Fiio D3 / D5 Mini DACs

Fiio had announced two new products - D3 and D5, at the Spring Headphone Festival 2011 in Japan. These DACs are pretty small in physical dimensions (from the picture, D3 may be just slightly bigger than the E5 amp). The D3 has optical and coaxial input and RCA output. It has a switch but I can't tell if that is for switching gain or input. The D5 has USB input and RCA and headphone out.

Both are scheduled to be released in this summer. Prices are currently not determined.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClieOS 

The switch on D3 is for optical / Coaxial input selection, I think. The new D series is marketed more toward the regular consumer market (as far as practicality is concerned), which is different from the current E series where it begins to be more audiophiles oriented. AFAIK, there will be another device similar to D5 coming out on the E series as well.

Yes, you are right. It is easier to tell from the smaller picture that the switch is for optical / coaxial selection. If there is something similar to D5 in the E series, I am wondering how will it perform against the E7 when paired together with the E11? And is there something similar to D3 in E series too?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBomb77766 

This is interesting.  Any word on what DAC this uses?  I'm assuming the same wolfson one in the E7.  If so, I wonder if they've upgraded the USB chip in the D5?

This is as much as I can gather. Maybe Feiao will be kind enough to reveal some details?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoetheArachnid 

Looking closer, are those perspex end panels? And if so, are they placeholders or permanent? Because my tech-fetishism dictates that being able to see the innards of things is kind of cool.

Yes, the end plates do look like perspex but the D3 may not be the final product so the plates may be changed to something else, just like the front panel on E7. Anyway, I suppose it will be too small to catch a glimpse on what's inside