Super versatile DAC dongle for your Iems - Quloos MUB1

Pros: 

- Excellent sound quality for a Bluetooth dongle, competes with mid-tier daps in Bluetooth mode
- Battery bypass
- 7 filters to play with, NOS mode is great
- Tuning is well done and leans towards musical and has a bit of warmth, not bland unlike some brands that like to play it safe
- Works as a DDC
- Car mode
- Matches well with warm and lush IEMs

Cons: 

- Some noise on Super gain mode
- Stock packaging doesn’t come with the leather case (plastic case included though)
- Sounds sharp/shouty with some iems
- Need to burn in for quite a bit of time, fresh out of the box is not the best sounding

The Mub1 is a Bluetooth DAC dongle that was released at around 2023 and they were a huge hit in the Asia market when it was first released, I saw so many people unboxing it in China and many raved about it. I got to hear it a while ago and it sounded clean to me but I didn’t buy it at the time. Recently I got a chance to trade it with a friend locally and I decided to go for it, so this unit is paid entirely by me and I am not affiliated with Quloos.

Unboxing

The unboxing experience is average, very straightforward forward and no BS packaging. Accessories are fine, it comes with the MUB1, two cables (type c and lightning) and a plastic case and screen protectors, it basically covers all your basic needs. I wish it came with the leather case stock as the MSRP of the Mub1 is not particularly cheap.

Basics about Mub1

The MUB1 is very well built, it is really solid and heavier than the Muse M5 Ultra that I have owned before. The screen is a little small but still pretty visible in my opinion. It has Bluetooth and Type-C input, 7 filters, 4 gain modes, battery bypass, SPDIF output, works as a DDC and car mode. I find all these functions useful in my daily life, and it shows that a simple dongle could be super versatile.

Sound Quality

Source used: iPhone 15 via Bluetooth and stock Type-C cable

The Mub1 is very clean-sounding as a Bluetooth device, I think it could compete with mid-tier daps on the market but being a lot more convenient. Not everyone wants to carry a DAP outside and this fulfills that hole in the market really well.

The bass is clean and fast, but it is not bassy so if you want a source that is bassy, pass on the Mub1.

The mids are the highlight for the mub1, it is presented more forward than a typical source and it is my preferred sound signature. It does sound a little sharp/ shouty with some iems but it could be improved with experimenting with filters/ tips/cables. However I do think it sounds too sharp for my preference even on NOS mode. I really wish it sounds smoother and I would bump the score higher.

The highs are great as well, they are detailed and have great clarity and it has a lot of air. The microdetails are also noticibaly cleaner than many other Bluetooth sources. Sometimes I couldn’t believe I was listening to a Bluetooth device since it could provide so much details.

All the filters do make a slight difference in sound which is really nice, I personally enjoy NOS mode the most as it is the smoothest but I find Slow mode works with faster and colder-sounding iems. I think filters are useful to match different iems and make them sound closer to one’s preference.

The soundstage is average, I think it is fair for the price-point and the imaging is precise. Technicality is great and punches above its price. The instrument separation is solid for the price. Dynamics are average but not lacking at all. It has a hint of warmth and leans towards musical but I wouldn’t say it is as warm and musical as a good tube amp or R2R DAC.

If you have more demanding iems or even headphones, you could use the super gain mode, it is very powerful for a dongle and it handles my HD600 decently. You could also use it with an external power bank bypassing the internal battery which preserves battery health and slightly increases the sound quality slightly increases. Also if you use the mub1 on a DAP using type C input, it has more pushing power compared to the Bluetooth mode or connecting with your phone’s USB output.

I did use it with my Oriveti oh700vb, Forte Ears Mefisto (loaner from a friend) and Juzear Defiant, the Mub1 powers all these iems with ease and Mefisto sounded really nice with it, but it did sound a little shouty paired with the Mub1 using the stock cable, so I got a copper cable to smooth it out a little and it sounded better to me.

Final thoughts

I think QLS has made a really nice Bluetooth dongle that is versatile and simple to use, it also provides amazing sound quality with great clarity that could compete with some mid-tier daps on the market. If you want to get a device that you could control with your phone and without sacrificing sound quality, you should consider the Mub1. (Or maybe wait for the Mub5? I heard it is releasing soon.)

P.S. I tried it with VE Phonix, and it is a warm and lush IEM that matches really well. If you have a warm-sounding IEM, it would be a good match.

Bass: 8/10

Mids: 8.5/10
Treble: 8/10
Tuning: 8/10
Fatigability (higher score = less fatiguing to listen to): 8/10
Price to performance ratio (MSRP): 7/10
Overall: 8/10 (4 stars)

QLS Hifi MUB1 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org