Alright so, after using the F.Audio FA5 for quite a while now, I thought it’s time I drop my full thoughts on it. This isn’t your average fancy streaming device nah, this one’s strictly for those who still believe in offline lossless music. No apps, no Spotify, just pure music straight from your SD card. And lemme tell you… it sounds crazy good.
Let me break it all down in the way I like, starting with the specs and then deep dive into how it performs in real life.
Disclaimer
I received the F.Audio FA5 from HiFiGO for review purposes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, and HiFiGO has no influence over my evaluation. This review is unbiased and reflects my honest experience with the product. I am not affiliated with HiFiGO in any way, and I have not received any compensation beyond the product itself.
Note: I am into warm, analog sound that can produce rich and cozy tones, with enhanced bass and midrange frequencies to smoothly render it full-bodied. This captures the organic warmth of music with depth and intimacy, much like the soft texture of vinyl. Natural-sounding, relaxed, and emotionally engaging, this is perfect for immersive soothing listening. Based on my sound preference, I am writing this review.
If you are willing to buy this product you can visit HiFiGO. If you are from Bangladesh, you can visit GeekMart .
What’s in the box
- DAP
- USB to USB-C cable
- Leather Cover
Build Quality
Alright, let’s talk about how this thing feels in the hand, the F.Audio FA5 is built like a tank, but not the bulky type. It’s got that premium solid metal housing, feels cold to the touch which I always love. You hold it and you just know it’s not some cheap plasticky stuff.
The buttons? Hmm… mixed feelings. They clicks fine and are sturdy, but the placement ain’t my favorite. Took me a while to get used to where everything is. Sometimes I press back button when I wanna volume down a song annoying at first, but you get used to it.
The screen is decent, not super high res or super vibrant, but gets the job done. It’s a music player, not a Netflix machine XD, so I’m cool with that.
The ports 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm all feel tight and firm. No loose jacks or weird wiggles. That’s a win. I’ve plugged and unplugged my cables tons of times and everything still feels brand new. Even the SD card slot is tucked neatly and the card goes in with a satisfying click. No cheap-feel flex or wobble anywhere.
Also, it doesn’t get too hot even when using it as a desktop DAC for hours. Just gets warm, which is normal for this kind of performance. The back plate is clean, no screws sticking out, and the branding is minimal which I like keeps it sleek and not flashy.
Specs That Hit Hard
The FA5 can basically play anything you throw at it, from PCM 768kHz/32bit to DSD1024, it’s overkill in the best way possible. It doubles as a USB DAC too, and works fine with Windows, Android, iOS, Linux… even ASIO apps on Windows with XMOS drivers.
Bluetooth? Yeah it has it, supports SBC, AAC, APTX, APTX-LL, APTX-HD, so that’s cool too. But honestly, I rarely use Bluetooth with this thing.
Sound Performance – Just… Wow
This is where things gets real serious. The sound signature is warm-neutral, which for me is the sweet spot. It got that musicality but still nails the details and separation.
Bass
Bass is tight, deep and textured. I ran my usual tests with Massive Attack – Angel and Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing, it hits with authority. Sub-bass has this rich rumble and the mid-bass is punchy and clean. Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain? Killed it.
Mids & Vocals
Now the mids are where the soul lives. Vocals got this raw, emotional feel, male vocals sound full, meaty and just right. I jammed to Mark Knopfler, AC/DC, Led Zep, Eagles, Chris Isaak and they all sounded so damn alive.
Female vocals are also clean, rich and energetic, without going sibilant or sharp. I usually don’t like shouty upper mids, and this DAP keeps it smooth. Sade, Laura Branigan, and Shania Twain they just sound so natural.
But small warning: if you pair it with a bright IEM like the IE200, some tracks gets a bit too hot. Cymbals, electric guitars, and some female vocals can get a bit fatiguing. Not crazy harsh, but definitely more energetic than I’d prefer.
Treble
Treble is the perfect mix of detail and smoothness. It’s lively, open, and well-extended without going overboard. Bohemian Rhapsody, Pink Floyd Pulse (live) – the layers, the echoes, the tiny bits of air… all come through crystal clear.
Soundstage & Separation
Now this… this is something else. The soundstage got CRAZY depth and height. Width is decent, but when it comes to that 3D headroom feel? FA5 is top tier. Instruments are placed so well, it feels like a proper concert hall in your ears.
I used my usual Kitaro and Yanni tracks for testing instrumentals, and wow… it just nails that epic, emotional, cinematic sound.
Pairing Impressions
So I’ve tested this FA5 with quite a few IEMs over time, and lemme tell you, pairing matters a lot. This DAP got a warm-neutral base with really high resolution, so depending on what IEM you plug in, the whole sound vibe can shift. Here’s my take on a few popular IEMs I’ve tried with it:
Ikko OH10S
This one pairs really well with the FA5. OH10S already got that rich bass and lush midrange, and this DAP just enhances that even more without making it too boomy or thick. The stage feels bigger, layering gets better, and vocals feel deep and emotional. Treble has nice sparkle without ever being harsh. If you like that musical, full-bodied sound, this pairing is kinda magic.
Sennheiser IE200
Now here’s where things get a little tricky. IE200 is kind of on the brighter, leaner side so with FA5’s detailed output, some tracks do end up sounding a bit too energetic, especially with female vocals and cymbals. There’s a bit of sharpness in the upper mids if you’re sensitive to that. Not a bad pairing, but I’d say it’s not the most relaxed combo. Might not be the best for long sessions unless you’re into that extra bite.
BQEYZ Frost
Man this was a surprise. Frost has this energetic and wide-open kind of sound, and paired with FA5, it feels really immersive. Stage is massive, especially the height and depth just goes wild. You get amazing clarity and separation, and still the sound never turns harsh. Vocals sound natural, instruments are crisp. It’s like a mini concert hall in your ears. Definitely recommend this pairing if you like an engaging but clean sound.
Truthear Hola
This pairing is just super chill and easy to listen. Hola already got that warm, relaxed tone, and FA5 brings out a bit more detail and stage while keeping things smooth. Bass gets tighter, mids feel more alive, and nothing ever gets fatiguing. It’s not the most technical combo, but for casual listening or just relaxing with your favorite music, this is a really fun and cozy setup.
Tripowin x HBB Mele
Mele + FA5 is super musical. Both got that warm touch, but FA5 adds a layer of refinement to the Mele’s laid-back sound. Bass feels deeper and better controlled, mids are lush, and treble is smooth as ever. It’s a non-fatiguing, emotional listen great for classic rock, oldies, and mellow tracks. Just don’t expect huge stage or insane details this combo is more about vibe and feel
Gaming as DAC Mode
Tried this as a desktop DAC while playing CS2, Valorant, Battlefield 2042, and RDR2. Footstep positioning? On point. Surround effects in open-world games? Absolutely sick. It honestly made my gaming setup feel like a soundstage monster.
FPS Games
Games tested: Counter Strike 2, Valorant, Call of Duty (Multiplayer), Battlefield 2042
This is where FA5 really showed its strength. Soundstage is wide enough, but the real killer part is the depth and height which helps with locating enemies above, below, or behind walls. It felt like I was almost cheating in some rounds of CS2. I could literally hear someone sneaking behind a crate before I even saw them.
Footstep separation is so clean, like in Valorant, I could tell which direction Sage was walking just from the heel-clicks. Gunshots had weight not just “loud”, but like impactful. You feel the punch when you shoot with a rifle or get hit by one.
Imaging? On point. No fuzz, no guesswork. If I hear a reload sound to the left-rear, I know it’s there, not just “somewhere around”. It gives you a serious edge in competitive play if you pair it with a good IEM or headphone.
Only downside if you’re using a very bright IEM (like IE200), gunfire and flashbangs can get a bit sharp. Just something to keep in mind.
Open-World Games
Games tested: Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V, Once Human
This is where the FA5 turns into an audio movie director. In RDR2, riding through the wilderness at night, hearing the wolves howl in the distance, the trees rustle… it just wraps you in the environment. The depth of the soundstage is unreal, like you can hear the wind rolling through the canyons, not just left to right but like, from near and far distances. You don’t just hear the world… you feel it.
The horse hooves on wood versus gravel have different textures. In GTA V, city sounds like car horns, random dialogues, police sirens, everything is clear and well-placed. And in Once Human, with that horror/survival theme, the ambience really pulls you in. Creepy whispers, ambient growls, sudden jumpscares all land harder because the DAP feeds you every tiny sound with proper space and clarity.
UI & User Experience
So yeah, the UI is definitely weak. I feel like they should’ve done better in 2025 for this price.
- No options to add to favorites, create playlists, or delete tracks.
- There’s this weird ‘tac’ sound when you change songs or move around the UI while music is playing.
- Bluetooth has bugs : like when I pause music and come back later, it just doesn’t play unless I reconnect the whole thing.
- Also, not a fan of the button layout : personal preference, but it doesn’t feel intuitive.
Battery backup is decent, around 8-9 hours, and it takes 3 hours to fully charge. it doesn’t support fast charge. i wish it could.
It does have high/low gain, USB DAC charging mode, and you can tweak the SD card speed settings, which is cool. Just wish the software side was more polished.
Adding some UI pics
EQ & Filters
It’s got 10-band EQ and 8 digital filters, but tbh, I don’t use any of that. Every device has its own natural sound, and I don’t like messing with that. The stock tuning is already beautiful.
Final Verdict – Worth It?
Look, if you’re into offline music and care most about sound quality, and don’t care much about UI or Bluetooth bugs, then yes, this DAP is totally worth it.
For around 200 bucks, I don’t think anything else matches this level of sound performance, technical details, and musical feel. It’s powerful, emotional, and satisfying to listen to for hours and hours.
Yeah, the software could use some polish, and Bluetooth bugs can be annoying , but if you’re after a pure music-first experience, the F.Audio FA5 is a hidden gem.
Happy Listening
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