Review: Fiio E12 (comparison to C&C BH + JDS Labs O2 + JDS Labs C421) - Page 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill-P 

E12's boost is nowhere near 6dB. It's closer to 4dB, if even that.

 

And it doesn't seem to boost anything beyond 150Hz. Any boost that goes beyond 250Hz would unfortunately bleeds into lower midrange, and I don't think that's favorable, unless you have a superbly cold and sterile headphone.

Where did any of those numbers come from?.........  Are you using your ears and determining an estimate of how much boost there is and past what frequency it stops affecting?...  If they've implemented a near 6 dB boost then a near 6 dB boost it is. Not only do your cans influence the difference you're perceiving, there's no way to come out and just say that there is exactly this amount of frequency boost vs. whatever other value (especially when it's so generalized), and the volume that you listen at highly affects the relative decibel value as well.  I'm not sure what you were trying to prove with your post.  At least if I knew that, I'd then also know what to respond to and be able to disregard the blatant lack of self-doubt.  With no intent to offend, treat this more as a question than a dismissal.  Try and assess why you stated those approximations as you did and get back to us with that.  I'd actually like to know if there's anything behind that.  

I wasn't making an argument that having tested the E12, I perceived way too much of a boost in low frequencies (for my headphones) - nor should I have...  The only thing to possibly debate on that front is how well it's implemented (e.g. your mention of when bass boost goes past the 250 Hz range, it often messes up the balance).  

EDIT: And btw, I'm mostly referring to the new curve and it's actually closer to 5 rather than 6 as I have been mentioning.  That doesn't change anything I've said as initially it just stuck out this way (as 6 dB) because of the instant association I had/have of 6 dB translating into twice the pressure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill-P 

I played back a frequency sweep from 20Hz to 200Hz and measured the average decibel value with my phone. (there's an app for that)

 

To further verify it, I also generated the same frequency sweep at different dB levels (attenuating to -12dB, -10dB, -8dB, -6dB, and -4dB, then A/B'ed them, and -6dB w/o boost + -10dB w/ boost seemed to be the closest to what E12 does.

 

It's not just one headphone. I have tried E12 with 4 different headphones up to this point (and many more at the upcoming SF Bay Area meet) with the A/B comparison, and it all turned out to be the same. The boost is not that extreme at all.

 

If you don't believe me, I can get people to chime in from the SF Bay Area meet. Really, the bass boost on E12 isn't a dramatic boost. I think your ears are just way too sensitive.

I haven't actually heard the amp itself before but I've heard what is the supposed boost before (the one that I thought it was).  I knew what it would sound like.  There's a few very important things I overlooked since my first post about the bass boost, and as it turns out, you are absolutely right.  The accuracy of the proposed graph after bass boost as listed by FiiO may be a different story, but in the end, in terms of how much it boosts, I'd wager the suggested amount would be right/accurate enough.  

EDIT: You seem to have seen that post I linked.  I'm not sure you picked up on its entailment.  As I mentioned here about it, I agree with you.

Ah, that's unfortunate. Given how new the ADX series is, though, I'm not surprised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill-P 

Thanks, Chris!

 

I updated the first post with some thoughts about the newly acquired C421. To my surprise, it sounded a lot different from the C421 that I had.

Fantastic comparisons that indicate to me that the E12 sounds as good as it looks IMO and as good as I hoped.  Would it be asking too much to include the Headstage Arrow 12HE in this comparison, or do you feel it is priced at a level that one should expect it to perform at a superior level to the E12?

Yup - thanks for updating the OP with your ongoing impressions. So the E12 is still a winner. I should be getting mine any day, so I'll finally be able to have first hand experience with it :)

I don't think there's a real winner between the C421 and E12.  They are both great, but there are differences.

The E12 has more power and the bass is cleaner and better integrated with the mids.  But, the thing is a brick.  It's barely a portable amp.  The volume knob is too stiff.  It's impossible to use with a Fiio L9 LOD.  I thought the crossfeed would be fun to play with but the recessed button that requires a pin or something to move it means I won't be switching it back and forth and it really reduces the soundstage which isn't that big to begin with.

The C421 really is a portable amp.  But, it doesn't feel as durable as the E12.  It does has better soundstage and more airiness that the E12.

There's nits to pick with both, but I could be very happy with either as my amp.  I think I'd rather have both than either even though I'm not one to spend the time unstrapping and changing amps and lack the funds to keep multiple amps  : ) 

It's up to the individual sound tastes, portability needs, and the headphones you pair with them.  I use Brainwavz HM5.