The Fiio A5 thread: an upgrade of E12A, MUSES02+LME49600, 800mW, 19Vp-p, 12 hours
Sep 10, 2016 at 5:02 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 1,039

Holypal

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Fiio's new portable amp, a solid upgrade of E12A:
https://www.facebook.com/FiiOAUDIO/posts/1196759820381549
 
Basic specs:MUSES02+LME49600, 800mW, 19Vp-p, 12 hours.
 
Details:
Model Name: A5(FA5121)
Color Available: Titanium colour
Weight: 168 g (incl. battery)
Dimensions: 124 mm×65.5 mm×14.5 mm
Audio Input: 3.5 mm stereo jack
Headphone Output: 3.5 mm stereo jack
Volume ControlALPS Potentiometer
Bass Boost: +4dB (BASS ON)
Drive Ability: 16~300 Ω (recommend)
Power Input: recommend DC5V 2A
Battery Capacity: 880 mAh
Battery Life: ≥13 h
Output Power: >800 mW (32 Ω/THD<1%)
                    ≥ 150mW(300Ω/THD<1%)

Charging Time: <3 h(DC5V 2A)
THD+N : <0.002% (1 kHz)
Output Impedance:  <0.3 Ω
Frequency Response: 10 Hz~90 kHz(-3dB,Input: 220mV)
SNR:   ≥115dB (A-weighted)
Input Sensitivity:  5.6 V (GAIN=L),   1.15V (GAIN=H)
MAX Input Level: >8 Vrms
Crosstalk:  ≥ 75 dB
Channel Imbalance:  <0.3 dB
Gain: 13 dB (GAIN=H), 0 dB (GAIN=L)
Peak Output Voltage: 14.96 Vp-p
MAX Output Current:  250 mA(For reference)
 
FiiO A5 Reviews:
by Cinder: "More Power!"
http://www.head-fi.org/products/fiio-a5-portable-headphone-amplifier/reviews/17279
 
by Brooko: "Effortless power, exemplary sound“
http://www.head-fi.org/products/fiio-a5-portable-headphone-amplifier/reviews/17530
 
by Vergil
http://www.head-fi.org/t/819831/the-fiio-a5-thread-an-upgrade-of-e12a-muses02-lme49600-800mw-19vp-p-12-hours/300#post_13074081
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Sep 10, 2016 at 8:52 PM Post #2 of 1,039
11.1V was already the supply voltage of the E12 (not the A version).
The output power is the same as the E12 (again, not the A version).
I can only see the MUSES02 instead of the OPA (which would likely trigger a $$ bump, given MUSES prices), and some restyling.
OTOH, I recognize it is hard to improve the E12.
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 4:32 PM Post #3 of 1,039
Hi there, just bought E12A haning read some very positive reviews and by using the "headphone power calculator" app discovered that although e12a is mainly an IEM amp,can easily drive big cans of higher impedance such as senh HD650 or AKG K612,K702,being on the market right now for open back headphones should i have to bother of finding another more efficient amp for higher impedance cans?please anyone who owns a E12A amp can add some usefull advice it would be great,Alexandros.
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 10:04 PM Post #4 of 1,039
A5 is probably to replace both E12 and E12A. Don't really make sense to make both as 1 has more power for headphone and 1 is less noise for IEM.
 
Sep 19, 2016 at 5:25 AM Post #5 of 1,039
Hopefully we can get more details soon...

Would love to know the Sound Quality comparison tests + measurements between this & the original E12; not just no Crossfeed, USB recharge noise or lesser Bass Boost...

I'm hoping this gives the legendary Objective 2 and some premium amp brands a run for their money such as a just as wide & more layered transparent soundstage...
 
Sep 19, 2016 at 10:30 AM Post #8 of 1,039
At US$ 139, if confirmed, it would still be OK, as it was around $129 shipped (now it's on offer at $80 shipped) when I bought them at BH PhotoVideo.
I was afraid of a steeper price jump, which would have ruined the original E12 bang/buck ratio.
 
Sep 19, 2016 at 10:33 PM Post #10 of 1,039
just found out this store selling Fiio A5: http://store.treoo.com/fiio-a5-portable-headphone-amplifier.html its priced at 189 SGD, which is almost 139 USD

That's like cheaper than my E12A 
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Sep 22, 2016 at 12:39 PM Post #11 of 1,039
I can still see a market for the E12A as not everyone will need that much power and the E12A has 20+ hours battery life vs only 12 hours on the A5.  For me with my B&W P5 S2 headphones the A5 power is overkill and I would still go for the E12A.  I would for example want the 20+ hours from the E12A to match with the 30+ hours from my Sony A17 so I would not be constantly going back and forth charging both devices.  
 
I could see getting the A5 to stack with the new X1 II which has an improved DAC but still has the same amp as the old X1.  Replacing the X1 II amp via LO to the A5 could make a pretty nice cost effective combo. They both will get about 12 hours battery life so they would even charge well together. 
 
I for one hope Fiio does not kill the E12A and simply renames it the A5A or A4 or something similar to match the new product naming structure.  Just like they did renaming the E11K to the A3.
 
Sep 22, 2016 at 1:46 PM Post #12 of 1,039
I can still see a market for the E12A as not everyone will need that much power and the E12A has 20+ hours battery life vs only 12 hours on the A5.  For me with my B&W P5 S2 headphones the A5 power is overkill and I would still go for the E12A.

...

I for one hope Fiio does not kill the E12A....


So would you say the FiiO A5 was developed to trump powerful portable amps like the Cayin C5 or is the A5 still not as powerful?

One of the selling points of the A5 is that it is almost double the power of the E12A but using the MUSES02 OPAMP.
 
Sep 22, 2016 at 2:36 PM Post #14 of 1,039
So would you say the FiiO A5 was developed to trump powerful portable amps like the Cayin C5 or is the A5 still not as powerful?

One of the selling points of the A5 is that it is almost double the power of the E12A but using the MUSES02 OPAMP.

Actually the E12A also uses the MUSE02 OPAMP which is partly why the E12A price is higher than the E12 despite the E12 having more power.
 

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