[IneffableMusic]

No worries, Demond. I completely understand it's a difficult process to make such an innovatove dac and I really appreciate the time Fiio has and is putting into it to make it a complete product from day one. Too many devices are shoved into our pockets for a bunch of money and have all kinds of issues that are unnacceptable. The Q5 will be an awesome high quality product from day one, and that's what we truly want.

 

[slackerpo]

Explanation on the Delay of the Q5 Market Release

We are sorry to tell you that we have to postpone the market release date of the FiiO flagship Bluetooth DSD DAC & Amp Q5 until January 18th (if everything goes smoothly).

The delay is mainly caused by the Bluetooth compatibility. Please kindly check the detailed explanation / statement as follows:
1. Designed as the flagship model in our DAC & Amp product line, the Q5 is expected to have high sound quality with all input methods, including Bluetooth.
2. The Bluetooth IC also has an embedded DAC. In order to reduce its impact to the sound and achieve better sound quality, the Q5 is designed to bypass the Bluetooth embedded DAC while transmit the digital signal to XMOS platform directly and then to the professional DAC AK 4490. In this way, it's able to keep the data more complete and get better frequency response, THD+N, noise floor, crosstalk, etc, than other traditional Bluetooth audio devices.
What's more, the analog processing of the Bluetooth input is basically the same as that of the USB/Coaxial/Optical input, which further ensures consistent sound performance of different digital audio inputs.
However, owing to the difference of the underlying architecture and executive capability between the Bluetooth IC and XMOS, there might be problem during the data transit from the Bluetooth IC to the XMOS, which can result in no sound output when connecting to some new models of Smartphones.
3. Good news is that we've finally solved the issue through joint efforts of FiiO and the responsible persons from CSR and XMOS, but the delay is inevitable.
BTW, the Q5's firmware can be upgraded on the user's side. It can be upgraded after connecting the Q5 to the PC via the USB port at the bottom of the Q5. So if there should any unknown bugs, they can fixed by firmware upgrade in the future. Also, the Bluetooth function can be upgraded independently when connected to PC via the side USB port of the Q5. And the Bluetooth version can be upgraded from Bluetooth 4.1 to 5.0 or above in the future.
Thank you for your kind understanding. Let's expect the good news to come!

Best Regards,
Demond

thanks for the detailed explanation.

if you could further explain though, what would be the issue of not starting with bluetooth 4.2 instead of 4.1?, especially given the fact that the BTR1 has 4.2.

 

[demond]

thanks for the detailed explanation.

if you could further explain though, what would be the issue of not starting with bluetooth 4.2 instead of 4.1?, especially given the fact that the BTR1 has 4.2.

BTR1 is a version of ROM, Q5 is a version of FLASH, and the software is a lot more complicated. The engineer will start from his most familiar version 4.1.

 

[fgfgfg0923]

BTR1 is a version of ROM, Q5 is a version of FLASH, and the software is a lot more complicated. The engineer will start from his most familiar version 4.1.

Is there any possibility to add LDAC (more important) and aptX HD?

 

[demond]

Is there any possibility to add LDAC (more important) and aptX HD?

Unless the Bluetooth chip is changed to CSR8675. But it's very difficult and it takes a long time. Otherwise, it can't be supported.

 

[fgfgfg0923]

But it's very difficult and it takes a long time. Otherwise, it can't be supported.

It is very important for Hi-Fi wireless DAC and many people want it from Fiio as well as from Centrance, I guess this must be implemented at least in Q5mkII.
Android 8 already contains LDAC natively...

 

[demond]

It is very important for Hi-Fi wireless DAC and many people want it from Fiio as well as from Centrance, I guess this must be implemented at least in Q5mkII.
Android 8 already contains LDAC natively...

Q5 is a comprehensive performance decoder product, not a product with Bluetooth as the main selling point. If you are only using Bluetooth, you can pay attention to our new product, BTR3, and support LDAC\APTX HD. Will be listed in June 2018.

 

[willywill]

Ha some dealer are taking pre-order but Fiio been silent on the Q5
http://kopfhoererboutique.com/product/fiio-q5

 

[snellemin]

Ha some dealer are taking pre-order but Fiio been silent on the Q5
http://kopfhoererboutique.com/product/fiio-q5

450 Euro!!!! Way too much.

 

[Dobrescu George]

450 Euro!!!! Way too much.

Europe, so there3 is a 20% VAT in that price...

 

[snellemin]

Europe, so there3 is a 20% VAT in that price...

Lets see what the US market price will be.

 

[springbay]

Lets see what the US market price will be.

Or rather look at the £329 pre order price at advancedmp3players.
By today's exchange rate that will be 370€.
But since advancedmp3players are having a 10% off on all FiiO gear until 24/12, the current pre order price would be £296 or 333€.

 

[superbike999]

The discount at AMP3 is now 15% on all products from 26th December 2017 until 5th January 2018, using discount code:-
Voucher code: BOXING15

I have just purchased the FiiO F9 Pro at the discounted price and the Quidco cashback (currently 4.5%) also tracked OK.

The F9 Pro was delivered yesterday.

 

[demond]

The Review Tour of FiiO Q5 Flagship Bluetooth and DSD-Capable DAC & Amplifier Starts Right Now!
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...apable-dac-amplifier-starts-right-now.869076/

 

[Niyologist]

I'm buying this. Although my Axon 7 needs to be fixed first.