[Mani ATH 87]

 
This is a pre production unit. There may be changes. If there was, I would prefer a non recessed cross feed switch. That's it. I would actually prefer and like it that the gain was recessed. If there was a way to change it without a pen while still not being a problem of sliding the band. I would go for it, but as of this moment, there is no other way.
 

Of course there is other ways they could do it. They could have a switch that is less recessed then the current implementation, making the switch strong would easily prevent it from changing by accident in your pocket. They could always have an option to lock it from switching. 

Not a huge deal really, just nitpicking, but it could be done better 

 

[bowei006]

Quote:

We will add two short silicon bands ( same as the band in our E17/E07K/E11) from mass production.
 
Very sorry the reason that we provide long silicon band is to prepare for the future products so the E12 can banded with our E19/X5 in the future. but we forget the iPhone4 and other slim DAP 

May you comment on the desicion for recession in the crossfeed and gain. We see why gain is recessed so that the gain doesn't suddenly change it to 10 while you are with IEM. But I think crossfeed does not need to be.
 
A popular LOD with FiiO's and iPod's is the L9 because it wraps around the device so well. It is small and fits just really nicely with the other FiiO's. However with the E12, it can only be used so that it protrudes out
 

 
 
the only other way, will block the headphone out.
 

 

---

 
 
@James
This problem is solved with the L3 or L11 with a short custom 3.5mm cable or any other LOD that isn't an L shaped one
 
I am just saying that I really liked how the L9 just wrapped around the Andes, Alpen and E5. 
 
Maybe headphone out on top would have worked? I saw your PCB though, and the battery is at the end so that wouldn't work now I guess.

---

 
 
@Everyone.
These issues are minor though for some people.
 
I would recommend using last gen FiiO bands (if you got the ones with the wide ones already, James just said they will add both) and an L3 or L11 with the E12. The L9 is not a good choice with it.
 
The bass boost on the E12 is NOT like what FiiO has given before. It is a very small one.

 

[bowei006]

Quote:

Personally, I don't view the recessed gain and cross feed switch as a negative or a deal breaker.

I don't either. I will only use IEM's that need a 0 gain with the E12 or any portable amp anyway. If I want to test big headphones. I sit down, and switch it to 10. 
 
Crossfeed...that is a different one. Sometimes, I may want to add some crossfeed. Getting a pen would be troublesome.
Quote:

Of course there is other ways they could do it. They could have a switch that is less recessed then the current implementation, making the switch strong would easily prevent it from changing by accident in your pocket. They could always have an option to lock it from switching. 

Not a huge deal really, just nitpicking, but it could be done better 

As reviewers, we need to nit pick 

 

[Oregonian]

Of course there is other ways they could do it. They could have a switch that is less recessed then the current implementation, making the switch strong would easily prevent it from changing by accident in your pocket. They could always have an option to lock it from switching. 


Not a huge deal really, just nitpicking, but it could be done better 

I liked how the E-11 had the volume pot shielded/covered. It kept the "pocket adjustments" from happening. I don't like the connectors right next to it though, and it appears the E-12 is much the same. Failure to read and learn on Fiio's part I guess or no room to relocate.

That all said as an owner of 5 Fiio products and a ZO, I'll probably get an E-12.......

 

[Evshrug]

I just got my Mont Blanc around 3:45 today.

The short of it: when I first tried it, the sound appealed to my head and sounded very technically honest and pretty good, but my heart wasn't all that into it because it wasn't digging into the texture and emotion like my tube amp. All the bits of the sound were there, but i wasn't being compelled by the beat nor having a moment like I had described with the same Muse track I mentioned before. I would agree with Boweii's earlier comment, I'd describe the E12 to sound "neutral" and drive the Q701s to sound "native" to the drivers and song mastering/producing.

But I took a break, made a coffee run, came back, and everything's the same yet totally different. Put on Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs," while I was writing about the instrument layering and soundstage depth of "Sprawl I" to Dyaem, it seemed like I was chasing a moving target. The main instruments still seemed up front but strings and a tapping stick expanded back in the mix, suddenly it was apparent that the piano was a bit behind the guitars and singer, and as I was trying to write the music kept playing, and then...

On the last track, near the end, and a low bass note softly hit me — instant chills. And now, the music seems heartfelt, a something hard to quantify like my Q701 drivers are vibrating more freely. This is after about 3 hours of listening today... I can't explain what changed. If I had to guess, I haven't used my Q701s for a few weeks, perhaps the headphone drivers got slightly stiff? I'm still on the fence about "BURN IN EVERYTHING!!!" but my experience is that either my ears or the headphone drivers do change how I experience the music.

I'll write a full description covering everything I can think of later and nicely lit pictures from my DSLR in my actual review, but for now, those are my initial impressions. I also made a YouTube video to show the dimensions & stuff, here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dk2vCfuWWL0

 

[Oregonian]

We will add two short silicon bands ( same as the band in our E17/E07K/E11) from mass production.

Very sorry the reason that we provide long silicon band is to prepare for the future products so the E12 can banded with our E19/X5 in the future. but we forget the iPhone4 and other slim DAP 

We need a way to purchase extra of the bands and need them thinner as a choice.

Just asking.

 

[Oregonian]

May you comment on the desicion for recession in the crossfeed and gain. We see why gain is recessed so that the gain doesn't suddenly change it to 10 while you are with IEM. But I think crossfeed does not need to be.

A popular LOD with FiiO's and iPod's is the L9 because it wraps around the device so well. It is small and fits just really nicely with the other FiiO's. However with the E12, it can only be used so that it protrudes out





the only other way, will block the headphone out.






[rule]

@James
This problem is solved with the L3 or L11 with a short custom 3.5mm cable or any other LOD that isn't an L shaped one

I am just saying that I really liked how the L9 just wrapped around the Andes, Alpen and E5. 

Maybe headphone out on top would have worked? I saw your PCB though, and the battery is at the end so that wouldn't work now I guess.


[rule]

@Everyone.
These issues are minor though for some people.

I would recommend using last gen FiiO bands (if you got the ones with the wide ones already, James just said they will add both) and an L3 or L11 with the E12. The L9 is not a good choice with it.

The bass boost on the E12 is NOT like what FiiO has given before. It is a very small one.

What exactly is cross feed? And am I reading this right that this isn't much of a bass booster?

 

[pelli]

Quote:

What exactly is cross feed? 

Cross feed mixes a bit of the L and R channels into the opposite channel.  It creates a bit of a binaural effect.  Much like listening to speakers, live performances, etc., you hear a bit of what is happening on your left in your right ear, and a bit of what is happening to your right in your left ear.  Some are fans, some not...

 

[Apo0th3karY]

Crossfeed (aka crosstalk) is best explained like this
Stereo, you have two channels, left and right, and no cross talk between them. Hard left and hard right stereo sound
Mono, there's 100% cross talk - Left ear will get the exact same sound as the right, regardless of recording.
 
Crossfeed is when the hard left and right stereo be come softer, and sounds form the right channel can be heard in the left channel.
It's to emulate a two channel speaker set up; you'll be hearing some of the left channel in your right ear and vice versa because the speakers aren't isolated against your ears, they're in an open room.

 

[bowei006]

I liked how the E-11 had the volume pot shielded/covered. It kept the "pocket adjustments" from happening. I don't like the connectors right next to it though, and it appears the E-12 is much the same. Failure to read and learn on Fiio's part I guess or no room to relocate.

That all said as an owner of 5 Fiio products and a ZO, I'll probably get an E-12.......

The E12 has not been fully consumer crowd tested by me in a natural enviroment yet(read: playing with it) but as of this moment. The volume pot looks like it will not move. It is on there tight and turning it isnt a fast spin. It needs a bit of force

I just got my Mont Blanc around 3:45 today.

The short of it: when I first tried it, the sound appealed to my head and sounded very technically honest and pretty good, but my heart wasn't all that into it because it wasn't digging into the texture and emotion like my tube amp. All the bits of the sound were there, but i wasn't being compelled by the beat nor having a moment like I had described with the same Muse track I mentioned before. I would agree with Boweii's earlier comment, I'd describe the E12 to sound "neutral" and drive the Q701s to sound "native" to the drivers and song mastering/producing.

But I took a break, made a coffee run, came back, and everything's the same yet totally different. Put on Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs," while I was writing about the instrument layering and soundstage depth of "Sprawl I" to Dyaem, it seemed like I was chasing a moving target. The main instruments still seemed up front but strings and a tapping stick expanded back in the mix, suddenly it was apparent that the piano was a bit behind the guitars and singer, and as I was trying to write the music kept playing, and then...

On the last track, near the end, and a low bass note softly hit me — instant chills. And now, the music seems heartfelt, a something hard to quantify like my Q701 drivers are vibrating more freely. This is after about 3 hours of listening today... I can't explain what changed. If I had to guess, I haven't used my Q701s for a few weeks, perhaps the headphone drivers got slightly stiff? I'm still on the fence about "BURN IN EVERYTHING!!!" but my experience is that either my ears or the headphone drivers do change how I experience the music.

I'll write a full description covering everything I can think of later and nicely lit pictures from my DSLR in my actual review, but for now, those are my initial impressions. I also made a YouTube video to show the dimensions & stuff, here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dk2vCfuWWL0

I feel the same as you did before. Sound was there. But i wasnt really feeling it. I took a 20min listen just now and its getting there. I feel like there is a trait about the E12 but i cant put my finger on what is so different about it.

It may be my iPod but I have gotten a few moments of unstable highs. I sometimes feel like the bass resp is a bit anemic and that the vocals arent as present.

I need more testing. Those are not full real impressions. Just quick thoughts.

I like what Fiio has done. It isnt going to please everyone though. I myself have taken a big hit with this one. As the L9 doesnt way to play ball with the E12

 

[Evshrug]

I haven't tried the crossfeed on mine yet, but FWIR you gain from mixing some of the stereo mix is a more centralized sound image, sometimes adding to soundstage depth. With the mastering on some songs, though, it messes up the soundstage that the producer processed into the sound file itself, especially if they baked in a crossfeed effect into the song mix already. For example, I use a virtual surround processor with my Xbox, which is kind of like a more advanced version of crossfeed itself, and adding the additional crossfeed from the Mont Blanc would hurt the positional cue accuracy.

I think the Mont Blanc looks like a mini Monolith, from 2001: A Space Odyssey.





Boweii,
We have the same headphones too, though. At first, I thought "Oh. This amp is so honest, I think this is what the AKG Q701s sound like." The bass was cold and tight like people commonly describe the Qs, and though hard impacts were felt hard, i felt like something was causing the emotion to be held back. Then, it changed after a few hours. I don't think the amp burned in, nor do I think just now I've hit the "magical" 100 hour mark on my headphones, BUT I am starting to think that sometimes our ears or headphone drivers "warm up." Or, there's something else going on entirely, it's just a theory, but I am having more "fun" now. I sincerely doubt the amp changed.

Here's how mine is plugged in. I have my elastic bands diagonal to make them a tighter fit:

Yes, I use the L11 with my iPod classic (which is a little shorter than an iPod Touch or iPhone). I think if the included, short cable was L angled on one end and | straight on the other, it would be perfect. The headphone cable is (most likely) straight anyway. I had this combo in my back pocket earlier (with my green, 9ft long cable wrapped around my waist like a belt!) with the double-L cable sticking out the side rather than wrapped around the headphone cable like you see in the pic, it worked OK but I dislodged the L11 dock when I moved a bunch.

Still wouldn't go outside with these headphones, even as cool as I think they look

 

[Apo0th3karY]

Quote:

I think the Mont Blanc looks like a mini Monolith, from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

 
Kinda ominous
 

 

[imackler]

For those guys in the US who have gotten the E12, did you have to pay customs when they delivered? If so, how much? Did they only accept cash? Thanks!

 

[JamesFiiO]

Add the official introduction of Mont Blanc in first page. 

 

[Evshrug]

Boweii,
i added more stuff to my last post in response to you, please go back and tell me what you think.

Imackler,
The DHL delivery man just dropped it off, so far I haven't been charged extra. I just asked FiiO for a tracking number really late Tuesday night, SOMEHOW the Mont Blanc got all the way from Hong Kong to my house in less than two days! Ridiculous but awesome

Feiao,
Great update! Do you have any questions for user feedback, or is there anything you'd like us to point out?