputs feels solid and definitely built to last. All the buttons are tactile and respond very well. Solely on the build quality aspect, the QP1R gains full points for its tight tolerances and solid build quality. I'm very impressed.
 
 

SOUND QUALITY

By now, you might be bored from listening me go on and on about the build quality and my life experiences. Either way, you've finally arrived to the sound quality portion. My audio library contains many various genres, from classical to pop to metal to blues and jazz. The QP1R plays them all wonderfully. Since I have both microSD card slots with two 128GB Sandisk Ultra, I have no lack of space. Starting with classical, when equipped with my Jupiters, it makes the music come alive and believable. To begin with, the Jupiter has a wonderful soundstage. When used with the QP1R, the 360^o space is even more beautiful. Not only is the sound immersive, the sound is clear and extremely resolving. Even for the darker UM Pro 50s, the sound is wonderful and realistic.
Switch to crazy tracks, like Metal, and the QP1R retains all its clarity. Listening to CROW'SCLAW, I fell to the floor. Never had I heard such definition of the rifts from their music. As a guitar player, I was surprised to hear all the notes, each defined and detailed. All three of my IEMs had the same clarity. To simply say, the sound is true unrestrained music. No matter the format, so long as the quality is good, the sound is unworldly beautiful.
With the right IEMs or headphones, the layering is out of this world. I mean, quite literally. Music which has high amounts of layering and depth, the QP1R reproduces and makes the music sound 3D. One of these is the Jupiter, whose prowess is the superior soundstage and layering. I could go on and on about the sound quality. So to summarize the whole experience of the QP1R, I would describe the sound to be very 3-D with full unrestricted frequency response and power to produce those sounds.
I tried the Sony ZX2 and was unable to get the same emotional attachment to the music as the QP1R. Something about the sound from the QP1R makes me "feel" the emotions and sound of the music, the instruments, the voices. I have yet to have an experience as this with any other audio device. I have let my buddy try my equipment out and has completely ruined his experience with music out of his devices. Another buddy makes EDM and he loves listening to his tracks and other artists out of the QP1R. Just as its build quality is solid, the sound quality retains the same feelings and produces a sound to remember.
 
 

LAST COMMENTS AND IMPRESSIONS

As you can assume, I love the QP1R. Seeing as I carry it everyday, I find it as irreplaceable as my smartphone. While there are a few nick-picks about the device, they are completely removed when I begin my listening session. Battery life sits between 8 to 10 hours with my experiences normally sitting around 9 hours with combination of high bitrate lossy and lossless tracks. And while I feel there needs to be more polish on the wording and UI, the QP1R has ran wonderfully. Problems I see with the polish is capitalizations and spelling issues in the settings menu and overall wording of certain functions. Since these are all software problems, they can be easily fixed with little effort. Overall, I enjoy my time listening to the QP1R.
Another thing is the cheaper version, QP1, is an excellent price to performance. While moving up to the reference model, QP1R, you gain better quality parts and its "on-paper" performance is much better. For those with a limited amount of money who are interested in a cheaper DAP, the QP1 will destroy many DAPs within the same price bracket and then some above it. I definitely would not scratch the QP1 off the "affordable DAP" list. In my eyes, the QP1 might make it the best price to performance DAP, with its affordable price tag and powerhouse sound quality.

This will house the TLR version of the review.  The main version is here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/778877/review-questyle-qp1r-with-multiple-headphone-and-iem-pairings.
 
 
My short version Questyle Audio QP1R analysis on my The Journey Of Hi-Fi YouTube channel

 
My full length version Questyle Audio QP1R analysis on my The Journey Of Hi-Fi YouTube channel

 

If you are searching for a portable music player that can drive most any ear and headphone, that is technologically created, meticulously created, and thoroughly tested to be as transparent as can be, then look no further than the Questyle QP1R!