My colleague happened to have his E11 with him today so I did a bit of testing (V10, E11, AKG K271).
I tested several tracks all 24bit 48KHZ (Hotel California, Halestorm - Love Bites, Distant Worlds - Dancing Mad) and here's what I noticed. Please take it with a grain of salt as i'm no audiophile and sorry if I used any terms incorrectly.
With the E11
- I felt a greater sound stage, airier and wider
- The background ambiance was a bit more present at the same listening level (From the first minute of Hotel California)
- Had more present bass, but not overwhelming
- Louder at a similar listening level. What I mean is, at a similar volume, more detail was brought out to provide better balance, like the background becoming more present
I did feel better to my ears with the E11, but not sure if it justifies me to purchasing an Amp for the V10. The newer E11k runs for between 60 - 70 USD here shipped.
Dilemma, dilemma, dilemma