CanJam London 2025 kicks off this weekend, and if you thought the dongle DAC wars were winding down, FiiO is here to remind everyone that the portable audio arms race is alive and well. Our UK Headphone and Portable Audio Columnist, James Fiorucci, will be on-site to cover all the action—and yes, that includes the debut of yet another pocket-sized powerhouse from FiiO.
Enter the QX13: a flagship portable DAC and headphone amp that crams desktop-tier performance into something barely bigger than a thumb drive. It’s FiiO’s latest entry in the category, celebrating 18 years of pushing high-end audio closer to the mainstream, and this one’s clearly gunning for the top spot in your USB-C arsenal. Whether you’re plugging it into your phone, laptop, or gaming console, the QX13 is built to breathe new life into your wired headphones—without tethering you to a stack of hi-fi gear.
Carbon fiber shell? Check. High-res audio support? Of course. Audiophile credibility? FiiO’s betting big that the QX13 hits all the right notes, especially as every major streaming service doubles down on lossless–well, everyone except for Spotify.
FiiO QX13 Portable DAC/AMP: Desktop-Grade Sound, Pocket-Sized Package, and Zero Dongle DAC Nonsense
FiiO isn’t just tossing another dongle DAC into the ring—they’re launching a full-scale assault on your portable hi-fi expectations with the QX13. Here’s the breakdown of what this compact beast brings to the table, minus the usual marketing fluff.
The QX13 isn’t playing around—it can fully unfold and decode MQA tracks (if you’re still riding that train to nowhere), and it handles studio-grade formats like DSD512 and PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit. This puts it in rare company among portable DACs, and yes, that means your lossless obsession is finally justified.
You get both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, making it compatible with everything from entry-level cans to power-hungry IEMs and over-ears. No adapters, no compromises—just plug and go.
FiiO went full carbon fiber here—21 layers of it, to be exact. Lightweight? Absolutely. Durable? Like a tank in racing stripes. And then there’s the massive 1.99-inch hardened IPS display, which feels more like a mini hi-fi command center than a DAC.
The QX13 is built around the ESS Sabre ES9027PRO DAC—a chip typically reserved for full-sized rigs. FiiO’s design leverages its 8-channel, fully differential audio architecture in parallel mode, paired with dual ES9312 regulators to tighten output accuracy. Translation: lower jitter, cleaner sound, and real dynamics. This isn’t “dongle performance.” It’s “why are you still using your laptop’s headphone jack?” levels of performance.
Inside the QX13 are four wafer-level INA1620 op-amps that help squash crosstalk and preserve channel separation. Add in a pair of OPA1692 chips, and the result is punchy, distortion-free audio with great dynamics—even under heavy load. In other words, it can drive your planar magnetic IEMs or your inefficient headphones without blinking.
Ideal partners would include the FiiO FT7 or FiiO FX17 IEMs.
When you plug the QX13 into a laptop or powered USB source, it activates a “Desktop Mode” to draw extra juice. It also works seamlessly with the FiiO Control app (iOS/Android) for firmware updates, gain control, and 10-band PEQ customization. No proprietary nonsense, just actual useful tools.
Want to ditch the tangle of wires? The included magnetic leather case (or included magnet ring) turns the QX13 into a single sleek unit with FiiO’s new estick power pack. You get extended battery life and an all-in-one setup that still fits in your jacket pocket. Finally—real portability without sacrificing sound.
FiiO QX13 – Key Specifications
DAC & Amp
- DAC Chip: ESS ES9027PRO
- USB Processor: XMOS XU316
- Amp Section: 4x Texas Instruments INA1620 op-amps
Construction & Design
- Chassis Options: Carbon Fiber (33.7g), Titanium Gold Aluminum (39.2g)
- Display: 1.99-inch LCD (170×320 resolution)
- Controls: Physical volume buttons + Play/Pause
- Desktop Mode: Hardware switch for high-power desktop output
- EQ: 10-band dynamic EQ with 8 presets + user-defined option
Inputs & Outputs
- USB Ports:
- USB-C (data & power)
- USB-C POWER IN (charging/OTA updates)
- Headphone Outputs:
- 3.5mm single-ended
- 4.4mm balanced
- Coaxial Out: Shared with 3.5mm port
Audio Format Support
- PCM: Up to 768kHz/32-bit
- DSD: Up to DSD512 (native)
- MQA: Full decoding supported
- Coaxial Out: Up to 96kHz/24-bit
Power Output (USB Desktop Mode, High Gain)
- 3.5mm (SE):
- 440mW @ 16Ω
- 310mW @ 32Ω
- 40mW @ 300Ω
- 4.4mm (BAL):
- 480mW @ 16Ω
- 900mW @ 32Ω
- 125mW @ 300Ω
Performance Specs
- SNR: ≥124dB (A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.0004% (1kHz/-2dB@32Ω)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz (±0.07dB), extends to 90kHz
- Noise Floor: <2µV (A-weighted)
- Output Impedance: <1Ω (SE), <1.5Ω (BAL)
- Crosstalk: ≥77dB (SE), ≥113dB (BAL)
The Bottom Line
The FiiO QX13 is walking into a battlefield—one littered with dongle DACs, overhyped specs, and shrinking demand thanks to the wireless wave. At $219 USD (£219 / €239), it’s priced right in the kill zone where value and performance must hit hard or die trying. And while the market may be softening under the weight of Bluetooth everything and a glut of “me too” DACs, FiiO isn’t blinking.
What sets the QX13 apart isn’t just the flagship ESS DAC or the carbon fiber shell—it’s the execution. Full MQA decoding, true desktop-grade performance, a proper balanced output, and a user-friendly feature set push it beyond gimmick territory. This isn’t a stripped-down dongle riding on brand name. It’s a portable powerhouse designed to embarrass your laptop’s headphone jack and make a mockery of budget dongles.
That said, FiiO is also competing with itself—and brands like Questyle, iFi, Cayin, and AudioQuest aren’t sitting still. In this segment, pedigree isn’t enough. You need precision, power, and polish. The QX13 brings all three, and its debut at CanJam London on July 19th will show if it’s just another spec sheet warrior—or the new benchmark for sub-$250 portable audio.
Price & Availability
The FiiO QX13 is available now and will make a European debut at CanJam London on Saturday July 19th. Pricing is set at £219, $219, and €239.
For more information: fiio.com/qx13
Where to buy: $219 at Amazon