Questyle QP2R

Introduction: ​

Greetings and Mabuhay from the Philippines! I am excited to bring you another review, and in this one, we will be looking at the high-end DAP, the QP2R, from Questyle - my second review from the brand.



The QP2R is a dedicated music player without the additional features of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or being an Android-based DAP. It solely focuses on playing your hi-res audio files without any distractions. However, with the increasing competition in the DAP market and the rise of feature-packed models, will the QP2R continue to hold its ground? Let's dive right in and find out!

FOREWORD:​

• No EQ is ever applied in my reviews. In this case a DAP, no MSEB or post sound alteration have been applied.
• For the sake of convenience, I try my best to use a stock setup. Not everyone has access to personal ear tips or cables. If personal ear tips, cables, or accessories are used, you will be notified.
• As I try to be objective, my claims inevitably will be subjective and biased to my personal preference. I cannot stress more that you should take this with a grain of salt for we have different perceptions to sound and what we hear.

Specifications:​

I don’t want to bore you with the details here as I am no engineer and honestly, I’m in the dark when reading specifications especially when it comes to DAPs. But for formalities, let me grab the specifications from a fellow reviewer from QP2R’s thread from Headfi. (Credit goes to moedawg140)

Audio Formats Supported:
WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, APE(Normal/High/Fast)
Sample Rate:
PCM 32kHz - 384kHz (16/24/32Bit)
DSD Native: DSD64 (1Bit 2.8MHz)
DSD128(1Bit 5.6MHz), DSD256(1Bit 11.2MHz)
DAC:
AKM AK4490 DAC chip
Outputs:
Headphone out (3.5mm)
Optical out (3.5mm)
Balanced out (2.5mm)
Output Level:
Unbalanced 1.6 Vrms
Balanced 3.2 Vrms
Output Power:
Unbalanced: RL= 32Ω, Pout = 38mW; RL = 300Ω, Pout = 9mW
Balanced: RL = 32Ω, Pout = 70mW; RL = 300Ω, Pout = 38mW
Frequency Response:
+-0.1dB(20Hz - 20kHz)
S/N 100dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 102dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced
Output Impedance:
0.1Ω
Charging & Data Transfer:
Type-C, 5V 2A (PC & MAC)
PC OS Requirements:
WindowsXP / Windos 7&8(32/64bit)
Mac OSX 10.7 or later
Memory:
Internal: 64GB;
External: Micro SD card (Max. 200GB) x1
Battery:
3,100mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer battery, 10 hours of battery life
Display:
IPS 2.4inch (Sharp LCM)
Operating System:
Linux
Body Material:
CNC machining aluminum, available in Gold/Space Gray
Dimension:
65[W] x 134[H] x 14.5[D] (mm)

For more info, please visit this page:
https://www.questyle.com/language/en/qp2r-en/

Packaging:​

The QP2R comes in a simple yet elegant medium-sized white box with clean and neat printing. The packaging is straightforward, without any fancy or unnecessary details. Inside the box, you will find the following inclusions:

1. QP2R DAP
2. USB cable for charging and transferring files
3. Questyle pouch
4. Paperworks and User Guide
5. Rubber pads for the center button and wheel

And that's all there is to it - pretty basic. However, one caveat I have is that I wish it came with a protective leather case. While some DAPs in the $500 budget range come with such cases, the QP2R was released a few years ago when inclusions were not as generous as they are today. Nonetheless, the absence of a case does not detract from the overall quality and performance of the QP2R.

Physical attributes:​

The QP2R has a medium size that's nearly as large as a smartphone, making it still portable enough to carry in deep pockets. However, tight pockets might not be possible. Now, let me give you a quick tour of its buttons.


Power button and turn off screen on the right side.


play/pause, forward, backward buttons on the left side.


Volume knob at the top.


Center button to execute or confirmation and wheel for navigation.



The faceplate of the QP2R has four buttons - Options, Return, Forward, and Backward. However, they are not physical or embossed buttons, but instead, they are touch-sensitive. It's worth noting that the screen is not a touch screen, which might seem outdated for some users in this day and age. Despite this, I appreciate the purist approach taken by Questyle in sticking to the basics without any frills or fancy features.

At the top with the volume knob, you have two outputs. One is single ended 3.5mm, and a balanced output 2.5mm. At the bottom you have your SD card slot and a type C port.

Features:​

The QP2R takes a purist approach to its features, which makes it pretty basic compared to other DAPs. Navigating the menu and settings is straightforward and intuitive, so even a child could figure it out. I won't go into detail about how to get around the user interface, but if you need help, there are plenty of resources online, including video presentations that can be more helpful than a written guide.

It's worth noting that the QP2R features a BIAS control, which Questyle claims helps handle heavy loads or larger files with ease. However, switching between Standard and High settings didn't seem discernable to me, so I stuck with Standard. I noticed that QP2R heats up more on High, which proves that it's a Class A amplification. After doing some research, I learned that Class A amplification tends to trade-off heat management.



Navigating the Setting menu on the QP2R is a breeze, and the options available are fairly standard among other DAPs in the market. Rather than delving into a tedious explanation of every setting, I'll just point out that the words and options you'll encounter are likely to be familiar. Overall, the menu is intuitive and user-friendly, which should appeal to those who prefer simplicity and ease-of-use over flashy features.

Now let’s get to what matters the most… how does QP2R sound as a dap?

Sound impressions and Technical performance:​

The QP2R boasts a neutral sound signature that is clean, transparent, and impressive in terms of detail. It has a slight emphasis on the midrange, which will appeal to those who prioritize this frequency range. However, the real standout feature of the QP2R is its exceptional technical performance, which we'll discuss in more detail shortly. But first, let's delve deeper into the device's sound.

Let's break down the sound starting with the lows. The bass is well-controlled, with good punch and thud, and is clean and detailed with excellent texture. Bass guitars and drum kicks are well-defined, and the sub-bass region is present when required with fast transients, resulting in some of the cleanest lows one can hear from a source. The attack and decay are fast and snappy, contributing to the overall neutrality of the sound, with almost no discernible boost or elevation for the lows. However, the character of your transducer still rules the sound, but the QP2R remains true to its neutral and flat sound signature.

The QP2R has a slight favor towards the mids. Rather than using words like "lush" or "rich," it accurately delivers faithful and precise sound. To my ears, the mids have a very subtle forwardness. Instruments and vocals are highlighted but not recessed. The AKM DAC chip, which is well known for its mid-range performance, does not disappoint in the QP2R. The tone and timbre are incredibly realistic and do not sound artificial. The mids are definitely the star of the show here.



The treble performance of QP2R is extended with a crisp and transparent character. Although brighter sounding headphones will have a slight boost in treble, it never becomes harsh or piercing. Warmer sounding headphones pair well with the QP2R, providing a natural, musical, and organic sound.

To sum it up, the QP2R strikes a remarkable balance between being analytical and organic in terms of its tonality. This is something that I felt was lacking in Questyle's premium dongle, the M15, which often sounded too clean and analytical, leaving me disconnected from the music. However, the QP2R manages to solve that problem, delivering a sound signature that is both detailed and engaging, making it a joy to listen to.

Now let’s go to the technicalities domain.

The sound stage of Questyle's products largely depends on the capability of your transducers. It's safe to say that sound stage is not their top priority. Having reviewed two of their products, namely the M15 and QP2R, I can hardly discern a significant difference in terms of staging. However, if I were to make a critical comparison, the QP2R has the upper hand in staging. As the saying goes, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating," and in this case, the QP2R proves to have a more impressive sound stage.

The imaging of QP2R is impeccable as it accurately positions sounds to the point that I sometimes mistake them for noises behind me. The depth and height are distinct, and the instrument panning precisely mirrors the record or track.

The separation of elements within a song is crystal clear with QP2R, making it a breeze to break down and analyze individual components. As a musician, I find this feature particularly constructive. If you are someone who appreciates attention to detail, I can assure you that QP2R will not disappoint.

The QP2R boasts an incredibly high level of resolution, which exposes imperfections and hidden artifacts in records or tracks that often go unnoticed. Poorly mixed tracks are easily distinguishable, and you can discern well-mastered tracks from mediocre ones. In addition, micro and macro details are brought to the forefront, and I'm still occasionally surprised by previously unheard elements in tracks that I know by heart.

In conclusion, QP2R truly deserves the title of a high-end DAP. It excels in details and flawlessly executes them. Almost everything in terms of technical performance is close to perfection, except for the sound stage. QP2R strikes a desirable balance between tonality and technicalities, making it an ideal choice for discerning audiophiles.

Performance:​

Let's begin with the QP2R's battery life. As a daily listener for 3-4 hours and occasionally more, including an hour-long afternoon nap, I found that the device lasts for over a day before requiring a recharge. This is quite impressive in my opinion, though it ultimately depends on how frequently and for how long you use it. When it's time to recharge, it takes around two hours to reach full battery capacity. Overall, the QP2R's battery performance is commendable.

While the user interface of the QP2R may appear outdated based on my personal preference, I don't mind the classic approach as long as it functions smoothly without significant bugs or glitches. While it would be nice to have a touch screen, some people prefer the purist approach. As someone who typically uses my android phone with a dongle, it took me some time to adjust to the QP2R's UI, but that's just my personal experience.



When it comes to driving power, the QP2R falls a bit short. While my IEMs are not particularly difficult to drive, I find myself reaching a comfortable and satisfying listening level at around 50% of the volume level. Switching to the 2.5mm balanced output didn't make much of a difference in terms of driving power. When I tried using the QP2R with my Audeze Sine headphones, however, I found that it struggled to reach 85% of the volume level and introduced some distortion. If you plan to use this dap with headphones, pairing it with an additional amp is a must. Conclusively, the QP2R is designed as a portable player, intended for use with IEMs and easy-to-drive gear.

I have tested QP2R with various audio formats and it played them all flawlessly without any glitches or interruptions. It handles files as small as 16mb and as large as 150mb with ease. However, I did notice a minor issue when pausing a track - after 10 seconds of pause, there is a clicking sound inside the unit, which I believe is the BIAS control turning off. When you resume playback, there is a slight 1-second delay before the track starts again. Despite this minor setback, QP2R's overall performance remains impressive.

Pairings:​

QP2R is a neutral source that delivers the most authentic and unadulterated sound signature of your transducers. It is compatible with a wide range of gear and produces an honest presentation of their sound. When paired with a neutral pair of IEMs, the sound may come off as too clinical and devoid of warmth, but this ultimately comes down to personal preference. Don't be afraid to experiment with the gear you have on hand to find your perfect sound.

Verdict:​

The QP2R is an impressive TOTL dap, not just because of its price, but also because of its performance. It's a well-balanced dap that excels in both technicalities and sound. The operating system is stable, and I've never experienced any software issues or crashes. Nonetheless, the lack of a touch screen is somewhat, outdated compared to the trend nowadays.

However, the main downside is its lack of power. But let's face it, DAPs are meant to be portable and on the go. If you're after real power, a desktop setup would be your best bet. The QP2R's driving power is still commendable for IEMs but not for full-sized cans or headphones. Their dongle the M15 is a much more adequate option if you intend to drive cans.

If you're a purist, you'll appreciate the classic approach of the QP2R. But if you depend on streaming music, you might want to look elsewhere. This dap is for those who are picky about their hi-res files and want a player that plays their favorite tracks truthfully, with excellent detail, without sounding sterile and boring.

The QP2R has total control over the entire frequency spectrum and accurately executes your tracks as neutrally as possible. It's perfect for neutral heads and maybe even treble heads. Detail freaks will be happy too.

Yes, the price tag is steep, but it's still a solid player that can compete with other daps being released. It's a dedicated player that can handle your hi-res audio files with ease and precision.

Personally, I think Questyle could benefit from releasing a new DAP that incorporates some of the latest technology trends, such as a touchscreen interface. While the QP2R still has its loyal fanbase, it's starting to feel a bit outdated. Perhaps a mid-range option could be the sweet spot for Questyle, as they are known for their exceptional tuning and unique house signature. Alternatively, a DAP powered by R2R could be a game-changer for them. Regardless, Questyle is an audio boutique that commands respect and recognition. They have already proven their ability to turn heads with the M15 dongle, and venturing into the budget segment could be another smart move for them.

Lastly, I want to say thanks to Questyle for sending this over and giving me the chance to review one of their high-end daps.

That's a wrap and catch you on the next one! Enjoy the music more than the gears!

PRICE: $1,099​

TONALITY: 9.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9.2/10
SOUND VALUE
-1400$ msrp: 7.5/10
-700$ price drop: 8.8/10

This is just a mini written review to complement my 1 hour long video review.

CONSTRUCTION


Pristine craftmanship that impress both the eyes and they hands, since its a very handy device that fit well in the pocket and have plenty of diversify buton control for flexible interface choice. You can change track and pause blindly in your pocket and the nice volume know metal protector avoid unwanted volume turning. Yet, this know is quite sensitive so sometime i turn volume but it can swing backward, hard to explain but its a nit picking that rarely happen...surely due to my oversized thumbs! Body is all metal with front and back made of hard glass. It seem sturdy and isn't easy to scratch. Nothing feel loose or badly built, i can't fault anything in term of construction quality, even in smalles details.

No touch screen, but interface have short cut to go back to main menu, which is appreciated. The rolling wheel for control is slippy but you can add rubber sticker which are included. Yet, i dont really like using the wheel which lack a bit of precision and isn't really needed for a minimalist UI like this.
You can custom the setting as well as background pics, their alot of settings option (you can see it in video).

SOUND IMPRESSIONS


I can't say this is exactly a neutral sounding DAP, its colored to sound natural and full, by magnifying timbre density which is lush, colorful and rich in nuance.

QP2R deliver an enveloping intimate musicality that doesn't sound clinical or overly analytical, nor too warm due to decent transparency and layering.

Bass and mid range take center of the show, while treble take back seat but never feel lacking apart perhaps in above 10khz sections which isn't very airy or sparkly. This isn't an edgy sound DAP at all, its creamy, smooth, thick yet very well articulate in dynamic, which sit between mellow and weighty.
QP2R sound dynamic even at low volume, in the sens, we have a slight mid bass boost that warm thicken bass impact and can result in incredible bass quality, vibrant in rumble and beefy in body without sounding unbalanced at all. This tend to add meat to bass more than extra impact, while not taming the impact of a bassy IEM like ISN H40 or Ikko OH10.
Vocal are highly addictive too, since they dont have scooped low harmonic its full bodied and not overly forced in texture, yet very natural, not dark at all. Violin and piano tone is excellent too, in fact, this is an extremely versatile DAP when it come to differetn music genre, which a too warm or bright DAP wouldnt be.

Only complaint i would have is that it doesn't sound very open and airy. This affect imaging sharp accuracy a bit, which is more about compressed sound layers to dive in.

This is the type of DAP that smoothen high frequencies of your IEMs without stoling its dynamic energy.
It most be noted that it's not the most powerful DAP, while for 99% of my IEMs this isn't an issue, i think it could be for IEMs like Final E5000 or planar headphones, since while my Hifiman Sundara sound very decent, it need to be a max volume and well, i was impress there no distortion in bass but sound was too compressed and thick, once i use line out, i heard what the AK4490 DAC was capable off....so, don't shy up about using digital out, the result will certainly blown your mind, depending of amp used i mean. Yet, clarity is cleaner, more transparent and treble is more airy sparkly.

CONCLUSION

If it wasn't for battery life issue, this DAP would certainly be my favorite one when it come to IEMs use. The QP2R is all about natural tone and lush musicality that hook you with a sens of proximity with your fav instruments should it be cello or contrabass for bass, vocal or piano for mids or violin and guitar for highs, its all there, fully restitute in all their colorful glory.
And let me tell you that it sure worth the buy if you find it at 700$ and like me, don't care about bluetooth and wifi since you want to be all alone with you cabled music.
Again, i wanna thanks Questyle for this review sample. You can give a look to this detailed video for more insight about features, UI, construction and sound impressions. It include a comparisons against Tempotec V6 and Questyle M15 too!

Hi everyone,

It is such a blessing to be here on Head-Fi to briefly share my thoughts on the QP2R, especially when comparing it to the QP1R, and sharing my opinion(s) if I believe the QP2R is worth it over the QP1R.

Disclaimer: I received the QP2R for free for exchange of my thoughts about the product.

The QP2R utilizes one Micro SD card slot so the player can accommodate the Balanced connection. Purchasing as large of storage capacity card as possible shouldn't be too big of a sacrifice of the second Micro SD card slot the QP1R utilizes. Also, the internal memory of the QP2R is 64GB as opposed to the QP1R's 32GB.

The QP2R charges via USB-C, which means very fast charging (charges in at least half the time it would take to fully charge the QP1R via Micro USB).

Adding and deleting tracks to the QP2R are the same as the QP1R (just like a USB thumb/hard/SSD drive).

Navigation is a bit easier with the QP2R, and I personally keep my player on High Bias and High Gain for best results. I usually don't listen to very sensitive IEMs with the QP2R such as the Andromeda (even though it sounds heavenly when it's Balanced) - however, most headphones are powered with plenty of aplomb, especially Balanced. More about power and power comparison(s) later.

Make sure to take care of the Questyle players, keeping them in the 1st party or 3rd party cases, and try your best to never drop them.

The build of the QP2R is similar to the QP1R, with an extra Balanced port, one less Micro SD port, and a USB-C port replacing the QP1R's Micro USB port. The wheel and buttons of the QP2R are very similar to the wheel and buttons of the QP1R. The Gorilla Glass of both the QP1R and QP2R are quite the looker.

I'm currently using a QP2R Dignis black leather case that came from Final Audio - make sure to inquire with either Dignis and/or Final Audio to obtain that particular case.

With regard to UI Navigation, the QP1R shows:

Now Playing
Favorites
Play by Category > Songs, Album, Artist, Genre, Playlists
Browse Files
Play Settings
System Setting

The QP2R shows:
Playing
Category > Track, Artist, Album, Genre, DSD
Playlists > Favorites
Browse Files > Internal memory, TF card
Settings

QP2R navigation: Going into "Genre" will take you to a song/track list, just like the QP1R.

The sound of the QP2R is very good, better than most DAPs, aside from the QP1R - in SE mode.

I paired the QP2R with a couple of the latest headphones in my stable: the Massdrop X HIFIMAN HE-35X and the Massdrop x Beyerdynamic DT 177X GO.

Here's my brief thoughts of the Massdrop X HIFIMAN HE-35X:

Massdrop is rolling out a new pricing structure. Paraphrasing from Mr. Fernandez: "We are doing this to reward members that support products early by giving them a price break before a product goes into store.

For the HE-35X the product is available at a special launch price until April 18 or until the first 750 are sold.

We want folks to know about this new pricing plan which will apply to future Massdrop Made headphones."

Here is the link that talks a bit more about the pricing:
https://www.massdrop.com/talk/22088/new-massdrop-made-launch-pricing

With regards to my thoughts about the HE-35X, it is everything you would want, and then some.
Compared to the original HE350, the HE-35X has more palpable bass, at around +5db to my ears. The upper bass and subbass is a bit more visceral than the HE350 with modifications such as the paper towel mod and Brainwavz Angled Pads (BAP). Smoother rumbling than the mods, with comforting touches to your head as the tracks play on.

The HE-35X has a toned down midrange compared to the HE-350, and is buttery smooth.

In the HE350 review, I stated "treble may sound bright to very bright"; the HE-35X has treble that is smoothed and as a result, a joy to listen.

Soundstage isn't as expansive as the HE350, but having a bit more lower register, with a smoother midrange and treble is a good compromise to embody, in my opinion.

With regards to headphone comfort, the HE-35X feels as good on the head as the HE350 with modifications.

The total presentation is that of an upgrade of the original HE350, the result of the reviews and owners' feedback.

The HE-35X is a audiophile value if you choose to purchase the headphone.

One of my current favorite pairings is the Questyle Audio QP2R with the MASSDROP X BEYERDYNAMIC DT 177X GO (I'll call it the DT 177X GO from now on). You are able to listen to the headphone Balanced, but I didn't try it out yet - hopefully I can borrow a mini 4-pin XLR Balanced cable to try it out with the QP2R in the near future. My thoughts are about SE, not Balanced (to think the audio may sound more amazing Balanced!) The sound of the DT 177X GO is what I would like to call musically neutral. The entire spectrum is very clear and holographic. Not a lower midrange and bass/subbass presentation such as the TH-X00 series, but a champion when it comes to immense clarity and neutrality. The comfort of the headphone is very comfortable as well - the velour pads are soft to the touch and feel like an ear massage acoustically and physically. This is a headphone that can easily be used for mastering, or listened to while relaxing with your favorite beverage of choice.

My sister's husband Christian (XAVR), who is a singer/songwriter, and uses mastering headphones offers these thoughts:

"Sounds very good. Has a flat sound, and gets really loud. I really like the shell - it seems like it makes the audio sound better. I like the velour pads more because they attribute to a warmer sound."

This collaboration headphone marks a point where a neutral-based headphone can sound amazing to the ears and feel great as well. For those that have tried it to really enjoy the collaborative headphone is awesome, in my opinion.

Here's my thoughts about the DT 177X GO:

The bass is not overbearing in the least, and is nice and controlled. No huge spikes or dips in the subbass and midbass areas to my ears, but just enough for you to be adequately satisfied.

The midrange is clean, almost sterile, yet musical in its own right.

The treble is methodic, and not sibilant. The upper midrange into the treble may be the star(s) of the show, where you may not be searching for a thumping subwoofer feeling, but yearning for a sweet, clinical mid to upper register. The DT 177X GO delivers this and a whole lot more, in my opinion.

The soundstage and detail are very good, especially emitting through a closed back headphone.

The DT 177X GO is an excellent buy if you are searching for a true content headphone.

Where the QP2R really shines is Balanced. You've got more power, overall clarity, separation, and detail when it comes to Balanced of the QP2R compared to the SE of the QP1R and QP2R. If you are seeking overall sound quality, go for the QP2R Balanced, but if you want a bit better sound quality SE, go for the QP1R.

Which brings me to the main question: Is the QP2R worth it over the QP1R? I would unequivocally say yes. Main reasons:

The QP2R overall sounds better than the QP1R. The QP1R is currently going for $749 while the QP2R is currently $999. The around $150 price difference is worth it for the increase of overall power, better UI navigation and better sound quality in comparison to the QP1R. You can purchase both from T.H.E. Source AV, or Moon Audio.

QP2R specifications:
Audio Formats Supported:
WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, APE(Normal/High/Fast)
Sample Rate:
PCM 32kHz - 384kHz (16/24/32Bit)
DSD Native: DSD64 (1Bit 2.8MHz)
DSD128(1Bit 5.6MHz), DSD256(1Bit 11.2MHz)
DAC:
AKM AK4490 DAC chip
Outputs:
Headphone out (3.5mm)
Optical out (3.5mm)
Balanced out (2.5mm)
Output Level:
Unbalanced 1.6 Vrms
Balanced 3.2 Vrms
Output Power:
Unbalanced: RL= 32Ω, Pout = 38mW; RL = 300Ω, Pout = 9mW
Balanced: RL = 32Ω, Pout = 70mW; RL = 300Ω, Pout = 38mW
Frequency Response:
+-0.1dB(20Hz - 20kHz)
S/N 100dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 102dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced
Output Impedance:
0.1Ω
Charging & Data Transfer:
Type-C, 5V 2A (PC & MAC)
PC OS Requirements:
WindowsXP / Windos 7&8(32/64bit)
Mac OSX 10.7 or later
Memory:
Internal: 64GB;
External: Micro SD card (Max. 200GB) x1
Battery:
3,100mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer battery, 10 hours of battery life
Display:
IPS 2.4inch (Sharp LCM)
Operating System:
Linux
Body Material:
CNC machining aluminum, available in Gold/Space Gray
Dimension:
65[W] x 134[H] x 14.5[D] (mm)

Questyle QP2R



QP2R

Manufacturer Website: Questyle QP2R

A Little Technical Stuff:

· Patented fully discrete/full-balanced/Current Mode AMP

· Pure Class A BIAS control system

· Audio Formats Supported - WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC, ALAC,
AIFF, DFF, DSF，APE(Normal/High/Fast)

· Sample Rate - PCM 32kHz - 384kHz (16/24/32Bit)
DSD Native: DSD64(1Bit 2.8MHz), DSD128(1Bit 5.6MHz), DSD256(1Bit 11.2MHz)

· DAC - AKM AK4490 DAC chip

· Outputs - Headphone out(3.5mm)/Optical out(3.5mm)/Balanced out(2.5mm)

· Output Level - Unbalanced 1.8 Vrms / Balanced 3.6 Vrms

· Output Power - Unbalanced RL=32Ω，Pout=38mW; RL=300Ω, Pout=9mW

Balanced RL=32Ω，Pout=70mW; RL=300Ω, Pout=38mW

· Frequency Response - ±0.1dB (20Hz-20kHz) S/N 100dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced /102dB @ 1kHz, Balanced THD+N 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced

· Output Impedance - 0.1Ω

· Charging & Data Transfer - TYPE-C, 5V 2A (PC & MAC)

· PC OS Requirements - Windows XP & Windows 7 / 8 /10 (32/64bit) /Mac OS X 10.7 or later

· Memory - Internal: 64GB; External: Micro SD card (Max. 2TB) x 1

· Battery - 3,100mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer battery, 10 hours of battery life

· Display - IPS 2.4" (Sharp LCM)

· Operating System - Linux

· Body Material - CNC machining aluminum, available in Gold/Space Gray

· Dimension - 65[W] x 134[H] x 14.5[D] (mm)

Questyle QP2R

-MRSP: $1299

Questyle, based in China, is known for their high-quality audio equipment. Their QP1R made quite a splash and is considered a benchmark DAP. The QP2R is their second iteration, although the first one is still widely available and revered. Questyle has also released the HB2 Hi-Fi Hub System as an addition to the high-res QP2R portable player, I cannot tell you how the dock functions in tandem with the QP2R because I was not offered one for review. It acts as a dock for the QP2R and can charge the DAP. It appears to come with a remote control that allows playback and menu navigation.



Never hearing the original, but reading all of its accolades, certainly had me anticipating this review and the opportunity to give some serious critical listening time to this offering. I will say that the QP2R has not disappointed and has knocked my current reference player, the Opus#2 by theBit, off of that pedestal.

The QP2R is officially my reference player moving forward until it is otherwise dethroned.



A Little Marketing Hype:

High-Res Portable DAP

A New Chapter in High-res Source

People's view on high-end audio has changed in the past few years. It seems a bit out-of-date just to sit in front of those heavy and complicated traditional audio systems in a fixed room. While what's going on outdoors is really amazing. Fashionistas are now enjoying the high-end and lossless music by taking along a top-tier portable player and a pair of decent headphones. QP2R, a well-designed and fine-crafted high-end portable player with excellent performance, is from Questyle.

The more complicated the world is, the more concise we are.

QP2R basically maintains the style of QP1R, the iF Industrial Design Award winner: the impressive design of tucked waist on the surface with a twin steering wheel, the helm style volume control inspired by a fine watch, and the patented design of hollowed-out protective crown against inadvertent volume change or accidental damage to headphone plugs. The perfect aluminum finishing, the unbroken lines flowing with a smooth-faced structure, and the curvilinear machined Gorilla Glass panels, all of which are telling that Questyle has strict requirements on manufacturing.

It keeps challenging the conventional concept by combining outstanding audio performance with unchanged size, doubled driving power with un-increased power consumption, fine craft with reasonable price, which is seemingly contradictory but solved perfectly by Questyle.

Meanwhile, Questyle sticks to their mission of taking audio performance and listening experience as their core values and achieving perfection in design and operation. In short, QP2R has preserved and inherited the typical and professional genes of Questyle which are becoming perfect over time.

Like the Engine to A Car

Global PCT Patented "Current Mode Amplification" Technology

Global PCT patented No.: PCT/CN2014/075775



As the "engine" of an audio system, Current Mode Amplifier, featuring a fully discrete and topological structure, achieves ultra-high sound performance close to recording scene that makes the audience truly moved. Meanwhile, based on the Current Mode Amplification technology, users can get much better listening experience from QP2R than other devices when matching with their own headphones or speakers which even though may not be the original matched ones.

Current Mode Amplifier can achieve excellent specs. For example, the THD+N can easily reach the ultra-low level to 0.0002%—0.0005% which is tens or hundreds of times lower than the ordinary professional devices, challenging the physical limits of audio testing and bringing perfect listening experience.

Like A Supercar in "RACE" Mode

BIAS Control System

With the high bias setting, just like a supercar is set to "RACE" mode, QP2R immediately attains stronger power and quicker responses, fully improving the mid and the low-frequency sensitivity. There is a bias indicator on the side of QP2R and it tells the standard bias indicated by the orange light, and the high bias by a red light. It ensures that QP2R operates only in the state of pure Class A when driving different loads, especially heavy loads, and provides a constant flow of strong power for the amplifier.



Unboxing and Accessories:

Questyle went for a simple, understated packaging. The QP2R comes in a black box with a white sleeve on the outside of the box. The sleeve has the words emblazoned “Questyle Audio Engineering” on the front and some simple device specifications on the back.

The black box opens in the landscape position and has a magnet that holds the box flap closed. Open the black box and you will see, on the left-hand side, the data/charging cable, the 5mm optical Toslink adapter and the paperwork. On the right-hand side, you will see the QP2R nestled in a foam cutout with a piece of foam lying on top of the player. Nothing over the top or pretentious for such a quality device.

Included is:

· USB C cable for charging and data transfer

· Warranty Card

· Instruction Manual

· 5mm Optical Adaptor (a handy thing to include)

· Tiny cloth carry bag

· QP2R


As appears to be the trend with the DAP’s I have recently reviewed the QP2R does not include a case, it is one of my biggest annoyances. For a TOTL device such as the QP2R, I feel it should be the price of admission. I am one of those consumers that likes to keep his equipment pristine and refuse to set a naked device on a table without protection. I also noticed one a couple of occasions mine has grown feet and attempted to walk off of the desk a couple of times. I saw it sliding and caught it and narrowly escaped catastrophe, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. There are aftermarket cases available and the one I decided on was from Miter, it has a kickstand and does an okay job. If I didn’t pay so darn much for the case I would probably look at some other options, but that is only personal preference and I have read that others love the case. The device is slippery like a bar of soap and with such a fine-looking piece of kit it would be a shame to damage it, any protection is better than none. In my packaging, there was also no screen protection. Seems like an oversight to not include a screen protector, but it is what it is.

There really isn’t much more to say about the accessories or unboxing. The photos can tell the story much better than I can.



Design and Build:

If you are familiar with the QP1R you will be very familiar with the QP2R, the design and build have not really changed much. The chassis is made from CNC machining aluminum and is available in Gold/Space Gray. Either color option to me is quite striking in its appearance. The front and back are adorned with glass, I read somewhere to be Gorilla Glass, the same product they use on many cellphones today.

There is a lot of heft in its design. In your hand, it has weight and feels substantial. Is it heavy, yes? I would have expected it to be heavy, based on its design elegance and visual appeal. I think the weight is what you would expect and I would have been really disappointed if it were lightweight. This device does not look “cheap” and it shouldn’t feel “cheap” either.


The volume knob is located in the upper right corner, on top of the device. It is a big, textured control knob which looks as if it is a precise machine. The volume control is protected against accidental turning by guards on the left and right of the knob. The guards do not impede the ability to adjust volume as it is easily accessible from the front or back, please refer to pictures to know exactly what I am talking about. The volume can be controlled in 60 or 120 steps, and the ability to choose 60 or 120 is in the settings menu. I love the feel of the volume control but it is easy to go + or – 1 when trying to select your volume. Not a major deal as an increment of one is not going to damage your hearing with an accidental + 1.

Also, on top of the device are the headphone ports. There is a 3.5mm SE and 2.5mm balanced output ports that are both recessed into chassis. The 3.5mm output serves double duty as the optical port.



On the left side of the player are the music control hard buttons, play/pause, skip a track. On the right side of the player are the power on/off button and a light which displays which bias mode you are in, standard or high. The indicator light would be orange in standard mode or red in high bias mode.



On the bottom of the device, is the charging/data transfer port(USB-C), one micro SD card slot. The QP2R has an internal storage of 64 GB. I am not certain of the maximum size of micro SD card the QP2R will tolerate as the largest cards I have are 256GB capacity, but the specs say 2TB is the maximum card size. A second slot would be wanted by some consumers and I think the elimination of a slot was due to the new amplification. I had zero issues with the 256GB card I used, it read quickly and without error.

The QP2R has a design reminiscent of Apple devices of years past. It has a navigation wheel instead of a touchscreen or manual buttons for control, I will delve into this more later in the review. On the four diagonal corners surrounding the navigation wheel are touch controls. Starting upper left is a home key of sorts, that during the playback screen will take you to a menu for Favorites, Add To, Loop and Delete, thus providing you those options for the track you are listening to. If you are on a playlist menu screen, the options of the Home key are Add To and Delete. I am not going to go into great detail about the menus but I wanted to let you know that the options change depending on what menu or sub-menu you are presently on. The right touch button is the Return button and if you hold it down it will take you all of the way back to a menu that offers you what song is currently playing, a Category selection, Playlists, Browse Files and settings. The two remaining lower touch buttons are for back and forward, which can be locked in the settings screen to avoid accidental touch.

The QP2R showcases an IPS 2.4″ (Sharp LCM) color screen. It is functional and provides adequate vibrancy and readability. It is not the best screen I have seen on any device and it does not have touchscreen capabilities. Of course, if the screen was touchscreen and of a super vibrancy the cost of the device would be greater, so it is a tradeoff. It is perfectly fine for my needs but the inclusion of a touchscreen would be nice for future models.

I mentioned earlier I would touch on the control wheel later and now is later. I need to preface this by saying that the QP2R is supposed to include a friction overlay in the packaging for the scroll wheel. My unit did not include that in the packaging. It is a rubber circle with adhesive on one side to stick onto the scroll wheel keep your finger from slipping on the metal wheel when you are turning it. If you do not receive one in the package, for whatever reason, I would certainly request one from Questyle. The naked wheel is slippery and has provided me with a bit of frustration during control. The scroll wheel also selects by pushing the center of the wheel to enter. I so pine for my rubber friction overlay. I feel the addition of a touchscreen, and a button control system would also be a positive upgrade, lose the wheel. The player oozes quality and workmanship and the wheel hints at a distant memory from Apple. Maybe I am being picky considering this is the finest DAP, sound quality wise, that I have heard, but sound and total experience can sometimes be two different things.

The specifications state that you will get 10 hours out of the 3,100mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer battery. I must assume that is based on using the low gain. I think 10 hours seems like an ambitious number. It would be difficult for me to gauge this as I always use either M or H gain. I also find I like the screen brightness bumped up. The battery charges through the USB-C port on the bottom of the device. It is not a quick charging device and I often let it charge overnight because when fully discharged it would take roughly 4 hours to fully charge.

UI:



I have long touted the UI of the A&K players and theBit as being the most refined that I have used. Both of those companies have created a rather simple, bug-free experience. I will add Questyle and its Linux iteration into that mix. The QP2R is very simple in its layout and I will not discuss all of the menus and options but instead will highlight some options and settings that are noteworthy. As mentioned above, they are an entire bevy of features which have settings on top of settings.

One setting that sometimes takes a lot of hoops to jump through is a delete option. With the QP2R deleting is simple. Deleting from the micro SD, deleting from playlists and favorites, it's all there and simple. When selecting the 2.5mm balanced port there are no additional steps, just plug-n-play. I think that the flow of the menus is logical and only requires a small learning curve. I generally use the browse folders option as opposed to selecting by genre, artist or album, I find this is the best for me. I have not found the ability to complete a search within the folders. If you want a specific track you will have to access it through one of the categories or browsing and know where to find it.

The gain control is a setting that I switch between Medium and High settings. I do not have any sensitive IEM’s to drive and many of mine are Dynamic Drivers which like the power. I find myself on High gain 90% of the time. If you listen to DSD files the QP2R allows you to set an adjustable gain from 0 - +6 dB. When utilizing the 3.5mm SE output the power is about average but when utilizing the 2.5mm balanced output it had more than enough power to drive everything I threw at it. For the Custom Art ME, I found my listening level to be about 50% and for my Atlas or Legend X around 60%.

One last setting in the UI that will truly enhance your listening is the bias control. A bias control allows the listener to choose standard or high bias settings, depending on the loads being driven. I found High gain, High bias to be my preferred setting. With the high bias setting, the QP2R immediately attains stronger power and quicker responses, fully improving the mid and the low-frequency sensitivity. It ensures that QP2R operates only in the state of pure Class A when driving different loads, especially heavy loads, and provides a constant flow of strong power for the amplifier.

The QP2R can also be used as a USB DAC if you have the need for that when listening from a laptop etc. There is also a 10-Band EQ, while I never use EQ I know many users like to tweak their music.

Moving on to the sound:



The QP2R delivers sound that is pure mastery. I have really enjoyed the QP2R and while the Opus#2 has been a loyal mate I feel that I have certainly moved on with the QP2R. It is now the benchmark player that the others need to beat.

The sound is wholly organic and voluminous. It is large as if you are in a concert hall. Very much a reference sound as opposed to being overly rich but it so super resolving and true to the music. Flawless in its delivery, I find it very difficult to find fault. As previously stated, I do not have any sensitive IEM’s. There have been discussions that with sensitive IEM’s that there is hiss. I cannot confirm this, I am only passing on what I have read. To me, the noise floor is silent, black and hiss free. The sound quality to my ears sounds like a much higher priced desktop unit, which for me is great because I love to be portable and hate to be tethered.



I have not found any genre of music that does not come alive with the QP2R, EDM is presented with all of its quick bass driven beats. It is effortless in its delivery, and Jazz is as involved as the artist intended. The QP2R delivers the bass frequencies with impact and energy without any over inflation of the tones. I am trying to put into words my overall impressions of this DAP but it is difficult without gushing and fawning over it. As a reviewer, I probably shouldn’t do that but as a human, a consumer and a music lover I find it very difficult not to gush. It is the best I have heard.

Keep in mind that the QP2R does a great job at playing quality when quality is there. I have found it is not the most forgiving player out there. Give it quality and let it work its magic.



How does this DAP stack up to some of the other DAPs in my possession?

The only DAP I will give a comparison against is the Opus#2.

Feature wise the Opus#2 delivers more goods. To be able to utilize Wi-Fi and sideload apps certainly will provide more value to some. The QP2R is a feature light device all of the way around. Power wise, one of my biggest complaints with the Opus#2 is the high levels of volume I had to throw at some of my headphones. Opus#2 or QP2R, either will more than satisfy your audiophile desires. I may have gushed at the QP2R but I can tell you I also gush at the Opus#2. If my review has made it appear that the winner was a runaway, this is not the case. When I listened to the QP2R I could hear a difference in the quality vs. the Opus#2. The Opus#2 delivers a touch warmer sound overall. While it is not a warm player like some of the A&K players I have heard, it slightly tilts warm. The QP2R is not warm but full and comes at you in organic, natural volumes. It truly would come down to a preference. I would say that the 2.5mm balanced output of the QP2R bests the Opus#2 as it delivers the power needed to make your gear shine.

I have recently found myself attracted to the less feature-focused players, such as the Opus#1S and QP2R. I love the attention to be on the sound.



In Closing:

The QP2R has delivered on the goods. While some may like more features, I find the quality of the sound to make me forget the lack of features. It's handling of DSD and the number of file formats played, today appear to be the price of admission. The ability to tweak settings to find one that works best for you is great. I enjoy the High gain, High bias.

I wish that a protective case would have been included and I hope in future models that they employ a touch screen or a button-driven control system. I am not a fan of the wheel, but it is important to remember that I did not receive the friction wheel cover that should have been included in the package.

Excellent amount of driving power in the 2.5mm balanced output.

The UI is, for the most part, refined and Questyle does support the player with updates. I have had two updates to firmware in three months.

Build quality screams TOTL, with its aluminum chassis and Gorilla glass front and back. It has great weight and heft in the hand, it feels substantial.

Well, the Opus#2 has been bumped from its lofty perch in my collection. It really was close between the two but the sound quality of the QP2R was ahead at the finish line by a nose. Nothing is perfect but the QP2R is the best sounding DAP I have heard, thus it is now my reference player.

Intro

Questyle is a well-known manufacturer for producing premium audio devices, including DAPs, headphone amplifiers, and wireless audio systems. For the past years, QP1R gained some significant attention among audio communities for its performance and served as the main product that represents Questyle.

My first experience with Questyle happened several years ago, when I got a chance to have a quick to the QP1R. The listening session was short, though I was impressed with its sound and been keeping my interest on their products since then. Then the QP2R recently got released, a new successor which replaces the old QP1R.




Packaging, First impressions

The packaging is simple yet feels to have a premium presentation. Besides the player, the box includes a USB-C cable, an optical adapter, a pouch, and some paper works. I’d personally prefer a case instead of a pouch. But hey, it’s better than nothing.

First impressions from the appearance, is that the looks are identical to QP1R. Both players use the same machine aluminum case but equipped with different internals. The QP2R is available in either Gold or Silver color. As I’ve been attracted with gold colored players since the first day I saw QP1R, so I went for the gold variation without a second thought.




Design and Build quality

QP2R has a sleek, seamless build quality with a decent weight to it. Not particularly heavy though. While it’s easy for goldish gears to look rustic or bombastic, the color added on these are more like champagne gold with bit of a milky color added, giving a soft, premium looking. The matte surface has a slightly grainy touch to it, providing a firm grip to my hands.





The back of the player is covered with a black glossy panel. Both front and back panels are made of Gorilla glass, so it should withstand impacts pretty well when it’s dropped. This makes it look pretty symmetric to the front side, actually.

While placing the player to any surface, making sure to not place anywhere that’s tilted as the back panel is slippery and could easily slip off. As a solution, I’ve attached a rubber stacking pad from FIIO and it does a pretty good job preventing from slipping which also prevents the back panel gaining scratches. Killing two birds with one stone.





Knobs

Diamond-like cutting applied on edges around the power button and the knob. The knob spins smoothly with a clicking sound on every interval. Although I’m yet to get a protective case for this expensive baby, it seems like all of the QP2R cases does not protect the upper part where the knob and its surroundings are. Kind of sad, but I guess that’s what the case manufacturers should look out for.





Hardware

QP2R is equipped with a patented technology what’s called as the Current Mod Amplification, which Questyle claims to be able to achieve extreme sound performance by constructing a full, discrete balanced amp module. Spec-wise, the THD varies between 0.0002%~0.0005 which is impressively low. THD is known to be 10-100 times lower than most players, achieving significant improvement even compared to the previous 1R – now that’s impressive.





Though Questyle had to give up one of the two SD card slots from the player. It’s a drawback for those who carry tons of tracks in their players, though Questyle included a 64GB internal storage, somewhat as a compensation. I’ve confirmed 256GB SD cards to be compatible and yet to try the ones with 400GB, but the QP2R should be able to handle 400GB SD cards just fine. Below is the detailed specification of the player.

Audio Formats Supported : WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC, ALAC,
AIFF, DFF, DSF，APE(Normal/High/Fast)

Sample Rate: PCM 32kHz – 384kHz (16/24/32Bit)
DSD Native: DSD64(1Bit 2.8MHz),
DSD128(1Bit 5.6MHz), DSD256(1Bit 11.2MHz)

DAC: AKM AK4490 DAC chip
Outputs: Headphone out(3.5mm)/Optical out(3.5mm) / Balanced out(2.5mm)
Output Level: Unbalanced 1.8 Vrms / Balanced 3.6 Vrms
Output Power: Unbalanced RL=32Ω, Pout=38mW;

Frequency Response: ±0.1dB (20Hz-20kHz)
S/N 100dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 102dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced

Output Impedance: 0.1Ω
Battery : 3,100mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer battery, 10 hours of battery life
Display : IPS 2.4” (Sharp LCM)
Dimension : 65[W] x 134[H] x 14.5[D] (mm)






User Interface / Battery life

The software is based on a custom-made Linux OS, powered by Hiby. I’ve only been using Android Daps until now, and the runtime / standby time on the QP2R is great. The battery efficiency is clearly better than any of my other players and haven’t experienced any lags so far.

One exception is that I sometimes experience a 1~1.5 second delay when I push the play button while the screen is off, but other than that QP2R responds instantly in any situation. QP2R uses the classic iPod-style where you scroll the wheel for navigation. Not comfortable than a touch screen of course but would be a plus if you like the analogue way.






Settings

The settings provide various options to be adjusted for the user’s needs. Other than general settings like EQ, balance, or gains, detailed settings are also available such as independent gains for DSD/BIAS, volume direction for the knob, and vibration. Now I’ve seen good number of users reporting about the stiff wheel on the 1R, Questyle fixed this issue and now the wheels scroll smoothly with a clicking sound.








Listing

The UI is pretty straight forward. You spin the wheel to navigate tracks/menus, you click the button on the middle to confirm. Browsing folders, playlists, and categories are available like any other players. One drawback that I must mention, is that there’s not an option for sorting the tracks.

The list only stays alphabetically which sometime is pain when I try to search tracks that starts with a letter between H~P or something like that. It takes more time especially when you shoved tons of tracks in one folder, so the current UI lacks some convenience here. This is something that surely could be resolved with a software update. I have already reported to Questyle about it, so let’s see how that goes.

You could also long press the back button to jump back to the main menu. Do the same thing for the center circular button, and you’ll jump back to the “now playing” screen.






Sound, Amplification

Now to the most important topic. Though I first mention that the amplification is very impressive – I kind of get why some users said that it feels like a stationary amplifier. Amplification is powerful while keeping the output very stable, almost to a level to the Hugo 2. The background feels to be clean and pure.

QP2R aims to produce a non-colored sound. Overall sound signature would be that bass and treble stretches out with a lively, lingering imagery while the mids sound tight and airy. Bass sounds like it’s packed with density and dives deep, but only to the point where it could be maintained tightly controlled.






Mids sound airy and has a neutral thickness, keeping a good balance between the thickness too full or lean. Vocals are prominent; though it feels like its clarity comes by skimming of a veil, rather than purposely emphasizing the frequency response – this provides the mids to have an organic sound, yet with liveliness.

Upper mids and highs extends with a bit of sparkles added, providing a good sense of richness. The highs stretch with good stability without getting to sound spiky. Soundstage and separation is superb, having clear presentation for instrument positioning. In terms of resolution, QP2R explicitly presents the original texture. QP2R will serve you even better if you get yourself ready with good source, but this also means that the player could possibly expose a poor texture from your music if your source is badly recorded.






Verdicts

QP2R is one of my best DAPs that I have listened to. Considering that most high-end DAPs costs over 2K~3K, I’d say QP2R would be a great choice to consider as its performance keeps up with any other flagship DAPs but obtainable for a more affordable price. Once the UI gains improvement, the DAP game is pretty much over for me. Would be an excellent choice for those who desires a natural, uncolored sound while achieving richness.

Thanks for reading! Visit aboutaudio.org for more reviews.

Portable audio has always been on my radar. Back when I first assembled my desktop system my immediate next step was to replicate that level of quality in a portable system. An what I found is that I typically had to spend twice as much to get equivalent quality and often far less power. But that was almost 4 years ago. These days more and more companies are implementing high powered output via balanced amp typologies into their devices! Meaning that getting desktop reference quality audio on the go is becoming easier and easier, without needing the expensive and cumbersome stack-able towers of yesteryear!

Seeing as how I focused on entry level products in the winter months, for this review I'll be featuring a wider variety of mid-range products both individually and in comparison to my existing gear!As this was my focus for the spring season, I will also be starting my summer adventures by diving into modern Top Of the Line Digital Audio players.

For listening tests on mid range equipment & comparisons I used my AKG K701 single ended and my Modded Audio Technica ES10 balanced. I find that each of these headphones is more neutral than anything, with the K701 being a little brighter up top and the ES 10 being a little darker up top.

For our first look at more modern Digital Audio Players utilizing truly top of the line topology designs, my track list remains unchanged but I'll be switching between my HD 800, LCD 2 and modded Audio Technica ES10 with a few special guest appearances too!

I volume match each device/out with pink noise and my SPL Meter and I listened to about 3 tracks with each headphone and device. An you can refresh yourself on my current playlist by clicking here.

Let's start with a quick refresh on my 2017 product standards consisting of the;

• LH Labs Geek Out V2+ for my Mid-Range Reference
• Shanling M2S for my entry level Reference
• Hifiman HM901 Line Out to my;
  • HeadAmp PicoPowerSingle Ended Amp
  • iBasso PB2 Balanced Amp
    • As my Top of the Line Portable System

An with some relevant experience in Mid Range portables I'm happy to say it's time I dip my feet into the waters of Flagships!


The last time I purchased a player I went for a flagship, so I felt that before I start reviewing them again I should be familiar with at least some of what's out there for those of you who want a little more bang for you buck.



But moving forward I'll be focusing less on value, convenience and ease of ownership and more on end game fidelity.



Without further ado let's dive into the Questyle QP2R!



Packing is modest and it does the job, also a thank you to Todd The Vinyl Junkie for setting up this QP2R Tour!



So some background on the Questyle Dap, unlike traditional circuits, Questyle opt for Current Mode amplification. In short if my understanding is correct, the Voltage levels are fixed and the current is what amplifies. Unlike a traditional amp design in which the Current is Fixed and the Voltage is what's amplified, either way it operates in a pure Class A "current mode." The Questyle website has more information for those inclined!



Another unique feature of the amp is the Bias Control, again when the amp's under a heavy load setting the Class A Current Mode Bias to High helps to eliminate high frequency harmonic distortion. An most of you know that excessive distortion translates to noise, so any time we can reduce added distortion there are audible benefits assuming the load is "heavy" enough. Either way for my listening purposes I kept it set to High always. As a result battery life has been a little less than what's quoted but nothing too unmanageable.



Seeing as this is my first foray into Top of the Line Digital Audio Players I tested this one again'st quite a few of my own home systems and headphones!



How ever I only listened to the QP2R with it's 3.5mm Single End and 2.5mm Balanced Out. I didn't test it as a USB Driver Dac Amp nor did I use the Line Out Settings... but I think you need the HiFi Hub to get that feature... which I'm not a fan of. With the HiFi Hub the total cost of the unit creeps upwards of $1700, and while price isn't my concerns it's the very stationary and cumbersome nature of the Hub and the price increase I don't like. I got portable for well portability! Having a built in LineOut without any additional bulk means a lot to ME and those who will be using this as both an analog and digital source. Non the less though, at it's $1300 price point functioning purely as a standalone Digital Audio Player I do have to admit it's performance is stellar! Well worth the asking price.





I found that with my HD 800 and the 2.5mm balanced output the QP2R had;

• Exceptional naturalness in the mid range
  • Listening to Epica's The Divine Conspiracy I heard details in Simone and her husbands voice I'd not heard before!
• Exceptionally low noise
  • Or it presented a very black sound
    • Silence was inky and this lack of noise again lead to exceptional resolve
• Textured but smooth response
  • The overall lack of distortion really yields a smoother well resolved sound in both the mid range and upper end
    • No lack of detail or extension in the mids and up top, rather slightly more detail than I was expecting with no added harshness or grain
  • Fatigue free listening
• Fairly Soft Low End
  • Sufficient definition and texture, but slightly lacking in solidity and power
    • Kick drums lacked that "KICK" and an aggressive bass guitar riff was a little smeared
    • Cellos and Painos had beautiful timbre, tone and texture but again electrical instruments and percussion were slightly soft
• Lack of Headroom
  • With my most dynamic tracks I was only able to get an average of 83 dBs about 4 less than what I prefer to listen to [87 dBs averaged]

I also ran the Audeze MX 4 balanced out with an OCC Copper Cable from the 2.5mm on the QP2R, I found it to be;

• Clean, Clear but could extend a little deeper
  • Good power and slam with exceptional texture!
    • Here is where I found the High Bias to make a noticeable differance
  • Electric Bass Guitar riffs were dynamic, punchy with good bitw
  • Kick drums had IMPACT
  • An larger drums like the Timpani had a powerful heavy but slightly hollow sound as I expect them to
  • Though some of the deepest notes were slightly withdrawn
• Energetic Up Top
  • Had just enough clarity and presance
  • Percussion was snappy and never harsh
• Natural Mid Range
  • Again beautiful smooth but textured mid range
    • Harmonic content resolves nicely, beautiful release on guitars, vocals and stringed wood body instruments
    • Vocals have a nice little bit of added sweetness to them
• Intimate still but spacious
  • Precision is acceptable but cohesiveness and clarity in resolving complexly layered content is evident

With some a little more efficient I felt the QP2R really shined, it's natural and smooth but still dynamic and detailed presentation came through better with the Gain set to medium or lower and with more efficient current hungry planars than more voltage hungry dynamics like the HD 800 which often couldn't quite get to reference listening levels nor maintain a solid low end.





Ultimately though, with two different loads I deemed the QP2R to always present;

• An exceptionally low noise floor
  • Inky black background
    • So much so that there were some details presented to me by the QP2R that I'd not heard before out of my own home system!
      • An upon level matching I did in-fact identify such details in my home system but the slight addition of added noise made said details fall just shy of my notice in previous listening sessions
• Exceptionally low distortion
  • Allowing for incredible resolve with no added fatigue or harshness
  • Both Micro Detail and transients were exceptionally vivid
  • With no lack of dynamics
• Natural Timbre and tonality
  • Again both the fundamental and harmonic content of instruments and vocalists alike were always crystal clear
• Optimized for more Efficient Loads
  • Often running out of steam with more voltage hungry loads
  • Often losing some extension on the very deepest reaches with quieter tracks

So simply put, Questyle's newest reference digital audio player does everything we'd want it to! In my case it replicated and sometimes exceeded the quality of my own home system! It's only faults lie in a slight lack of power overall and definition down low.



Switching to my home system some of what's gained or clearer in the mid range and up becomes some what less vivid but there's added vividness and clarity down low. So again, I'm impressed given how small the unit is that it keeps paces with my current reference system.



Non the less, let's get into more specifics on how the QP2R compared to my other systems! Both portable and desktop.



Starting with my my Singled Ended and Mid Range Portables







With my Modded ES10 the QP2R;

• Simply out classed the Singled Ended Shanling M3S & Aune B1S system completely with it's own 3.5mm Single Ended output
• Simply out classed my Geek Out V2+ with it's own 2.5mm Balanced Output

Which I was a little shocked by, as my Geek Out v2+ gave the Hugo 2 [USB\] a run for it's money, in this comparison the QP2R showed no mercy and clearly beat the Geek Out V2+



How ever with my Single Ended HM901/HeadAmp Pico Power system I found that;

• The HM901/HeadAmp Pico Power System was overall better
  • Had a more linear response
    • Powerful and taut low bass
    • Very Clean slightly drier mid range
    • Better Top end extension
• Where as the QP2R fell a bit behind
  • It wasn't any quiter or blacker
  • Had a slight forwardness in the mid range that's apparent with this super sensitive OnEar
  • Had a slight over-emphasize on ambient noise
    • Not so much mechanical noises but stuff like floor board creaking
    • In a sense these details were more vivid but overly so
  • Just fell short of drawing me into the music
    • Technically it wasn't up to par with the HM901/PicoPower System
    • An the Timbre was as inviting as the with HM901/PicoPower System

So that kinda threw me for a loop! As it would seem the QP2R handles what I would consider moderately difficult loads best. As with the sensitive ES10 and the Difficult to Drice LCD 2 PreFazor it didn't wow me like it did with the MX4 and HD 800.







Speaking of the Pre Fazor LCD 2, output from the QP2R

• Again out classes the Geek Out v2+ in terms of technicalities
  • However the tonality and timbre were noticeable drier and kinda shouty?!
• So Your preference tonally may dictate how much you appreciate the improved technicalities

However compared to my HM901/PB2 System the QP2R falls a little short every where but the bass ironicaly;

• Tonality is noticeable drier
  • An some how less natural than the Hm901/PB2 System
• Background noise is reduced
  • So micro detail is sometimes better but odd tonality often skews some transients
• Ambient noise is exaggerated
  • Again the normally the LCD 2 is quite dark, but for some odd reasons with the QP2R it's noticeably brighter
  • Macro Dynamics are also some what exaggerated at the expense of micro dynamics
• Bass is quite textured however
  • I'm assuming it's because of the slightly more difficult load requirements of the current hungry Pre Fazor,

All in all I'm finding that I prefer my PreFazor LCD 2 on both of my ESS Sabre portables that have the high Frequency roll off digital filters.




So all in all I feel that with more modern offerings the QP2R would do well, with loads that are more standard. As the ES 10 is hyper efficient and the LCD 2 PreFazor on the opposite end of the spectrum. So cans like the LCD 2F would pair very well with the QP2R as would things like the DT 880/1990 and Hifiman HE 560. Though let's move upwards to other TOTL systems in my home!





Staring with the HD 800 vs the HM901 & iBasso PB2 System



Before we go further you should know my iBasso PB2 is modified with;

• LME 49990 High Performance OpAmps
• High Current Buffers
• Dedicated Portable Power Supply Unit
  • The internal battery has been removed and all power is kept at a stable & Constant 16V

Non the less, compared to this portable system with the HD 800 I found the;

• Bass
  • Tauter and more defined with HM901/PB2 System
    • Namely big timpani drums maintained a great sense of impact and weight, while balancing the hollow resonant trails that follow each strike
  • Kick Drums hit harder, faster and had a cleaner envelope overall
• Mid Range
  • Quite dry on the HM901/PB2 System
    • At times this was an advantage especially with Epica
      • Where beautifully warm wood bodied classical instruments are over laid with heavily distorted guitars
    • Though at times it was a disadvantage
      • Such as with Rebecca Pigeon's Spanish Harlem where the timbre of each instrument was slightly drier than reality
  • Wetter but no less defined with the Q2PR
    • With Heavy Metal the added wetness some times detracted from the aggressiveness of the track as a whole
    • But with softer acoustic pieces the presentation was more natural with no "dryness"
• Top End
  • Each unit had it's own advantages and disadvantageous
    • The HM901/PB2 system had clearly better top end extension which resulted in a better sense of pace & rhythm and time especially in percussion but it could also be fatiguing depending on the mastering
    • The QP2R was smoother up top, so while it didn't always have that vibrant sense of presence, rhythm and time it was never fatiguing
  • Resolve/Imaging
    • Volume matched each had no clear advantage over the other, how ever the increased headroom of the PB2 System allowed for "reference" listening levels at which slightly more resolve/imaging precision is possible due to a more even tonal perception

Now compared to my Reference SET Tube Amp the QP2R;

• Only had the advantage of a blacker background
  • Some detail in the mid range and up was more apparent but there was a lack of control and extension on the lowest registers of the audible spectrum
• More or less replicated and matched the cohesiveness and overall precision in imaging
• More or less replicated or matched my Desktop Amps sense of presence and tactility
  • Except in the lows
  • My Desktop Amp consistently presented a more detailed more controlled low end
• Struggled to provide sufficient headroom
  • Again with tracks that had exceptional dynamic range the QP2R was not able to bring these tracks up to at least 87 dBs on average

But overall with my HD 800 I can say for the vast majority of my collection the QP2R made for an excellent single box solution for some of you it's added simplicity and blacker background may be preferential over having a bulkier portable system with slightly more noise but sufficient head room and more controlled lows.



In either case Questyle certainly designed this product to very exceptionally match a desktop system on the go!





Moving to the MX4, with the HM901/PB2 System I noticed;

• Bass
  • Tighter more and more controlled over all
    • So big drums had more power
    • Kick drums had more impact
    • An large stringed instruments had a slightly more resolved or more audible fret action
• Mids
  • Mid-range quality on each was fairly similar
    • The QP2R was a smidge wetter and more natural so with a drier master or set of instruments it sounded more Natural
    • Where as the HM901/PB2 System was drier so with a wetter master, or a set of instruments with a lot of harmonic content THIS system sounded more natural
• Highs
  • With the QP2R system the MX4 did lose some vibrancy up top
  • Where as the HM901/PB2 System was no less smooth but more vibrant
    • I feel this has to do with the rougher presentation of the HM901 System combined with it's own HF Roll Off Filter allowing the texture of slight over emphasis to be present without the fatigue
• Resolve/Imaging
  • The QP2R did take a slight edge forward in overall resolve because of it's blacker output
  • However the more defined low end with the HM901/PB2 System did help to retain better precision in imaging

Now comparing the QP2R to my own Reference Hybrid Tube Amp

• Bass
  • Again better power and extension
• Mids
  • Now this is where things get interesting as;
    • The QP2R is equally natural but presents a slightly clearer more defined envelope
      • Allowing for the texture of stringed instruments
      • The unique vibrato of a vocalists
      • The unique harmonic decay/release of guitars
      • An other micro detail present in the mid range was a bit more resolved
    • My Project Ember II with a Classic Grade Psvanne CBT 181-T Mk2 was;
      • Fuller but not as detailed... period
• Highs
  • Again the QP2R was;
    • Clearer with a sharper attack
  • Where as the Ember II was;
    • A little smoother without as much emphasis on the leading edge
• Resolve/Imaging
  • Now dynamics are were the QP2R falls slightly behind the Ember II as;
    • The Ember II more clearly resolved micro and macro dynamics
    • An in many cases the Ember II was able to very realistically build to a crescendo
  • Where as the QP2R was;
    • Sharper but a tad over enthusiastic at times
    • Struggles with an accurate presentation of Pace, Rhythm and Time
    • Failed to draw me into any passage of music that gradually builds tension through changes in volume
  • However overall detail and precision in imaging was fairly similar between each
    • Again the QP2R has a blacker background
      • But doesn't seem to respond as quickly to the demands of busier passages of music
    • Where as the Ember II is a bit nosier
      • but handles changes in amplification needs more linearly, how ever add noise kinda nullifies some of the advantageous it has here

All in all I'm quite impressed with the QP2R, while I found it's lacking in some digital convinces as a purely analog digital audio player it's excellent! Seeing as I personally prefer my DAPs run purely offline and exclusively in the analog domain I feel that the QP2R is totally deserving of it's flagship status! I've always been a dedicated DAP & Line Out To Portable Amp guy but with the MX4 and Questyle's excellent on board current mode topology I could happily accept this as my end game reference portable!