FiiO Q15 Review

UI & Usage

Everyday carry

Big and heavy, the FiiO Q15 remained easier to carry than I expected. If using the M17, or the Q7, as my daily drive was nearly impossible, the FiiO Q15 feels more nimble and usable. 

Obviously, it won’t fit in your trousers’ pocket, will hinder your every move if you put it in your jacket, and create a considerable bulge in your bag, but not as much as its bigger brothers. In fact, my audiophile burger fitted right into ddHiFi’s C2022 audiophile carrying case, whereas the iPhone + Q7 appeared to be a tight fit.

On the other hand, once settled, there is a lot to love about this new DAC/AMP. The digital volume controller, if not as cool as the one found on the M17, remained a joy to use and with countless volume steps, finding the right volume was always simple and easy. The slightly smaller dimensions might not seem like much at first, but in the long run, it does!

Top that with a really cool screen, that indicates volume and gain level – plus many other features – and you might find the Q15 quite handy to use. Buttons fall right under your thumb, access menus are fast and simple to navigate, and if a wired connection isn’t to your taste, Bluetooth is there to save the day.

Desktop mode

That said, if you really want to enjoy the FiiO Q15 to the fullest, desktop mode remains the primary use of this transportable DAC/AMP.

Plugged into a USB-PD outlet and paired with a computer, the Q15 feels much more adequate and the full-sized headphone just outlines its intended purpose: a real desktop amp, pocket-sized. Just remember to flip the “desktop mode” and turn off the “mobile mode” when connected to the power supply, to unlock the full power!

The same goes for the source. If I’d always favor the USB-C port for versatility, the Q15 kept the coaxial input and Bluetooth connection, so you could connect each and every device you own. I was even surprised that FiiO didn’t add Wi-Fi to this one, but you have the M17 for that or your smartphone.

Plugged to my computer, all I had to do was select USB in the entry list of the Q15 and it was immediately recognized by my MacBook. Then, just plug a headphone/IEM into one of the two TRS/TRRS jacks, and you’re good.

Bundle

Inside the box

The FiiO Q15 isn’t as well-dotted as the Q7, but considering the fact that it costs half as much, it’s only natural. Thanks to that, the retail box is also ten times smaller!

Inside, you will find :

• the FiiO Q15,
• a storage pouch,
• a short data USB-C to USB-C cable 
• a long USB-C to USB-C cable, compatible with fast-charging
• a USB-C to USB-A Adapter
• a silicone pad, to protect your phone and the back of the Q15 when paired
• two silicone rings
• some documentation

No cooling stand fan this time, and no DC adapter: the Q15 gets all its power directly from the USB-C port – even in desktop mode. 

So yeah, all you’re going to need after that is a good source like a phone, a digital transport, or even a DAP with a digital output, and you’ll be good to go.

Battery Life and Charging

Pooooooower (once again)!

The new Q15 embarks an ultra-high capacity, temperature-resistant battery, paired with a dynamic charge and discharge temperature-based control, ensuring the audio circuit works properly all the time. And if the battery capacity has been halved by a solid 40% – 5500mAh vs 9200mAh on the Q7 – the battery life remains nearly identical with an expected runtime of about 9h. We managed to do more surprisingly, but FiiO was already conservative with the Q7, or maybe they use the super high mode solely during their test?

Finally, to fill up this massive reserve, FiiO gave the DAC/AMP USB-PD compliance up to 30W charging, but the device still takes a very long time to charge, so you better keep it plugged as long as you can.

The article continues on Page Three, after the click here

Page 1: about FiiO

Page 2: UI, Usage, Bundle

Page 3: Technical specifications

Page 4: Sound performance