[SK90]

These babies are going on sale for $63 on Massdrop
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fiio-e10k-usb-dac-and-headphone-amplifier?referer=PJVZB7&mode=guest_open&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Audiophile%20A%20Product%20Announcement%202015-09-23&utm_term=Community%20-%20Audiophile%20-%20MAU%20%28Active%29

 

[Hammy]

These babies are going on sale for $63 on Massdrop
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fiio-e10k-usb-dac-and-headphone-amplifier?referer=PJVZB7&mode=guest_open&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Audiophile%20A%20Product%20Announcement%202015-09-23&utm_term=Community%20-%20Audiophile%20-%20MAU%20%28Active%29

Good deal.  $71.99 shipped to Finland beats the $79.90 shipped that I paid last December.
 
Hammy approves this deal.

 

[DopeMusic]

It can only be used with the PC? or you can also be used with the iPod? Would you recommend this or the E7 for use in home and away?

 

[jis1]

I believe only with a pc or mac. It has no power of its own and depends on a computer power source from a usb computer connection.

 

[Jimbobwales]

Would this DAC help improve hd 558s? I got a pair and feel like the vocals are washed out. I keep needing to play around with eq to get the sound I want

 

[Arvan]

Would this DAC help improve hd 558s? I got a pair and feel like the vocals are washed out. I keep needing to play around with eq to get the sound I want

Yes. 558 has quite the impedance hump. E10k works well with the senns.

 

[riverlethe]

Would this DAC help improve hd 558s? I got a pair and feel like the vocals are washed out. I keep needing to play around with eq to get the sound I want

What are you currently using and what do you mean by "washed out?"

 

[bosiwollig]

Will fiio anounce a successor to the E10K anytime soon?

 

[Jimbobwales]

What are you currently using and what do you mean by "washed out?"

Currently im using onboard audio of asus m5a99fx. The vocals struggle to get through and the bass is a lil overwhelming. I gotta mess about with eq to get better sound.

 

[riverlethe]

Currently im using onboard audio of asus m5a99fx. The vocals struggle to get through and the bass is a lil overwhelming. I gotta mess about with eq to get better sound.

Could be high impedance output from the onboard audio. The E10k should fix that.

 

[Jimbobwales]

Could be high impedance output from the onboard audio. The E10k should fix that.

Would this DAC be significantly better than a basic Xonar dg? I bought these 558s under the assumption they wouldnt need external hardware, After using em Im fine buying something to help improve them and im between the DAC and the Xonar. Is the extra 50 bucks worth it over the xonars?

 

[Arvan]

 
Would this DAC be significantly better than a basic Xonar dg? I bought these 558s under the assumption they wouldnt need external hardware, After using em Im fine buying something to help improve them and im between the DAC and the Xonar. Is the extra 50 bucks worth it over the xonars?

 
Yes, it sounds way better to my ears. Also The 10K has <1 ohm output impedance which makes it good both with very sensitive iems and most headphones below 200 ohms. 
 
558 has a big impedance bump at almost 210+ ohms at 100hz and that might be a little to much to handle for the Xonar DG. 
 
Fiio E10k is the best thing i have purchased in a long long time. It´s just awesome for MOST headphones and MOST systems. You don´t really need more than this.. Again for MOST systems Can´t stress that enough

 

[Jimbobwales]

So If I upgraded from 558s to 598s I'd still need the DAC/AMP right? I can still return these 558s.
 
Edit: Also would just an amp suffice or do they need the DAC?

 

[Arvan]

  So If I upgraded from 558s to 598s I'd still need the DAC/AMP right? I can still return these 558s.
 
Edit: Also would just an amp suffice or do they need the DAC?

 
You can very easily turn your 558 into 598s by removing a piece of foam inside the cup. Same driver, same housing so the only real difference is the dampening foam and the design. 
 
Dac is for a clean conversion of the digital signal into analog = Makes the audio sound cleaner and better. Amp is to give your cans the power they need. Fiio E10k or something like and audioengine D1 etc etc does both at the same time. Very convenient

 

[myemaildw]

i had e10k before with my amperiors, i sold both. now i bought cozoy aegis dac and i gotto say e10k sounds like crap in comparison to cozoy aegis. aegis sounds much better and works on iphone android and computer too and smaller. its a definite upgrade to e10k, i will go to store to listen to 598 with cozoy dac and compare it to fidue a73 which is better. but i dont like headphones overall anymore, too heavy, big things.