Review: Fiio E12 (comparison to C&C BH + JDS Labs O2 + JDS Labs C421)

[waynes world]

Quote:

Yeah, I tried to get FiiO to stick with the V1 bass boost.
I'm sure the V1 owners don't want to give their V1s up!

 
This V1 owner won't! But I'm sure that some are looking for the V2 bass boost. Another option I suppose would be to find one for sale (such as this one), and then sell yours (maybe after comparing them both to be sure of which one you like best).

 

[nick n]

they'll be highly sought after collectors items get that one while you can Wayne

( serious )

 

[pngwn]

I know I won't be parting with my E12v1 ;] I am curious to hear how the v2 boost is, though...

 

[jessthebest]

I've read some wildly varying opinions on amping the DT770 80 ranging from tightening up the bass to having no audible effect other than loudness. From what you describe, it sounds like amping them made them an entirely different headphone.

Well it certainly made a big difference as far as I can tell. I was pretty worried that I'd buy the amp and feel my money had been wasted but I have no worries at all. Maybe the difference is greater because I was mainly running them from my phone? ie my main source was very ill suited. I'll try listening from my mac with and without the amp and see what I think... But yeah, certainly straight from the phone it seems to make a huge difference.

On a slightly related note, it might also depend on the production of the original record? I listened to The Knife's album 'Deep Cuts' and it didn't sound good at all, then listened to their later album 'Silent Shout' and it blew me away. I can only think it's because the production is better, perhaps giving the headphones more to work with and allowing them to shine?

 

[Chris J]

Interesting rule. Post edited. 

Apparently it can cause alot of crazy arguing!

 

[H20Fidelity]

I found this comparison between E12 / E11 / C&C BH today in another thread.

It might come in handy for some people.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/653564/review-xba-3-vs-xba-30-vs-xba-40/120#post_9342128

 

[Gintaras]

H2O, check that review, that chap used 320kbs material, not Flac or Wav. I can only confirm that c3 and BH do not like mp3, i have a few albums in mp3 on micro cards and after trying them on c3 with BH i just decided to delete them.

I am curious if he would run same comparison with more proper music material.

Hence i found his findings a bit confusing.

 

[imackler]

Quote:

H2O, check that review, that chap used 320kbs material, not Flac or Wav. I can only confirm that c3 and BH do not like mp3, i have a few albums in mp3 on micro cards and after trying them on c3 with BH i just decided to delete them.

I am curious if he would run same comparison with more proper music material.

Hence i found his findings a bit confusing.

 
Are you sure its not the actual quality of the recording? I've listened to some decent amps and never thought 320kbps sounded bad in itself. 256? Sure... But not 320 unless the original sounds bad.

 

[Gintaras]

--- sorry, freaking iPad posting twice

 

[Gintaras]

i am not sure but i have enough mp3 and can assure you there is difference ro flacs or wavs or ape. more so when i put these files on my high end i immediately can tell 320kbs apart from flac, this is why i must now find flac for music which i have only in mp3. However if i use my Cowon s9 difference is less apparent.

I do not doubt your findings but would be curious to hear your impressions with higher quality material.

 

[waynes world]

Quote:

 
Are you sure its not the actual quality of the recording? I've listened to some decent amps and never thought 320kbps sounded bad in itself. 256? Sure... But not 320 unless the original sounds bad.

 
I wonder that as well. I recently debated whether to reburn all of my music to 320kbps mp3's or to FLAC. I couldn't discern much of a difference (if any) between the two, so I happily went with 320kbps (also happily because I could fit more on my microSD cards). The 320kbps mp3 files sound great through the E12, and I would be surprised if they don't sound great through the C&C BH as well.
 
Btw, that is through my laptop + ELE DAC + E12 + AD900X or WS99. So not super high end gear.

 

[Gintaras]

Waynes, depends not only on amp but more so on the source. I find mp3 not worth on c3 and rwak but i keep only mp3 on S9 because there is small difference and no card slot to put larger card with flacs.

Yes, as ridiculous as it may sound but high quality uncompressed files are better rhan mp3 and i used to compare mp3 ripped from my collection of CDs

I wish you would be right because flacs and wavs are damn large and consume a lot of drive space.

 

[waynes world]

Quote:

Waynes, depends not only on amp but more so on the source. I find mp3 not worth on c3 and rwak but i keep only mp3 on S9 because there is small difference and no card slot to put larger card with flacs.

Yes, as ridiculous as it may sound but high quality uncompressed files are better rhan mp3 and i used to compare mp3 ripped from my collection of CDs

I wish you would be right because flacs and wavs are damn large and consume a lot of drive space.

 
Sadly, I believe you lol. I guess the ELE DAC + E12 combo isn't so sensitive, or my hearing isn't so sensitive.
 
Anyway, you are not liking the mp3 files on the Colorfly C3 + C&C BH combo, correct? I'm getting the C&C, so I'll be sure to test different file formats with it and through my different sources.
 
Right now my portable player is the clip zip (and I use my Samsung Galaxy Tab2 quite a bit as well, but it ain't so portable lol). I am planning on using the C&C with the clip zip, and possibly/probably the file formats won't matter so much off of the clip zip. But someday I might look at getting another portable player, so I will have to keep all of this in mind.
 
Hopefully they will be coming out with 1T micro SD cards in the not too distant future lol!

 

[TekeRugburn]

im going to take this review with a grain of salt.  Sounds like OP is still in honeymoon period.  Every fiio product that I have tried has been subpar....maybe its changed.  

 

[H20Fidelity]

H2O, check that review, that chap used 320kbs material, not Flac or Wav. I can only confirm that c3 and BH do not like mp3, i have a few albums in mp3 on micro cards and after trying them on c3 with BH i just decided to delete them.

I am curious if he would run same comparison with more proper music material.

Hence i found his findings a bit confusing.

Mate, I agree, C3 does not play MP3 files overly well. I have found the same, not so much they're bad, just FLAC is much better.

im going to take this review with a grain of salt.  Sounds like OP is still in honeymoon period.  Every fiio product that I have tried has been subpar....maybe its changed.  

To my understanding the OP had E12 for three hours before writing this comparison.