QLS QA361 impression thread

[DaveStarWalker]

Well...

Being immobilized following an infiltration due to a double hernia (yes, I always do things thoroughly ), I had time today to finally look at an "old" dap that had been catching my eyes for a very long time :

The QLS QA361.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/qls-qa361.23551/reviews

And a few other (few) reviews that are floating around on the net.

Thanks to @lafeuill

I'll start with the end : an excellent or even exceptional dap according to my criteria that, from a purely sonic and musical point of view (apart from two small microscopic flats, read more), I place next to, and in the same family as my venerable Aune m1s and m1p.

Basically, if you want a balanced, a (very) silent, a (very) dynamic, a lively,a detailed, a powerful (very interesting amp part) device, it's a done deal.

If on the other hand you want something warm (or the opposite in the end, in short, "typical"), equalizable (no EQ but... in my opinion other more interesting but clearly more subtle things, I'll come back to that), to compensate for the defects or the personality of the headphones or the connected in-ears, you just have to run away

For my part, with my Aure PrimeS (plus EA Cadmus FE balanced cable) who really like this dap, my gear is setted :

- in low gain
- "normal" amplification
- "mellow" "bright" profile
- "Short Delay Sharp" "Sharp" filter (= "Linear Fast" filter)
- balanced output (well... 3.5mm jack ; you need an adapter : but I have an excellent one )
- volume 40 41 (out of 100)

With these settings, there's everything or almost everything obtened.

Compared to the m1p (which is my personal endgame for my Aure PrimeS), it is a micro hair less TOTALLY silent (a tiny microscopic hint of a super very tiny background noise, but it is super very tiny and "in direct comparison with", all things being equals), a fairground potato (exceptional transients of speed, power and sharpness) but as a result, a restitution a hair more frontal than the aforementioned Aune (in other words the m1p is "deeper" in the Z axis as for the soundstage, or the "headstage", a little more "holographic").

Over the listening sessions and my torture tests, a tiny lack (the word is too strong though), with the sub bass which could be a tiny bit more "present" for my taste. Compared to the two Aune (M1p and s), and with certain tracks, I perceive that (deep rumble cues).

(little fit issue due to my listening position yesterday : fixed and no concern).

On the other hand, it is counterbalanced by a (real) atomic bass : heavy weight puncher !!!

The dynamics and transients are really exceptional. All things considered, we feel that it is a powerful dap, with a large reserve of power and current. And all that stuff combined with the silence of operation...

So it's the same super good rendition between the Aune's and the QLS : really top notch, technically and musically.

What is very interesting with this QLS QA361 is that we can go quite far in a subtle fine tuning fashion, depending on the in-ears or headphones that we are going to associate and in particular:

- with the various filters (a whole bunch : fast, slow, sharp, hybrid, etc., and even the possibility of modifying on the fly all the codecs in dsd stream). Here we will work on transients, separation, definition, etc.
- with the various amplification modes, depending on how easy or difficult it is to drive the in-ears or headphones associated ("normal", "large current", "high voltage", "double high" modes).
- with the gain (low, high).
- and finally with a "profile" ("tuning mode"), in "bright" or "mellow" fashion.

For this last point it is subtle but real. It depends of the sonic profile of your inears or headphones. By really listening analytically to perceive what it does, these modes act mainly on the texture and density of sounds, notes...
By combining with the different digital filters (slow, fast, etc.) aforementioned, we can obtain very fine adjustments, and ultimately optimal : great !!!

It's an AK4495SEQ chipset in there, vs ESS (I don't remember which) in the Aune's, but honestly, these different products demonstrate that it is first and foremost the way the DACs are implemented and used that counts, much more than the DACs themselves. Besides, given the general sound profile of the QLS, I would have bet on ESS... Which just goes to show... Well, you have to listen and not let yourself be polluted by the "they say that" (ESS would be necessarily "colder" and "sharper" and "more digital" than AKM, that kind of things)....

In any case when I read that this QLS would be "soft"... Yeah... Let's say that lol

Soft, hard, tender, round, bright, warm... It can do everything in fact.

In short, really won over, to the point of making this QLS QA361 mine, as a wildcard if unfortunately one of my two Aune champions died...

If you have the opportunity to get your hands on it, don't hesitate : it's great DAP, in my opinion that I share. Just : no streaming, no EQ... just the purity of Music.

 

[b000merang]

Really great condensed Review!
I share most of your points, but I think regarding your described sub bass topic you have to choose a more powerful amplification mode, like "large current" "high" oder "double high".
I still prefer a more analytical setting and chose "low" / "double high" for my Austrian Audio Hi-X60 (modded to balanced -> huge improvement) and "low" / "large current" for my Technics TZ700 IEMs, also balanced. "double high" drains the battery faster
I'm in love with my QA361 for more than 3 years and never regret and always use All2DSD filter. My feeling is that's the best for fast transients and I enjoy listen to natural drum and percussion sounds.
The only thing, what could be tricky is the right TF-card decision regarding manufacturer / size / speed / formatting.
My last and best results I get with Sandisk Extreme pro / 256GB / FAT32 (64KB cluster size -> faster read speed with large high-res files).

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Really great condensed Review!
I share most of your points, but I think regarding your described sub bass topic you have to choose a more powerful amplification mode, like "large current" "high" oder "double high".
I still prefer a more analytical setting and chose "low" / "double high" for my Austrian Audio Hi-X60 (modded to balanced -> huge improvement) and "low" / "large current" for my Technics TZ700 IEMs, also balanced. "double high" drains the battery faster
I'm in love with my QA361 for more than 3 years and never regret and always use All2DSD filter. My feeling is that's the best for fast transients and I enjoy listen to natural drum and percussion sounds.
The only thing, what could be tricky is the right TF-card decision regarding manufacturer / size / speed / formatting.
My last and best results I get with Sandisk Extreme pro / 256GB / FAT32 (64KB cluster size -> faster read speed with large high-res files).

About the sub, bass, it was a little fit issue : my fault

I have fixed the review (other "details"...).

So no concern : perfect !

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Well, about the DSD conversion... it's, to my ears, purely sonically, a mixed bag... Let me explain what I am feeling...

- On one hand, I feel this is the most cleanest and subtle, refined filter mode. Maybe the more "holographic" (I don't like this term, but...) too.
- But... I miss the immediacy, the raw power (high impact), and density of the "short delay sharp" filter I have (immediately : as a matter of course) adopted...
So this filter remains my reference filter.

For sure, I think, I... feel these two options are the better among the others.

And I'm not talking about native dsd files. Just "DSD coversion", and this dap, and the whole system considered here...

 

[DaveStarWalker]

So,

I continued my discovery of the different sound and musical possibilities of the filters and tuning modes, over the days and listening environments (in particular the parisian subway )...

These are my final conclusions :

- in low gain
- "normal" amplification
- "bright" profile
- "short delay sharp" filter (= minimum phase fast Linear filter / I don't think this option exists with ESS dac - hence this is not an Apodized filter - but maybe I am wrong...) or "Sharp" (= Linear Fast)
- balanced output (well... 3.5mm jack ; you need an adapter : but I have an excellent one )
- volume 41 (out of 100)

So, just the "bright" tuning profile and a little volume matching at the end. In hindsight, my very first impressions have been confirmed, at least with the iems, cable, and eartips I currently use with (see my signature).

The following below, I think, is interesting, beyond this dap, and so I share them:

Understanding the Six Digital Filters of AKM 4493SEQ DAC:

Each digital filter in the AKM 4493SEQ DAC uniquely shapes the sound quality. Here's a brief overview:

1. Sharp Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Steep roll-off, attenuating frequencies just outside the desired range.
- Benefit: Reduces aliasing effectively but may introduce ringing artifacts.
- Ideal For: Those seeking precise signal reproduction, especially in complex tracks.

2. Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Gradual roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Less ringing and phase distortion, offering a natural sound; slightly less effective against aliasing.
- Ideal For: Listeners who prefer a smoother, more natural audio quality.

3. Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off Filter:

- Key Feature: Sharp roll-off with reduced signal delay.
- Benefit: Limits pre-ringing while maintaining clear frequency attenuation.
- Ideal For: Those sensitive to timing and phase but desiring clear audio reproduction.

4. Short Delay Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Slow roll-off with minimized delay.
- Benefit: Natural sound with less phase distortion and reduced pre-ringing.
- Ideal For: Listeners valuing natural sound and phase coherence.

5. Super Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Even gentler roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Minimizes phase shift and ringing, ensuring smooth sound.
- Ideal For: Audiophiles who favor a very smooth, natural listening experience.

6. Low Dispersion Short Delay Filter:

- Key Feature: Balances time dispersion and roll-off sharpness.
- Benefit: Reduces both pre- and post-ringing for a balanced sound.
- Ideal For: Those seeking a balanced sound with minimal phase distortion.

My two filters "better choices" are in blue, but at the very end, my - subjective - choice is this complete combination :

(Short Delay) Sharp ~ Bright ~ Normal ~ Low Gain

Owners of DAPs with AKM chipsets, have fun, and above all don't forget at the end that the most important thing is the music and the pleasure you will get from it...

 

[b000merang]

So,

I continued my discovery of the different sound and musical possibilities of the filters and tuning modes, over the days and listening environments (in particular the parisian subway )...

These are my final conclusions :

- in low gain
- "normal" amplification
- "bright" profile
- "short delay sharp" filter (= minimum phase fast Linear filter / I don't think this option exists with ESS dac - hence this is not an Apodized filter - but maybe I am wrong...) or "Sharp" (= Linear Fast)
- balanced output (well... 3.5mm jack ; you need an adapter : but I have an excellent one )
- volume 41 (out of 100)

So, just the "bright" tuning profile and a little volume matching at the end. In hindsight, my very first impressions have been confirmed, at least with the iems, cable, and eartips I currently use with (see my signature).

The following below, I think, is interesting, beyond this dap, and so I share them:

Understanding the Six Digital Filters of AKM 4493SEQ DAC:

Each digital filter in the AKM 4493SEQ DAC uniquely shapes the sound quality. Here's a brief overview:

1. Sharp Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Steep roll-off, attenuating frequencies just outside the desired range.
- Benefit: Reduces aliasing effectively but may introduce ringing artifacts.
- Ideal For: Those seeking precise signal reproduction, especially in complex tracks.

2. Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Gradual roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Less ringing and phase distortion, offering a natural sound; slightly less effective against aliasing.
- Ideal For: Listeners who prefer a smoother, more natural audio quality.

3. Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off Filter:

- Key Feature: Sharp roll-off with reduced signal delay.
- Benefit: Limits pre-ringing while maintaining clear frequency attenuation.
- Ideal For: Those sensitive to timing and phase but desiring clear audio reproduction.

4. Short Delay Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Slow roll-off with minimized delay.
- Benefit: Natural sound with less phase distortion and reduced pre-ringing.
- Ideal For: Listeners valuing natural sound and phase coherence.

5. Super Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Even gentler roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Minimizes phase shift and ringing, ensuring smooth sound.
- Ideal For: Audiophiles who favor a very smooth, natural listening experience.

6. Low Dispersion Short Delay Filter:

- Key Feature: Balances time dispersion and roll-off sharpness.
- Benefit: Reduces both pre- and post-ringing for a balanced sound.
- Ideal For: Those seeking a balanced sound with minimal phase distortion.



My two filters "better choices" are in blue, but at the very end, my - subjective - choice is this complete combination :

(Short Delay) Sharp ~ Bright ~ Normal ~ Low Gain

Owners of DAPs with AKM chipsets, have fun, and above all don't forget at the end that the most important thing is the music and the pleasure you will get from it...

Which FW do you use?
If you have been familiar with the sound of the DAP for some time now, but are not yet using the wav-only FW 1.0.6, you should definitely try it. This had a huge positive impact back then.

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Which FW do you use?
If you have been familiar with the sound of the DAP for some time now, but are not yet using the wav-only FW 1.0.6, you should definitely try it. This had a huge positive impact back then.

Hi there,

This is the last "Universal" version as I know.

I am fond about the "only wav" firmware version... But I don't have any wav tracks anymore.

All I have at this time is 90% of flac files, and 10% MP3 320, that's all.

But my hd computer is full of wav files

 

[Escudos999]

I contacted Clark (chief engineer at QLS) and asked his advice for my FLAC files heavy on female vocals...
He recommended fw 1.3.8 and I have found it to be excellent.

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Interesting

 

[DaveStarWalker]

So,

I continued my discovery of the different sound and musical possibilities of the filters and tuning modes, over the days and listening environments (in particular the parisian subway )...

These are my final conclusions :

- in low gain
- "normal" amplification
- "bright" profile
- "short delay sharp" filter (= minimum phase fast Linear filter / I don't think this option exists with ESS dac - hence this is not an Apodized filter - but maybe I am wrong...) or "Sharp" (= Linear Fast)
- balanced output (well... 3.5mm jack ; you need an adapter : but I have an excellent one )
- volume 41 (out of 100)

So, just the "bright" tuning profile and a little volume matching at the end. In hindsight, my very first impressions have been confirmed, at least with the iems, cable, and eartips I currently use with (see my signature).

The following below, I think, is interesting, beyond this dap, and so I share them:

Understanding the Six Digital Filters of AKM 4493SEQ DAC:

Each digital filter in the AKM 4493SEQ DAC uniquely shapes the sound quality. Here's a brief overview:

1. Sharp Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Steep roll-off, attenuating frequencies just outside the desired range.
- Benefit: Reduces aliasing effectively but may introduce ringing artifacts.
- Ideal For: Those seeking precise signal reproduction, especially in complex tracks.

2. Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Gradual roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Less ringing and phase distortion, offering a natural sound; slightly less effective against aliasing.
- Ideal For: Listeners who prefer a smoother, more natural audio quality.

3. Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off Filter:

- Key Feature: Sharp roll-off with reduced signal delay.
- Benefit: Limits pre-ringing while maintaining clear frequency attenuation.
- Ideal For: Those sensitive to timing and phase but desiring clear audio reproduction.

4. Short Delay Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Slow roll-off with minimized delay.
- Benefit: Natural sound with less phase distortion and reduced pre-ringing.
- Ideal For: Listeners valuing natural sound and phase coherence.

5. Super Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Even gentler roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Minimizes phase shift and ringing, ensuring smooth sound.
- Ideal For: Audiophiles who favor a very smooth, natural listening experience.

6. Low Dispersion Short Delay Filter:

- Key Feature: Balances time dispersion and roll-off sharpness.
- Benefit: Reduces both pre- and post-ringing for a balanced sound.
- Ideal For: Those seeking a balanced sound with minimal phase distortion.



My two filters "better choices" are in blue, but at the very end, my - subjective - choice is this complete combination :

(Short Delay) Sharp ~ Bright ~ Normal ~ Low Gain

Owners of DAPs with AKM chipsets, have fun, and above all don't forget at the end that the most important thing is the music and the pleasure you will get from it...

Well...

Unbeknownst to me, and especially after optimizing the micro SD card (Sandisk Ultra "all simple" = the most "neutral" to summarize in 1 word, and which radically made me reconsider what follows... )

The filter that I have definitively adopted is:

5. Super Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Even gentler roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Minimizes phase shift and ringing, ensuring smooth sound.
- Ideal For: Audiophiles who favor a very smooth, natural listening experience.

A "very smooth" rendition, frankly I don't share this statement because this filter mode is the most explosive (transients) I have experienced. But "natural" for sure. In any case, there is no harshness at all (hence the "very smooth" opinion ?).

From a technical point of view, this "filter"... corresponds to a "no filter at all", so a NOS mode...

And this is where, technically, things are becoming interesting...

- From a strict "temporal" point of view, the impulse is essentially perfect : ultra fast and extended, straight as an "i", no pre or post ringing...
- From a strict "frequency" point of view, it is the worst result compared to oversampled filtering solutions....

Like probably many of us here, I have long been obsessed by the second point, to the detriment of the first. And "we" are not the only ones, you just have to browse the Net... :

https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac
https://nihtila.com/2019/10/18/dac-...2-deeper-dive-into-ak4490-and-ak4493-filters/

etc.

In other words, over-sampled filters (fast, slow, phase corrected, etc.) all "measure" better from a frequency point of view... but "just" less well from an impulse point of view...

The heart of the reactor is indeed this (Frequency Vs. Phase In Psychoacoustics) :

https://www.reddit.com/r/DSP/commen...2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=post_body

And "subjectively"... this AKM "NOS mode" sounds better, at least to my ears and from now on with the necessary hindsight :

- Dynamics
- Transients (related to point 1)
- Density of timbres (weight of notes ; also related to points 1 and 2)
- Characterization of timbres (no artificial "brilliance", related to point 3)
- Respect of ambiances (in particular no artificial effect of "over reverberation" or "over aeration"; related to points 3 and 4)

I see these 5 main points which definitely make me prefer this "Super Slow" mode with AKM DACs.

In short, to owners of DAPs with AKM chips, if you can access this mode, I suggest you be open minded and just... curious...

Ah yes, perhaps an important clarification : I only listen to FLAC files in 16 to 24 bits, at 48 kHz max.

 

[b000merang]

Just switched to firmware app 1.4.8 which supports flac playback (more comfortable) to play around with the filter settings and examine the sound quality in detail.
A few hours later I switched back to latest wav-only 1.0.6 and was surprised again. The minimal code density and pure sonic approach of this firmware seems to reduce the jitter. There is more depth in stage and more clarity of fine details.
For this benefit I accept the wav conversion of all my file before listing to them on my QA361

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Just switched to firmware app 1.4.8 which supports flac playback (more comfortable) to play around with the filter settings and examine the sound quality in detail.
A few hours later I switched back to latest wav-only 1.0.6 and was surprised again. The minimal code density and pure sonic approach of this firmware seems to reduce the jitter. There is more depth in stage and more clarity of fine details.
For this benefit I accept the wav conversion of all my file before listing to them on my QA361

Very tempting indeed...

I have to 80% of my full nomad librairy coded in Wav (native)....

 

[gadus]

Well...

Unbeknownst to me, and especially after optimizing the micro SD card (Sandisk Ultra "all simple" = the most "neutral" to summarize in 1 word, and which radically made me reconsider what follows... )

The filter that I have definitively adopted is:

5. Super Slow Roll-off Filter:

- Key Feature: Even gentler roll-off slope.
- Benefit: Minimizes phase shift and ringing, ensuring smooth sound.
- Ideal For: Audiophiles who favor a very smooth, natural listening experience.

A "very smooth" rendition, frankly I don't share this statement because this filter mode is the most explosive (transients) I have experienced. But "natural" for sure. In any case, there is no harshness at all (hence the "very smooth" opinion ?).

From a technical point of view, this "filter"... corresponds to a "no filter at all", so a NOS mode...

And this is where, technically, things are becoming interesting...

- From a strict "temporal" point of view, the impulse is essentially perfect : ultra fast and extended, straight as an "i", no pre or post ringing...
- From a strict "frequency" point of view, it is the worst result compared to oversampled filtering solutions....

Like probably many of us here, I have long been obsessed by the second point, to the detriment of the first. And "we" are not the only ones, you just have to browse the Net... :

https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac
https://nihtila.com/2019/10/18/dac-...2-deeper-dive-into-ak4490-and-ak4493-filters/

etc.

In other words, over-sampled filters (fast, slow, phase corrected, etc.) all "measure" better from a frequency point of view... but "just" less well from an impulse point of view...

The heart of the reactor is indeed this (Frequency Vs. Phase In Psychoacoustics) :

https://www.reddit.com/r/DSP/commen...2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=post_body

And "subjectively"... this AKM "NOS mode" sounds better, at least to my ears and from now on with the necessary hindsight :

- Dynamics
- Transients (related to point 1)
- Density of timbres (weight of notes ; also related to points 1 and 2)
- Characterization of timbres (no artificial "brilliance", related to point 3)
- Respect of ambiances (in particular no artificial effect of "over reverberation" or "over aeration"; related to points 3 and 4)

I see these 5 main points which definitely make me prefer this "Super Slow" mode with AKM DACs.
In short, to owners of DAPs with AKM chips, if you can access this mode, I suggest you be open minded and just... curious...

Ah yes, perhaps an important clarification : I only listen to FLAC files in 16 to 24 bits, at 48 kHz max.

Thank you for this important thing you do!
I took the player out of the closet because of your excellent posts after a long time without using it, it was a good reminder of how good it sounds, not good, excellent,
I follow your recommendations and I find them correct!
I also find it a great combination with cayin c9!
I only have one problem with this player, it does not read a large part of my memory cards, I do not know why,
I have one card that no player can read and only it reads, and there are many cards that all the players read and only it does not, I also tried resetting it and it did not help...
My cards are completely standard...

 

[DaveStarWalker]

Thank you for this important thing you do!
I took the player out of the closet because of your excellent posts after a long time without using it, it was a good reminder of how good it sounds, not good, excellent,
I follow your recommendations and I find them correct!
I also find it a great combination with cayin c9!
I only have one problem with this player, it does not read a large part of my memory cards, I do not know why,
I have one card that no player can read and only it reads, and there are many cards that all the players read and only it does not, I also tried resetting it and it did not help...
My cards are completely standard...

Great and very happy to read that

That's my goal, and to share it : if it works for me, there's no reason why it shouldn't work for others. I guess.

In any case (general advice) : "trying" is not wasting your time.

And it's free.

 

[DaveStarWalker]

About the filters - and the tuning mode with the qa361 -, I think about those two very best choices:

1/ Short Delay Slow ~ Mellow
2/ Super Slow (NOS) ~ Bright (my previous recipe)

I think the very, very best choice is the first one.

Better of all world (textures, definition, clarity, density, precision, dynamics, separation*) : not really a "warm" or a "mellow" profile (treble not affected), but more density and tactility than the "bright" mode...

I don't know if this option exists with others DAPs than the QA361 ?

Also, I don't know exactly how this tuning mode works technically. Subtle equalization? It seems to be too subtle but... I just don't know...

*The main Achilles heel of the "super slow mode" ; alone with ultimate clarity and ultimate refinement (in comparaison to). There, I don't see what else to do, more or better...