QULOOS MUB5 R2R DAC/Amp Review

Built on a 19+5 segmented R2R ladder with 178 matched resistors and no DAC chip named in the page text, the QULOOS MUB5 is a portable DAC and headphone amp. The page lists coaxial, optical, Bluetooth and USB Type-C inputs, 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs with line-out, and up to 2.5W per channel in 12V DC-in mode. HiFiGO's page prices the unit at $1,300.

Specifications

Options and pricing

Seven options are listed. Two are the unit itself at $1,300 each, MUB5 R2R Titanium and MUB5 R2R TI-GOLD. The other five are cases at $50 each in Green, Yellow, Blue, Pink and Black, which are accessories sold alone and not the amplifier. All were orderable when the page was read, and the page lists the item as a pre-sale. No crossed-out price is shown.

How it compares

At $449.99 the QULOOS MUB1 lists 32-Bit/384kHz PCM and Native DSD256, while the MUB5 at $1,300 gives no sample-rate figures in its page text. The Cayin RU9 is $499.99 with two AK4493SEQ chips named in its title, where the MUB5 uses an R2R ladder. The Cayin C9II is $2,399 and its spec line names a Gen5 NuTube 6P1 tube circuit. The MUB5 suits buyers who want an R2R design with line-out and a 12V DC mode; the MUB1 suits a lower budget.

Shipping, returns and warranty

This item is sold as a pre-sale, so the usual dispatch time below starts only once HiFiGO has stock. HiFiGO sells from hifigo.com and says every order leaves its warehouse in China, usually 1-3 business days after it is placed, and says its delivery times are estimates, not promises. Its shipping policy gives the United States 1-2 weeks (about 10 days on average) by Priority and 6-10 days by Premium, both with duties and taxes prepaid by the store; Canada 2-3 weeks; the United Kingdom 1-2 weeks; and Australia 10-15 days. Express couriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx) take 3-7 days, but then the buyer pays any duties and taxes. No shipping page names New Zealand, PO boxes are not accepted, and the free-shipping thresholds differ between the store's own pages, so check the cart. One of its two shipping pages adds that a lost parcel on an order above $50 gets only a 50% refund. A US buyer reported a $40 tariff charge in August 2025, after which HiFiGO said it had added a customs notice at checkout.

Read the return terms before you order. The homepage advertises 7-day returns. Both of HiFiGO's policy pages offer a 7-day dead-on-arrival cover (a replacement or a full refund, with the return postage refunded) and also describe 30-day returns, but a request made 7 to 30 days after delivery loses 30% of the MSRP as a restocking fee (10% more if the packaging is incomplete), plus shipping both ways and duties, and the FAQ on the same pages says there is no refund or exchange once 7 days have passed. One version recommends reselling an opened product locally. Custom IEMs and custom cables cannot be returned, no return address is published, and buyers describe sending items back to China.

HiFiGO's warranty runs one year from the order date for parts and labor; its policy names desktop DACs and amps, IEMs and dongles at one year and gives cables and adapters three months. HiFiGO decides between repair and replacement, the buyer pays the shipping, and faulty items go back for service, not for a refund. Claims go to [email protected], the only contact the store lists: its pages name no company, street address or phone, and its terms are governed by the laws of China.

On Trustpilot, HiFiGO had 4.6 out of 5 from 378 reviews when we checked on 2026-10-28 (91% five-star, 5% one-star), and it had replied to about 75% of negative reviews; Trustpilot notes the store has not invited customers to review recently. The one-star reviews mostly concern the short return window and the deductions on returns, items listed in stock that turned out back-ordered, slow email support and a tariff charge on a US delivery in 2025. HiFiGO says its products are genuine and come in the brands' retail packaging; it does not claim to be an authorized dealer.

Before you buy

HiFiGO's title lists this item as a pre-sale. Its pre-order page says pre-orders are charged in full at checkout and that shipping dates can change, and an unshipped pre-order can be cancelled through its contact page.