Mobile rig FIIO X5, E18, IE80 upgrade - expert advice needed

[surreysteve]

Hi Guys

I seem to be building a pile of kit but not really getting to where I want to be.

I started using my Google Pixel XL and added a Fiio E18 KUNLUN as a DAC together with Sennheiser M2IEG momentum headphones. This created a nice sound but not great but gave me access to all my streaming services such as Google Music which seems to stream in reasonable quality. I read that the Pixel was not great in terms of transport nor DAC so started looking for something better.

I then found a Fiio X5 V2 in Amazons sale and coupled this with my FIIO E18 KUNLUN DAC. After some research I added some MEE Audio Pinnacle P1s. This gave me wonderful audio quality or at least I thought so at first. Unfortunately, longer term I found the MEE headphones slightly harsh for long term listening. I even found that I preferred going back to the sound of the cheaper Sennheiser Momentums. The other issue was that the FIiO X5 offers no streaming capabilities which is quite important.

Determined to get the best quality and also to find a sound I personally liked I purchased some Sennheiser IE80s - Bingo headphone problem solved - excellent quality and a sound I personally liked.

Now having got a great sounding rig : FIIO X5 V2 + FIIO E18 KUNLUN + Sennheiser IE80 - FIIO announce they have brought out a new version FIIO X5 V3 which has added streaming capability which I would love to use. Sods law!

So , before I made any more purchase OR started Ebaying the kit I have so far I thought I would seek opinions on whether to go for the FIIO X5 V3 and if there were any alternatives I am missing.

My criteria are:
Best sound quality I can find
Warm sound (Sennheiser IE80 do this for me)
Streaming capability
I no longer have a normal HiFi separates system so am prepared to spend a reasonable amount to achieve the above (although at some point I'd like to rationalise the mountain of kit I'm accumulating)

All advice welcomed

Thanks

Steve T

 

[Dulalala]

I started using my Google Pixel XL and added a Fiio E18 KUNLUN as a DAC together with Sennheiser M2IEG momentum headphones. This created a nice sound but not great but gave me access to all my streaming services such as Google Music which seems to stream in reasonable quality. I read that the Pixel was not great in terms of transport nor DAC so started looking for something better.

If you are using the Fiio E18 as a DAC, why would the Pixel DAC matter? You're bypassing the DAC through OTG anyways correct?
Secondly, having a dedicated Hi-Fi device that you are only using to output a digital signal isn't going to magically make it sound better. The Pixel will work fine as a transport and isn't going to sound any better than a $1000 DAP if you're bypassing the DAC and amp on those devices anyways.

 

[chef8489]

That is quite true. If you are bypassing the internal DAc of the player it does not matter the sound of the player. Now you could get rid of the e18 as many players like the pioneer xdp-100r/ 300r and fiio x5 gen 3 have great sounding apms internally. I guess you need to come up with a budget for a dap first and we can help within that price range and you wont need the e18.

 

[Ian Robb Forgie]

I also have a fiio x5 3rd gen plus the ie 80,s which I use just with the player. I found the volume and sound quality adequate never the less I like the variety of choses available now to change sound signatures as I had a fiio e17 was stolen so I am thinking of a amp right now I use a fiio a1 with a bluetooth reviver which gives just a little bass boost I like I use the amp with my sony hear- ins I like the sound on the first setting on the akg k545 as well. I purchased a pair of 2.5 mm fiio rc ie8b wires for my ie 80,s. Yes there is a define difference in the bass response I rebalanced the settings on my ie80 (the tape mode) I also orders a pair of Sony MDR XD 150 to rewire ( right now I looking for a old hard drive ribbon to use for female leads for the connector to the speaker inside the headset) I have owned three or four pairs over the years they are cheap I done a side by side with a old pair I traded to a friend for a pair of sony 10 times the cost (lost on that deal sound wise) they don't have tinny sound and I am curious as to what kind of seperation and clarification in the sound signature the 2.5 mm plug will give.

 

[blackrain139]

If you're after a warm sound signature, the X5iii is a good place to start. It uses AKM dap chips which does produces a warm musical signature.

The good thing is its portable and small. You probably won't need any external amp.