Review: Questyle Audio QP1R - With Multiple Headphone and IEM Pairings

[RPB65]

  I bought it used.....but in perfect condition. It is significantly burned in I'm sure.

Ok @Dithyrambes thx again.

 

[RPB65]

They don't like it fine with me. Billet aluminum is like plastic don't know what to say about that but fine with me.

@buke9 I'm confused with what you mean here, sorry. What is that referring to?

 

[buke9]

@buke9
 I'm confused with what you mean here, sorry. What is that referring to?

You said the unit looked like plastic and it is billet aluminum.

 

[hung031086]

I just wonder that how can i register the device ? I did like the first page said. But 3 days already i haven't gotten any response from them.

 

[goodvibes]

Nothing is for everyone and when there's comments that go against the grain, an individual unit should be compared against another. Nobody's perfect.

 

[RPB65]

You said the unit looked like plastic and it is billet aluminum.

@buke9 I can assure you I said no such thing.

 

[buke9]

@buke9
 I can assure you I said no such thing.

Sorry about that it was someone else that said that my apologies to you.

 

[tunes]

I want to use my PQ1R as a server for an external DAC when at home (Schiit Mobi multibit DAC). I bought the cable shown below but not sure if it will work. I also don't know how to make the external DAC communicate with the QP1R via TOSLINK digital. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[514077]

  Been a very long day of listening, I will post some thoughts on the qp1r. I will go against the grain and say I really don't enjoy the sound coming from this dap. Listening was done with Campfire andromeda, he1000, LCD-4. I don't really know what it is, but to me it sounds sterile and boring. Others may call this neutral/uncolored and transparent, but this for me is the weak point of this dap. This does allow the sound to put out a sense of extra clarity but for me, inner detailing was lacking. It seems detailed, but its akin to hearing the piano notes strike the notes with great clarity. The strike is fast and strong(so you think you hear the detail clearly) but the spaces in between the notes and decay always sound the same. This makes it sound not so great at microdynamics and shadings. Also makes the bass also sounds a bit flabby and a bit one note. This becomes a bit of a problem for me because it makes the sound feel very empty(not that I like warm and lush) and for me it really feels empty because the already thin noted sound the player makes. It became especially very problematic with string instrument music(I play one for gods sake), and piano music. The timbre just does not sound right. To me the player plays the sounds, but doesn't create musicality/feeling of ambience. I don't mean environmental cues or space, but like the ambience you feel when you hear a performer play live music in front of you(musicality). I'm not a fan of the soundstaging/imaging as well. It must do with the thinness of the notes, as i don't get very good perceived depth, much like the hugo, and it does not sound very cohesive. Again the note thinness makes things sound shouty when dynamics go up instead of overwhelming you with emotion(Dark Knight Rises, Why do we fall is an example).
 
For all people say about the build quality of this player, I found it very disappointing. The metal finish on top looks like plastic. The player is actually thicker than I anticipated and looks more like a brick with a volume knob on top. Despite being so big, it feels very light which I don't like(Lighter than AK320 or ZX2). The volume knob is lose and fiddly, but I can clearly feel the clicks, and it does its job. I know its been mentioned a thousand times, but really I cannot recommend this player to anyone because the wheel. It really is terrible and I missed my selection so much, I resorted to using the touch key and center button to make selections. The screen is very small and also the ui does not look polished. I do give it a plus for booting up very quickly and scanning sd cards very quickly. 
 
I also took it to the New York Audio Show today and listened to many high end setups. I tried the new Mytek Manhattan II, Mytek Brooklyn, Holo Spring Kitsune Level 3....etc....with high end headphones and my andros. None of these Hi-end Dacs shared the tonality and presentation of the QP1R. I really came impressed from the Holo Spring Kitsune Level 3(really that r2r sound....and that's how I like my cymbals to sound.....). Definitely sounded better than the mytek dacs right next to it(for me YMMV). I think this will be my future dac after I save up. The tonality for these dacs sound closer to that of the Sony ZX2(only in balanced trrs), though its even silly to compare a dap to a full high end desktop setup as they completely obliderate the DAPS.
 
They even had an AK320 there and I prefered it over the QP1R.  Why did I prefer it? Even though it was a bit thicker and midcentric with slightly less detail, I enjoyed the sound more. The details are there to enhance the feeling of music, not become the highlight. Also I think its a better pairing with the Andromeda with its Z-output. The UI functions much easier, and aesthetically, I'm sorry to say but the QP1r is seriously behind and looks like a brick. Also less hiss than the QP1R. The QP1R hissed so audibly, I was distracted by it.
 
For me Strictly for IEMS, i would put it as ZX2(trrs balanced)>Geekout V2+(Balanced)>Mojo>AK320>QP1R
(I was also with a friend and he had Customart H8.2 and he liked the AK320 much better)(He's a fantastic pianist, and we will record some stuff and share it with you maybe mid Nov).
 
I will try to listen more and see if I change my mind, but I don't think my mind will change. To sum up the qp1r tried to give a sharp, lively, detailed, euphonic sound but to me it felt flat(not neutral but boring), unengaging, and thin(really sounds like paper...especialy with instruments I know and play). I really wanted to like this dap because it could have been my all in one because of its amplification/usb/dac functionality, but I cannot as I do not like its sound. Everything else I can deal with, but if the sound isn't what I like, I shouldn't think twice. 
 
I will be happy to sell it on Head-fi to someone who would be happy with its unique presentation of sound.
 
For anyone going to the New York Audio Show, The AVM and PMC Fact.12 in Room 701....was the most impressive, and nothing else I heard came close to it.
 
People may question which tracks I listened to so I listed some tracks/albums I listened from
 
Adele 21(16/44.1), Adele 25(16/44.1), Kate Perry Prism(24/44.1), Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life, Justin Bieber Purpose
 
Star Wars The Force Awakens(24/96), Batman Vs Superman(24/96), The Dark Knight Rises(24/192)
 
Norah Jones Come Away with me(DSD), Norah Jones Feels Like Home(24/96), Keith Jarrett(Melodies at Night with you), Super Nova (The Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio)
 
Rostropovich Dutilleux Cello Concerto, Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone, David Geringas(Mutiple Tracks from Different albums), Chopin Piano Concertos Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman Lizst Piano Sonata in B minor.
 
AS ALWAYS this is my opinion and YMMV.......so if you enjoy your QP1R, please by all means enjoy it.

I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment.  Also respect your well-thought opinion.  I guess we have diferent takes on the sound, as I like the sound of the Hugo and QP1R.  Hope to hear more of your journey to musical satisfaction.

 

[boomtube]

  Been a very long day of listening, I will post some thoughts on the qp1r. I will go against the grain and say I really don't enjoy the sound coming from this dap. Listening was done with Campfire andromeda, he1000, LCD-4. I don't really know what it is, but to me it sounds sterile and boring. Others may call this neutral/uncolored and transparent, but this for me is the weak point of this dap. This does allow the sound to put out a sense of extra clarity but for me, inner detailing was lacking. It seems detailed, but its akin to hearing the piano notes strike the notes with great clarity. The strike is fast and strong(so you think you hear the detail clearly) but the spaces in between the notes and decay always sound the same. This makes it sound not so great at microdynamics and shadings. Also makes the bass also sounds a bit flabby and a bit one note. This becomes a bit of a problem for me because it makes the sound feel very empty(not that I like warm and lush) and for me it really feels empty because the already thin noted sound the player makes. It became especially very problematic with string instrument music(I play one for gods sake), and piano music. The timbre just does not sound right. To me the player plays the sounds, but doesn't create musicality/feeling of ambience. I don't mean environmental cues or space, but like the ambience you feel when you hear a performer play live music in front of you(musicality). I'm not a fan of the soundstaging/imaging as well. It must do with the thinness of the notes, as i don't get very good perceived depth, much like the hugo, and it does not sound very cohesive. Again the note thinness makes things sound shouty when dynamics go up instead of overwhelming you with emotion(Dark Knight Rises, Why do we fall is an example).
 
For all people say about the build quality of this player, I found it very disappointing. The metal finish on top looks like plastic. The player is actually thicker than I anticipated and looks more like a brick with a volume knob on top. Despite being so big, it feels very light which I don't like(Lighter than AK320 or ZX2). The volume knob is lose and fiddly, but I can clearly feel the clicks, and it does its job. I know its been mentioned a thousand times, but really I cannot recommend this player to anyone because the wheel. It really is terrible and I missed my selection so much, I resorted to using the touch key and center button to make selections. The screen is very small and also the ui does not look polished. I do give it a plus for booting up very quickly and scanning sd cards very quickly. 
 
I also took it to the New York Audio Show today and listened to many high end setups. I tried the new Mytek Manhattan II, Mytek Brooklyn, Holo Spring Kitsune Level 3....etc....with high end headphones and my andros. None of these Hi-end Dacs shared the tonality and presentation of the QP1R. I really came impressed from the Holo Spring Kitsune Level 3(really that r2r sound....and that's how I like my cymbals to sound.....). Definitely sounded better than the mytek dacs right next to it(for me YMMV). I think this will be my future dac after I save up. The tonality for these dacs sound closer to that of the Sony ZX2(only in balanced trrs), though its even silly to compare a dap to a full high end desktop setup as they completely obliderate the DAPS.
 
They even had an AK320 there and I prefered it over the QP1R.  Why did I prefer it? Even though it was a bit thicker and midcentric with slightly less detail, I enjoyed the sound more. The details are there to enhance the feeling of music, not become the highlight. Also I think its a better pairing with the Andromeda with its Z-output. The UI functions much easier, and aesthetically, I'm sorry to say but the QP1r is seriously behind and looks like a brick. Also less hiss than the QP1R. The QP1R hissed so audibly, I was distracted by it.
 
For me Strictly for IEMS, i would put it as ZX2(trrs balanced)>Geekout V2+(Balanced)>Mojo>AK320>QP1R
(I was also with a friend and he had Customart H8.2 and he liked the AK320 much better)(He's a fantastic pianist, and we will record some stuff and share it with you maybe mid Nov).
 
I will try to listen more and see if I change my mind, but I don't think my mind will change. To sum up the qp1r tried to give a sharp, lively, detailed, euphonic sound but to me it felt flat(not neutral but boring), unengaging, and thin(really sounds like paper...especialy with instruments I know and play). I really wanted to like this dap because it could have been my all in one because of its amplification/usb/dac functionality, but I cannot as I do not like its sound. Everything else I can deal with, but if the sound isn't what I like, I shouldn't think twice. 
 
I will be happy to sell it on Head-fi to someone who would be happy with its unique presentation of sound.
 
For anyone going to the New York Audio Show, The AVM and PMC Fact.12 in Room 701....was the most impressive, and nothing else I heard came close to it.
 
People may question which tracks I listened to so I listed some tracks/albums I listened from
 
Adele 21(16/44.1), Adele 25(16/44.1), Kate Perry Prism(24/44.1), Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life, Justin Bieber Purpose
 
Star Wars The Force Awakens(24/96), Batman Vs Superman(24/96), The Dark Knight Rises(24/192)
 
Norah Jones Come Away with me(DSD), Norah Jones Feels Like Home(24/96), Keith Jarrett(Melodies at Night with you), Super Nova (The Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio)
 
Rostropovich Dutilleux Cello Concerto, Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone, David Geringas(Mutiple Tracks from Different albums), Chopin Piano Concertos Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman Lizst Piano Sonata in B minor.
 
AS ALWAYS this is my opinion and YMMV.......so if you enjoy your QP1R, please by all means enjoy it.

Similar to RPB65...I rarely miss anything I sell with the exception of the QP1R, wich I recently repurchased. I think if you give it some time and let the circuitry burn in, your opinion will change. I felt the same about the ZX2 until it burned in for 200 hrs. and then I was blown away with a TRRS cable and my favorite IEM's. If you still have it, hold on to it and let it bloom.

 

[Satir]

n/a

 

[cho8]

Does anyone know if I connect the qp1r to a dac/amp through optical is the amp and dac on the qp1r disabled ?

Also, slightly off topic, if I wanted to connect the chord Hugo into the chain how would I do that so that the dac in the amplifier is disabled and the qp1r is used solely as a source?

The amp is the rme adi-2 pro. Thanks!

Also I think my firmware is still on version 6 as I didn't need the use of the qp1r as a dac

 

[AndrewH13]

Does anyone know if I connect the qp1r to a dac/amp through optical is the amp and dac on the qp1r disabled ?

Also, slightly off topic, if I wanted to connect the chord Hugo into the chain how would I do that so that the dac in the amplifier is disabled and the qp1r is used solely as a source?

The amp is the rme adi-2 pro. Thanks!

Also I think my firmware is still on version 6 as I didn't need the use of the qp1r as a dac

An optical connection takes the digital data before its converted to analogue (DAC) and Amplified. Hugo can only take a digital source in, so you are safe it hasn't had any conversion or amplification.

Not sure what you mean by 'dac in the amplifier'? The Hugo doesn't actually contain an amplifier, it doesn't need it! An amplifier added to Hugo can only colour the sound, which some like.

 

[cho8]

An optical connection takes the digital data before its converted to analogue (DAC) and Amplified. Hugo can only take a digital source in, so you are safe it hasn't had any conversion or amplification.

Not sure what you mean by 'dac in the amplifier'? The Hugo doesn't actually contain an amplifier, it doesn't need it! An amplifier added to Hugo can only colour the sound, which some like.

Hi Andrew. Thanks for the help. I meant the RME Amp that I wanted to connect the Hugo to or would that not be recommended/worth doing ?

 

[AndrewH13]

Hi Andrew. Thanks for the help. I meant the RME Amp that I wanted to connect the Hugo to or would that not be recommended/worth doing ?

​Unless the RME amp has a coloured sound that you like, eg adds bass or warmth, then the purist (and Chord's) view is that there is nothing to be gained. Some feel a need to add an amp for phones such as the Sennheiser HD800, but the Hugo can certainly drive them ok, I go direct from Hugo's gain stage.
 
I use the Hugo and Mojo for my other DAPs, the QP1R is one of the few I have heard, and not found a need to, as I like QP1R's Headphone out. Best thing is to try and see, it's all personal preference at the end of the day.