FiiO QX11, the DAC that winks at gamers
For gaming, there's dedicated sound management, with specific profiles for different genres
A small 36-gram device attempts to reconcile music listening and gaming without turning into a simple USB adapter. This is the new FiiO QX11, a DAC and headphone amplifier that introduces operating modes designed for rather different needs.
In Hi-Fi mode, it handles audio signals PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD512, relying on a pair of ESS ES9069Q DACs. For gaming, a dedicated sound management system comes into play, with specific profiles for different genres and particular attention to the localization of audio effects.
Music and gaming on the same device
The QX11 uses an analog architecture based on Texas Instruments components and offers two outputs: a 3.5 mm jack and a 4.4 mm balanced connection. The latter reaches 800 + 800 mW into 32 ohms in Desktop mode, meaning that when using the 4.4 mm balanced output, the QX11 can deliver up to 800 mW per channel when driving headphones with an impedance of 32 ohms, a very high power for such a small device, sufficient to effortlessly drive even rather demanding headphones.
An integrated microphone with AI ENC noise cancellation is also included, while the dual USB-C allows the device to be powered and, through the dedicated port, provide up to 45 W of Power Delivery charging. The QX11 also integrates AUTO EQ, a 10-band equalizer, S/PDIF output, and a 1.14" LCD display. Its dimensions are just 64 × 28.8 × 13 mm.
The price indicated by FiiO is approximately 140 dollars, with international availability currently expanding.