D
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Over a year ago I purchased the FiiO E6 headphone amplifier. Why? Something was obviously lacking in my life and I felt this was it.
FiiO describes the E6 as follows: “E6-portable headphone amplifier is specially designed for MP3/MP4/mobile phone/computer that can not get best effect of high impedance from the headset due to the low power to improve the power and sound quality.” One can only hope that its sound is as crystal clear as that description!
After giving it a quick spin to make sure it was working ok (in case I needed to return it under warranty), and checking to make sure it sounded great, I boxed it up and put it aside. I felt fulfilled.
This afternoon I happened to see that little box sitting off to the side of my desk. That missing feeling came back. So I unboxed the little sucker again.
Of late I’ve been grooving to Lorde’s Pure Heroine through my Denon AH-D5000 headphones. I’ve been listening to 192k MP3 tracks ripped to my computer from the CD. They sound great. But perhaps the FiiO can make them sound greater? Let’s see.
As you can see from the pics below the E6 is one very beautiful little beast. Some might say that looks don’t mean much, but not me. The black case and silver trim look outstanding. It has 2 LEDs: one to indicate the power/charging status and the other to indicate the chosen response curve. The glow of those LEDs is a real turn-on - let me tell you!
Set up is easy (all needed cables supplied): connect the USB cable (for charging – not needed when charged); connect the male to male headphone cable between source and the E6’s input; connect headphones to E6’s output.
For now my source is my ACER portable. I set the ACER’s output volume to 50%. Then volume adjustments are made with the E6’s volume toggle. I selected no EQ (LED goes out.)
I’ve since been listening to Lorde. And let me tell you, she sounds great!
One immediate thing I notice was that the E6 plays loud and clean. I think the designers nailed it with their choice of LEDs for sure. Sure they’re not in the circuit but I swear their light blue glow must be pushing out the electrons faster and harder.
Bass extension easily reaches the subsonic. I swear I can hear bass that’s beyond my hearing range. I don’t know about the supersonic range since I’m mostly deaf way up there. But I’m sure the neighbourhood dogs are all in hiding right now.
The sound is also completely noiseless and distortion-free. It’s as if the E6 was able to reach right back to the master digital tapes and clean them up! Any limitations in the MP3 format vanished completely.
Soundstage? All I can think about is Leo on the bow of the Titanic, arms wide open, soaking it in from 360 degrees (in the X, Y, AND Z planes!)
Listening to the E6 is a completely life altering experience. I think it set me back $30 or so. Money very well spent – let me tell you.
In future I just might go completely nuts and connect it to my iPod Touch.
Jeff
ps. All kidding aside, the E6 really does play loud and clean, and for some folks whose source cannot adequately power their headphones, it should make for a very nice improvement.
FiiO describes the E6 as follows: “E6-portable headphone amplifier is specially designed for MP3/MP4/mobile phone/computer that can not get best effect of high impedance from the headset due to the low power to improve the power and sound quality.” One can only hope that its sound is as crystal clear as that description!
After giving it a quick spin to make sure it was working ok (in case I needed to return it under warranty), and checking to make sure it sounded great, I boxed it up and put it aside. I felt fulfilled.
This afternoon I happened to see that little box sitting off to the side of my desk. That missing feeling came back. So I unboxed the little sucker again.
Of late I’ve been grooving to Lorde’s Pure Heroine through my Denon AH-D5000 headphones. I’ve been listening to 192k MP3 tracks ripped to my computer from the CD. They sound great. But perhaps the FiiO can make them sound greater? Let’s see.
As you can see from the pics below the E6 is one very beautiful little beast. Some might say that looks don’t mean much, but not me. The black case and silver trim look outstanding. It has 2 LEDs: one to indicate the power/charging status and the other to indicate the chosen response curve. The glow of those LEDs is a real turn-on - let me tell you!
Set up is easy (all needed cables supplied): connect the USB cable (for charging – not needed when charged); connect the male to male headphone cable between source and the E6’s input; connect headphones to E6’s output.
For now my source is my ACER portable. I set the ACER’s output volume to 50%. Then volume adjustments are made with the E6’s volume toggle. I selected no EQ (LED goes out.)
I’ve since been listening to Lorde. And let me tell you, she sounds great!
One immediate thing I notice was that the E6 plays loud and clean. I think the designers nailed it with their choice of LEDs for sure. Sure they’re not in the circuit but I swear their light blue glow must be pushing out the electrons faster and harder.
Bass extension easily reaches the subsonic. I swear I can hear bass that’s beyond my hearing range. I don’t know about the supersonic range since I’m mostly deaf way up there. But I’m sure the neighbourhood dogs are all in hiding right now.
The sound is also completely noiseless and distortion-free. It’s as if the E6 was able to reach right back to the master digital tapes and clean them up! Any limitations in the MP3 format vanished completely.
Soundstage? All I can think about is Leo on the bow of the Titanic, arms wide open, soaking it in from 360 degrees (in the X, Y, AND Z planes!)
Listening to the E6 is a completely life altering experience. I think it set me back $30 or so. Money very well spent – let me tell you.
In future I just might go completely nuts and connect it to my iPod Touch.
Jeff
ps. All kidding aside, the E6 really does play loud and clean, and for some folks whose source cannot adequately power their headphones, it should make for a very nice improvement.
Your descent into satire was very subtle, mon ami.
