Review - FiQuest headphone amp

[shigzeo]

For the full review, head to: FiQuest headphone amp in review – Adroit audio evangelism

When I was at the Tokyo OFF headphone amp meeting, I got a chance to drool at iBasso's table. There was the current FiQuest and a Prototype and a nice little DAC for exemplary portable sound. Well, it arrived at my doorstep after a very short 3 day flight from Japan.

Big and heavy, it redefines the word 'portable' as much as the Atari Lynx did back in the day. Maybe it is the iPad of portable amps. Well, it has 4 channels which can be buffered or bypassed, space for a lot of op-amp rolling, and considering the sound and options, is very very worth its asking price of 449$ maxed. Regular versions cost much closer to 300$, but I had to go all the way

The review won't be up for about a month, but I want to put this out: this amp rocks. It is quite smooth, powerful and while not the same sort of linear as the ALO Rx, it shines in just the right places. Best part? From the DJ1Pro to the Fitear Private 333, it is nearly silent; it is always powerful.

[PatrickH]

... a nice little DAC for exemplary portable sound.

iPod/iPhone compliant?

[shigzeo]

That DAC will NOT work with an iPod/iPhone as it is just a DAC. However, ALO and GR9 who made the ALO Rx are working on a digital spitfire for the iPhone which plugs in via the 30 pin dock to spit digital to a DAC, or offer conversion inside. They hinted that this year, portable audio will overtake desktop audio, at least when it comes to cost/performance.

Interview with ALO and GR9

Review of ALO Rx headphone amplifier

[shigzeo]

This amp is very smooth and has lots of power. Distortion exist at very loud volumes (which I would never use) and it works pretty well with iems: low hiss and good resolution. Is it the ultimate portable amp? Not sure yet, but its plug 'n play options are fantastic.

The first batch of measurements below are taken with the DJ1Pro, a 64Ω headphone. The software is just RMAA, Right Mark Audio Analyzer, a product which I am in the process of upgrading.

Under stress, IMD bursts up (and is audible, but at those volumes, music is way too loud anyway).

[shigzeo]

Updated pics - review to follow in 1-2 weeks.

^^Gee was I wrong there!

[shigzeo]

Well, publish day finally arrived. It's pretty easy to praise this amp - smooth, detailed, and powerful. Op-amp switching to your heart's desire means you can tweak the FiQuest for IEM or headphone use. Quite simply, it is perfect. Of course, its size is quite a hurdle: if you are looking for a home amp replacement, the FiQuest is for you, but if you want just an IEM amp for portable use, there are other, smaller, and better options.

Plenty of power for the DT880 and for IEM's alike - great resolution, great impedance matching options.

One issue is intermodular distortion, but that only happens on high volumes or overly-gained switching.

[hiyori]

Deeply impressed!
Want to know more about its actual release date and when pre-order would be begin?

[shigzeo]

I think you will be able to buy it in June. I am in the middle of comparing it with its next releases (great, smaller amps). Stay tuned. I should get more information from MST. This is now my home amp too!