Fiio QX13 Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp

The FiiO QX13 is the flagship of FiiO's dongle DAC line, built to answer a simple question: how close can a phone powered device get to desktop sound? With an eight channel ES9027PRO DAC, a 1.99 inch color display and up to 900mW per channel in desktop mode, the answer is remarkably close.

Type and Technology

The QX13 is a portable USB DAC and headphone amplifier pairing the ESS ES9027PRO, run in eight channel parallel configuration, with a 16 core XMOS XU316 USB controller. It decodes PCM up to 768kHz/32bit and DSD512, and a dedicated desktop mode draws from external power to lift balanced output to 900mW per channel at 32 ohms.

Sound Character

Expect reference grade neutrality with exceptional resolution and a black background; the parallel DAC channels push signal to noise beyond 124dB. It scales from sensitive IEMs to legitimately hard to drive headphones once desktop mode is engaged, sounding composed and dynamic rather than merely loud.

Build and Features

The standout 1.99 inch color display sits under third generation Corning glass and pairs with a 32-bit processor driving multiple UI themes, volume readouts and status screens. You get 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs, a 10 band parametric EQ, and an included magnetic ring for tidy phone mounting. It measures just 64.2 x 30.7 x 13 mm.

Best For

Listeners who want true flagship dongle performance for IEMs and headphones alike, with a screen that makes it feel like a mini DAP. Compare it with the rest of our portable DAC/Amps collection, or browse the FiiO collection and DACs collection.

What's in the Box

• FiiO QX13
• Protective carry case
• Braided USB-C to USB-C cable
• Magnetic ring
• Quick start guide
• Warranty card

Specifications

What Reviewers Say

Reviews By WaveTheory highlights the QX13's push toward state of the art dongle DAC performance in his hands-on review.