JBHorne
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So, just to confirm...the new E17K is not compatible with the E09K base? We must wait for the E09S in June (tentative)???
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
So, just to confirm...the new E17K is not compatible with the E09K base? We must wait for the E09S in June (tentative)???
Thanks!!!
FiiO, James? I need to ask you two questions.
Does the Alpen II E17K have the same functionality and firmware to support Android 'exactly' the same way as the E18, or is there some difference? Please explain.
Also, does the Alpen II E17K power itself, like the E18, or does the E17K rely on USB power from the Android phone? Please give me a clear unambiguous answer on both my questions, i will appreciate it. Thankyou.
I will not buy the E18 because it weighs too much and the size is too large, but if the E17K does have exactly the same OTG Android functions as the E18, then i will buy the E17K. Cheers.
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Thankyou James for the quick response.
To be honest with you i already bought the E17K, but i haven't taken it out of the box yet, i didn't open it yet. But now i'm gonna take it back to the store and see if i can exchange it for something else. I would have exchanged for the E18, but like i said, the E18 weighs too much and it is too big; i am looking for something that offers the same quality and functionality as the E18 but in a smaller and lighter package. I hope FiiO will keep this in mind for future products.
Also, just to let you know, i already own an E11 and an E12 Mont Blanc, but the reason i bought the E17K is because it's a DAC/AMP and i thought it contained its own power supply and i thought it had Android-specific OTG capability. Not to worry.
I hope you will indulge me a little here James because i would like to avail myself of this opportunity to give some lengthy feedback if you would care to read. One other thing i need to let you know, i auditioned the X1 and the X3 very closely with top-grade neutral headphones and uncompressed 16bit WAV files and i was disappointed with both of them, i have to say IMO i thought my Android phone performed at least on-par if not better than both of these, sorry, but i'm being honest.
So, in terms of feedback for your company, i do hope you guys will possibly develop a version 2 of these two DAPs (X1 - X3), because you would know we audio enthusiasts out here are looking for a portable music player with pro DAC/AMP performance, but so far i can't agree with the performance of the X1 and X3.
After i auditioned them 'closely' and at length, and remembered what they sound like, afterward the pro reviews agreed 'exactly' with my analysis about the sound characteristics of these two DAPs.
About the X1, i found that the treble/highs sounded undefined and slightly soft and mushy, and the bass had too much artificial hard 'thump' (the gain and EQ were set to 0), and the midrange was slightly forward, and the soundstage was somewhat narrow, that is my own opinion, but now look here at what the review from two different pros said...
Reviewer comments... "My out of the box impression of the X1 - compared to the X3 and X5 - initially was not great, and FiiO did warn me that I might not like it. Both the X3 and X1 are more colored DAP’s than the X5. The X1 sounded a bit thick, bass heavy and not as resolving as I had hoped, with a narrow center focused soundstage. It seemed the X1 was struggling a bit for air also with an attenuated treble response."
So, i found this reviewer's comments to be quite accurate.
From another Reviewer about the X1... "Sound-stage wise it is average, and it’s actually a fairly centered between your ears kind of sound. Same goes for the detail retrieval: it’s not bad, but it is nowhere near the level of higher end DAPs. It’s not as neutral or linear tuned as most high end players. I’m not saying the X1 is bass heavy, but even with the EQ off, you will always have quite the bass presence. Bass unfortunately isn’t the tightest, most detailed or fastest. On the other side we have the treble and just like with the bass, the detail level isn’t the absolute best and it isn’t that extended either. Treble is missing some air and sparkle too. The mids are fairly smooth and engaging but like before, the detail levels unfortunately aren’t the highest and I find the voices to be a little more forward sounding. The weaker element of the X1 to me is the ISL28291 AMP section."
So, yeah, i agree exactly with these reviewers comments from what i heard of the X1, and i hope FiiO will do more work to aim for a more neutral accurate sound in the future, regardless of the model or price point.
And to me, the X3 was just plain messy, the sound was very confused and muddy and disparate. Severely lacking clean tome or transparency.
So after thinking i might buy the X5, i find from multiple reliable reviews that the iBasso DX90 (similar price to the X5) easily beats the X5. The consensus from many reviews is unanimous, the iBasso DX90 is superior to the X5 in every way.
So then, please think about me as a customer James, and from my point of view, where does this leave me if i'm looking for decent amping? Obviously i will go and purchase an iBasso DX90 if i've got my head on straight, yeah?
Therefore, one simple question from me James, i hear that the X7 is in development, but obviously that will not be in my price range, i would like to ask you if FiiO is bringing out a version II of the X1 and X3?
And for what it's worth, i would hope that FiiO aim to avoid AMPs and DACs that color the sound. All music has already been mixed and mastered according to the producers taste, so we need neutral sound from the AMP/DAC, NOT WARMTH! I hope you will take this feedback to your company. We don't need warmth, we just need neutral, no AMP or DAC should ever color the sound tonality or characteristics of the source material.
I'm still a big fan of FiiO and your products and what you guys are doing, so no offense intended to you or your company, quite the contrary, i have much respect for your company and what you guys do, but i hope you will agree there is nothing wrong with honest feedback.
I like the actual aesthetic design and size of the X1 styling, but all we need now is a more neutral sounding AMP/DAC section. Cheers.
I think the answer to your question is probably self-evident, depending on how much you need the optical connection; but, just keep in mind that the new E17K performs better than the older E17 for Amping and DAC purposes; it is more clean, more neutral, more balanced, tonally it's a great sounding DAC/AMP, really good! ....
Not the same, and the E17K will still consume a little current ( <50mA ) from the smart phone.
Thankyou James for the quick response.
To be honest with you i already bought the E17K, but i haven't taken it out of the box yet, i didn't open it yet. But now i'm gonna take it back to the store and see if i can exchange it for something else. I would have exchanged for the E18, but like i said, the E18 weighs too much and it is too big; i am looking for something that offers the same quality and functionality as the E18 but in a smaller and lighter package. I hope FiiO will keep this in mind for future products.
Also, just to let you know, i already own an E11 and an E12 Mont Blanc, but the reason i bought the E17K is because it's a DAC/AMP and i thought it contained its own power supply and i thought it had Android-specific OTG capability. Not to worry.
I hope you will indulge me a little here James because i would like to avail myself of this opportunity to give some lengthy feedback if you would care to read. One other thing i need to let you know, i auditioned the X1 and the X3 very closely with top-grade neutral headphones and uncompressed 16bit WAV files and i was disappointed with both of them, i have to say IMO i thought my Android phone performed at least on-par if not better than both of these, sorry, but i'm being honest.
So, in terms of feedback for your company, i do hope you guys will possibly develop a version 2 of these two DAPs (X1 - X3), because you would know we audio enthusiasts out here are looking for a portable music player with pro DAC/AMP performance, but so far i can't agree with the performance of the X1 and X3.
After i auditioned them 'closely' and at length, and remembered what they sound like, afterward the pro reviews agreed 'exactly' with my analysis about the sound characteristics of these two DAPs.
About the X1, i found that the treble/highs sounded undefined and slightly soft and mushy, and the bass had too much artificial hard 'thump' (the gain and EQ were set to 0), and the midrange was slightly forward, and the soundstage was somewhat narrow, that is my own opinion, but now look here at what the review from two different pros said...
Reviewer comments... "My out of the box impression of the X1 - compared to the X3 and X5 - initially was not great, and FiiO did warn me that I might not like it. Both the X3 and X1 are more colored DAP’s than the X5. The X1 sounded a bit thick, bass heavy and not as resolving as I had hoped, with a narrow center focused soundstage. It seemed the X1 was struggling a bit for air also with an attenuated treble response."
So, i found this reviewer's comments to be quite accurate.
From another Reviewer about the X1... "Sound-stage wise it is average, and it’s actually a fairly centered between your ears kind of sound. Same goes for the detail retrieval: it’s not bad, but it is nowhere near the level of higher end DAPs. It’s not as neutral or linear tuned as most high end players. I’m not saying the X1 is bass heavy, but even with the EQ off, you will always have quite the bass presence. Bass unfortunately isn’t the tightest, most detailed or fastest. On the other side we have the treble and just like with the bass, the detail level isn’t the absolute best and it isn’t that extended either. Treble is missing some air and sparkle too. The mids are fairly smooth and engaging but like before, the detail levels unfortunately aren’t the highest and I find the voices to be a little more forward sounding. The weaker element of the X1 to me is the ISL28291 AMP section."
So, yeah, i agree exactly with these reviewers comments from what i heard of the X1, and i hope FiiO will do more work to aim for a more neutral accurate sound in the future, regardless of the model or price point.
And to me, the X3 was just plain messy, the sound was very confused and muddy and disparate. Severely lacking clean tome or transparency.
So after thinking i might buy the X5, i find from multiple reliable reviews that the iBasso DX90 (similar price to the X5) easily beats the X5. The consensus from many reviews is unanimous, the iBasso DX90 is superior to the X5 in every way.
So then, please think about me as a customer James, and from my point of view, where does this leave me if i'm looking for decent amping? Obviously i will go and purchase an iBasso DX90 if i've got my head on straight, yeah?
Therefore, one simple question from me James, i hear that the X7 is in development, but obviously that will not be in my price range, i would like to ask you if FiiO is bringing out a version II of the X1 and X3?
And for what it's worth, i would hope that FiiO aim to avoid AMPs and DACs that color the sound. All music has already been mixed and mastered according to the producers taste, so we need neutral sound from the AMP/DAC, NOT WARMTH! I hope you will take this feedback to your company. We don't need warmth, we just need neutral, no AMP or DAC should ever color the sound tonality or characteristics of the source material.
I'm still a big fan of FiiO and your products and what you guys are doing, so no offense intended to you or your company, quite the contrary, i have much respect for your company and what you guys do, but i hope you will agree there is nothing wrong with honest feedback.
I like the actual aesthetic design and size of the X1 styling, but all we need now is a more neutral sounding AMP/DAC section. Cheers.
Stay updated on FiiO at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
|
James, a doubt, E17 and E07K also consume this current? E17K can turn off USB charging?
Stay updated on FiiO at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
|