[Joe Bloggs]

​I had a similar dilemma but I definitely needed the dac function of the q1 and I already owned the e11k. With my current headphones akg 240s, the q1 drives them just fine on its own. The e11k gives a bit more oomph. I just ordered some q701 and from what I have heard, the e11k will be a lot more useful with that setup. I may even need more power.

Agreed it depends on your headphones.

Well im looking at the sennhesier 650s or 600s down the road... so i will need more power. Ive also thought about the jds labs c5d...if i wanted to spend the money that might be a better bet. I like fiio but they dont have any decent higher powered dac and amp combos that are portable. Inwant portability so i can listen to music in bed...trying to get in the habbit of music before bed instead of the tv b3fore bed.

FWIW the E18 is our most powerful DAC+amp:
http://www.fiio.net/en/products/20

Over 300mW into 32ohms (vs 190mW for Q1 and 200mW for E17K).

I use its little brother the E17 and it drives the similar Beyerdynamic DT880 with no problems... I'm sure the E18 will drive the Senns with headroom to spare (even though officially the recommended headphone impedance is up to 150ohm, that's mostly being diplomatic to Chinese head-fiers who don't believe anything other than a nuclear-powered desktop amp can power a Senn HD600... or an AKG K701 :blink: )

 

[FiiO]

  Thanks for your answers !
 
Will the Q1 work with a TV or a laptop ?

 
Hi, Artifex.
Kindly be noted that, the Q1 has the USB input and the Line in port, so yes, the Q1 can work with the laptop by the USB cable/audio cable or with the TV by audio cable.
More info about the Q1, you can check on our official website: http://fiio.net/en/products/44. 

 

[crossfire]

I wonder if anyone tried stacking the Q1 with a X1 using the stacking kit? I tried it and it put a lot of stress onto the silicon band (which it broke and flew somewhere into space), looks like it needs a longer silicon band... does the other stacking kits offer longer silicon bands?

 

[shin0326]

Wondering if this is compatible with my asus zenfone 2 laser. And in addition, there is no micro usb to micro usb here in the Philippines.

 

[trivium911]

Thinking of getting either the Ibasso D-Zero MK II , FiiO Q1 or the e 17k for portable use. I wanted to get the O2 for the amazing SQ but it isn't pocketable even with cargo pants (and urgh, the weight).

I would get the C5D if I could but the price and availability is really bad here in Malaysia.

I just bought the o2 for at home and office use since it also has batteries. Is it really portable? no but i will post a quick review comapring to my q1 when i get it in a week or two. Cant you get both the q1 and the o2? Im using my q1 with x1 on flights and what not and at the gym depending on if it will get in the way depending on what muscle groups im doing that day.

I thought about the c5d but living in canada its like $350 since its in american dollars....so i just bought the o2. My plan is to use the q1 as the dac and line out to the o2. Right now im using the q1 to drive my takstar pro 80s and hd 598s qnd iems and they sound great...but currently dont have another amp to compare to. The reason i got the o2 is for future and to ensure i get the best sq. Each the q1 and the o2 has their application and use.

 

[FiiO]

  I wonder if anyone tried stacking the Q1 with a X1 using the stacking kit? I tried it and it put a lot of stress onto the silicon band (which it broke and flew somewhere into space), looks like it needs a longer silicon band... does the other stacking kits offer longer silicon bands?

 
Hi, crossfire. You use the HS12 (http://fiio.net/en/products/26) to stack the X1 with the Q1, right? 
We ever stacked the X1 with the A3, and they are ok. Comparing the Q1's dimension and A3's, the former is 97x56x13.1(mm), and the latter is 91.2x56x13(mm), so we think the Q1 should be also OK.  Yes, it will put much stress onto the silicon, otherwise the 2 products may not be stacked tightly.
The silicon bands in other the stacking kits are as the same as the ones in HS12. 

 

[crossfire]

   
Hi, crossfire. You use the HS12 (http://fiio.net/en/products/26) to stack the X1 with the Q1, right? 
We ever stacked the X1 with the A3, and they are ok. Comparing the Q1's dimension and A3's, the former is 97x56x13.1(mm), and the latter is 91.2x56x13(mm), so we think the Q1 should be also OK.  Yes, it will put much stress onto the silicon, otherwise the 2 products may not be stacked tightly.
The silicon bands in other the stacking kits are as the same as the ones in HS12. 

 
Yup, the HS12. I'll try it without the silicon pad that came with the Q1.

 

[trivium911]

Silicon bands for x1 and q1 work OK but get in the way of the buttons a bit...not a huge deal. I'm sure the hs12 would be alot better. The q1 does stack perfectly though to the x1...with the volume out extending a bit past the x1...but main dimensions are close.

 

[ShampooCA]

Aww crap. Just tried the DAC function of the Q1 on my work laptop, and oh man, I prefer it to the DAC on the X1. What to do...
It's airier...I prefer it, but I can't use the DAC function with the X1.
I'm going to have to think of something, or just forget that I ever listened to it.
LOL!
Force feed myself the X1 sound signature for a while to forget...seems like the way to go!

 

[pauliunas]

Aww crap. Just tried the DAC function of the Q1 on my work laptop, and oh man, I prefer it to the DAC on the X1. What to do...

It's airier...I prefer it, but I can't use the DAC function with the X1.

I'm going to have to think of something, or just forget that I ever listened to it.

LOL!

Force feed myself the X1 sound signature for a while to forget...seems like the way to go!

 



If you have an Android phone, just connect the Q1 to it. The internal battery will prevent your phone's battery from draining, it should last just as long as when idling. And the sound will be just like from your laptop (with Q1)

 

[Thade]

My update: I was really liking the Q1 solo or combined with E11k using AKG K240s headphones. About a week later, I tried with AKG Q701 & didn't like the match up at all. To be fair, the Q701 is known to be picky about source and most people recommend an amp much more powerful than the Q1 or E11k to get the most out of them. For the Q701, I definitely prefer the sound of the E07K, probably because it is a bit warmer + more control over EQ. I'm at bass +6, Treble +0
 
Initially, (with K240s) I had a tough time choosing purely based on sound quality. I decided the Q1 was the better of the 2 based on battery life and convenience of a true line out. But for now, I sent back the Q1 and I'm keeping the E07K. Pros: Side volume buttons, EQ, screen. It also feels a bit beefier in the hand which isn't a bad thing. At 55.00 for E07K and 70.00 for Q1 they are both great devices for what they do. 

 

[ShampooCA]

Silicon bands for x1 and q1 work OK but get in the way of the buttons a bit...not a huge deal. I'm sure the hs12 would be alot better. The q1 does stack perfectly though to the x1...with the volume out extending a bit past the x1...but main dimensions are close.

 


Here are a few shots of the two paired with the HS12.

 

[nk126]

Regarding Android OTG and FiiO Q1 ... 
 
Just mentioning that I've used Q1 no problem with an Android tablet (ASUS Zen Pad) with a $0.99 OTG adapter I bought off that big auction site. I can't give any details about performance other than to say that I listened to streaming Spotify pretty uncritically through the Q1 and my B&O H6 and it sounded quite good. Maybe as good as using the same setup wiht my MacBook, not sure. But I didn't notice anything bad or lacking. I do wonder about the quality of a 99 cent adapter, but maybe bits is bits and as long as it doesn't fall apart, it's fine.
 
Also using Q1 right now with my Chromebook (A samsung that's at least four or five years old now). Also working just fine streaming spotify via the Web player. 
 
Paired with my Ety ER-4S right now, and I don't much like that pairing, which may pose a dilemma. But the Chromebook functionality is just fine. 

 

[ShampooCA]

Aww crap. Just tried the DAC function of the Q1 on my work laptop, and oh man, I prefer it to the DAC on the X1. What to do...

It's airier...I prefer it, but I can't use the DAC function with the X1.


I'm going to have to think of something, or just forget that I ever listened to it.


LOL!


Force feed myself the X1 sound signature for a while to forget...seems like the way to go!

 






If you have an Android phone, just connect the Q1 to it. The internal battery will prevent your phone's battery from draining, it should last just as long as when idling. And the sound will be just like from your laptop (with Q1)

 


Thanks for the suggestion.

I know I can pair the Q1 up with a smartphone, but I have the X1 for dedicated music duty, I don't like using my phone to listen to music, I like dedicated players.

Also, the X1 I already bought, and it pairs up physically really nicely with the Q1. It fits in my pocket without much hassle. I'll just forget about the Q1's DAC. Stupid I know, but I'll stick with it for now.

 

[ShampooCA]

Actually, turning off the bass boost helped separate the instruments/voices...gotta love having options.