[bowei006]

Quote:

Wondering what to buy -- I just care about amp sound quality (and size).  
I have an E7 that I use with Phonak 232 and iPhone 4s as a great, small pocketable portable rig.  
 
I'm wondering if the E11 might suit that function better.  
I do find the E7 slightly sterile and flat in terms of instrument spatial illusion.  
 
The E17 is an option, but I rarely use the digital input. I do enjoy the higher-tech interface, though.

im sorry but. the E11..probably has THE MOST threads and info on head fi. i hate it when people usually tell me or others to look it up as theres so many threads on it.. but seriously. the E11. is probably the most talked about amp in terms of how many threads are on it.. there is so much on the E11 and E7. i have the E5 and E17 so i can't give you a comparison sorry.
 
oh and forgive me for my tone of voice. when you are online. it sounds harsh but just think of  me as that lecturing dude not having any ill intent.here's an awesome emoticon  

 BAM!
 

 

[Stoney]

Heh, I get ya!  That's what I get for being impatient to purchase .... I'm not really a regular here lately.  
OTOH, people's opinions change.  And products get updates or go downhill.  So I put on my helmet in advance.  

 

[ClieOS]

the E17 has EQ so..bass should be more on E17 if EQ'd and it has more power. yes i know what you mean. i read his stuff many times and know he said that. but really whatever. i got the e17 since i needed a DAC as well. now i wish i had two.

As I have somewhat mentioned in my E17 review - E11 has more control and power when in low gain setting, E17 is doing better in higher gain setting.

... but if it is notably better than the E7 and doesn't suffer from phone EMI like the E11, it might be the one for me. 

It is.

 

[Roller]

ClieOS, did you find E17 to display any significant latency values when in use? Also, is the sound glitch free on both DirectSound and WASAPI?

 

[ClieOS]

ClieOS, did you find E17 to display any significant latency values when in use? Also, is the sound glitch free on both DirectSound and WASAPI?

I haven't noticed any latency issue or glitch on E17.

 

[RASeymour]

Loved the pics w/ scratched up amps.  It looks like you really own and used them.  Congratulations on 10k!

 

[skafle]

With a headphone that is already somewhat warm and colored, would you recommend a relatively neutral amp like the E11/E10 or a colored amp like Cmoy BB?

 

[ClieOS]

Loved the pics w/ scratched up amps.  It looks like you really own and used them.  Congratulations on 10k!

Some of the amps in the review are second handed, so they don't look shiny anymore. But I did given every amps a good spin before the review as it have taken me a few months to finally get them all.

With a headphone that is already somewhat warm and colored, would you recommend a relatively neutral amp like the E11/E10 or a colored amp like Cmoy BB?

I tend to go opposite-pairing when it comes to synergy - warm sounding headphone with brighter sounding amp and so on. So in this case, without knowing what headphone it is, I'll guess cmoyBB might be a better choice.

 

[Stoney]

EMI noise from the cell phone -- This is unusual isn't it?  My only reservation, even with the low price, because I strap my E7 (and whatever might be next) to the phone  I find that kind of noise very annoying, whether detectable or subliminal.  
 
 
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/552605/fiio-e11-the-initial-impression-final-thought/825
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595924/need-some-advice-about-the-e11
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595687/fiio-e11-and-iphone-interference
 

 

[Stoney]

 
Just as an aside to the discussion of E11 and E17, I'd pop for the extra $ to get one of these small units: 
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/573871/ibasso-t5-a-newly-designed-small-portable-specifications (several failures and startup pops have been reported)
 
http://www.headfonia.com/pico-slim-first-impression/ (perhaps the least colored in the survey, wire-with-gain)
 
http://www.headfonia.com/headstage-the-arrow-amplifier (good synergy with Phonak 232 because of less "present" low-mid treble; good features)
 
All discussed in this survey: 
http://www.headfonia.com/the-usual-suspects-12-portable-amps-compared/

 

[ClieOS]

EMI noise from the cell phone -- This is unusual isn't it? My only reservation, even with the low price, because I strap my E7 (and whatever might be next) to the phone I find that kind of noise very annoying, whether detectable or subliminal.

EMI is not unusual at all. Most amps will get affected by EMI in some degree. E7 is one of those that has minimum problem on EMI. E11 is slightly worst. If you think E11's EMI issue is annoying, wait till you try PA2V2 or Total BitHead / Airhead - they are so loud that they probably cause hearing damage.

To totally eliminate EMI from portable amps, you will have to add in a circuit which filter out the noise. But in most case, the circuit itself reduces the overall transparency of the amp and make it sounds worst than it can be. All in all, portable amps and cellphone are still not a good mix.

Just as an aside to the discussion of E11 and E17, I'd pop for the extra $ to get one of these small units: 

...

To add to that discussion, I don't always agree with Mike @ Headfonia. PA2V2 in this review is a good example. Also, spending more doesn't guarantee a better sound. O2 will be a good example. Never the less, T5 will be included in my upcoming sub$200 amps review, as well as O2 of course.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

ClieOS,
 
I had huge EMI problems with the A10....whereas with the ZO2 it wasn't even half as bad - almost unnoticeable.
 
Yet you have the ZO2 ranked worse in EMI resistance vs the A10?

 

[ClieOS]

ClieOS,

I had huge EMI problems with the A10....whereas with the ZO2 it wasn't even half as bad - almost unnoticeable.

Yet you have the ZO2 ranked worse in EMI resistance vs the A10?

I am only reporting the result of the test I have done with my Samsung Galaxy Ace. The condition is the same between ZO2 and A10, and A10 has less EMI issue.

 

[Totally Dubbed]

Quote:

I am only reporting the result of the test I have done with my Samsung Galaxy Ace. The condition is the same between ZO2 and A10, and A10 has less EMI issue.

Interesting, I had exactly the opposite experience with my Samsung Galaxy S -> A10 was making so much noise on the way back, that it hurt my ears
Love the A10 though, don;t get me wrong!
 
 

 

[badmod]

It seems like the ZO is out of the $100 range. Why to spoil such a fun product??! ... sigh