Louis evaluations the Questyle QCC Dongle Professional, a compact BT5.4 dongle that enhances moveable units with LDAC and aptX Lossless transmission. It’s presently priced at $69.00.
Disclaimer: I acquired this pattern in trade for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank Questyle for this chance.
Click on right here to learn extra in regards to the Questyle merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring pointers, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
Questyle QCC Dongle Professional Evaluation
Abstract
I actually like what the Questyle QCC Dongle Professional brings to the desk. It’s a reasonable further piece of {hardware} that may upscale your Bluetooth headgear to its most efficiency stage, with out being an eyesore resolution.
Professionals
Ample high-quality codec functionality.
Small stature with a raised bump.
Connection stability that may span an ample distance.
Cons
Doesn’t run on the most recent Bluetooth 6.0 radio.
Crimson LED generalizes the highest three codecs.
I’ve seen, of late, a constructive development to propel Bluetooth ahead within the audio business, and I’m all for it.
There’s a handful of producers releasing options to the continued crappy built-in Bluetooth options, which have been considered one of Bluetooth’s obstacles, significantly for audio listening.
Firms like Questyle have launched units just like the QCC (common version), and FiiO launched the AIR LINK, for instance, to resolve this dilemma and supply a way so as to add higher Bluetooth audio to any system with a USB port.
One of many impairments of the Questyle QCC was that it omitted the LDAC codec. I thought-about {that a} backstep as a result of these days, LDAC is the most typical Bluetooth codec up-to-snuf for music listening. Therefore, the QCC Dongle Professional.
Options
That’s mainly the spotlight of the product right here. The QCC Dongle Professional provides LDAC functionality, which the common QCC doesn’t have. That’s it.
The Questyle QCC Dongle Professional makes use of a modern-day Bluetooth resolution, but it surely doesn’t use the most recent because it transmits over a Bluetooth 5.4 radio, and never on the most recent Bluetooth 6.0 variant, however that’s okay.
The QCC Dongle Professional makes use of a Qualcomm QCC3086 single-chip resolution with Snapdragon sound, LE audio, and a low latency of lower than 20ms on the low-latency codec, which is one other QCC Dongle Professional product spotlight right here.
The QCC Dongle Professional can also be appropriate with nearly something that has some form of USB connection. I couldn’t confirm compatibility with all Home windows variations, but it surely works tremendous on Home windows 11 for me.
It additionally works on Apple and carries MFi certification. It additionally works on Android, Chrome, and an Amazon pill I personal.
One facet that makes me scratch my head in regards to the QCC Dongle Professional is that Questyle mentions that the QCC Dongle Professional is made for iPhone and iPad, and comes with a USB-C connector and a full-sized USB adapter for the most recent iPhone iteration.
My one request can be to additionally embrace a Lightning connectivity possibility out of the field for older fashions, if attainable.
Bluetooth Codecs
First off, the QCC Dongle Professional is able to aptX adaptive, with the addition of LDAC, which was omitted on the unique QCC Dongle. These are the 2 codecs that basically matter to me, as an audiophile, that the QCC Professional can cowl.
This is the reason you get a tool just like the Questyle QCC Dongle Professional, for the obtainable codecs. There are loads. This dongle can run AAC, SBC, and each aptX codec, together with HD and low latency, with no points, however why would you?
One factor is that you simply’ll should justify the fee as a result of most cell units can do LDAC, and an extended listing of fashions these days deal with Adaptive.
A brief listing of fashions may even deal with aptX Lossless. If that’s the case, the QCC Professional will not be for you. This dongle is then finest used with a PC, a laptop computer, or iOS gear.
One small caveat I discovered was that the LED system is just too unspecific when it kicks into one of many high-tier codecs. It’s the identical Crimson LED for aptX Adaptive, Lossless, and LDAC.
For instance, in case your system picks up the transmission on LDAC, the LED shall be pink, simply the identical for aptX Lossless or Adaptive.
That makes it onerous to inform what codec you’re on. I couldn’t confirm if I used to be working aptX Lossless on this case, significantly. However that’s a small caveat.
Design
The method that Questyle makes use of to make the housing is a course of known as vacuum plating, and the meeting is constituted of PC-ABS, which mixes the power of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The seen floor has a mirror end which you could see your self in.
The housing has one small good indicator LED mild that provides the person some suggestions on connection standing.
It makes use of a common mixture of pink, blue, and white. The LED flashes pink and blue when in pairing mode, and a flashing blue signifies the QCC Dongle Professional is in reconnecting mode.
Connectivity is obtained by way of a USB-C plug, which has a raised hump to accommodate most protecting instances and is mounted on a black insert. However once more, I’m shocked that there’s no Lightning connectivity out of the field.
The dongle itself may be very small, one of many smallest. It measures 25.2 x 10.3 x 15.25 mm, and I might say that it weighs not more than 2 grams. I feel it’s one of many constructive factors of the QCC Dongle Professional, the petite measurement.
Questyle App
The app itself is fairly fundamental. The 2 main options are the codec selector and the pairing part. There’s additionally a manufacturing unit restore function, a recreation mode, and the firmware improve function, which shows the present firmware model.
I did have a snafu state of affairs making an attempt to improve the firmware; the Questyle app gave off a number of errors after I tried to improve the firmware. It truthfully took a number of makes an attempt until I obtained the firmware improve profitable message. All I can say is simply maintain making an attempt.
To be sincere, I didn’t detect any weirdness that required a firmware replace within the first place. I do like that it seems as if Questyle is seeking to maintain the system updated for a while and is prepared to implement enhancements after product launch.
Packaging & Equipment
Questyle ships the QCC Dongle Professional inside a jewellery cardboard field, which is nicely laminated with product data and pictures of the dongle itself. It’s a really good field. However we’re not simply shopping for a field, proper?
Contained in the field, you’ll discover the dongle in a customized foam cradle, and inside a cardboard insert, you’ll discover all of the paperwork, the guide, and many others. There’s not a lot else apart from a USB-C to a male USB-A adapter.
Since Questyle says on their product web page that it’s made for contemporary iPhones with USB, however I really feel they need to have included a Lightning cable for older fashions.
Or maybe they will supply the QCC Dongle Professional with a Lightning connector possibility, since an adapter can be an ungainly addition and would protrude out an excessive amount of, marring aesthetics.
Sound Impressions
I used two units of TWS fashions, one was the HIFIMAN Svanar Wi-fi, which reaches LDAC ranges in reference to codecs.
The opposite was the Inventive Aurvana Ace 2, which is aptX Lossless succesful and outfitted with an xMEMS high-frequency driver. I additionally used the Sony WH-XB900N full-sized headset.
Abstract
What the Questyle QCC Dongle Professional makes an attempt to do is to transmit audio as cleanly as a modern-day Bluetooth resolution can, with good outcomes.
It’s a impartial system that additionally makes an attempt to provide extra element in comparison with native codecs, and in comparison with native gear with a Bluetooth transmitter.
I did discover that the bass response was not as heavy-handed as with cheaper native Bluetooth options.
It’s as if Questyle is aware of most Bluetooth headgear out there’s bass-heavy, and so they tried to resolve that dilemma by way of tuning strategies, enhancing sonics over different BT transmitting units. This character, specifically, tightens up the bass.
The excessive frequencies transmitted from the Questyle QCC Dongle Professional are a number of the finest you may receive from a Bluetooth transmitter, significantly on the aptX Lossless or on LDAC. That’s the key advantage of working high-Q codecs.
The QCC Dongle Professional’s dynamic response feels higher on this system than different built-in options. However what’s produced finest is instrument separation, which produces a soundstage with improved positioning and little or no picture smear round components.
It additionally removes a number of the veil related to decrease codecs like SBC or AAC that sound compressed, and brings forth extra element in comparison with lesser codecs that additionally contribute to excessive latency points.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my really useful pairings and chosen comparisons.
