[Dobrescu George]

I preffer that a DAC would be optimized to it's full power, because ESS9018 is already a desktop top end DAC, and there are more improvements to be expected with better amp sections than DAC, though DACs do make a difference. 

 

[KC33]

Speaking of amps, what's the latest ETA for new amp modules?

 

[ClieOS]

I can 100% agree that the difference in spec between ES9018 and the new ES9038 makes absolutely 0 difference, but the difference in design of the dac usually results in a slightly different sound, and I do mean slightly, If I had to asign arbitrary figures I would say 90% of the sound result is implementation and 10% is the dac. Also the spec of a single ES9038 is still preferable to using dual ES9018 such as in Hifiman HM901, and it would reduce pcb size while keeping the same power draw, so ES9038 would be a nice little upgrade for allout brick daps like HM901.

 
Could very well be - but one of the reason why HM901 sounds quite different to any other ES9018 implementation is how Fang chooses to implement its filter, where Fang totally disregarded the internal digital setting and instead goes with an analog filter to achieve the sound signature he wants (and the partial reason why he uses two DAC instead of one). On the other hand, one of the major sale point on the new ES9038 is its new digital filter design - I wonder if there is any incentive for Fang to consider it given the time he has invested to develop analog filter for ES9018, and he certainly can't use two ES9038 for the same effect.

 

[ClieOS]

  Speaking of amps, what's the latest ETA for new amp modules?

 
I believe the ETA is set for the end of this month for mid power module.

 

[M-13]

  ESS have released a new flagship dac, the ES9038PRO, it is specified at 140dB DNR and -122dB THD+N. The Fiio X7 is using ES9018S, which is specified at 135dB DNR and -120bD THD+N. Not that it matters, but it's news.

Fiio X9 is coming now

 (compatible with all X7 Amp modules)

 

[Marat Sar]

   
The only word that you should be looking at the LO is 'transparent', and I am happy to say that's pretty well described it.

 
Thanks man! I guess it's time to save up then.

 

[ericpeters]

I now have 128gb almost filled with lossles and some hi res music and I find the browsing functionality of the FIIO music app limiting.
You can scroll through all songs ... Not convenient
You can search by album: but only alphabetical and nbot by artist
You can search by artist but than you get all songs of all albums per artist listed by track number (makes no sense with more than one album per artist)
You can search by artist and Album but then you can not select individual songs on the album and even worse once you selected one album you can not switch to another album, there seems to be a bug there.

So why not: Artist -> album -> song list of the album?

 

[Kyosato]

Any news of the next FW?? I would have liked to test DLNA streaming, and DAC.
 
Another point, I received a mail from FiiO saying that all apps where SRC, but found informations elsewhere saying that only FiiO Music and Hiby music could get access to the DAC directly bypassing the android downsampling and processing. Any clues?
 
I can hear differences from TIdal / Qobuz, and FiiO Music.

 

[Kyosato]

I may have an explanation for this, since I've just received seconds ago a reply from FiiO.
 
Downsampling may well come from the apps themselves since android only accept 44.1 / 16. I initially thought that it was android who resampled antomatically anything to 44.1/16. it's maybe both, but I'm told that if I hear differences from the track from FiiO Music and the track from Qobuz, it means that it's Qobuz that is internally resampling to 44.1/16.
 
It's weird since we can stream in 24/96 with Qobuz if we bought the album in Hi-Res Audio before. they must think that anyway Android can't decode anything except 44.1/16.
 
As I thought, this is the beginning of special brews of Android, that allows to bypass the downsampling. So it's time now we ask for modded version of Streaming app like Tidal and Qobuz, without the internal downsampling. As far as I know, only Qobuz allows HD straming, if you bought the albums. Useful if you are travelling.
 
But this is not quite the end of it...The track with wich I was testing this issue, is 44.1/16.... so no downsampling involved normally by the Qobuz App. Still I hear some subtle differences from FiiO music and Qobuz. Equalizer is off. Anyway it's both very good (EMI issue set aside).

 

[BenjiMG]

Any DLNA experience feedback?

 

[jamato8]

I have been using the K5 and it does a fine job and work as advertised. Any other users here of the K5? 

 

[wldcohso]

How did you purchase the K5? I've been searching to purchase it.

 

[jamato8]

How did you purchase the K5? I've been searching to purchase it.

It is a review sample. I know a few others have received it to review but I haven't seen much mention of it. 

 

[RedJohn456]

I have been using the K5 and it does a fine job and work as advertised. Any other users here of the K5? 

Am using the k5 with Geek out v2. Its a fine desktop amp for sure. Sounds fantastic and looks even better imo.

 

[wldcohso]

Do you know how much longer we have to wait to purchase it?