One of the silent ones talks a bit... (or a lot... sorry for the long post)
I've had the Fulla 2 for 3 - 4 weeks now, I use it with Shure SE535 which I got at the same time as the Fulla, Though I have AKG 701Q haven't had the chance/will to try them on the Fulla, as it is mostly used at work using an iphone 6 or ipad 2 as source. I have used the device from my lap top with a small Yamaha amp/receiver.
My impresions:
Build, I didn't notice at first glance the misalignment, nor do I care; inserting the cables into Fulla needs a bit of force but angling the cable works, I always pull/push the cables close to the terminal; stripping a cable doesn't seem a likewise problem. I use crappy cables, don't mind for the fancy ones.
Using the iphone as a source with the camera connection cable I've never had a an issue, it always work. Sound is A LOT better with Fulla than with iphone headphone jack, more detail, more definition, and a better volume control; with the SE535 never heard any hiss at lilstening levels, only found hiss by moving the knob up to 12 o'clock, with this earphone listening at those levels would be really painful, never had to go more than 8 or so with regular listening. I almost only listen to classical I appreciate the "black" on the silent passages Fulla produces (there is more hiss on the iphone, though I prefer keep listening to the music instead of listening to the equipment). For me it is great having dynamic range, good presentation, in a very reasonable setup. The shures are a bit midcentric but do have a very nice way of presenting bass, pipe organ, low regiser on the piano, bass... it is all there, Fulla never fails in dynamic passages, when the orchestra, choir and soloists go from really quiet to full gas, obviously there are better dacs and better amps but for the price/footprint I can´t fault the device and I can say it has brought a bit of pleasure to the workplace.
With netflix I can say that it works better than getting the output from the headphone jack of my laptop (vaio sony) using stereo track of series/movies it really works fine, the line out is a feature I really appreciate, the dac inboard the Fulla is really nice, for entertaining purposes it works, and works just fine.
Just for fun I tried the fulla as dac with a Vali 2 as amp to the SE535's and yes there is a difference in the amp, Vali 2 (on low gain) works better than the inboard amp in the Fulla, but for convenience this has been one of my best investments, just today a friend at work, asked about the quality of sound on his cel phone, so I let him try the Fulla, he really liked the way his music sounded, so he asked if all the hassle to connect, buy thing etc was worth it, for me it does. Much better than the iphone/ipad alone, sometimes I just take a break to listen some passage, it's nice listening the beauty on the music, and neither fulla nor my earphones get in the way.
Regarding the scratchy volume some people have reported, I can make my volume sound like that if pushing while turning the knob, if I only turn I don't have the issue, so for me it is a no issue.
This are only my opinions from having and using the product for this 4 weeks, maybe at some other time in the future I'll get another one so I can leave one at the office, while the other travels around with me.
best regards,
A. Rivas
