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發表於 2014-2-20 16:16:07
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本帖最後由 hkborn 於 2014-2-20 16:24 編輯
reviewed by a young audiophile
Introduction
In a world where media player hardware often sacrifice efficiency and performance in favour of needless aesthetics, it is a relief that the QA860 exists as a simple yet effective all-in-one media player specifically for the playback of lossless audio files. Developing on from the QA660 model, the QA860 offers a greater package with a dedicated headphone amplifier, a preamplifier, and increased audio format support, including the WAV, AIFF, ALAC and DSD file formats. Furthermore, the preamplifier can be turned off so that the QA860 only functions as a DAC, which is recommended when connected to a system with a back end machine with a better volume control system.
Build Quality
While this reviewer is by no means any kind of expert with regards to understanding what kinds of materials are best chosen for the construction of audio devices, it is difficult to find any flaws in the QA860’s build. The metal casing shows no sign of wear in short term use and is as sturdy as one would expect from any kind of high-end audio equipment. The 2xAAA battery-powered remote has failed to disappoint in any way in terms of hardware functionality. I expect this to remain the case for the coming years of use and am very glad with the unit I have on hand.
Ease of Use
The operating system is easy to learn and simple to use, supporting up to three layers of files and folders and can be easily navigated mainly by using the remote. There is a slight learning curve in doing this but nothing that cannot easily solved by consulting the concise manual. Playback modes, such as the looping or inverted playback order, and some small variations in the aesthetic presentation, such as the colour and size of fonts, are accessible in the settings menu. Overall, everything from the display interfaces to the remote control’s ease of use is commendable.
Comparisons (Sound Quality)
As I had a Beyerdynamics T1 convenient on hand, I spent most of my first impressions with the QA860 going through some of the more familiar pieces in my music library. The T1 were driven effortlessly, giving it the spacious soundstage and clean highs that it prides itself with. In orchestral tracks, each instrument had its own individual presence and position, without any single feeling particularly overpowering unless the track called for it. I would say, however, that the treble area was harsh during songs with high-pitched female vocals but this is something that occurs often with the T1 and does not lower my impression of the QA860 at all.
QLS’ claim that the QA660 provides a “deep, dark background” also rings true with the QA860 and causes it to be very revealing of flawed recordings. In a few badly recorded music tracks, the sound of guitar strings became rather unfocused and was unappealing to listen to. However, this only serves to show how the QA860 succeeds in providing a transparent and accurate playback of each recording.
w/KS Digital ADM10 Studio Monitors
Hooking it up with a KS Digital ADM10 Studio Monitor, the harshness in the treble area becomes less obvious. (It should be noted that the ADM10 is an active monitor, meaning that for other speakers an external power amplifier may be necessary.) The impression I had of the QA860’s ability to reproduce music accurately remained true, but with the ADM10, I was particularly impressed with how the QA860 aided the imaging of each individual instrument within a wide and deep soundstage.
With the BM Ice 802 DAC, I compared the difference in sound signature between the two devices. The QA860, with its integrated preamplifier turned on and connected directly to the ADM10, favoured a tighter bass response. When outputting first to the Ice 802 with the QA860’s preamplifier turned off, the focal difference seems to be an increase in bass response. While I personally have no strong preference to either side, I find the former setup to be closer to what I consider to be a neutral sound signature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the QA860 satisfies as a full package in terms of providing high quality, accurate music playback. Everything, from the player’s physical shape and form to the operating system’s functionality, is satisfying and reliable. The actual sound produced from the QA860, alone or with another DAC, is pleasant and fulfills QLS’ goal of providing an accurate rendition of the original recording. I highly recommend anyone looking for an all-in-one, do-it-all device or simply an upgrade to their digital source to consider the QA860. |
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樓主: hkborn
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發表於 2014-2-19 11:24:59
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