Is this setup good?

1. FiiO E7/9 cannot sufficiently provide enough power to drive your DT880.

2. No DAC processing for input from iPod touch.

3. E10 has even less power than E7/9

On any circumstances or combo from your suggestion the setup would be much less than ideal. FiiO is nice for entry grade and casual use but you definitely need better props for higher application.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfredWong 

1. FiiO E7/9 cannot sufficiently provide enough power to drive your DT880.

Not that there is much point trying to debunk audiophile myths, but there is no factual evidence of this being true. Here is an extensive test of the FiiO E9, and according to it, the amplifier has more than enough power for a 250 Ohm/100 mW headphone, and in fact it even works better at that impedance. Low impedance/high sensitivity headphones expose the flaws of the E9 more (i.e. more audible noise, higher distortion, lower damping factor, and channel balance is worse at low volume settings).

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfredWong 

1. FiiO E7/9 cannot sufficiently provide enough power to drive your DT880.

 

Nonsense. Less reading comments by other Head-Fi'ers and more actual listening to the gear you're talking about please. 

To the OP: E9 and DT880 sound perfectely fine together. The E9 sounds pretty damn good for a budget amp and you'll be hard pressed to find better amplification for the money. In the rig you proposed, the E7 seems redundant. You only need a LOD cable for your iPod to connect to the E9. The E7 is a USB DAC and it's DAC functionality won't work on your iPod.

To further answer your question, the E10 is a DAC/AMP. It could replace the E7/E9 combo entirely if you prefer it's sound. The differences are marginal though and the E9 offers more driving power on paper. Try one, see if you like it, sell it if you don't, repeat until satisfied. :D 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfredWong 

1. FiiO E7/9 cannot sufficiently provide enough power to drive your DT880.

What is with all this weird false information about the E9 cropping up lately? Is there some internet flu going around on this or something?

OP: E9 will be fine. Fine. And it won't blow up your headphone, like someone else might start mentioning...

Very best,

The E9 standalone powers my DT990 250 ohm version fine. I've had no problem with the E7/E9 combo powering them either.

Sounds like a decent rig to me :P

Whoa there guys. I never said it's not a killer QPR nor saying it doesn't do what it is supposed to do, just saying that it only does what it does and not beyond.

I actually own and use the E5/7/9 and tried on the other products too. Tho gonna give them to my mom later.

Aside from the fact that we are just too faraway for your guys to come my place for a lil' props gathering. Then you'll know what your phones CAN actually do with stuff beyond the budget FiiO (esp. DT880/990, HD595/598/600/650 etc.). I unfortunately realized that after playing with some stuff from my evil friends.

To name some facts what the FiiO E7/9 combo is limited in:

1. noise when turning the wheel. No excuse on that.

2. OPA2134, and heck I cannot replace them without permanent damage to the case. And those caps...

3. unstable/uneven/low pre-amp output. I need it works better for my actives.

And for the sound stage and bass - also related to the power issue. You'd better try different things out in comparison.

1. Shouldn't be an issue with a headphone as insensitive as the DT880.

2. What don't you like about this?

3. Not an issue with the OP's setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head Injury 

1. Shouldn't be an issue with a headphone as insensitive as the DT880.

2. What don't you like about this?

3. Not an issue with the OP's setup.

1. It hisses on my 650 @ 300 ohm, but shouldn't have anyway.

2. Personal taste and requirement - want some 2111 instead, or at least 4562.

3. It's the circuit or the power - in anyway it is desirable to perform better.

But what more can I ask for at this price point?