Pros –
Introduction –
Miter is a South Korean accessory manufacturer that specialises in cases. And though they provide a reasonably wide range of models, they’ve garnered a strong following for their high-quality DAP covers that provide additional protection and higher quality materials. Of course, as a lot of manufacturers such as Fiio and Astell & Kern are providing cases from factory, it’s essential that Miter differentiate their products.
Luckily, their cases are a product of focus and function; rather than introducing gimmicks or overly premium materials that would overly inflate pricing, Miter have instead pursued improved in-hand feel and extended features. Moreover, they do so at an attainable $30 USD price point. Please see Miter’s website here for the full list of specifications and features.
Unboxing –
The Miter case has a simple unboxing with a protective outer hard-box that prevents deformity during shipping. The case is also kept scuff-free via a fabric pouch inside.
Design –
While a lot of manufacturers are including cases from factory, none feel truly luxurious in the hand. The vast majority are constructed from slim but tacky TPU and silicone or generic pleather that feels stiff and plasticky. Miter don’t use genuine leather, but their cases are handcrafted in Korea from Italian faux leather. This provides a very agreeable compromise between price and quality; with the Miter cases offering a clear upgrade to the stock, manufacturer provided units.
In this instance, the difference between the Miter X7 II case and the Fiio case was immediately evident. The Miter case has a tighter, more secure fit around the DAP and a far suppler feel in the hand that aids tactility. The Miter’s suede interior is also a huge step up from the textured vinyl on Fiio’s case, ensuring the DAP doesn’t become scratched by trapped particles. The buttons also demonstrate greater tactility than either the stock TPU or pleather cases.
It should also be noted that the Miter case covers the bottom of the DAP with an opening at the top, whereas the Fiio case is the opposite, with an opening on the bottom. As such, the Miter case provides more comprehensive protection during drops, which are most likely to damage the bottom face. In return, the case does cover the ports which may interfere with some plugs, but the vast majority such as those from Oyaide are case-friendly. The case is also half a millimetre short at the top, leaving the top edge partially exposed.
Perhaps the headline feature of the case is its inbuilt kickstand. The back of the case opens via a hinge on the bottom. A magnetic support arm follows metal rails in the back plate before locking into a small groove. This enables the player to be propped up in portrait for convenient media consumption and the magnetic system reliably keeps the back closed during portable use; in fact, the stand looks almost perfectly integrated into the case.
The stand is super simple to open and holds its place very firmly due to its steel internal frame; it offers plenty of stability for the user to interact with the device while propped up for instance. Furthermore, despite the extended functionality, the case is only 1mm thicker than the original and it does feel fairly minimal both in the hand and pocket as the back has tapered edges.
Unfortunately, listening while propped on the stand is not ideal as the plugs on the bottom become obscured. You can partially alleviate this by placing the DAP on the edge of the table, but it seems that a landscape stand would have been more appropriate for DAPs with bottom facing interfaces. And given the simplicity of its mechanism, it seems like a missed opportunity not to include various levels of adjustment, especially since a more acute angle would have permit use with larger plugs.
Verdict –
Miter’s cases aim to provide an upgrade in both form and function. This does come at the expense of some practicality chiefly, obscuring of the bottom facing plugs on the DAP. However, in return, the case provides a very well-implemented kickstand for media consumption in addition to much-improved material choices. Moreover, the case does so with very minimal thickness increase and it is undoubtedly more visually pleasing than the manufacturer provided unit. This is a fine accessory for any Fiio owner and Miter have a range covering other DAPs too.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review, please see my website for more just like it!
Introduction –
Miter is a South Korean accessory manufacturer that specialises in cases. And though they provide a reasonably wide range of models, they’ve garnered a strong following for their high-quality DAP covers that provide additional protection and higher quality materials. Of course, as a lot of manufacturers such as Fiio and Astell & Kern are providing cases from factory, it’s essential that Miter differentiate their products.
Luckily, their cases are a product of focus and function; rather than introducing gimmicks or overly premium materials that would overly inflate pricing, Miter have instead pursued improved in-hand feel and extended features. Moreover, they do so at an attainable $30 USD price point. Please see Miter’s website here for the full list of specifications and features.
Unboxing –
The Miter case has a simple unboxing with a protective outer hard-box that prevents deformity during shipping. The case is also kept scuff-free via a fabric pouch inside.
Design –
While a lot of manufacturers are including cases from factory, none feel truly luxurious in the hand. The vast majority are constructed from slim but tacky TPU and silicone or generic pleather that feels stiff and plasticky. Miter don’t use genuine leather, but their cases are handcrafted in Korea from Italian faux leather. This provides a very agreeable compromise between price and quality; with the Miter cases offering a clear upgrade to the stock, manufacturer provided units.
In this instance, the difference between the Miter X7 II case and the Fiio case was immediately evident. The Miter case has a tighter, more secure fit around the DAP and a far suppler feel in the hand that aids tactility. The Miter’s suede interior is also a huge step up from the textured vinyl on Fiio’s case, ensuring the DAP doesn’t become scratched by trapped particles. The buttons also demonstrate greater tactility than either the stock TPU or pleather cases.
It should also be noted that the Miter case covers the bottom of the DAP with an opening at the top, whereas the Fiio case is the opposite, with an opening on the bottom. As such, the Miter case provides more comprehensive protection during drops, which are most likely to damage the bottom face. In return, the case does cover the ports which may interfere with some plugs, but the vast majority such as those from Oyaide are case-friendly. The case is also half a millimetre short at the top, leaving the top edge partially exposed.
Perhaps the headline feature of the case is its inbuilt kickstand. The back of the case opens via a hinge on the bottom. A magnetic support arm follows metal rails in the back plate before locking into a small groove. This enables the player to be propped up in portrait for convenient media consumption and the magnetic system reliably keeps the back closed during portable use; in fact, the stand looks almost perfectly integrated into the case.
The stand is super simple to open and holds its place very firmly due to its steel internal frame; it offers plenty of stability for the user to interact with the device while propped up for instance. Furthermore, despite the extended functionality, the case is only 1mm thicker than the original and it does feel fairly minimal both in the hand and pocket as the back has tapered edges.
Unfortunately, listening while propped on the stand is not ideal as the plugs on the bottom become obscured. You can partially alleviate this by placing the DAP on the edge of the table, but it seems that a landscape stand would have been more appropriate for DAPs with bottom facing interfaces. And given the simplicity of its mechanism, it seems like a missed opportunity not to include various levels of adjustment, especially since a more acute angle would have permit use with larger plugs.
Verdict –
Miter’s cases aim to provide an upgrade in both form and function. This does come at the expense of some practicality chiefly, obscuring of the bottom facing plugs on the DAP. However, in return, the case provides a very well-implemented kickstand for media consumption in addition to much-improved material choices. Moreover, the case does so with very minimal thickness increase and it is undoubtedly more visually pleasing than the manufacturer provided unit. This is a fine accessory for any Fiio owner and Miter have a range covering other DAPs too.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review, please see my website for more just like it!