And so are you. What is it defected or flawed about E7? Is it because there isn't enough gain that makes an amp defected? It surely isn't. I am not saying E7 is perfect, but it is functional and up to the spec, just not up to some of your expectation. You are the one that seems to be confused between the concept of 'flaw' and 'not meeting expectation'. If E7 has listed a gain of 7dB and only delivers 3~4dB, I will call it defected / flawed - yet it is not the case. If you are not happy about only having a small gain factor and like to voice your opinion, it is all okay for me. Will a selectable gain switch be helpful from the beginning? Sure it would. However, if someone feels that the volume is not enough only because (s)he has not used it in the optimum way, I would think my comment on the analog-in (DAP's HO vs. LO) might be of good help with them (I mean, how difficult it is to turn up the HO volume?). After all, it is pretty common knowledge (at least in Head-fi) that if you want to properly amp the HO, you should make sure the volume is higher on the DAP to get the best dynamic range. Why is there the sharing of such knowledge must be of any agenda or cynical purpose?
A 150mph-top-speed sports car won't run up to 300mph even if you wish it can do it, nor does it must be flawed because the car maker now think they can modify the car due to popular demand to 300mph. Well it will be a big problem of false advertising if the car maker claims the car can run faster than it could before the modification, but they didn't. I certainly don't recall FiiO telling people that E7 has more than 3~4dB gain.
On a side note, I think it is not a secret I am in regular talk (i.e. opinion and feedback) with FiiO (in fact, with a few other manufacturer as well). As to why a small gain is used on E7, the reason (as I was told during early development) being that it is more suitable to E7 targeted audience, the fast growing netbook user, considered that they most likely will not be using any hard-to-drive headphone (i.e. regular earbud and IEM) and mainly are looking for an upgrade from internal sound card. If the gain is too high, it will be difficult for people with sensitive headphone. Also, the same gain setting has been utilized on E5 and seems to work very well for FiiO so far. It is a product aims for the general public, not Head-fier. FiiO is just trying to make VW Golf level of products for the mass at most, not your sports or luxury car lover. If any people think FiiO can make cheap amp with magical properties, well it is just not going to happen. Amp is never the magic cure for SQ, and never will be. I don't care much about whether anyone really feels there must be an agenda behind what I have said, nor does it necessary means what I have posted is wrong. I am only here to explain my POV, ciao.
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A 150mph-top-speed sports car won't run up to 300mph even if you wish it can do it, nor does it must be flawed because the car maker now think they can modify the car due to popular demand to 300mph. Well it will be a big problem of false advertising if the car maker claims the car can run faster than it could before the modification, but they didn't. I certainly don't recall FiiO telling people that E7 has more than 3~4dB gain.
On a side note, I think it is not a secret I am in regular talk (i.e. opinion and feedback) with FiiO (in fact, with a few other manufacturer as well). As to why a small gain is used on E7, the reason (as I was told during early development) being that it is more suitable to E7 targeted audience, the fast growing netbook user, considered that they most likely will not be using any hard-to-drive headphone (i.e. regular earbud and IEM) and mainly are looking for an upgrade from internal sound card. If the gain is too high, it will be difficult for people with sensitive headphone. Also, the same gain setting has been utilized on E5 and seems to work very well for FiiO so far. It is a product aims for the general public, not Head-fier. FiiO is just trying to make VW Golf level of products for the mass at most, not your sports or luxury car lover. If any people think FiiO can make cheap amp with magical properties, well it is just not going to happen. Amp is never the magic cure for SQ, and never will be. I don't care much about whether anyone really feels there must be an agenda behind what I have said, nor does it necessary means what I have posted is wrong. I am only here to explain my POV, ciao.
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