[FiiO]

Update 6 July 2015

Thank you everyone for your feedback and ideas! We have finalized the design of the new desktop amp, which shall be renamed the K5 in line with our new product naming conventions. As disclosed before the docking connector will be a standard micro USB-compatible port expanded with extra connectors for line input etc. for a total of 11 pins. Current FiiO models that will dock directly with the K5 include the X1, X3 2nd gen, X5 2nd gen, X7 and E17K. Balanced line output will be provided.

Attached please find pictures of the final design. We hope you like it



The K5 will be released together with the X7.

Spoiler: Old designs and original poll options

------------------------------------------12/11/14---------------------------------------------
Thanks you for your feedback; we have updated the drawings and have come up with five versions for you to vote on.







------------------------------------------12/10/14---------------------------------------------

We want the ID looks more simple, so today updated the drawings.
Compared with early ideas, what do you think about it!
Volume and switch to the top side. Of course, The function is identical, the previously discussed.






------------------------------------------10/31/14---------------------------------------------


Just a concept drawing here, welcome to communicate.

A simple and inexpensive Docking Amp product, what do you think it would be like?


The Docking AMP E09S：

1. Able to use with FiiO music players, such as X7

2. When connecting to computer, X7 can work as a DAC; While connecting X7 to the Dock separately, it’s the X7’s lineout signal goes to the Dock.

3. Suitable for high impedance headphones

4. The Dock can be used as a charger as well as exchanging data with X7

5. Balanced Lineout is available when combine with X7








-------------------------------
About FiiO X7, Please refer to the discussion:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/713735/fiio-x7-what-is-your-dream-dap
------------------------------

 

[goldtank]

How about adding bass and treble eqs !

 

[Makiah S]

Just a concept drawings here, welcome to communicate,

A simple and inexpensive Docking Amp product, do you think what it would be like?


The Docking AMP E09S：

1. Able to use with FiiO music players, such as X7

2. When connecting to computer, X7 can work as a DAC; While connecting X7 to the Dock separately, it’s the X7’s lineout signal goes to the Dock.

3. Suitable for high impedance headphones

4. The Dock can be used as a charger as well as exchanging data with X7

5. Balanced Lineout is available when combine with X7



 

---

About FiiO X7, Please refer to the discussion:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/713735/fiio-x7-what-is-your-dream-dap

---

Very nice it's a revision of the old E09K, I'm diggin the Balanced Outputs as well guys  nice touch 

 

[linglingjr]

I'd rather see the gain switch on the back and the front to be kept as clean as possible.  I do like the small square form factor though and while I'm not sure how many people will want to adjust the angle of the dock, I do really like the bar it rests on.  

 

[Makiah S]

  I'd rather see the gain switch on the back and the front to be kept as clean as possible.  I do like the small square form factor though and while I'm not sure how many people will want to adjust the angle of the dock, I do really like the bar it rests on.  

I like Front Gain, I've had amps with it on the Side and bottoms and I'm always annoyed to have to like bend my self around my Desk to change the gain 
 
my current Amp has it in the front :3 [I also have a remote to ] 

 

[FiiO]

Private high impedance Headset, i think the gain switch would be more frequent

 

[Makiah S]

Private high impedance Headset, i think the gain switch would be more frequent

Oh cool, I'm not entirely sure what that means 
 
though I own both Low Sennsitivity and High Sensitivity headphones, the my Planars really do like having some gain behind them 

 

[FiiO]

We also consider the more compatibility, the base of the E09S DOCK can be replaced according to requirements, applicable to a variety of FiiO products. Like this.

 

[Preben]

Good design and very usefull to open it to most fiio product of the x line

 

[FiiO]

update 12/10/14
 
We want the ID looks more simple, so today updated the drawings.
Compared with early ideas, what do you think about it!
Volume and switch to the top side. Of course, The function is identical, the previously discussed.
 

 

[Fizz]

Looks amazing.
Guess I'll be saving up for this an an X7 afterall. 

 

[linglingjr]

It looks awesome, looks super clean and the gain/source switches don't clutter anything.  The volume knob might be a turn off for some people but I like its uniqueness.

 

[FiiO]

Indeed, as you said, we hope it looks very simple.
First of all, appears to be a base, rather than a amp.

 

[BlueMountain]

First of all it's great to see a manufacturer showing the progress of development to their customers and people who are seriously interested in audio(hardware). 
 
I am sure, that alot of workhours went into the new design. 
 
But from my (european) point of view, i think the design is looking worse than your first proposal for the 09s.
 
The first proposal is looking like a development from the existing e09k. People would easily recognize it, which i think is a plus. (consistency in design language)
The proportions and the general design looks more refined to me, because it's looks:
-to be made/rendered of more high quality materials, 
-Has a nice volume knob 
-looks more like a hifi-Equipment
-would be more easy to use
-fits better to modern ultrabooks/surface pros /macs in design
 
What i think specifically about the new proposal. 
 
It looks like a dock (which could people probably assume, that they can plug in their i-device or android phone directly to the amp). To me it looks also like a mini "printer".
Too many curves/angles. It looks more unsettled.
The "frontsplitter" with the fiio engraving looks especially wierd as it has a different radius than the other curves on the device. 
 
At last i think, that it's a serius downgrade and even more strange looking for users who are just using / want to use the amp for itself. The spot in front of the dock looks without an Alpen 2 etc. pretty strange. 
 
I think that your decision is probably already made to go for a new design language, but i wanted to give you some feedback. 
Pls don't take my criticism personally. I just wanted to give a pov from another direction. 

 

[FiiO]

update