What You Get

• EVO
• Storage Bag
• USB Cable
• Manual
• Service Card
• QC Certificate

Design

The Evo is like a white version of the Fiio UTWS5. The outside is sleek, thin, and lightweight, causing as little distraction as possible when looped over your ears. No matter which pair of IEMs I paired with the Evo, I always felt the main body and hooks of the Evo were comfortable. They sat naturally around my ear, and I never thought about them throughout my listening time

I also particularly like the zipper bag charging case. It’s a bit bulky, but different from what you’re used to getting from true wireless adapters. It makes it feel like more of a specialized accessory than another cheap product. Your IEMs, no matter the size will be able to fit in this case while still attached to the adapters. Everything about the presentation of the Evo outclasses other Bluetooth adapters of its kind.

One aspect of the Evo’s design I’m not so keen on is its touch panel. It’s finicky and not very responsive. The actions only activate after long delays and multiple touches. This might interfere with taking calls over the Evo too, but the actual call clarity is servicable. Disappointingly, there is no companion app for the Evo. I would have liked to see some added features like an EQ or adjustable controls.

Bluetooth & Battery Life

Getting the Evo to pair is very easy. It supports Bluetooth version 5.2, and it has a fast connection with good stability. There’s a big selection of CODECs that the Evo offers, including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD. Of course, using an iPhone with the Evo only gave me access to AAC audio.

By far the most infuriating aspect of the Evo is its battery life. I was shocked when I first heard the “battery low,” and “power off” voice indicators play, as I had only been listening for an hour or two. It would appear that’s all the charge the Evo is capable of giving you.

Sound Impressions

I used a few different IEMs with the Evo, from the Dunu Titan S2 to the Meze Alba. What the Evo did to the sound was most apparent in the overall volume of it. The sound signature as a whole felt elevated in pure gain, acting as a true DAC/Amp component. Listening to music on my phone gave me tons of headroom to play with compared to most Bluetooth headphones and earphones. It kept as much detail as possible while squeezing through common Bluetooth CODECs. For its price, the sound is mostly impressive for its energy alone, making up for the loss of detail with its strong drive. I can’t say there was much else to distinguish in these IEMs, but they rival the Go Pods and UTWS5 in terms of their power, which is quite a feat for its price point.

Summary

The Moondrop Evo has a lot of faults, but for the price, it does what’s expected of a true wireless Bluetooth adapter for your IEMs. If sound quality is all that matters to you, then the Evo is exactly what you need. It has more power than you would assume for the price, and it maintains your IEM sound signature quite well over Bluetooth. Otherwise, it’s hard to look past the finicky touch controls and incredibly disappointing battery life.

The Moondrop Evo is available at Audio46.

The post Moondrop Evo Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• Matched pair of driver tubes CV-181(6SN7)
• Matched pair of power tubes 300B
• AC cord
• User Manual
• Warranty Card

Build:

The Envy features a robust metal chassis, providing a solid and durable foundation. This sturdy structure meets a natural, high-quality oiled wood finish, offering an elegant and timeless aesthetic. The front panel features both balanced XLR and unbalanced 6.3mm headphone outputs, along with a touch-sensitive stand-by button with an LED indicator, a volume control knob, an impedance selector, and an audio source selector.

On the back, you get a physical power switch located near the AC connector on the rear panel. The back panel also houses RCA pre-amplifier outputs and XLR connectors for balanced preamplifier output, with the output voltage regulated via the volume knob.

Design:

The Envy utilizes point-to-point wiring technology with custom-made single crystal copper (UPOCC) with Teflon insulation for all connections. Driving your volume control is an Alps RK27 potentiometer, which is known for its precision. As for tubes, it uses a two-stage preamplifier featuring CV-181 tubes and high-end coupling capacitors, and directly heated 300B tubes for the power stage. 

The Envy’s gain selection feature ensures compatibility with various headphone types through three distinct settings: Low Gain, ideal for dynamic headphones with impedance from 16 to 60 Ohms; Middle Gain, suited for headphones with impedance from 60 to 300 Ohms, including most planar magnetic headphones; and High Gain, designed for demanding planar magnetic headphones and dynamic headphones with impedance from 300 to 600 Ohms. When set to “Mid,” stereo speakers with a recommended sensitivity of over 94 dB can be connected to the 6.3mm headphone output, delivering approximately 5 Watts of output power.

Overall, the Envy can give you 5 watts of power at 16 ohms on middle gain. 

Sound Impressions:

How does the Envy sound? I tested it with various headphones, including the Final Audio D8000 Pro, Abyss Diana MR, and Sennheiser HD800S. The Envy produces some of the most refined, lush audio I’ve ever experienced. Let’s dive into the specifics for each headphone pairing.

D8000 Pro:

The Envy delivers an expansive sense of space with the D8000 Pro headphones, providing ample headroom and intricate soundscapes. Tracks like David Bowie’s “Blackstar” and “Lazarus” showcased the amplifier’s ability to convey intricate details and textures. Bass was well-controlled with a warm midbass bloom, while mids were crystal clear, delivering pristine vocals with a touch of tube sweetness. The highs were clear and crisp, creating a perfect blend of high-fidelity sound with a musical presentation.

Abyss Diana MR:

The Envy paired with the Diana MR offers an expansive soundstage, making vocals sound warm and lush without being overly colored. The mid-range dynamics were impressive, revealing subtle changes in strumming intensity on the guitar. The sense of space was so pronounced it felt like listening through an OLED TV, in that parts of the driver seemed almost inactive when not creating sound. This effect enhanced detail perception, especially in the midrange, uncovering nuances like vocal echoes in tracks such as “Bambina” by Vampire Weekend. In other words, it’s almost as if you can hear the absence of an instrument in the mix. While the bass extension was present, it was less pronounced than with the D8000 Pro, allowing other frequencies to shine.

Sennheiser HD800S:

Testing the Envy with the HD800S dynamic driver headphones yielded results similar to the D8000 Pro. The HD800S scaled beautifully with this amplifier, offering a warm, lush, and detailed sound. The soundstage was wide, and the bass response was more pronounced, creating a relaxed sound. This synergy between the amp and the headphone resulted in an unparalleled auditory experience.

Final Thoughts:

Evaluating an amp like the Envy can be challenging, but for those who prioritize sound quality over price, this is an excellent choice. It’s hard to find competitors that match its features and sound quality. If you’re in the market for a high-end tube amplifier, I highly recommend the Feliks Audio Envy Performance Edition.

The Feliks Envy (Performance Edition) is available at Audio46.

The post Feliks Audio Envy (Performance Edition) Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

Sometimes they can be rather inexpensive, but some of the great ones can cost as much as your headphones. The best ones on the market right now are the iBasso DC-Elite, and Questyle M15i, which cost above $200. You might be asking for an option that is sub-one hundred dollars that can do almost the same thing as these other models. That’s where the Strauss & Wagner Alva comes in.

Specs

The Alva is a USB-C DAC adapter, so it can work on all current Android phones, as well as the latest iPhone 15. It features a 4.4mm balanced termination, so it can pair with your higher-end headphone and IEMs. Balanced adapters like this usually charge more, but the Alva will only set your back fifty bucks. Other dongles in this price bracket like the iFi Go Link are also good, but only feature a 3.5mm headphone output. The 32 bit 31993 Chipset also increases the value of the Alva, making a significant jump between your common adapter into a full fledged DAC. In theory, the Alva should be able to reproduce more cutting details and musical fidelity than most other DAC dongles in this range, so let’s put it to the test.

Sound Impressions

I tried out a couple of balanced IEMs with the Alva, including the new Meze Alba with their upgraded cable. As a package, the Alba and Alva put together is one of the best inexpensive listening experiences you can get, while other IEMs like the Letshuoer S12 Pro also offer better quality with the Alva.

The soundstage is very open and the imaging is super precise. You can feel the complete movement of the sound around your head while sticking to a mostly linear stereo field. It shows more depth than a straight line across a plain sonic environment, but the positioning still adheres to accuracy. I felt the sub-bass feature a more subtle rise than before I paired the Alba to the Alva. Though it was a tight response that has a narrow tone, I could still appreciate its improved transparency. The mids and highs have a similar timbre, but with more room to play with. There’s a slight upper-midrange/treble emphasis that features control as well as crisp vocals and cymbals.

While the clarity and depth was always there, I didn’t get much drive from my IEMs. Even though they’re already easy to drive, don’t expect any greater power from the Alva. You can achieve a comfortable gain, but it doesn’t leave you much headroom to play with. Over-ear headphones with high impedances like the Sennheiser 660S2 can only just get there, and only give you a sliver of volume to adjust to.

Should You Buy The Strauss & Wagner Alva?

The Alva is a great option if you need a simple DAC dongle for your balanced IEMs, but for headphones the results won’t be as impressive. IEMs are the best way to show off the Alva’s musicality, enhancing the attributes of the soundstage while making you aware of more expressive details. If it was able to sustain more of a considerable drive, then the Alva would be more of a no-brainer, but it should still fulfill the needs for your IEMs when paired with your chosen smart device.

The Strauss & Wagner Alva is available at Audio46.

The post Upgrade The Sound Of Your Smartphone With Strauss & Wagner’s Alva USB-C DAC Dongle appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box

• ZEN CAN 3
• Power Supply
• 3.5 to 6.35mm Adapter
• RCA Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Warranty Card

Build

Familiar to those acquainted with iFi’s design ethos, the ZEN CAN 3 maintains the aesthetic charm of the Zen DAC 3, featuring a dual-material faceplate with a separating accent line. This design upgrade elevates the device’s look, departing from the brushed aluminum style of previous generations.

The front panel houses several essential controls and connectors. From left to right, there is a power button, an input selection switch, and a gain switch. A large volume dial sits centrally, flanked by a single-ended 6.35mm headphone jack and a balanced 4.4mm headphone jack. The far-right hosts the mode selection button, which we’ll explore in more detail in the design section.

The back panel includes an RCA input, a single-ended 3.5mm input, a balanced 4.4mm input, a balanced 4.4mm output for preamp use, and a power cord port.

The tactile buttons offer satisfying feedback, and the volume dial allows for precise adjustments. Weighing just 495 grams, the ZEN CAN 3 is compact and lightweight, yet it feels robust and durable, perfect for stacking with other Zen line products.

Design

The ZEN CAN 3 can drive a wide range of headphones, from xMEMS-based IEMs to high-end planars, boasting an impressive 2,000mW output power. Utilizing the same Class A circuitry as iFi’s flagship iCAN Phantom, it ensures top-tier performance and cutting-edge technology.

New analogue EQ-modes enhance immersion during gaming or watching multimedia. The movie mode EQ clarifies dialogue, while the game mode sharpens subtle sound effects, making it easier to pinpoint sounds and enhance low-end rumble.

Unique to the ZEN CAN 3, iFi achieves these features through analogue circuitry rather than Digital Signal Processing (DSP). This method maintains sound integrity, reduces phase shift and distortion, and offers natural frequency adjustments. iFi’s signature analogue bass enhancement, XBass+, amplifies bass without compromising midrange clarity, while XSpace expands the soundstage, delivering a concert-like experience.

These features perform admirably, though their effectiveness may vary by track, game, or movie. XBass+ and XSpace enhance specific sounds, but sometimes XBass+ can be overpowering, and XSpace might artificially widen the soundstage. The good news is that these controls are easily adjustable, allowing you to tailor them to your preference.

Sound Impressions

Using perennial mid-fi headphones like the Sennheiser HD660S2 and Hifiman Sundara, as well as newcomers like the Sennheiser HD620S, I put the Zen Can 3 to the test. iFi is known for a clean and smooth take on sound, looking to present an elegant sound signature for a fraction of the cost of high end systems. I found the Zen Can 3 to be no different. 

Low end textures are nice and balanced. They aren’t overly emphasized, with a neutral presentation prioritized for the sound signature. That said, with XBass+ turned on, you get elevation to your low end rumble, and some tracks really benefit from it. The mids are neutral with a hint of warmth to them. Vocals come across as clear and non fatiguing and instrument separation is quite good for the price. The top end has a nice potency to it, adding excitement to its sound without creating any harshness. 

Soundstage is also quite good. It’s not the widest amp ever but with the HD660S2, I did notice some nice subtleties far off to the right and left. A key factor that separates entry-level amps and higher end ones is a sense of space. This can mean the space between instruments or the space left on the margins of the soundstage. I was impressed by the Zen Can’s ability to present a clear sense of space in both regards. Instruments were properly separated and there seemed to be excess room for microdetails to play out. To be sure, it’s not at the level of higher end amps, but I was impressed by the amount it’s able to deliver for the price. 

Final Thoughts

iFi’s ZEN CAN 3 continues the brand’s tradition of offering exceptional performance for the price. Its build quality, feature set, and sound make it an excellent entry-level amp that scales well with mid-fi equipment. It’s also a great choice for those seeking a versatile device for gaming, movies, and music. The ZEN CAN 3 is a reliable, versatile, and great-sounding amp that delivers on its promises.

The iFi ZEN CAN 3 is available at Audio46.

The post iFi ZEN CAN 3 Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box

• Fezz Omega Lupi vacuum tube headphone amplifier
• 4 PCL86 vacuum tubes
• Power cord
• User’s manual
• Cotton gloves
• Vacuum tube protective cage

Build Quality

The Omega Lupi is a formidable amp, measuring 340 x 355 x 150mm and weighing nearly 10 kg. It comes in various colors: Big Calm (burgundy), Black Ice (black), Burning Red (bright red), EverGreen (green), Moonlight (grey), Republika (white), and Sunlight (beige). We reviewed the Black Ice version.

The front panel features a quarter-inch headphone jack, a volume dial, and a gain knob for low, medium, and high impedance modes. The back panel includes two RCA connectors (one for input and one for parallel signal output), a power plug, and a ground switch. The top houses four tube slots, two output power transformers, and ventilation. Despite its robust build, the Omega Lupi is straightforward in terms of I/O and features, focusing on providing excellent sound quality rather than unnecessary extras.

Design

The Omega Lupi uses four PCL86 tubes, which combine a triode and pentode in a single capsule. This dual-filament design enhances the amplifier’s ability to produce rich and dynamic sound. The push-pull AB1 configuration reduces distortion and improves linearity, resulting in more accurate and high-fidelity sound reproduction.

With a frequency response range of 20Hz-120kHz (-3dB) and total harmonic distortion (THD) below 0.3%, the Omega Lupi ensures that both low and high frequencies are reproduced accurately, delivering clean and undistorted audio.

Sound Impressions

Low End

The bass is a standout feature of the Omega Lupi. It delivers exceptional detail and separation in the low frequencies, with a visceral attack that enhances songs from any genre. Tracks like Wilco’s “Jesus, Etc.” and Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” showcase the amp’s ability to follow basslines with precision and dynamic range. The Omega Lupi’s bass performance is characterized by a great sense of macro- and micro-dynamics, making it capable of handling complex bass lines with ease.

Midrange

The midrange is sweet, musical, and highly detailed. Vocals from artists like Kacey Musgraves, Thom Yorke, and Nick Drake sound ethereal and engaging. The Omega Lupi excels in detail retrieval and dynamics, providing excellent instrument separation. Listening to tracks such as Neil Young’s “See the Sky About to Rain,” every nuance of the singer’s voice is captured, along with clear separation between instruments like the piano and guitar.

Top End

The treble is present and clean but slightly mellow compared to the low and mid frequencies. This smoothness can be beneficial, though, depending on the headphones used. Pairing the Omega Lupi with cooler-sounding headphones like the Abyss Diana MR, Focal Clear MG, and Sennheiser HD800S yields a balanced sound with extended highs. Warmer headphones like the Meze Empyrean II and Audeze LCD-5 might make the treble sound a little too smooth. Thus, careful selection of headphones is necessary to achieve the best sound quality.

Soundstage

The soundstage is ethereal and natural, offering an immersive listening experience. The Omega Lupi creates a fully engulfing space rather than a strictly lateral one, providing sublime audio immersion. This expansive soundstage enhances the overall listening experience, making it feel like the music surrounds the listener from all directions.

Optimizing Your Listening Experience

To fully appreciate the capabilities of the Omega Lupi, it’s important to consider headphone synergy. The amp’s powerful output can drive almost any headphones, but achieving the best sound involves pairing it with headphones that complement its characteristics. Cooler headphones help balance the smooth treble, ensuring a well-rounded and detailed listening experience. This consideration is crucial for audiophiles seeking to maximize the amp’s performance.

Conclusion

The Fezz Audio Omega Lupi Evolution Edition is a high-performing tube amp that excels in delivering rich, dynamic sound. While headphone synergy is crucial for optimal performance, this amp is a top contender for those seeking the ultimate tube sound experience. If you’re in the market for a premium tube amp, the Omega Lupi is definitely worth considering.

The Fezz Audio Omega Lupi is available at Audio46.

The post Fezz Audio Omega Lupi (Evolution) Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• Rue USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter

Build Quality:

The Rue USB-C to 3.5mm DAC/Adapter showcases excellent build quality with a premium silver construction that enhances both durability and conductivity. This choice of material ensures the adapter’s longevity while adding an elegant touch to your audio setup. The compact design, with a total length of 10cm (3.9 in.), strikes a balance between portability and robustness, making it an ideal companion for on-the-go audio needs. Each component of the Rue is crafted with precision, ensuring it can withstand regular use while maintaining a sleek and professional appearance. The high-quality construction reflects Strauss & Wagner’s commitment to excellence, ensuring that the Rue performs exceptionally well under various conditions.

Technical Design:

The Rue’s design focuses on delivering superior audio performance through advanced technology. At its core is a 32-bit DAC with the 5686 chipset, ensuring high-quality digital-to-analog conversion for an exceptional audio experience. The adapter features a 3.5mm female socket and a USB-C plug, providing seamless connectivity between USB-C enabled devices and traditional audio devices. This design preserves the original sound’s integrity while enhancing audio clarity and detail, offering substantial power for moderately demanding headphones. The integration of the 5686 chipset highlights the Rue’s capability to handle high-resolution audio files, making it a perfect choice for audiophiles who demand the best in portable audio solutions.

Sound Impressions:

To test the Rue’s performance capabilities, I used devices that would present somewhat of a challenge, such as the Final Audio E5000 IEMs and the newly released Sennheiser HD620S headphones. Despite their moderate difficulty to drive, the Rue handled them impressively.

Starting with the E5000, the Rue pushed volume to appropriate levels while maintaining Strauss & Wagner’s signature transparency. The E5000’s warm sound character remained intact, with punchy bass, textured midbass, and clear, present treble. The Rue notably improved the E5000’s soundstage, providing exceptional clarity and resolution. The adapter’s ability to enhance the E5000’s natural sound profile without introducing any noticeable distortion or coloration is particularly commendable.

Moving to the HD620S, I initially worried that the 150-ohm impedance might be too challenging for the Rue. However, the adapter performed admirably, delivering loud listening levels without strain. The HD620S’s bass was strong, mids were clean and detailed, and the treble was crisp with a bit of sparkle. The Rue enhanced the HD620S’s soundstage, emphasizing its angled drivers’ capabilities effectively. The synergy between the Rue and the HD620S was impressive, showcasing the adapter’s capability to handle more demanding headphones with ease.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, the Strauss & Wagner Rue is a highly capable audio-decoding device. It’s an excellent solution for taking your IEMs and headphones on the go while maintaining a stylish and portable profile. Priced at just $29.95, the Rue offers impressive value and performance, making it a worthwhile investment for any audio enthusiast. The combination of robust build quality, advanced technical design, and excellent sound performance makes the Rue a standout choice in the crowded market of USB-C to 3.5mm adapters. Whether you are a casual listener or an audiophile, the Rue will enhance your audio experience, providing a seamless connection between your USB-C devices and your favorite audio equipment.

The Strauss & Wagner Rue is available at Audio46.

The post Strauss & Wagner Rue Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

Look & Feel

These are two very different designs. The Momentum 4 hasn’t changed much since its last iteration but settling upon this current look was a good decision. It’s a very ergonomic design that makes it easy for everyone to wear for long listening sessions. With the PerL Pro, the design might be more offputting, with its big circular housing and surface area. This design does not reflect the fit for me, and it sits just as comfortably in my ear as the Momentum 4. While the PerL Pro feels bigger, it doesn’t cause any significant pressure. For most though, the Momentum 4 is going to be the easiest to wear.

Design & Functionality

Both the Momentum 4 and the PerL Pro utilize dynamic drivers of carrying sizes. Of course, with the PerL Pro’s large surface area, the driver will be bigger, but these earbuds have similar loudness and offer about the same amount of headroom. They both come with a ton of features, including noise-canceling. They both ultimately get the job done, but the Mometnum 4 is a bit stronger, and being able to set up different sound zones helps with that.

There’s a lot more you can customize sound-wise with the PerL Pro though, including the entire sound signature through their special sound test. The Momentum has a similar feature,  but the results of it aren’t as drastic. They both have in-app EQ though if you only wish to make small adjustments here and there. The PerL also has spatial audio through Dirac, and the Momentum 4 has yet to release its version of 3D Audio yet for its Bluetooth products.

Bluetooth

When the PerL Pro was released, it had the benefit of being one of the first sets of true wireless earbuds to have aptX Lossless. Now the Momentum 4 has it too, and its Bluetooth chipset is even more advanced than the PerL Pro thanks to Auracast. Both sets of earbuds will have immaculately stable connections though, with fast pairing and multipoint.

Battery Life

The Momentum 4 and PerL Pro have similar battery life, but the PerL Pro is a bit better. It lasts for eight hours compared to the Momentum’s 7 and a half. Both earbuds aren’t the best for their price in terms of playtime, but it’s still average.

Soundstage

Compared to the PerL Pro, the Momentum 4 has fewer variables that determine its soundstage quality. If you’re looking for a set of earbuds with good standard stereo depth and spatial imaging, you’ll probably prefer the Momentum 4 over the PerL Pro. I think you can rely on the Momentum 4 more for accuracy and precision, but what the PerL Pro offers is more theatrical with its spatial audio. With the combination of 3D sound and Denon’s unique sound personalization, the soundstage and imaging can expand greatly depending on your results. My results gave the PerL Pro a much larger headspace than the Momentum 4, even if it’s more spatially blurry. The Momentum 4 will appear more organized, with better localization, but the PerL Pro brings more distance between sounds, like the performance is happening directly in front of you.

Low End

The PerL Pro and Momentum 4’s bass also reflect the theatrics versus accuracy comparison. The Momentum 4 and the PerL Pro have dominant bass, but there are still some stark differences. With the Momentum 4, the bass feels a lot more under control while still featuring solid impact. The PerL Pro displays a thunderous, full, and constantly engaging bass response. However, it can come across as a bit fake in comparison to the Momentum, which is much more elegant with its surface. There’s a fun factor to the PerL Pro, with its thickness and punch, but the Momentum 4 is much more convincing.

Mids

There is more midrange prominence on the Momentum 4 than on the PerL Pro depending on your settings. My sound personalization has a large portion of the midrange getting swallowed by bass, but if you EQ it right and ease up on some of the other features then both sound signatures can actually be pretty similar. Neither pair of buds gives you the greatest edge, but the Momentum 4 outdoes the PerL Pro when it comes to giving sound elements a distinct shape. The PerL Pro is just too thin here, but some elements like vocals still show some nice clarity.

Highs

In the highs, both the Momentum 4 and the PerL Pro are very strong. They won’t feature the brightest timbre, but they both feature some good color and height. The Momentum 4 is much crisper and feels more natural than the PerL Pro. You get a more defined shimmer on the PerL Pro though, which I actually preferred over the Momentum 4 depending on the track. When it comes to frequency content, the PerL Pro feels a bit richer than the Momentum 4, but its flavor is much more subjective.

Summary

The Momentum 4 and PerL Pro prove that they are the best true wireless earbuds on the market with their sound and innovative features. While the PerL Pro has some unique abilities through its personalized sound and spatial audio, the Momentum 4 brings more elegance to its default sound signature. It’s what most true wireless buds should sound like, while the PerL Pro’s gimmicks set it back a bit in terms of realism. However, using the features on the PerL Pro does make it more fun to experiment with to try to get the sound just right.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and the Denon PerL Pro are available at Audio46.

The post Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Vs Denon PerL Pro Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Boxes:

Build:

Both the Q15 and DC-Elite boast great builds. But the ways they achieve their builds are quite different. The Q15 is a large device, similar to a thick smartphone. Its metal and glass design sparks confidence that it could survive any drop. Meanwhile, the DC-Elite features similar materials, but at a smaller form factor. 

The Q15 features basic power and play/pause/volume controls, and even the volume pot also acts as a menu button. The Q15 sports 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, with USB Type-C and Coax inputs on the opposite end. Controls for digital filters and PEQ, among other settings, can be found in the menu system using the volume pot (which lights up by the way). Of course there’s also a full color IPS display that lets you know what file type you’re playing as well as which input mode you’re in (Bluetooth or wired) among other details. 

Finally, there is a second Type-C input meant solely for an external power supply. You may want to have an external power supply ready to go when using desktop mode so as not to chew through the battery. Finally we have switches for phone mode (which uses the phone’s battery rather than the Q15’s in-built battery). 

The DC-Elite is a little bit simpler. It features 3.5 and 4.4 mm outputs as well as a USB-C input. It also has a button on the side for making micro-adjustments to volume. There’s also a light that shines red when not playing any audio, and green when music is playing. And that’s just about where the I/O and build features stop. There is, however, an awkward shield around the volume pot. This helps keep the pot safe from damage, but does make it less easily accessible. 

Design

The Fiio Q15 uses a dual AKM DAC combo (AK4191EQ + AK4499EX). The device also uses an XMOS 16-Core XU316 and supports 768kHz/32 bit PCM, DSD512, and MQA full decoding. The Q15 is helped by dual audio crystal oscillators to help adapt to these sample rates. In Desktop Mode, the Q15 is capable of up to 1600 mW of power, which is plenty for driving any type of headphone. 

Meanwhile, the DC-Elite is powered by a ROHM BD34301EKV chipset. This is considered a desktop-level component. Thus, it is capable of very high sample rates. The DC-Elite scales up to 768kHz/32 bit PCM and DSD512. Notably, there is no full MQA decoding as is found on the Fiio device

For the DC-Elite, an in-house FPGA algorithm reduces jitter with support from an NDK femtosecond oscillator which also helps to lower distortion. Power-wise, the DC-Elite does a smaller maximum 280 mW. I found this to still be plenty powerful for driving a full range of headphones, but it should be noted that it is less powerful than the Q15, especially when in Desktop Mode. 

Functionality

A major difference between the Q15 and DC-Elite is that the Q15 can execute on all of its features internally. That means you can adjust digital filters, gain, max volume, PEQ, and other features right in the device. Meanwhile, you can control similar settings, though there are fewer of them, through iBasso’s app for the DC-Elite. It should be noted that this app is only available for Android – I was not able to access the app for my iPhone 15. 

In iBasso’s UAC app, you can control the digital filter and roll-off, PCM volume reduction, DSD filters and SPDIF mode. The options are limited compared to the Q15, so if you’re looking for a feature-rich device that offers great listening flexibility, the Q15 is probably the winner here. 

Sound Impressions

So now that we know that internally these devices are quite different from each other, it’s time to look at how they compare in terms of sound. I’m happy to say that both the Q15 and DC-Elite are great sounding portable DAC/Amps. That said, they are both distinct in their own ways, and we’ll break that down here. 

Lows:

Starting with the low end, the Q15 has a little bit more rumble. This is a more assertive and forward-sounding approach than the DC-Elite. Listening on a laid back headphone like the Final Audio D7000, I got a greater sense of punch and slam. And on headphones like the Meze Liric II, it made for a warm and fun sound that I really enjoyed. 

However, with the DC-Elite, you get a more laid back approach that prioritizes details over being visceral. However, there’s still plenty of low end extension and attack. In fact, the bass can really sneak up on you with the DC-Elite. 

So if you prefer a more tactile and aggressive bass response, the Q15 is probably your choice. But if you want a smooth sound that brings out more nuance in the sound, while being a little more relaxed, the DC-Elite may be more your speed. 

Mids:

I found both DAC/Amps to have lush midranges. On the Q15, vocals are warm and forward. In fact, on headphones like the D7000, I found it to be a bit too forward for my taste. But with the Liric II and Campfire Bonneville, I found the musicality of the midrange to be really pleasant to the ear. 

The DC-Elite on the other hand is once again a bit more delicate and unobtrusive, opting for clearer layering and better separation than the Q15. Now, I do want to clarify that this is a smaller difference than it seems. The midrange on both the Q15 and DC-Elite appeared to be quite similar in my opinion. I would say the DC-Elite has better detail retrieval and separation while the Q15 has a bit more musicality and attack. 

Highs:

The breakdown of the top end is quite similar to the midrange and lows. The Q15 is once again more in your face while the DC-Elite offers you some distance from the sound and a little more room to be enveloped in. The Q15 is a bit more crisp while the DC-Elite is softer.

If you’re a treble-head, the Q15 might offer a bit more of a forward sound and you may prefer that. But if you like a more delicate treble response, the DC-Elite may be a better choice.

Soundstage:

This is where I found the two devices to be most different. The Q15 is by no means a narrow sounding device, but the way the DC-Elite presents space is second to none. Where music is well-separated on the Q15, it’s almost floating in space entirely on the DC-Elite. The DC-Elite’s imaging feels more natural and nuanced than the Q15 as well. 

So soundstage-driven audiophiles may want to opt for the DC-Elite. That said, if you are into that more forward sound the Q15 offers, I wouldn’t see this as a problem. Soundstage is by no means bad on the Q15, and it still sounds natural when paired with that more aggressive sound signature the Q15 offers. 

Summary

In total, these two portable DAC/Amps are high performers. The Q15 is more feature-rich and can blast you with power, and hits you with an overt sound that many will find exciting. Meanwhile, the DC-Elite is a little more you-get-what-you-see, while having a more nuanced and detailed sound. If I had to pick one, I’d say the DC-Elite gives a more mature sound signature and the smaller form factor makes it a great pick for me. However, the Q15 is no slouch, and if you want its bevy of features (like Bluetooth, in-built filters and EQ, and vast power), then the Q15 is still a fantastic choice. 

The Fiio Q15 and iBasso DC-Elite are both available at Audio46.

The post Fiio Q15 vs iBasso DC-Elite Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• M15i
• Type-C to Type-C Cable
• Type-C to USB-A Cable
• Warranty Card
• User Manual

Build

From the outside, there isn’t much that separates the M15i from the original. It uses the same basic chassis, with its plexiglass window showing off all the interior components of the DAC. One of the only changes, if you can really call it that, is the naming convention of its gain switch, which now goes by standard and high. It takes a USB-C input, with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs. I thought the old design was great, so in a way, I’m glad that Questlye didn’t feel the need to change it much.

Design

The main component of the M15i is its upgraded DAC. This is a flagship ESS chipset that supports sample rates up to PCM768 and DSD512. It also features a groundbreaking mode of amplification developed by Questlye that implements their SiP modules to deliver great power for many headphones and IEMs no matter the impedance. There’s a total of four modes for current that Questlye aims to help not only deliver the gain but also reveal more details.

Sound Impressions

There wasn’t a single pair of IEMs that the original M15 couldn’t drive efficiently and with impeccable clarity. The M15i does everything that the previous one could but with more subtleties that add a lot to the DAC’s overall performance. With the M15i, it’s not just loudness that will break through, but the shape of the sound takes on a whole new form. A form that displays more dynamic range than just filling the frequency content with more gain.

You still get a nice forward presentation that is accentuated by using open-back headphones, but some IEMs also feature this scenario. Using the HiFiMAN Edition XS and the iBasso 3T-154 actually wielded similar experiences comparing their soundstage and imaging through the M15i. Both were slightly more dimensional, but the precision was the biggest difference. Spatial imaging is by far the biggest improvement that the M15i makes. Everything feels like it has an expanded center, giving instruments more room to move left and right as well as front to back. The balanced output makes this more apparent, with the blank space in between sounds more accentuated.

Headphones and IEMs that have warm timbres are more dominant through the M15i. It’s a clear warmth that controls your headphone’s outward resonance. It’s an organized warmth that highlights texture and minimizes fogginess. The mids and highs feel a bit more reserved but still very natural. It can be considered neutral, but the details on some notes can be quite textured. Nothing really resonates in the treble though, which doesn’t bother me much as the highs still have good clarity.

Summary

Questyle isn’t trying to hide what the M15i is. It sets out to be an upgrade to the M15, and it does that in every way that matters. The sound profile of the M15i has some major differences that feel so much more refined than the previous version. The sound is much more defined, separated by engaging blank spaces that make everything pop. Being the same price as the M15, I don’t think it’s much of a big ask to go for the upgrade, especially if you haven’t used the M15 before. There are some heavy hitters for DAC dongles nowadays, but the M15i still stands tall as one of the best.

The Questyle M15i is available at Audio46.

The post Questyle M15i Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• Zen DAC 3
• RCA Cable
• 3.5 to 6.3 mm Adapter
• Quick Start Guide
• Instruction Card

Build: 

Above the hood, iFi mixes up what has become a classic look for the brand. Yes, the rounded, askew shape remains intact, so you can mix and stack it with previous generations of iFi products. But without looking for too long, you’ll notice the facelift the Zen DAC 3 has received. On the front panel, you now get a dual material faceplate with a separating accent line in between. The look is modern and elegant, a welcome change to the all-brushed aluminum look of the first two generation Zen DACs. 

On this face plate are a balanced 4.4mm headphone output as well as a 6.3mm one for single ended use. To the left of those are the volume dial, which has a glowing ring around it to indicate the type of file being played. Then there are two buttons: one for XBass control and the other for activating “Power Match” (XBass, of course, handles bass adjustment, and Power Match controls the gain levels of the amplifier).

On the back, you get a balanced 4.4mm output as well as a single ended RCA output. Then there’s simply a USB-C input (an update to the old USB type-B input of the older generations) and a switch to control variable or fixed mode (variable is for controlling headphone and preamplifier volume, fixed is for bypassing analog volume control entirely). And finally, there’s a DC power input if you want to power the device externally. Of course, iFi is also known for their power supplies and they encourage you to try those out with this device for best performance. 

The general build of this device is really good. It takes an already great design formula and improves it just that much more. I/O is okay – for the price point, it might have been nice to get another option or two for inputs. Otherwise, there’s not much to complain about here. 

Design:

If the physical changes to the Zen DAC weren’t enough for you, iFi also updated some of its design features as well. Sticking with Burr-Brown, the Zen DAC 3 now uses a 16-core XMOS processor, which should enhance playback capabilities quite a bit. The device now supports files up to 768 kHZ PCM, DSD 512, and MQA. The Burr-Brown chip is True Native, which means you’re getting your files in bit perfect form. So you’ll be able to hear the music as the level of quality that the artists created them in. 

Power-wise, you’ll get 210mW at 32 ohms single ended, and 390mW at 32 ohms balanced. It may not seem like a lot, but I was able to adequately power Sennheiser’s HD660S2, and both Meze’s 109 Pro and Liric II using the power match function when needed. That said, if your main headphones are power hungry, you may want to opt for an external amp to go with this DAC. Of course, iFi makes amplifiers in the Zen line that stack with the Zen DAC 3. 

Sound Impressions:

As mentioned, I tried the Zen DAC 3 with the Sennheiser HD660S2 and Meze’s 109 Pro and Liric II. This selection of headphones gave me an idea of how the Zen DAC could reproduce sound, as well as power headphones in multiple power and price brackets. Up top, I found the Zen DAC 3 to be pleasant and engaging. It does lean just the littlest bit warm, smoothing out treble and giving vocals a nice musicality. 

Listening first with the 109 Pro, I found the Zen DAC 3 to be fast and accurate. For example, on the live track “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac, I got a good sense of attack and decay. As I mentioned the treble is a bit smoothed out, which is a good thing with the 109 Pro, which can be a tad bright at times. Bass was nice and balanced and I never found myself needing XBass with them. But we’ll cover XBass in full at the end of this section. Soundstage and imaging is solid. It isn’t the widest or deepest I’ve ever heard, but it makes up for that by sounding quite natural. Sometimes with more affordable DAC/Amps, the soundstage feels artificially wide, but that is not the case here. 

Moving onto the HD660S2, I got a better chance to try out XBass and Power Match. In fact, I found Power Match to be necessary for all listening with these. If you own hard to drive headphones like these, you’ll definitely want to run it balanced and with power match activated. With that set up, I found the HD660S2 to be nice and neutral, if a little intimate, but that’s just the character of these headphones. With XBass turned on, the low end was deep and punchy without any coloration of the mid range. Mids were beautiful as you’d expect, and once again, the treble was nice and smooth. 

Finally, I ran the Liric II out of this device to see how it could scale, and to be totally honest, it scaled quite well. With the Liric II, I got a better sense of space with a wider soundstage. Again, everything just felt smooth. I found that it was able to do everything from classic rock, to hip/hop, to modern pop very well. That said, it did expose the limitations of an entry-level DAC/Amp like this. You still don’t get a sense of open space or a great range of micro-detail. But that’s not what this device is meant for, and the fact that it could scale at all, let alone as well as it did, is a great sign for the Zen DAC 3. 

Now, just a quick word on XBass. As has been said before, the beauty of XBass is that it adds to the texture and quantity of bass without impacting the rest of the frequency response. That said, I found it to be useful on a case by case basis. Unless you’re a true bass head, not every track will call for XBass. But when it does, you’ll be happy you have the feature available. It can really add life and energy to a track that has less bass on it. 

Final Thoughts:

The Zen DAC 3 is a really nice upgrade to the Zen DAC lineup. As a DAC, it does a solid job reproducing music and is compatible with the latest audio formats. As an amp, it has plenty of power, though a separate dedicated amplifier can definitely take things to the next level. If you’re an entry-level to mid-fi audiophile, the Zen DAC 3 is definitely worth a look. 

The iFi Zen DAC 3 is available at Audio 46. 

The post iFi Zen DAC 3 Review appeared first on Major HiFi.