FiiO E11 Review - Loud Things Come In Small Packages - Page 6

Joe - great review - thanks! 

In your opinion using headphones (as opposed to iems) on a DAP is there a pretty good chance that the headphones will sound better with a headphone amp (like the E11)?  I've got Audio Technica ATH-AD700's using a Sansa Fuze.  I don't need to max out the volume to drive them (its only about 50% of the volume).  But the AD700's unquestionable sound better powered from the headphone out of a preamp (on my main 2 channel set-up).  I'm just wondering whether it would be worth exploring the E11 for use with the sansa and the AD700s.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Also commiserations on your loss of your "culturally-significant" number of posts (I'm just so glad it wasn't me that caused you to lose your 666 status!!!) - cheers Hikergrl

great review and writing style! Hope to see more reviews by you :)

I have to say, this was one of the best, most honest reviews I've read here on Head-Fi. Looking forward to other reviews from you :) Good stuff.

Let me add first that indeed this is a very readable and down to earth review. In a lot of points I cought myself thinking 'I couldn't have said that better my self'.

I recently got my E11 reading the overwhelmingly good things about it. I battled it out with E7. I already had E5. Basically my decision was to go for the portability of E5 with my KSC75's and the power of the E11 with my (to arrive soon hopefully) 668Bs for home listening.

I subscribe 100% on the part of the review on built. What has struck me is how light it is.

I have bought also a battery just for the feeling of security :). I guess correct conditioning of any battery has a lot to do with the performance, so I will work on that as well.

Coming to the sound. So far I am listening out of iPod 3G (treble reducer) with LOD L3 and the volume a little over the middle. Amp is working at 3-4 with high volt / low gain / EQ=0,1. I will definitely try asap the low volt / high gain / EQ=0,1 setting for comparison. I tried EQ=2 only briefly but everything gets muddy. E5 is in the 'mid' EQ position (more like a high gain effect for me).

On the KSC75, I listened for comparison to tracks from the Itunes downloaded il Postino soundtrack. Briefly put:

• E11 sounded generaly more forward/nearer the action to E5.
• To my ear detail and timbre was present for both amps in similar perceivable SPL (if this phrase makes sense). Perhaps the seperation of E11 is a bit better as it brings the stage to the fore.
• On hiss I think I can hear it more from E11 than E5.
• Overall feeling is that is E11 is slightly more fun/lively/entertaining than E5. However, I don't think that the E11 is really needed over the E5 for the KSC75.

Back with an update on the 668B...

Once again great review and subsequent discussion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch96066 

Let me add first that indeed this is a very readable and down to earth review. In a lot of points I cought myself thinking 'I couldn't have said that better my self'.

 

I recently got my E11 reading the overwhelmingly good things about it. I battled it out with E7. I already had E5. Basically my decision was to go for the portability of E5 with my KSC75's and the power of the E11 with my (to arrive soon hopefully) 668Bs for home listening.

 

I subscribe 100% on the part of the review on built. What has struck me is how light it is.

I have bought also a battery just for the feeling of security :). I guess correct conditioning of any battery has a lot to do with the performance, so I will work on that as well.

 

Coming to the sound. So far I am listening out of iPod 3G (treble reducer) with LOD L3 and the volume a little over the middle. Amp is working at 3-4 with high volt / low gain / EQ=0,1. I will definitely try asap the low volt / high gain / EQ=0,1 setting for comparison. I tried EQ=2 only briefly but everything gets muddy. E5 is in the 'mid' EQ position (more like a high gain effect for me).

 

On the KSC75, I listened for comparison to tracks from the Itunes downloaded il Postino soundtrack. Briefly put:

 

• E11 sounded generaly more forward/nearer the action to E5.
• To my ear detail and timbre was present for both amps in similar perceivable SPL (if this phrase makes sense). Perhaps the seperation of E11 is a bit better as it brings the stage to the fore.
• On hiss I think I can hear it more from E11 than E5.
• Overall feeling is that is E11 is slightly more fun/lively/entertaining than E5. However, I don't think that the E11 is really needed over the E5 for the KSC75.

 

Back with an update on the 668B...

 

Once again great review and subsequent discussion.

Writing as I am listening to the E11 at the scenario low V / HG /EQ 0. I think I will give this setting some time to grow on me. The result vs the high V / Low G / EQ 1 is better tracking, seperation and an airier feeling overall. I am working on the iPod EQs to see what sounds better (to me). Piano seems to be doing the trick (for now).