I heard E7 in early april. Liked the tonality and the overall sound presentation. Pretty good one.Hey all! Just wanted to share some love for the E7. When I got it I was very impressed, but not necessarily in love. It’s a fantastic DAP, by far the most analog DS I’ve ever heard, and the new UI is leagues better than before. Especially the standby battery time, no longer bleeding to death while it’s just sitting there. But it didn’t capture a spot in my heart like my LP6 Ti AE.
All that changed this today. I’ve been using the E7 a lot, but it seems it just needed a lot more breakin than I expected, even for a DS unit it needed over 100hrs + and then boooom. I’m totally floored right now! Im using my Traillii Ti and it's so massive and open, with this killer sub-bass rumble. Fantastic mids and this endless airy top end. The stage feels like it grew 300% overnight! Kind of all of a sudden, everything spread out, got deeper and taller, and the details pop out like crazy. I'm loving this combo! I posted something earlier on, some initial impressions, but I feel I need a short follow up to properly address the magic that is now coming out of this little box. Just goes to show that some gear really just needs some time to settle in, and L&P stuff seems especially prone to lots of burnin.
The E7 has some of the largest stages I’ve ever heard in a DAP, with great layering. Like really big, very wide but ultra tall. Bass is nicely textured, with a nice extra touch of sub bass and rumble which is very much appreciated. It's very punchy, but also really enveloping and vast. Mids are clean and clear, very detailed with a hint of warmth and romance, relaxed but not smeary or too gooey and honey'd. Treble is very open, very detailed, with a hint of sparkle up top. Overall the sound is vast, detailed, and very spacious up top. Fantastic balance of technicals and musicality - I know more than one DMP owner who actually prefers the E7 for that type of sound. Pretty strong statement, and while I spent very little time with the DMP, I can understand where he's coming from (now). Sonically it's just amazing, a very analog, dynamic and open sound that is more reference and neutral than other L&P DAPs I have heard before. Where the LP6 AE is bombastic, with insane texture and engagement, punch and very forward mids, the E7 is much more neutral, lighter on its feet, with what seems like deeper bass that leans away from AE's midbass punch and growls instead.
The new UI is a big step up - but don't think it's a modern DAP like others, this is a very basic UI that is music only. The way you can browse you music now is much better, and more seamless. You get a bigger screen so the album art is larger, resolution isn't so different though. The drop-down menu is great and you can access pretty much everything you need on a daily basis. There is also the 3 tuning modes, which are not some EQ thing but a change in the FPGA (or other hardware) from what I'm told. I like LD mode a lot, very even and natural. HD is more dynamic, more open and engaging. They really make a huge difference, and it’s nice to be able to tailor the sound for each IEM. And yes, there is Gapless and a useable search function, hooray! There is a small quirk that when using ID3 tags, the album's songs show up in alphabetical order instead of numeric - but I've know L&P is working on a firmware update right now that will give us that option. They've actually already about 3 new FW's that have all improved the UI as well as sonics.
I really like the volume control - it's more tactile and articulate than the P6 Pro's, and the gold knob is super cool. You can use either the 3.5mm or 4.4mm jack as a LO, though it acts a little different than one would expect. I won't get into it now as I am still researching and asking questions, but in brief it's not a fixed voltage LO, its variable, the volume knob still works, and I haven't gotten good results unless the volume is maxed out. Not sure why L&P opted for such a different implementation on the LO vs their other DAPs, but perhaps things will change in a FW. Or I'm doing something wrong, which is always possible!
In terms of battery life I am quite impressed! We were told about 5 hours when it was announced, but it gets far more than that for sure. After the recent FW updates I would say at least 7-8 with normal use. And interestingly enough, when using the BT Rx streaming the battery lasts even longer. I even watched a movie on a flight the other day, phone on the table, E7 in my lap, super convenient,
Overall I am really super impressed with this little DAP, and even more so now that it's fully opened up and I'm hearing its full potential now. It's so small, light, and easy to use now, you've got to give L&P credit for listening to their audience so much and making changes that are asked for. With my Trailli Ti it brings the Ti more into the neutral territory, while staying incredibly engaging and enveloping. I'm leaving for a two month tour on Saturday and I'm bringing the Ti, using the stock cable for convenience, and the E7. I'm really looking forward to having this time to just get in deep, and have the E7 carry me away into sonic bliss.Where before I found it great, now it's stolen my heart, and earned a spot in my permanent roster. In fact, as my AE goes in for the volume pot upgrade and new battery, my solo journey with the E7 will be that much more exciting.
If anyone hasn't heard this beast yet, I highly highly suggest you do. It's phenomenal
The Watercooler -- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first page. All welcome.
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Gustavo1976
100+ Head-Fier
Hi everybody. Question. Between Sony WM1A and WM1AM2, is there differences in sound quality? (exclusively sound quality). Thanks.
Yes, SQ improved a lot. However, if you are looking for more modern tech and don't have Z1R, I would suggest looking for others as well. Even within Sony, 1Z will be a better choice than 1AM2, I already regret not buying 1Z.
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The N7 is plenty enough for most of my IEMs, but the Stealth needed to be amped by the ADI with great results. Some IEMs like the Raven also benefit from external amping. The N7 is a great source, but I prefer the DX312 as a standalone device
Ryokan
Headphoneus Supremus
My iem's rated at 32Ohm sound thin and lack bass from Paw6k balanced but the N7, on low gain, drives them so much better, the bass is full and very impactful. I thought the Paw6k was a good dap but now not so sure.
Edit: Lotoo now sounds fine
Edit: Lotoo now sounds fine
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kajetanjazz
500+ Head-Fier
Made a bit of a discovery - connected mass kobo to Bliss preamp and it’s much better than IEMs straight out of the bliss, or just MK from the Wandla pre (that I needed for lowering input voltage anyway). Actually I set MK pot higher and adjust volume with Bliss that adjusts gain
It’s more dynamic and spacious than bliss alone where it has a bit of a slower soft sound, but at the same time it’s stronger more meaty and textured than straight from wandla without Bliss pre. Have to admit it’s probably the favourite IEM combo I’ve heard so far
It’s more dynamic and spacious than bliss alone where it has a bit of a slower soft sound, but at the same time it’s stronger more meaty and textured than straight from wandla without Bliss pre. Have to admit it’s probably the favourite IEM combo I’ve heard so far
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Simpeler
500+ Head-Fier
That is one nice setup you have thereMade a bit of a discovery - connected mass kobo to Bliss preamp and it’s much better than IEMs straight out of the bliss, or just MK from the Wandla pre (that I needed for lowering input voltage anyway). Actually I set MK pot higher and adjust volume with Bliss that adjusts gain
It’s more dynamic and spacious than bliss alone where it has a bit of a slower soft sound, but at the same time it’s stronger more meaty and textured than straight from wandla without Bliss pre. Have to admit it’s probably the favourite IEM combo I’ve heard so far
linux4ever
Headphoneus Supremus
I agree that 1AM2 is far ahead of 1A. And 1Z is a very good option to consider. Also Sony ZX707 is another excellent option. Between 1AM2, ZX707 and the older 1Z, there are different tunings to enrich the audio journey.
kajetanjazz
500+ Head-Fier
Thanks, you will reach it someday too… oh wait!That is one nice setup you have there
That supreme v3 would probably sound good on the warmer bliss. Not sure what the Lina amp signature is
Gustavo1976
100+ Head-Fier
And 1A with Mr Walkman firmware over 1AM2?
linux4ever
Headphoneus Supremus
When I had the 1A, Mr Walkman firmware wasn't available then.So can't comment on that change. I had the un-modded 1A and the K-mod 1A. I couldn't get along with both of them. Whereas 1AM2 was a instant like and with 100 hours, 200 hours and so on, it only got better & better. The DSEEHX is also much better in 1AM2.
I've the 1Z on Mr Walkman firmware and that's quite good.
Hard no from me.
The changes are infinitesimal with the fw, and I stick to stock with progressive jpeg support.
1Z K Mod Ultimate>>>1Z Stock>>>1AM2>>>1A Stock >>> 1A with Cfw
1A NP V5 is a beast of its own but owning to the hardware mods
Not much excitement going on in my audio world, but the leather case for my SP3000T arrived. 
Worth the cost just for black widow look
Worth the cost just for black widow look
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