[pwoznic]

Hmm.. I just heard about this Q1. How does it compare to the E11 besides better battery life? I listen through Klipsch X10s (noise isolation is a must).

 

[keoki]

I just got a Fiio X3 2nd gen to pair with my new HD-700 (I'm a noob to this hi end audio listening). I was looking into a portable amp to pair with the X3 and was looking into the E12A/E17K then came across this Q1. Will this Q1 be a good option for my HD 700?

 

[Coldheart29]

Hmm, guess you'd need at least a e12 (and not the e12a, this one is made for IEMs, that are much easier to drive than the hd700) to drive those hd700 properly. The Q1 is less powerfull than the x3, so you'd get even less performance than using the DAP alone.

 

[keoki]

Thanks!

 

[Coldheart29]

You're welcome!
 
BTW, i'm also new in this hobby, so it'd be better to wait also for someone with more experience to answer

 

[keoki]

fair enough, now you got me looking at the E12 and E17....

 

[tekwrx]

How does this compare to the E18? I just got the E18 today to pair with my Xperia Z3 and it works good, but now I'm thinking I should return the E18 to get this and save almost $100. Wish I'd seen this thread sooner. I don't think I'll use the powerbank feature of the E18 that much, what else would I be missing? I don't have very demanding headphones right now (MDR-1A & XBA-A2), but want to upgrade to MDR-Z7 when the budget allows.

 

[hakushondaimao]

I just got a Fiio X3 2nd gen to pair with my new HD-700 (I'm a noob to this hi end audio listening). I was looking into a portable amp to pair with the X3 and was looking into the E12A/E17K then came across this Q1. Will this Q1 be a good option for my HD 700?

HD700 impedance is 150 ohms. They're easier to drive than the 300 ohm HD 650. I've used the E12A to drive the HD650s and it has more than enough power for that. Just because it's made for IEMs doesn't mean it can't power some pretty power-hungry over-ears.
 
Don't have the HD650s any more, but just tried the Q1 in combination with X3ii vs. X3ii by itself using the 470 ohm R70x, and the Q1 combo sounded better than the X3ii alone. I'm guessing the Q1 should be able to handle the HD700, but also that the E12A will drive them more to their potential.

 

[twister6]

 

I just got a Fiio X3 2nd gen to pair with my new HD-700 (I'm a noob to this hi end audio listening). I was looking into a portable amp to pair with the X3 and was looking into the E12A/E17K then came across this Q1. Will this Q1 be a good option for my HD 700?

HD700 impedance is 150 ohms. They're easier to drive than the 300 ohm HD 650. I've used the E12A to drive the HD650s and it has more than enough power for that. Just because it's made for IEMs doesn't mean it can't power some pretty power-hungry over-ears.
 
Don't have the HD650s any more, but just tried the Q1 in combination with X3ii vs. X3ii by itself using the 470 ohm R70x, and the Q1 combo sounded better than the X3ii alone. I'm guessing the Q1 should be able to handle the HD700, but also that the E12A will drive them more to their potential.

 
That was exactly my impression as well when trying R70x (470 ohm) with Q1.  Also, drove VE ZEN (320 ohm) with authority!

 

[olekrst]

Can somebody tell me where this "the Q1 is made for IEM" statement comes from? I do not see it mentioned on the product pages at all. Looking at the power output it's plenty powerful to drive fullsize cans up to 150 ohms (which is the suggested max impedance from the Q1 spec sheet)

 

[nmatheis]

Can somebody tell me where this "the Q1 is made for IEM" statement comes from? I do not see it mentioned on the product pages at all. Looking at the power output it's plenty powerful to drive fullsize cans up to 150 ohms (which is the suggested max impedance from the Q1 spec sheet)

 
It looks like it came from @Coldheart29 who admitted that they were new to the hobby and indicated that someone more experienced should weigh in. It looks like @hakushondaimao and @twister6 think it's good for both IEM and harder to drive HP, so Q1 looks like a pretty good all-around entry-level DAC/Amp!

 

[hakushondaimao]

Can somebody tell me where this "the Q1 is made for IEM" statement comes from? I do not see it mentioned on the product pages at all. Looking at the power output it's plenty powerful to drive fullsize cans up to 150 ohms (which is the suggested max impedance from the Q1 spec sheet)

I think the "made for IEM" thing is related to the E12A, not Q1. And by "made for IEM," it means the E12A is "made for both IEMs and for over-ear headphones" as opposed to "too powerful for sensitive IEMs."

 

[hakushondaimao]

   
It looks like it came from @Coldheart29 who admitted that they were new to the hobby and indicated that someone more experienced should weigh in. It looks like @hakushondaimao and @twister6 think it's good for both IEM and harder to drive HP, so Q1 looks like a pretty good all-around entry-level DAC/Amp!

Parallel posting anyone?

 

[nmatheis]

 

Can somebody tell me where this "the Q1 is made for IEM" statement comes from? I do not see it mentioned on the product pages at all. Looking at the power output it's plenty powerful to drive fullsize cans up to 150 ohms (which is the suggested max impedance from the Q1 spec sheet)

I think the "made for IEM" thing is related to the E12A, not Q1. And by "made for IEM," it means the E12A is "made for both IEMs and for over-ear headphones" as opposed to "too powerful for sensitive IEMs."

 
Oh yeah, he was talking about the E12A, wasn't he...
 
I've got E12A and don't get the it's just for IEM mindset. I use it as an all-around amp for anything that's relatively easy to drive.
 
Sounds like Q1 is good for IEM and higher impedance HP though - right? How high can you crank the volume pot on Q1 with something like the MA750 or T20 @hakushondaimao?

 

[hakushondaimao]

   
Oh yeah, he was talking about the E12A, wasn't he...
 
I've got E12A and don't get the it's just for IEM mindset. I use it as an all-around amp for anything that's relatively easy to drive.
 
Sounds like Q1 is good for IEM and higher impedance HP though - right? How high can you crank the volume pot on Q1 with something like the MA750 or T20 @hakushondaimao?

 
X3ii > LO > Q1 on low gain, can crank (?) volume to around 3.5/9 with EX1 and 4/9 with VE Duke.