[Pictorial + Impression] FiiO E5 *Sample vs. Final Product* - Page 4

how audible would you describe this hissing? is it something that is easily ignored if the volume on the source is high enough or is it an annoyance?
thank you.

Dunno if this was mentioned earlier, but for those looking for a good deal on a Fiio E5, if you buy it with a pair of Yuin PK3's on amazon.com it's $50 (Head-Direct is the seller), whereas the PK3's are $40 by themselves. A pretty solid deal, if you want some decent earbuds; I was just buying the PK3's as a gift, ended up getting myself an E5 for $10!

Amazon.com: Yuin Pk3 and Fiio E5 Combo $49 @ Head-direct: Musical Instruments

PS: I couldn't find this combo on Head-Direct's site. You can also get the RE2's with a Fiio E5 for the same price:

Amazon.com: RE2 In-ear Headphones and Fiio E5 Combo $49 @ Head-Direct: Musical Instruments

If you would rather have those.

Now posted at Head-Direct for $39 or $48 shipped.

Volume setting question

Thanks for the awesome review. I love frequency response charts.

This is my first portable headphone amp, so please forgive stupid questions. But, is there any problem just setting the E5 to max volume and leaving it there?

I ask, because it seems to sound ok, and then I can control the volume via the source. OTOH, I would never dream of using a home stereo amp at max volume, I never push my home amp past 50% for fear of clipping and speaker damage.

Also, are you estimating volume levels? How did you determine that it was set to 90%?

I know the specs of the E5 say it will push a 300 ohm headphone at 12 mw, but will it REALLY drive a 300 ohm headphone properly? I am actually thinking about getting this to pair with the Yuin PK1, so I wouldn't need it to drive 300 ohms, but I was just curios. And would it be worth keeping pricing low (main goal is the size) to get this amp with the PK1?

I'm using the Head Direct Re0 currently. Does the E5 pair well with the iPhone?

If I use the LOD with the E5, does it have the interference which I experience with the 3.5mm from iPhone?

 

Thanks.

Omg...I have never seen an amp that small....But if I have my phone as a music player, won't I be getting interference ? I like how the fiio e5 looks and it's not that expensive...Will this combinations work ? - Nokia 5310 XpressMusic (about as loud as an IPod) + Audio Technica M50 + FiiO E5 ? cause if it does, I'll buy the amp right away...Another question, although it may seem - or it is - stupid : Will my headphones be louder with the amp -cause this is the job of an amplifier, right ? 

Yes that is one purpose of an amplifier, to make the signal bigger so it's louder. If your source is bad and you amp a bad source, you will hear noise and imperfections.

I've had an E5 for more than a year now, using it periodically with my MS1i, but constantly with my Rain, MC5, and before them S4, RE0.  It boosts each of them nicely, adding just a bit of fullness and clarity to them all.  I only hear any hissing between songs at the loudest setting on nearly all my IEMs.  I toggle the volume all the way up and then back down 2 clicks, and I hear no hissing.

 

It is so small it makes my Fuze seem huge!

Edited by kmhaynes - 9/3/10 at 8:41am

this is fantastically informative. thank you very much to the author.