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Which is the better unit to drive HiFiMan planar magnetic cans, this or the BTR5-2021?

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blorg
46
Aug 25, 2023
They use the exact same DAC/amp chips and are entirely identical in terms of sound quality and output power. The Qudelix has slightly higher max voltage output than the BTR5 for high impedance cans (this is presumably just a software limit on the latter as they are literally the same chips) but they have the same power into the lower impedances of Hifiman planars and will be exactly the same. The Qudelix is smaller, lighter, integrated clip and has a much better app and PEQ support. BTR5 has the screen showing volume and input which is nice, and better buttons. Q5K has much better battery management, BTR5 is always charging while Q5K can actually run off USB power. So BTR5 if you use it plugged in a lot the battery will degrade after a year or so while Q5K is fine. I have both around 2 years, and this was my experience. Qudelix IMO is the much better all round device. "HiFiMan planar magnetic cans" isn't very descriptive as Hifiman make some of the easiest to drive headphones (OG Ananda- 103dB/mW) and some of the hardest (HE6SEV2- 83dB/mW). MOST Hifimans can be driven satisfactorily from either Q5K or BTR5 using a balanced cable though, I have tried HE1000 Stealth, Arya Stealth, OG Ananda, Sundara, Edition XS, HE400SE. Edition XS and HE400SE are the most marginal but still OK. All the others I think absolutely fine. I have even tried the HE6SEV2 and it actually makes noise but wouldn't be a rec.
carageae
12
Nov 5, 2023
I also have HE400se and especially if you have a balanced cable, which doubles the available driving voltage, the volume level is not an issue. Maybe you will raise the slider close to the max if you really want a hard level or extreme bass, but I think it's enough. I don't own the BTR5, but the BTR-3K and that could be a bit louder, still ok for Edition XS though. I used it also with HD650 (unballanced by now, I don't have a 2.5mm balanced cable available for them by now) and it drives them louder enough...and they are 300 ohms headphones. The real advantage of the ballanced connection, imho is the double voltage available in this mode, if we have 1Vpp unballanced, refferenced to GND, in ballanced mode these toys achieve 2Vpp, with GND as a center refference. In fact it's +/-1Vpp reffered to GND. This is the reason we are not allowed to make adapters by joining the two L- and R- pins...in fact this way we parrallel the negative side of each channel, with resulting distortion and severe alterration of the sound stage, the sound is close to mono this way (but don't try this at home!).
(Edited)
TheronB
1
Jul 21, 2024
blorgWhat would be a better portable amp/dac for Edition XS?
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