FiiO E5 amp (E3 upgraded) - Page 53

Originally Posted by boomy3555

So Far, I'm not really impressed. I still want an on/off too. I would squeeze it somewhere between my Travagan's Colors and my Total Airhead.
All of my computers have excelent sound cards to I don't need a DAC. I just wanted something Ipod size to Amplify without distortion and all three of these do that, The Travagans was 59.00, The Nuforce was 86.00, and the total airhead was 99.00 (Total Bithead is same as airhead but also has a DAC 150.00)

HeadphoneAddict is really impressed with the Nuforce and I respect his opinion alot.

Originally Posted by ClieOS

If you looking for a review that tells you this $25 amp sounds like a $100 amp than I am almost certain that the reviewer is either lying or has no idea of what his is talking about. E5 is fun to have and use, cheap enough not to break the bank, good enough (and maybe a bit more) for its price tag, and small enough that can be carried around without feeling like a dead weight. It is not Pico, iQube, or P-51 and it should never be mistaken as one. What other things do you want that you think will justify the $25 price tag? Do you really think $25 will actually give you a significant effect on the SQ? If it does, I am sure it won't be sold for $25 anymore.

If you must, you can imagine E5 as the E3 with more functions, less warm, synergistically more friendly, and slightly better on detail - I think it is as conclusive as it can ever be. Whether it worths your $25 is really up to your own judgment.

Originally Posted by ClieOS

Here lie two problems.

First, there will almost always be a SQ gap b/w amp and no amp, and judging the size of that gap is fundamentally an subjective call (not to mention you still have to consider whether that person has the right headphone and source to benefit from the amp). A person who don't have any experience with amp might think the gap is big but a person who own multiple top-end amp might think the gap is miniscule. The only thing that can be certain is their opinions are all valid for themselves. Second, you are right that some of us sometime try to justify our expensive hobby. However, it is hard to believe that so many head-fi'ers need to justify a $25 purchase when they have already spent hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on other gears. At least I don't think $25 is a strong reason for self-justification.

Do you know whether that guy on the shop have heard the E5 or not? If he did, how do you know he isn't talking as a person who own multiple top-end amp and think the gap is miniscule (while you might think oppositely like the other person)?

Originally Posted by boomy3555

Most people who would buy just a 25.00 Fioo and nothing else are probably using a small inexpensive source such as a shuffle. If you start out with such a small entry level source yiou probaly won't hear much difference between a 25.00 Fiio and a larger amp such as a Pico, or Nuforce Icon mobile, Simply because of the limitaions of you source. Not to mention, it is not likely, the same person would have any better cans or IEM's than say Koss porta-pro or Senn CX500's or Skull candy.
In My Opinion they are simply have a good quality to cost ratio. but don't expect them to perfom beyond that.

Originally Posted by ClieOS

Here you go: 100 means 100 ohms load. All the other loaded measurements are either compatible without the load, or better (by a little). On the other hand, my Travagan's Colors is overwhelmed by the load.