Here is an intriguing concept: the FIIO QX13, an amplifier headphones that attracts magnetically to your smartphone. This small carbon case promises 900 MW of power and two headsets.
FIIO has just released a fairly original audio accessory: QX13, a helmet amplifier that sticks magnetically at the back of your smartphone.
Compatible Magsafe and Qi2, it adds two helmet sockets (3.5 mm and 4.4 mm symmetrical) and promises 900 MW of power.
At 239 €, this small carbon box of 33 grams targets mobile audiophiles. But frankly, what is the point of dragging an amp hanging on your phone?
The return of the headphone jack… in a magnetic version
The concept is quite clever: since the smartphones have fired the headphone jack, Fiio puts it back. The QX13 is magnetically attached to the back of your phone thanks to the Magsafe and Qi2 compatibility. Concretely, it natively works with recent iPhone and HMD Skyline, plus all Android equipped with a Qi2 shell.
Once glued to the back of your smartphone, the amplifies connects via USB-C and offers you two headphones: a classic 3.5 mm jack and a symmetrical 4.4 mm for high-end headsets. All fueled by a DAC ESS saber pro (ES9027Pro) chip which decodes up to 32 bits at 768 kHz or DSD512.
The idea is to transform your smartphone into a serious audio source without dragging a separate amp in the pocket.
900 MW of power: What exactly do?
FIIO announces 570 MW per channel in mobile mode and 900 MW in office mode. It’s strong.
To give you an idea, most smartphones cap at 1-2 MW on their helmet outing. With 900 MW, you can feed gourmet helmets such as a Sennheiser HD600 or a Beyerdynamic DT990.
But wait… Who is walking with an audiophile helmet of € 300 connected to his smartphone? This is where the concept becomes a little wobbly. If you have a helmet that requires 900 MW, you probably already have a dedicated office amplifier at home.
For nomadic helmets (less than 100 €), the power of the smartphone is largely enough. The interest of the QX13 is therefore limited to a very specific niche: people who want to listen to their high -end mobility helmets.
The QX13 incorporates a small 1.99 inch IPS screen which displays the volume and the info on audio quality.
239 €: the price of the niche
At 239 €, the QX13 costs more than a lot of wired helmets. For this price, you can buy an excellent wireless helmet with active noise reduction. The economic equation only holds the road if you already have a high -end wired helmet.
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The carbon (33 grams) or aluminum (39 grams) case depending on the color partially justifies this price. But let’s stay honest: it is premium for very specific use.
Who can really need it?
The QX13 aims for an ultra-precise target: audiophiles who want to listen to their high-end helmets everywhere. Typically, someone who has a Sennheiser HD650 at home and would like to take him to the office or travel.
The other possible use: content creators who want to monitor their audio in mobility. But then again, closed helmets dedicated to monitoring would do the trick.
