considerably better audio than macbook late 2009
 
better audio than my macbook late 2009 and iphone 3gs
 
isn’t portable. not that it would work on my iphone 3gs but anyway, would be looking to upgrade to a better sounding dac
 
here i try to review this dac. my comparison for this review is macbook late 2009, so i can only compare it to that computer. and iphone 3gs iphone.
 
build quality
now for build quality, it is made of aluminium, brushed aluminium. very strong cause made of aluminium.
the cable build quality is fine with me. people complained that it’s not good. for me i don’t complain. it’s kind of stiff micro usb to usb cable, with no particular strain relieve but cause cable is stiff it acts like a cable aliviator. some cable memory.
the bass and low high gain switches seem to be made of plastic. possibly may break because it’s made from plastic.
the volume wheel is smooth, and clicks for the switch off. and easy to turn, and easy to adjust volume precicely cause it has kind of long go and gapless volume adjustment which is good. nice blue light.
 
features
it has some coaxial out and line out at the back, which i am not using but i’ve seen some people use it to bypass internal amplifier to send e10k dac signal to external amplifier.
its actually a smallish device and doesn’t weigh much. you can easily think of it as a remote for your headphones which it kinda is with the volume wheel. and it makes headphones look like a usb headphones.
 
packaging
packaging is fine, there is nothing bad about it, simple basic packaging.
 
sound
i’ve been switching back and forth between macbook and e10k and i came to conclusion that macbook sounds a bit muffled compared to e10k fiio. and yes macbook is much more muffled to e10k. although if one would compare to new macbooks the difference might not be as apparent or any difference. i don’t know cause you need direct comparison between two.
and iphone 3gs sounds worse than macbook late 2009 so for me fiio e10k is an upgrade. for you it might not be if you have a newer macbook/computer.
 
bass
i find bass does adds bass but i think it kind of reduces the clarity in the bass at the same time.
 
pop
people have said and asked if this dac makes pops when switching songs like it did on e10, it does not. however it does make pops when you switch on the dac using the volume dial. which does not bother me cause i rarely use it, mostly i remove usb cable. and when i do use the volume weel to switch it on i don't have my headphones on. cause it mans i switch it on to use it. thanks
 
there is nothing else to say about this dac. i have no other dacs to compare it to except for how my iphone 3gs and macbook late 2009 plays. none the less audio is better and more detailed with e10k fiio in comparison to above devices. hope that helps.
 
i also did unboxing and review of it on youtube if you want to watch that. links are below.
 
Fiio e10k review part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_wLzOsVRMQ
Fiio e10k review part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUWV1W_ft1M

these are lean sounding and non fatiguing for that reason. they really lack low end and that is why they are lean. there is no sibilance. very light and comfortable. but i did not like that they are sound isolating at first but that's everyone may find it a good thing.
they are really cheap earphones and don't worth 70 euro they are sold for. so ye there is no bass, that is there is bass but very little of it. it won't impress people who like bass in music. but if you want earphones that are no fatiguing these are the one to get. apparently they are dual driver which i only found out now.
microphone is pretty clear although no where near as clear as beats tour 2 microphone.
these are for people who want laid back light earphones with little bass. the cable is the same as any other apple earbuds cable, easily tanglable etc,

muffled pair of earphones, iem’s. you are only throwing your money way with these as you can get really excellent heaphones, earphones for same money. and not as if you can show off with theses, they are small, they are not headphones. no one notices you have beats earphones cause these are small, they are not headphones. only with headphones you can show off but not with earphones.
easier to get good sounding earphones. the only good thing about these is descent bass but it is exaggerated. the mids and highs are muffled, not even a good dac saves them. they are point blank period muffled pair of earphones.
 
to sum up the only reason i don't sell them is because they have a good microphone for phone.
here are two video reviews of the earphones. fist video is after using them for a while, the other two videos are the first videos when i got them.
 
Beats tour 2 review part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKMsDy6OABc
 
beats tour v2 earphones review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY3nyGXXmcU
 
beats tour v2 part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo-5rFu8lIM