[Niroc]

Hi,
I just received my Fiio k5, which I bought in anticipation of replacing and adding more impact than my Fiio e12 Mont Blanc. Even on high gain it does it not achieve the same power and base, and overall impact, as my fiio e12. I am using the fiio x3ii mounted in the doc, and as the dac for my computer, and I have been using my EKG Q701 headphones.\
 
I would greatly appreciate it if someone, who knows/would look into the specs of the Fiio K5 & Fiio e12, and tell me if I have misunderstood that the K5 would be more powerful, or whether it was even worth purchasing given I already own the e12, as well as an 317 and X3ii.
 
I don't fully understand how the figures/stats provided about an amp relate to those of a headphone.
 
Thanks so much for your time, help would be greatly appreciated as I can return the product if I'm quick.
 
Cheers,
Niroc.

 

[PurpleAngel]

You plugging the headphone amplifiers to the X3 Gen II's line-output (coaxial) jack and not the X3's headphone jack?

 

[Niroc]

the X3ii is plugged into the K5 through its USB input (its a dock), and to the from the x3ii's headphone/lineout into the e12's line in.

 

[Niroc]

A bit embarrassing.. the bass boost was on the e12.. Still gives more volume, but without the bass boost the K5 has more power at the same volume. Problem is, the AKG q701s really appreciate the extra bass (known for lacking a tiny bit). I wish I could bass boost the K5 as its a beautiful product id love to keep..

 

[milosingh]

Use Sonarworks.

 

[PurpleAngel]

 
the X3ii is plugged into the K5 through its USB input (its a dock), and to the from the x3ii's headphone/lineout into the e12's line in.

 
Did not even know the X3 could be docked to the K5.
Guess it's time I do a little reading up on the K5.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niroc /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I just received my Fiio k5, which I bought in anticipation of replacing and adding more impact than my Fiio e12 Mont Blanc. Even on high gain it does it not achieve the same power and base, and overall impact, as my fiio e12. I am using the fiio x3ii mounted in the doc, and as the dac for my computer, and I have been using my EKG Q701 headphones.\

 

I would greatly appreciate it if someone, who knows/would look into the specs of the Fiio K5 & Fiio e12, and tell me if I have misunderstood that the K5 would be more powerful, or whether it was even worth purchasing given I already own the e12, as well as an 317 and X3ii.

 

I don't fully understand how the figures/stats provided about an amp relate to those of a headphone.

It's possible the K5 has less harmonic distortion, and while the E12 numerically has a higher THD rating, all that number says is the percent of deviation, not what kind of deviation, so in this case you're getting something that helps your preference even if it is technically speaking a deviation from the signal.

 

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niroc /img/forum/go_quote.gif

A bit embarrassing.. the bass boost was on the e12.. Still gives more volume, but without the bass boost the K5 has more power at the same volume. Problem is, the AKG q701s really appreciate the extra bass (known for lacking a tiny bit).

 

if the E12 even without bass boost has that kind of distortion that boosts bass response anyway, and it doesn't result in overexcursion, then why not just use the E12 instead?

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niroc /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I wish I could bass boost the K5 as its a beautiful product id love to keep..

 

How exactly are you using the X3II on the K5? Is the X3II the player? Doesn't it have an EQ? Boost everything below 150hz, but especially the lowest frequency (and hopefully it's around 20hz). If the X3II is a USB DAC for a PC when docked into the K5, then use Foobar and download+install the Graphic EQ plug-in. Boost the low frequencies there.

 

[Niroc]

   
Did not even know the X3 could be docked to the K5.
Guess it's time I do a little reading up on the K5.

Yer, theyre a match made in heaven, if I was aloud to upload pics yet it'd be my profile pic. I think its to compete directly with the famous Schiit amp/dac stack, very synergistic.

 

[Niroc]

 

It's possible the K5 has less harmonic distortion, and while the E12 numerically has a higher THD rating, all that number says is the percent of deviation, not what kind of deviation, so in this case you're getting something that helps your preference even if it is technically speaking a deviation from the signal.

 

 

 

 

if the E12 even without bass boost has that kind of distortion that boosts bass response anyway, and it doesn't result in overexcursion, then why not just use the E12 instead?

 

 

 

How exactly are you using the X3II on the K5? Is the X3II the player? Doesn't it have an EQ? Boost everything below 150hz, but especially the lowest frequency (and hopefully it's around 20hz). If the X3II is a USB DAC for a PC when docked into the K5, then use Foobar and download+install the Graphic EQ plug-in. Boost the low frequencies there.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions/time. I was able to get the desired result from, like you said, boosting the EQ below 150hz, which for a few tracks definitely gave the sound it needed, but i did notice with a lot of listening last night, that in fact I am getting a lot less ear fatigue, and much better, crisper sound through the K5 as is (without bass increase). I think when I noticed it had less bass immediately I stop listening for its advantages over the e12. But its actually a much more pleasant presentation of a hell of a lot of my music, and again, much less ear fatigue (is that possible? or just a placebo?). 
Using the set as a dac for my computer (mac), Im pretty sure Foobar only do Windows DLs, would the iTunes EQ suffice? or is that the job of specialised software for good results?
Again, thanks so much for you help.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niroc /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Thanks so much for all the suggestions/time. I was able to get the desired result from, like you said, boosting the EQ below 150hz, which for a few tracks definitely gave the sound it needed, but i did notice with a lot of listening last night, that in fact I am getting a lot less ear fatigue, and much better, crisper sound through the K5 as is (without bass increase). I think when I noticed it had less bass immediately I stop listening for its advantages over the e12. But its actually a much more pleasant presentation of a hell of a lot of my music, and again, much less ear fatigue (is that possible? or just a placebo?). 
Using the set as a dac for my computer (mac), Im pretty sure Foobar only do Windows DLs, would the iTunes EQ suffice? or is that the job of specialised software for good results?

Again, thanks so much for you help.

 

If apart from lack of bass boost the K5 sounds better then that's due to less distortion and noise. Also, an EQ is better than a bass boost switch because you have more control on what frequency and by how much you want to boost it. In my case the reason why I use Androids as sources is due to NeutronMusicPlayer and its EQ (no matter how much I hate the player interface) - it's a parametric where you can tweak pretty much any parameter. I can reduce the upper bass plateau on the HD600 and then introduce a "plateau"-like EQ correction to lift 20hz to 50hz using a low shelf type EQ (it's wide and flat then tapers off near the selected center frequency) more accurately than a peak EQ used by graphic EQs.

 

[Shetzu]

  Hi,
I just received my Fiio k5, which I bought in anticipation of replacing and adding more impact than my Fiio e12 Mont Blanc. Even on high gain it does it not achieve the same power and base, and overall impact, as my fiio e12. I am using the fiio x3ii mounted in the doc, and as the dac for my computer, and I have been using my EKG Q701 headphones.\
 
I would greatly appreciate it if someone, who knows/would look into the specs of the Fiio K5 & Fiio e12, and tell me if I have misunderstood that the K5 would be more powerful, or whether it was even worth purchasing given I already own the e12, as well as an 317 and X3ii.
 
I don't fully understand how the figures/stats provided about an amp relate to those of a headphone.
 
Thanks so much for your time, help would be greatly appreciated as I can return the product if I'm quick.
 
Cheers,
Niroc.

Hope you have your gain switch in the front panel set to high. This too will give you the volume boost. I have the K5 but I have faced no issues. The volume is very high and can drive even high driving cans.

 

[Niroc]

Originally Posted by ****zu /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Hope you have your gain switch in the front panel set to high. This too will give you the volume boost. I have the K5 but I have faced no issues. The volume is very high and can drive hard to drive Hp easily.

Yer it was all set up properly (high gain), and the sounds grown on me a lot, ill just get the extra bass (the few tracks that need it) through EQ.

 

[Shetzu]

 

 

If apart from lack of bass boost the K5 sounds better then that's due to less distortion and noise. Also, an EQ is better than a bass boost switch because you have more control on what frequency and by how much you want to boost it. In my case the reason why I use Androids as sources is due to NeutronMusicPlayer and its EQ (no matter how much I hate the player interface) - it's a parametric where you can tweak pretty much any parameter. I can reduce the upper bass plateau on the HD600 and then introduce a "plateau"-like EQ correction to lift 20hz to 50hz using a low shelf type EQ (it's wide and flat then tapers off near the selected center frequency) more accurately than a peak EQ used by graphic EQs.

I agree with you. The sound is excellent. its transparent & neutral though I never use the EQ settings I love the way it is. The K5 has a large soundstage.

 

[Niroc]

Originally Posted by ****zu /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I agree with you. The sound is excellent. its transparent & neutral though I never use the EQ settings I love the way it is. The K5 has a large soundstage.

 
The extra soundstage it has provided to my Q701s is incredible. Im definitely glad to have the K5 as my new amp.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

The K5 has up to 12dB gain while the E12 had 16dB. Did you find yourself running out of volume knob on the K5? We may plan to amend the gain levels on the K5 to give more volume boost in the future. (the max power output remains the same)